Garmin Edge 500

Garmin Edge 500 Review

Find Garmin Edge 500 on sale here!

If you like riding your bike not just for the sightseeing, but to exercise, to improve your strength and health and you would like to track your performance, then Garmin Edge 500, designed for the performance cyclists could be an excellent option for you.

It is small (6.4 x 6.4 x 3.3 inches) and lightweight (1.2 pounds), but powerful device with low-profile, quarter-turn mount that fits on your bike’s stem or handlebar and holds it securely. It has many mounting possibilities and is very flexible, so it fits for sure on any bike.

Garmin Edge 500, Garmin Edge, Garmin 500, Edge 500

It tracks speed, distance, GPS position and elevation, so you can get the most from your training and racing.

Additionally, Garmin 500 is compatible with ANT+ heart rate monitors, speed/cadence sensors and third-party ANT+ power meters. It also has temperature readings and a start notice that warns you if the timer is not going when you begin moving.

Depending on the GPS coverage of the place where you will ride, it is recommended that you use the cadence sensor with it. It is the wheel sensor to supplement the GPS if the GPS signal is lost, for example under the tree cover. Without the wheel sensor it can read as much as 20% low on mileage if you ride in tree cover. With the wheel sensor its spot on no matter what.

The battery is an integral Li-ion unit that is not user accessible or replaceable, but can lasts as long as the product does. It is working without recharge for up to 18 hours and has a charge % listed. The battery can be charged with the included adaptor or from a computer USB port.

Check out short review of Garmin Edge 500 by professionals:

You can buy Garmin Edge 500 on Sale here!

What current owners have to say about it?

The Garmin Edge 500 is just what I expected it to be. I think it was the most anticipated GPS/cycle computer from Garmin. It’s small and pretty does the all the things (and some more) that you expect a cycle computer to do. To begin with the size of the computer was a little larger that what I expected it to be, but having said that, it fits perfectly fine on my handle bar stem and note I have a short stem (80 mm). I did my first ride with it a while ago and it was pretty much ready to go from the box it arrived it in. It did not have any difficulties acquiring sattelites, and easily paired with the Garmin Heart Rate monitor and the Bontrager Duotrap cadence/speed sensor. Did not see any drops in signal during my ride, something that I would see with the previous Garmin that I had. You have three screens which you can 8 fields of data per screen. So you can monitor 24 data sets real time during your ride. There are far more options than I can list here, just to keep it short it’s a plenty.

I personally am upgrading from a Forerunner 50 and I think this is just great! I think that everyone will be pleasantly surprised by the capabilities of this device except for the Edge 705 owners who will feel it is a downgrade for the lack of maps (which it is).

Kaustav B.

View original review here.

One thing that many users recommend is, when you get your device, to do these 2 steps first:

  • before using the device for the first time, charge it fully, and then
  • get the latest firmware update from the Garmin Website. There were many issues with some of the first versions of the software that were fixed by Garmin! Installing the firmware involves downloading a program which then loads info into the unit. After that when you turn the unit on it compiles the new firmware into it over the period of a few minutes and then is ready to go.

Once your ride is complete, upload the workout to Garmin Connect for detailed analysis and mapping.

Finally, PROS and CONS of Garmin Edge 500:

Garmin Edge 500 PROS

  • ready to go from the box, simple configuring, ease of connection to get your results on the computer and easy to email to your riding partners. Keeping a record stored on the Garmin Connect site is great for going back to check your riding work.
  • easy mounting on any bike, very flexible
  • waterproof
  • quick connection to satelites, and easily paired with heart rate monitors, speed/cadence sensors and third-party power meters.
  • highly customizable display – You have three screens where you can add 8 fields of data per screen. So you can monitor 24 data sets real time during your ride.
  • long battery life – Device easily runs up to 18 hours without charge
  • memory - stores 180 hours of ride data

Garmin Edge 500 CONS

  • no maps – but, you can upload rides to the Garmin web site and see a map of the route along with various performance graphs.
  • screen quality reported poor by some users, mainly glare, poor contrast and screen size if you want to see many indicators. An anti glare screen protector film is an option that will quickly solve a glare issue.

Conclusion

Garmin Edge 500 is an excellent device that takes the concept of a bike computer to a new level. Provides all sorts of information before and after the ride.

You can buy Garmin Edge 500 on Sale here!