 The cycling community will be pleased to hear that Garmin has just announced their newest Edge GPS: the sleek Garmin Edge 800. The new Edge 800 has kept the much-heralded features of its predecessor (the Edge 705) and added a spectacular 2.6" touchscreen.
Garmin maintains its cycling GPS "edge" by allowing users to plan and transfer route data using their free Basecamp software. Basecamp allows users to survey the terrain and behind them, and to view potential pit stops. Coupled with an integrated barometric altimeter, this allows riders to anticipate even the smallest of elevation changes and review their performance.
The new Edge 800 GPS follows in the footsteps of Garmin's established fitness line by allowing users to upload and share training data via their free-to-join online community, Garmin Connect. Garmin Connect displays and charts user information such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate. A variety of map representations are available, including street, satellite, topographic, and elevation maps.
While the GPS allows you to track time, speed, distance, and elevation, the Edge 800 can also monitor your heart rate and speed/cadence data in real-time. The Edge 800 does this by syncing to both heart rate and speed/cadence sensors wirelessly through ANT+ technology. All of this adds up to the most accurate calorie burn calculation possible.
Showing off its versatility, the Edge 800 can be transferred easily between bikes. No calibration is necessary, and the quarter-turn mount is a low-profile option that fits easily on the stem or handlebars. The Edge 800 boasts an internal battery that can last up to 15 hours, a high-sensitivity receiver with HotFix for fast and reliable satellite acquisition, and an alert that notifies the rider if they're moving without having started the timer.
In our assessment, the Edge 800 is poised to take the cycling world by storm. More serious cyclists will appreciate it as the fantastic training tool that it is, and more casual riders will appreciate the host of navigation features it brings to the table. | 
