Garmin touchscreen Edge 800 GPS

Back in the day, cyclists keen to keep a record of their travels had to employ a map for directions and listen to the relentless click of a metal wheel clip nudging against a mechanical device for recording the miles travelled, but Garmin’s touchscreen Edge 800 cycling GPS unit cuts a far more modern dash.

Cycling in colour
Their new touchscreen-based Edge 800 comes with a 2.6-inch colour display, and offers new mapping options like Garmin’s BaseCamp route planning and BirdsEye Satellite Imagery for keeping riders on track.
“Whether you’re on the road, in the mountains or around the city, Garmin’s touchscreen Edge 800 puts the most important information of your ride at your fingertips,” spake Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales.
“Thanks to its simple mounting system, improved mapping and route-planning capabilities, and the GPS-based features that make wires and calibration obsolete, we can easily say that one Edge fits all.”

Calibrate ye not

The Edge 800 needs no fiddly calibration to set up, so riders can use it on different bikes, with the unit able to be positioned on the handlebars or stem via a low profile mount.Maps are loaded via microSD card.
Garmin say that their high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix can snappily acquire and lock on to satellites, and the Edge 800 also displays temperature readings, changes time zones automatically with the battery lasting for up to 15 hours on one charge.
The Edge 800 should be available in October, with Garmin offering two configurations: a standalone version for $449.99 or a pricier $649.99 bundle that lobs in a wireless speed and cadence sensor, a City Navigator microSD card, and Garmin’s new premium heart-rate monitor strap.