Bet that headline got you excited - unfortunately this is only an incremental upgrade, and even that’s stretching things a bit. The latest model of the Edge 705 comes in the Garmin/Chipotle team colors and includes all the same color mapping features as the regular 705.

One new item from Garmin is the US Topo 24k map software series that gives you even more topographic detail for US terrain. The software even enables 3D views of terrain on certain GPS units like the Colorado and Oregon - a first for Garmin GPS units. Hopefully we’ll see this trickle down to the smaller cycling GPS line in the coming years…

Singletracks just passed a big milestone today when we posted our 500th mountain bike trail map to the site - Fleming Meadows in California. We started the trail map project about 3 years ago when we realized lots of people were starting to ride with GPS units. The maps have come a long way since those early days but we still give you the ability to download the raw GPS data to view in your favorite topo program, load onto your GPS, and even view in Google Earth!

A few highlights from the current MTB trail map catalog:

• Colorado boasts the most trail maps - 121 unique trails mapped! North Carolina is second with 48 unique mountain bike trail maps.
• The longest trail map in the catalog is the Kokopelli trail at 136.48 miles long. The mapped route stretches from Fruita, CO to Moab, UT.
• Singletracks offers nearly 40 free mountain bike trail maps, including 16 trails outside the US from New Zealand to Portugal.
• The trail catalog includes over 400,000 track points and nearly 1,500 waypoints.
• All trail data submissions are hand-edited by singletracks editors and mapped using professional mapping software using a custom template - you won’t find maps like these anywhere else!

If you’re not already a singletracks Trail or PRO subscriber you can earn a free lifetime PRO membership to the site by submitting just 3 new trail maps. Even if you’re new to GPS tracking we can help you understand how to collect and share you data - check out our GPS mountain biking primer today.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the mountain bike trail catalog over the years - we couldn’t have done it without you! Next stop: 1,000 mountain bike trail maps by 2010!

Back in July I posted a theoretical comparison between the iPhone and the Edge 705 for mountain bike navigation and made this point:

Speedometer / Odometer / Elevation

The iPhone doesn’t track these things for you but the Edge 705 does (and it does it very well I must say). Unfortunately Garmin’s lead may not last for long since iPhone app developers are sure to throw together a simple (and I predict free) application to do just this. Winner (for now): Edge 705.

Sure enough, speed and elevation tracking software for the iPhone is available now, and while I haven’t found any free programs, they are certainly cheap (like $2.99 cheap). Perivision talks about using his iPhone on an electric bike and posts this interesting screen shot of an (unnamed) iPhone program:

There’s also a piece of iPhone software called iTrail that tracks the usual suspects (speed, elevation, distance) and even records your route GPS track-style. Although the name implies it’s good for trail use I’m not sure I’d take an iPhone on a rocky track - and what about reception under tree cover? The good news is that iTrail costs just $2.99 at the iTunes store. Screen shots:

 

Of course there are other smartphone options for GPS riding - check out the singletracks GPS forums to connect with other GPS-enabled smartphone users and stay tuned as we deliver the latest GPS / mountain biking news from Interbike in less than 2 weeks!

Did anyone happen to catch video of the protests outside the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN last night? The riot police there were using mountain bikes - but not in the way you’d imagine. Instead of carrying those huge clear, plastic shields to back the crowds up there was one group that was using their bikes, stood on end, to push protesters away. The tires on these bikes looked pretty knobby, I wonder if any of the protesters ended up with MTB tire tread marks on their faces If anyone can find photos from last night let me know…

In other mountain bike news:

The World Firefighters Games took place in Liverpool, UK earlier this week and more than 100 firefighters took part in the mountain bike competition. The race was held in Llandegla Forest where there are more than 40Km of mountain bike trails - WAY more dirt than the Olympic riders saw in Beijing. I guess police officers aren’t the only public servants who enjoy mountain biking

For those of you who just can’t get enough mountain bike trail detail online, there’s a new(ish) site called Veo Geo that will sync your helmet camera video with GPS trail data to give you an interesting virtual trail experience. We weren’t able to get any of the MTB trail videos to work (apparently the guys are having trouble with YouTube hosted videos at the moment) but this race car video worked flawlessly. What’s next - trail holograms? chair vibrators and fans that simulate trail conditions? We’ll keep you posted.

Just a quick heads up before we start the official promos: This month we’re giving away a Garmin Edge 205 cycling GPS to one lucky reviewer on singletracks. Just submit a review of something on singletracks - trails, mountain bike gear, mountain bike tours, bike shops, and blog posts - and you’ll be entered to win. Of course your review has to be a real review and it has to be helpful to be considered so make sure your review counts

The more reviews you submit this month, the more chances you have to win! The drawing will be held on September 1 and the winner will be announced right here on the blog. Get busy!

Pssssst - tomorrow is the last day if you want a free singletracks sticker in the mail. Details are here.

I read that the new 3G iPhone has GPS built-in and it got me thinking: Could the iPhone challenge the Edge 705 as a high end GPS for mountain biking? Let’s see how the two compare:

Mapping

Both the iPhone and Edge 705 have color screens but the iPhone’s screen is much larger: 3.5 in (480×320) vs. the puny Edge 705 screen at 2.2 in (176×220). To get detailed street maps for the Edge 705 you’ll need to pony up an extra $100, no updates included. The iPhone gives you access to Google Maps for free and they’re constantly updated. Winner: iPhone.

Navigation / Directions

From what I understand the iPhone cannot provide real time navigation, a feat the Edge 705 accomplishes reasonably well. TomTom is said to be working on a navigation app for the iPhone but this will certainly be a paid software upgrade. Winner: Edge 705.

Speedometer / Odometer / Elevation

The iPhone doesn’t track these things for you but the Edge 705 does (and it does it very well I must say). Unfortunately Garmin’s lead may not last for long since iPhone app developers are sure to throw together a simple (and I predict free) application to do just this. Winner (for now): Edge 705.

Route sharing

Garmin introduced a new feature with the Edge 705 to allow riders to wirelessly “beam” previously ridden routes to one another and the iPhone doesn’t have this. The iPhone does, however, have access to the INTERNET which holds tens of thousands of shared rides on sites like this one and even Garmin’s own Motionbased site (ouch). Winner: iPhone.

Wireless accessories

The Garmin Edge 705 is compatible with all kinds of wireless accessories including heart rate, cadence, and power monitors. I don’t know of any cycling devices made for the iPhone but Apple has included a secret weapon: Bluetooth. Ok, so Bluetooth isn’t a secret and I’ve said from the beginning that Garmin was foolish to develop their own wireless standard (ANT) instead of latching onto the industry favorite. Could we see Bluetooth heart rate monitors in the future? Probably. Winner (for now): Edge 705.

Communication / Music
This isn’t really a fair fight but face it - the iPhone is a phone, an MP3 player, and an internet device while the Edge 705 is a dumb brick. Today I’m carrying my phone and my GPS on the trail, perhaps tomorrow I’ll have a single device that can manage both functions while serving as an iPod as well. Winner: iPhone.

Durability

I’m pretty skeptical about the durability of the iPhone on the trail but there are already some bike mounts on the market for the device. The Edge 705, on the other hand, is clearly built to take a pounding on the trail with a tough housing and flexible screen. Winner: Edge 705.

Pricing

It’s tough to compare pricing of the iPhone and Edge 705 because they’re both, er, different. The Edge 705 (without accessories) retails for $499 but you’ll need to pay another $100 or so for detailed maps. The iPhone retails for $199 but you’ll end up paying at least $69.99 a month for the service (no service fee for the Edge 705). Of course most of us are already paying for a cell phone plan so it’s all about the margin. Look at it this way: If you’re currently paying $50 a month for your cell phone the iPhone really costs you just $19.99 a month extra Winner: Tie.

Although the iPhone 3G is brand new it appears that it may be a good contender for taking on the Edge 705 for the title of “super fancy bike GPS” (though the iPhone may ultimately be better suited to road cycling rather than trail riding). Who knows, maybe we’ll be seeing iPhone apps and accessories at Interbike this year…

Just two weekends left to ride new trails with your GPS for a chance to win the GoPro mountain bike helmet camera. GoPro was kind enough to send us two of these babies and we’ve been using ours out on the local trails and having a blast! The second place prize is sweet as well - 24 Solo DVD plus a singletracks t-shirt - but trust us, you’ll prefer the first prize

This week saw aabiking pull into first place with 10 points but AWooten2 is close behind with 9 points. There’s still time to map new trails or to pull together your GPS track files - contest ends June 1!

As you probably already know we’re big fans of taking our GPS on the mountain bike trail, especially for keeping track of distance and climbing and for mapping new singletrack. This week we read about a couple more ways folks are using GPS units with their bikes we thought you might find interesting…

• A new bike shop in Minneapolis has outfitted their fleet of 70 rental bikes with GPS units pre-loaded with local bike routes.  Not only does this seem like a great service for out-of-towners but it could also be a great way for locals to try out the latest GPS units and bikes while pedaling familiar trails.
• The Great Western Bike Rally is taking place this weekend in Paso Robles, CA and features an event you may not be familiar with: the geo-cache ride. GPS geeks are familiar with geo-caching - an activity that uses GPS to find hidden “treasures” in unusual locations - and geo-cache rides combine geo-caching with cycling to add a new dimension to the fun.

If you don’t already have a GPS for the trail, this summer may be a great time to consider one, especially when once that federal stimulus check arrives Check out our mountain bike GPS buyers guide to find the right GPS unit for you!

As if carrying your iPhone on the MTB trail wasn’t geeky enough, now you can CHARGE your iPhone on the trail using only the wind rushing over your handlebars: Meet the HY Mini Wind Turbine. Just attach the HY Mini to your bike and as long as your speed relative to the wind is over 19mph for 20 minutes you’ll get enough juice to power your iPod for 30 minutes. You’ll get power at speeds as slow as 9mph but I’m guessing that might be a losing proposition (20 minutes of pedaling just to get 10 minutes of iPod just doesn’t seem so great).

I know I take a fair amount of tech out on the mountain bike trail but I’m generally pretty careful to make sure everything (GPS, phone, camera) is charged up before I head out. The HY Mini could really come in handy in an emergency though - ya know, just in case you lose the trail and that 4 hour epic ride becomes an overnighter

I’ve been using an Edge 605 GPS on loan from Garmin for the past couple weeks and I’m finally ready to share my review. For my tests I took the 605 on the trails at Yellow River, Tribble Mill, and Big Creek, the mean roads of East Decatur and Stone Mountain, and dizzying loops through the neighborhood. It’s a good thing I was able to get in so many rides - the Edge 605 actually has a steep learning curve.

Mapping

The latest Edge series GPS units from Garmin were created to add a critical feature missing in the original Edge units: decent mapping. The Edge 605 includes a brilliant color screen that is easy to read in virtually any light conditions from mid-day sun to pitch dark night. The included basemaps may be a draw for some but beware: the included maps are woefully inadequate even for road riders (and even more worthless to mountain bikers). If you want to use the Edge 605 to view topographic or even detailed street maps you’ll need to add a microSD memory card plus a $100 (each) mapping software package from Garmin.

I found the maps difficult to focus on while riding, particularly on the mountain bike trail. Even harder is picking out your skinny dotted breadcrumb trail on the map, even when you stop to rest! I found myself staring at the GPS like Mr. Magoo at trail intersections, trying to figure out if I had been there already. The GPSMap 60Cx at least lets you choose a color for your breadcrumb trail to make it stand out on the map more - perhaps Gamin will add this feature to the 605 as a software update.

Loading trails

Garmin is slowly but surely making it easier for regular folks to download trail information online and load it onto their GPS before heading out to the trail but the process still hasn’t been perfected. When you connect the Edge 605, your computer automatically recognizes the GPS unit’s internal memory as a flash drive (even on your Mac!). Just navigate to the Garmin/GPX folder and plop that .GPX trail file on the device. Done. You can also check in the History folder to find your latest rides saved in individual .TCX files, perfect for importing into Garmin Training Center or posting online.

I was a bit surprised, however, to find that the Edge 605 doesn’t come with any software out of the box. It seems like Garmin wants you to use the free but extremely limited Training Center software or one of their (paid) websites like MotionBased. For mapping and loading trails I really prefer MapSource but like I mentioned earlier, it doesn’t come cheaply. I’m waiting for the day when GPS software is as easy to use as iTunes - just drag and drop your tracks from your trail library to your GPS. Anyone listening out there?

Following routes

One of the coolest things about the Edge 605 and 705 is the ability to follow routes created by others. Once you’ve loaded a GPX file onto your device, it’s simple to build a route based on the data. So, for example, if you’re riding the local trail and following a track you downloaded from singletacks, the GPS will begin directing you as you approach the next turn. Though it won’t talk to you like TomTom, two sharp beeps alert you while the screen shows the time-until-turn and a blown up map of the turn or intersection. Unfortunately the on-screen instructions are a bit hard to understand, especially bombing down a hill, when they say go “South” or “South-west” instead of a simple left or right. Fortunately the on screen graphics help clear up any confusion.

Other features

Of course the Edge 605 can do most of the things regular GPS units can do like keep track of distance traveled, speed, time, etc. but curiously some pretty important features were left out. For example, the Edge 605 doesn’t include a graphical elevation plot and can’t even give you a running tally of total climb/descent on the trail – unacceptable in my opinion. The Edge 605 does actually track these things and you can view them at home on your computer, so why isn’t this visible on the device?

The Edge 605 uses the same solid, sleek mounting system as the Edge 205 and 305 GPS units which means it will stay on your bike even on the roughest trails. The unit itself is a bit larger than the Edge 305 but it’s still quite small and a huge improvement over the GPSMap 60C in terms of size and usability on the bike. Satellite reception was good, though it seemed a bit slower to acquire and hold a signal than my trusty Edge 305.

If you’re confused about operating your Edge 605, I must warn you that the official online documentation is a joke. As I mentioned this GPS has a steep learning curve, even for a geek like me who has owned 9 different GPS models over the past 7 years. The owner’s manual is painfully basic and probably covers less than half the features included on the Edge 605.

Verdict

Overall I have to give the Edge 605 a check minus. Sure, it’s a good first stab at creating a cycling-specific color screen GPS but it falls short in so many areas, particularly when it comes to mountain biking. In terms of price the Edge 605 is out of reach for most casual riders starting at just under $400 for the GPS without any maps or memory cards. Based on the price and current feature set I’d only recommend the Edge 605 to early adopters - you know, those guys who lined up to get the first iPhone, only to see the prices drop and performance improve just a few months later. If you need a GPS for biking right now, you still can’t do any better than the Edge 305 in my opinion.

There are just 4 weekends before the end of the GPS trail contest here on singletracks and the competition for the GoPro Helmet HERO camera is getting intense! AWooten2 is out front with 9 maps and aabiking is close on his heels with 6 complete maps. If you’ve got a GPS and you like to mountain bike (don’t we all) then you really don’t have an excuse - get out on the trail and start mapping for your chance to win a sweet helmet cam!

I’m testing an Edge 605 GPS from Garmin right now and while I’m not ready to write a full review, I did want to share a cool feature you might not have heard about. With the newest cycling GPS units from Garmin it’s easier than ever to import trails downloaded from the Internet (like those offered on singletracks.com) - and you can even do it with your Mac!

Just plug in your Edge 605 or 705 with the included USB cable and most computers will automatically recognize the GPS as a flash drive. Copy your GPX formatted trail files (like this one) to the Garmin/GPX folder and you’re done - the trails will now show up in the Where To? -> Saved Rides list on your GPS. Too easy… In the old days you had to convert your GPX files to a Garmin format (depending on what kind of unit you had) and then transfer the file using clunky Garmin software or buggy third party programs. I’m glad Garmin finally got it right on the latest GPS units.

Speaking of mountain bike trail maps for your GPS - did you know singletracks now has more than 400 trails mapped and available online? The maps aren’t just for your GPS either - you can view and print the full color maps and elevation profiles as well. Our goal is to have 500 mountain bike trail maps online before the end of the summer and we can use your help! Just submit 3 new trail maps and you’ll get access to the entire map catalog - plus you could win a free GoPro Helmet HERO mountain bike helmet camera in our current GPS contest. Gnarly!