Newest Garmin Edge Lets Cyclists Share Routes Wirelessly While Adding SRM Power Compatibility

Newest Garmin Edge Lets Cyclists Share Routes Wirelessly While Adding SRM Power Compatibility

Garmin has today launched the Edge 705 and Edge 605 – the latest innovations in the popular line of integrated personal training systems for recreational and advanced cyclists. The Edge 705 and Edge 605 provide mapping capabilities, street navigation and a 2.2” colour display in addition to tracking vertical profiles, climb and descent, altitude, speed, distance, and time.

The Edge 705 represents several breakthroughs in cycling technology, including SRM compatibility and wireless unit-to-unit connectivity. Through collaborative efforts with SRM — a pioneer in mobile power diagnostics for bicycles — Garmin for the first time gives cyclists the opportunity to monitor GPS position, power, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude and gradient on the same display. And Edge 705 users will be able to share their information – including courses, waypoints and workouts – with each other through ANT+Sport™ wireless technology.

“The Edge 705 gives cyclists the most effective tools they need to train efficiently and share data easily,” said Andrew Silver, Garmin Europe’s Product Manager, “and these new products are further proof of how innovative technology can enrich people’s lives and help them better enjoy their exercise and recreational activities.”

ANT+Sport technology allows the Edge to interface wirelessly with a heart rate monitor, cadence sensor or other Edge units. Cyclists can share courses and workout data before, during or after a ride. When paired with an optional power meter from SRM, the Edge 705 measures power – torque and cadence for each leg at the pedals – which is often cited as a true indicator of an efficient ride.

“We are excited to work with Garmin, the industry leaders in global positioning technology,” said Uli Schoberer, owner of SRM. “Combining the SRM power measurement technology with the Garmin technology, the new Edge will be the ultimate training tool.”

The mapping capabilities on the Edge 605 and Edge 705 allow cyclists to truly get lost in their ride without losing their way. Both units come with turn-by-turn routing to destinations based on built-in maps and optional detailed street or topographical maps on preloaded data cards.

Altitude is recorded using a barometric altimeter for the Edge 705. This accurate altitude data makes it much easier for cyclists to match their altitude profile with their speed, cadence, and heart rate during post-ride analysis. The Edge 605 measures altitude through GPS positioning.

Whether you need to know where you’ve been, where you’re going, how long it’s taking or how high you’re climbing, the Edge 605 and Edge 705 offer answers. The Edge 605 and the Edge 705 display the customizable data fields on large colour screens, and the addition of a click stick helps users navigate through the various options. Sleek, waterproof and durable, the Edge uses a high-sensitivity GPS receiver to sustain reception in the most challenging conditions, such as heavy tree cover or “urban canyons” created by tall buildings. It attaches to either the stem or handlebars of the bicycle, and is designed for easy removal at the end of the workout.

The Edge 705 heart rate monitor uses a robust wireless technology that eliminates cross-talk and interference and delivers real-time heart rate data exclusively to the user’s device. This data is stored with each track point for in-depth post-workout analysis. The Edge 705 with speed/cadence sensor incorporates a self-calibrating, wireless speed/cadence sensor that mounts to the rear chain stay of the bicycle. The speed / cadence sensor will also allow riders to record speed and distance data while turbo training indoors.

Customizing the Edge is achieved using several innovative features:

• Workouts: Design workouts with multiple steps based on time, distance, calories or heart rate. Establishes workout targets based on speed, calories, cadence and heart rate (heart rate is standard on Edge 705, speed/cadence sensor is optional).
• Virtual Partner: Team up with a virtual training partner that provides continuous feedback. Depicts a digital cyclist (desired speed) in relation to the user’s real-time speed and notifies if ahead or behind desired target.
• Courses: Cyclists can race against a pre-recorded course and match previously set speeds at every point of the way, or navigate a brand new route. Combined with the Virtual Partner, this means that riders can race themselves (or other Edge users) over their regular rides, and see their real-time race position.
• Bike Computer: Customizable bike computer screen shows up to 16 different data fields across 2 screens. The user may customize the display for the size and placement of the data.
• Auto Pause: Pauses the timer when the user’s speed drops below a pre-set threshold.
• Alerts: Program alerts to sound if the user strays outside the range of speed, heart rate, or cadence values. Alerts can also indicate when a set amount of time or distance has passed.

When used with Garmin Connect — Garmin’s new and improved online training site — the Edge’s benefits continue long after the workout. By pairing the Edge 705 or Edge 605 with Garmin Connect, users can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts and log their workouts, track their totals, share workouts and participate in an online community. They can also search and download routes uploaded by other users.

The Edge 705 with Heart Rate Monitor is expected to be available in December 2007 and have an estimated retail price of £329.99 / €499.99. This device includes an ANT+Sport heart rate monitor, AC charger, USB PC interface cable, bike mounts, owner’s manual on disk and quick-reference guide.

The Edge 705 with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor is expected to be available in December 2007 and have an estimated retail price of £359.99 / €549.99. This device includes an ANT+Sport heart rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor, AC charger, USB PC interface cable, bike mounts, owner’s manual on disk and quick-reference guide.

The Edge 605 is expected to be available in December 2007 and has an estimated retail price of £269.99 / €399.99. It includes bike mounts, USB PC interface cable, AC charger, owner’s manual on disk and quick-reference guide.

About Garmin
Garmin (Europe) Ltd. is a member of the Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) group of companies which designs and manufactures navigation, communication and information devices – most of which are enabled by GPS technology. Garmin is a leader in consumer and general aviation navigation and its products serve the automotive/mobile, outdoor/fitness, marine and aviation markets. Garmin Ltd. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its principal subsidiaries are located in the United States, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information visit Garmin’s media centre at www.garmin.co.uk/mediacentre. Garmin is a registered trademark, and Edge, Virtual Partner, Auto Pause, ANT and ANT+Sport are trademarks and Garmin Connect is a service mark of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. Anticipated product availability dates are based on management’s current expectations and are not guaranteed.

All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

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This release includes forward-looking statements regarding Garmin Ltd. and its business. All statements regarding the company’s future product introductions and expected product availability dates are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Garmin, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006 filed by Garmin with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Commission file number 0-31983). A copy of Garmin’s Form 10-K can be downloaded at www.garmin.com/aboutGarmin/invRelations/finReports.html. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and Garmin undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.