Has anyone used the Garmin Edge 800? Looks like it is the modern version of my old Cateye Tripmeter!?!

Phil

Cool, what time do you set off at your end normally?

 
Around 6.30PM

I should be home from work intime to see if I can keep up from Cowpasture Rd to Prestons return:) Will have to pull my finger out!!

Hey phil, 
i have been riding both road and mountain bikes for over 20 years, and have been working in the cycling industry for over 10years  now, so should be able too help with a few of your questions.
Post a pic of your bike and i may be able to make some suggestions on cheap improvements, remember a what 20 year old computers and cars were like? well bikes, cars and computers have all come along way.
But in saying that its great you have a bike you can ride and make sure you want too take up the sport again, I will warn you cycling takes away from car time. Its the biggest deter-ant i have from working on my panel van
Maybe set yourself a goal of 2000ks on the old bike and see how you feel before considering a new bike. And if and when you do consider a new bike,  purchase that only if you get sized up by someone with the correct skills and tools to do so. I tell customers everyday a good fit up on a bike could make the cheapest bike in the store  a better bike than the best bike in the storel if you haven't been fitted too it.
 
The old diamond back should be fine, id be guessing it was a chromoly frame which would be nice and comfortable but not transfer the power to the rear wheel as well as an alloy or carbon bike. If the diamond back is alloy the power transfer would be great but over longer distances you would get a bit more beat up from the road feel as alloy is very stiff, 
This is where carbon ticks all the boxes, light and comfortable, this is why most quality bikes are made of carbon.
The other big difference is gear shifters im guessing your bike would have what we call suicide shifters ( these are shifters that are mounted on the downtube) These are both harder too use and more dangerous.
Newer shifters are mounted on the handlebar levers and these are incorporated in with the brake levers. These make riding much easier.
As for pedals i suggest the shimano r540 road pedal as great pedal that will last and not cost a fortune. and a good pair of basic ROAD shoes, ie the scott comp road road shoe. By goin a road shoe straight away you are eliminating the need to upgrade later, the shoe is also stiffer and offers better power delivery and bike control. A stiffer shoe also lessens the chance of cramping and numb toes.
 
I use the garmin edge 500 computer, its great and a lot smaller and neater than the edge 800, if moneys an issue and you have a decent phone dload the app, endomondo.
This is a great motivational tool too set goals and see how many kays you have done, it can also tell you you heart rate and how many vertical meters you have climbed. have a look at it its very similar to strava i just found it easier to use.
 
Let us know how u get on, good too see someone else out on the bike.
 
 
 

Hi Glenn,
 
Thanks for the info!
 
I cant remember what size the frame is but hopefully it is still suitable, I dont think I have grown height wise since I was riding but cant say the same for my width!!
 
I will definately get a few kms up on the old bike, hopefully it still goes as well as I remember!! I just did a search to get a bench mark on where I was at back in the good old days...We did the Blacktown to Broadway run in 50 minutes, 36kms...hopefully I can get back to that level.
 
The old diamond back definately has suicide shifters and Im pretty sure its chrome moly too, I did 000's of kms on it, rides from Blacktown to Katoomba, Blacktown to Gosford, Northern Beaches, it was a pretty comfy bike to ride. I remember it took a while to break the seat in...or is that the seat to break me in!!
 
I have been checking out those pedals on ebay...although will probably by at the bike shop along with shoes...
 
I eneded up with a Garmin Edge 800 bundle with speed/cadence sensor and heartrate monitor for $280...one of my techs has a cousin working for Garmin so I couldnt say no:D
 
I've got to say the cycling thing is exciting me more than laying the first pair of black tracks with the Corty at present!!
 
Cheers,
 
Phil.

geez 800 for $280 thats what i paid for my 500. u can upload those rides to an endomondo account.
 heart rate is a good one, im not a fan of cadence. 
get the shoes at the shop under the proviso they check your seat height and cleat position. cleats that are loose or in a wrong postion can cause issues, 
How tall are you phil and what size bike is it?
 

i also plan on using my garmin in the escort as a speedo lap timer
but your much closer to that than me
 

All the best.be careful take care of your health

Ive been riding/racing since i was in Grade 6 at PS, and stuck at it in a school based program throughout SC. 3 years out of SC I'm still riding and racing, but i don't ride a full carbon, $5K + bike, i ride a alloy frame, carbon forks, seat post and head stem, with 9 spd dura ace. 
SO i wouldn't be worried about the age, or the type of frame of the bike, but give it a good service and see how u go. My first road bike was an old Gazelle, Itallian hand built frame from the late 70's, sold it for $200 a few years ago, and have now found out the thing is worth a mint :( but i used to train with my team mates who were riding full carbon bikes no worries. 
 
another good way to get back into it :) is on MTB. i just bought a brand new dual suspension XC MTB, and have been training more on that then the roadie. I find it less boring riding singles tracks, and being on the ball doing 35+km/h knowing that if i F up I'm off in no time, rather than sitting on a road bike just going straight all the time. 
 
either way, good to hear your getting back into. cycling is an ever growing sport. 

oh an by the way, i don't race road bike or MTB anymore, they are both just a means of training. 
 
This is what i race now.....

 
which looks similar to this inside