A New Toy!

My 44th birthday came two weeks early today when I received my new Garmin Edge 705 in the mail. Everybody knows guys like their toys...and I've gotten some great toys for my birthday through the years -- Tinkertoys, slot cars, Atari -- but I think this one may be my favorite yet. It's the ultimate bike computer: GPS-enabled with street maps, turn-by-turn directions, wireless cadence and heart rate monitor and a color display! I'm going to be the envy of many a rider on Ride the Rockies this June.

I also got a new Garmin Louis Garneau cycling jersey to wear as I train for RTR. So, you may be wondering why I'm such a big Garmin fan. Well, it doesn't hurt that they are based in my former hometown of Olathe, Kansas. Or that my buddy Ted works there. But the main reason I'm such a big fan is because I love the Edge, Forerunner and Nuvi!

My Edge 305 has ridden thousands of miles with me on my bike, including two Ride the Rockies, Ride MO for the Cure (a four-day, 400 mile ride across Missouri with my buddy Chris to raise money for breast cancer research) and many training rides in Kansas and Colorado.

My Forerunner 305 completed the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon, Chicago Half Marathon and Vineman Ironman 70.3 triathlon (including the swim!) with me last summer (as well as all the training runs around The Rock).

My Nuvi 360 leads me to meetings, restaurants and nightclubs all across the country during my travels to promote beef as part of a healthy lifestyle.

But this is about my new Edge 705. I can't wait to get out on the open road and try out the mapping features. Unfortuntely, it snowed here yesterday (on May Day!) so I"ve only been able to use it while riding in place on my CycleOps Fluid2 Trainer. Pretty anti-climactic. But at least it has a wireless heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor so I can keep my indoor rides interesting and productive.

More on that later...

Daren