Leica1956

Garmin Edge 200

Let me first start by saying that if you want all the “technical info”, go to Garmin.com or one of those lame review sites. There are a ton of them! I’m not going to list all the features or specs. All you’ll get from this is my personal experience, opinion, what I like/dislike and babble.

I’ve owned a few cycling computers and most of them work “OK”. Except for the pain of messing around with wires or trying to line-up that stupid magnet. Plus, how many of us have had one of those magnets fall off? The Edge 200 eliminates all that, and you can upload your route (when you get home) to you favorite mapping website. Garmin, Map my Ride, Strava or whatever the latest trendy hip website is. This is great, if you’re all “social” and stuff. As a bonus, the basic accounts are free at these sites. Me, I really just wanted a computer that was easy to use and didn’t cost more than my first car.

I’m cheap, poor, thrifty or what ever you want to call it. My $30 BBB computer has worked ok for the last 30 months. Then last month, it started losing connection during rides. It’s a wonderful feeling to look down and see you speed is 0 mph!

So, I started looking for a replacement. This was when I noticed the Garmin Edge 200. I’d liked the looks and features of the Edge 500, but at $370 for the bundle (cadence and heart monitor), I was all “maybe if I win the lotto”. Plus, I personally don’t need all those functions. I might like them, but I don’t need them. Yes, you can get the Edge 500 for $250 without the monitors. But, you can get the Edge 200 for $139. The Edge 200 has no ability to use heart rate, cadence, or power output monitors. Basically, there are no add-ons that can fail or cost more money later on!

The Edge 200 is the same size and shape as the 500, but it’s black and white and Garmin has replaced the text labels with symbols. It looks cleaner, plainer and who would want to steal something that looks plain! Bonus!

After shopping around, I found it on sale. I took it home and charged it up. Then I went for a test spin. Then I “tried” to connect it to my computer. This is when it would not work. It would not show up. I tried another computer and nothing. I tried another cable and nothing. I looked around online and found that others had the same problem (not only with the 200, but other units as well). This made me a little nervous about spending my hard earned cash on a glorified cycling-computer. So, I returned it to the shop and the sales guy talked me into trying another one.

The new one has worked fine (so far). I’ve used it 3 or 4 times and it is very easy to use. The initial set-up is ridiculously easy, all you do is turn it on and follow the directions. The first time you log a ride it will take a minute or two for it to find the satellite (so do it out side). Then you are off and riding!

The one feature you may want to adjust is the auto pause. By default it’s set at 3 mph or 5 kph, which wasn’t a problem on the road bike. The mountain bike was a different story. The place I ride has some big root infested hills and sometimes you end-up climbing around 1 – 2 mph. It got real annoying hearing it beep every time I hit a large climb and then again after I sped up. After setting the auto pause at .4 mph (it goes in tenths), the noise stopped and I was happy again!

Once the ride is done, click the “save ride” button and you’re good. Then I would turn the power off. If you don’t, it will beep and show a screen that says, “movement detected, do you want to log a ride”. Which is very helpful, if you’re not in the car and driving home!

When you’re at a computer, connect it and visit whatever map site you like. Click on the sites connect, download or import button and wait for your info. All your stats will be loaded and you can see the route on a map.

Now what I “really like” about this unit, over a low end cycling computer, is that it creates a map. And on that map, it gives you your speed at the specific distances. This lets you see how fast or slow you climbed those hills. Plus, all the usual things, average speed, max speed, distance and time. It does laps also, but I don’t need or use that. It doesn’t have a thermometer, but I can live without that. If my bottles freeze (and they have) I know it’s cold. If I sweat a lot, it’s hot.

In conclusion, I like the 200 Edge. It doesn’t do a bunch of stuff that “I don’t need”. Plus, the hundred dollars saved will go towards something new for one of the bikes. Like maybe a GoPro camera or lights for some night riding. Yea, I’m sure I can find a good use for the extra cash.

If you are a crazy smart phone/iPhone person. Then use it as a GPS/cyclo-computer. You’re already paying as much for the phone as you would for the higher-end cyclo-computer. I’d rather, save what a two-year contract “costs/screws you out of” and buy new components, a new bike or a bike trip to wherever!