Garmin durability on trails?

[sundial]

Miranda, have you considered carrying it in your Camelbak? You can still get the info without putting your Garmin at risk on the handlebars. You won't be able to get cadence but you'll get the other info.

There are apps for some cell phones that will give you coordinates with a compass as another suggestion.

[OakLeaf]

Another alternative might be to get a Forerunner 305 instead of an Edge. I don't know for sure about that model, but with my 301 (which doesn't have a cadence option), the wrist strap doesn't need to be removed from the unit for it to snap into the handlebar mount. Then I could just fasten the wrist strap loosely around the handlebar as a backup in case it fell out of the mount (which it never did).

The drawback is the display - monochrome and smaller versus the Edge's large color display. You also wouldn't have the option to import topo maps as I think you can with the Edge 705 (or street maps, but that wouldn't matter for the trail).

[SadieKate]

I mtbike with my Edge 305 mounted on my stem. Not a problem but I'm not super aggressive. Some table top jumps with a bit of air when I'm feeling frisky, but that's it. I also have a Forerunner 305. Neither is going to get you un-lost. These are not mapping GPS but recording units, as in they record the coordinates you've ridden. If you can match up your coordinates with a good map, they can help. But if you are standing at the intersection of 5 unmarked forest service roads/trails and the map only shows 3, and you want to map a route to another set of coordinates, good luck.

If you want a true mapping GPS with topo map updates, you need to look at something like a DeLorme PN-40. From what I've read, DeLorme does a much better job with topo maps than the Garmin 705. And the 705 is not built for trail riding.
http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELi...?section=10461

If all you care about is recording where you've been with a bit of idea where you are, the Edge 305 works fine. But don't expect it to get you home if you're lost. And carry a compass anyway. Don't depend on an electronic gadget out in the wild.

[OakLeaf]

They can't get you un-lost in the sense of taking you the best or shortest way to someplace you know, but the Return to Start function works just fine for re-tracing your steps.

[SadieKate]

Well, yeah, but when you're mountainbiking that could be a pretty durn nasty option.

[Aggie_Ama]

I see at least one at every race pop off someone bars. Granted these are people racing but since I can't afford such a piece of equipment I wouldn't dare take it on the trail. My husband's coach DNFd a race because his came off and he had to go off trail down the side of a hill looking for it, losing 10 minutes. If you are only worried about being lost I guess putting it in the pack is a viable option?