Recently my 10 year-old Polar Heart Rate Monitor died and I was looking for a new basic HRM. A few days later I saw Garmin Forerunner 305 (GPS+HRM) on sale ($119) on GPSCentral newsletter. Amazon reviews were excellent so I bought one. It's higher quality than my Polar and now I really think it can be used for off-road riding as well. The workout can be exported to a file in .GPX format or can be directly opened from Google Earth. It can also import .GPX files. So I can switch tracks between my Forerunner and GPSMAP 60CX if needed. As of today, its price is $129. http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmi ... ner305.htm http://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-forerunner-305.html
So this isn't a replacement for a GPS since it only records where you have been and does not give you any indication of where to go?
It has basic mapping, only highways, but I can follow the tracks I saved before, or import tracks (.gpx) from other GPSs/Software. You can create routes from waypoints on Forerunner but not sure if you can import one, have not tried that yet. I might frequently use "Back to Start" feature. Still playing with it. It looks like it's going to replace my real GPS need for Ganny at least.
OK, it does have a basic mapping function, kinda like my old eTrex Legend. This could work. When you are out on the trails, you can't follow a handlebar mounted GPS anyway, so stopping to look at your "watch" could work. Plus I would think it would less prone to damage than a bike mounted GPS and you get all the heartrate stuff with it. It would be interesting to see what my heart rate is just before that "oh sh!t" moment and I hit a tree.
Sometimes branches hit my wrist, so potentially can damage the not-so-rugged watch. I'll try turning it to back of my wrist next time.
A lot of guys like the Foretrex series as well. A little bit bigger display, and can be worn on the wrist\arm, or wrapped around the bars. http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmi ... ex401.html
