Garmin GSC 10 Speed/Cadence Bike Sensor Review. Heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor will not work with the Forerunner 205 or the Edge 205. Features: The quick release mount allows the Forerunner head unit to be popped off the wrist strap and attached to the handlebar mount quickly.Includes handlebar mount and wrist strap with quick release head unit mountFor use with Forerunner 205/305 only...
"Excellent compact lightweight wireless cadence sensor" 2007-11-22
By Brad Jackson (Panama City, FL USA)
Another handy piece of equipment from Garmin!
This kit comes in three basic parts; a sensor unit, which is about the size of a matchbox, and two magnets about the size of your pinky nail. Several zip-ties are included for mounting purposes; the entire kit weighs at most a couple of ounces.
Installation is pretty straightforward, but do follow the directions carefully and don't snug down the zip-ties until you're sure you've got all three components just where you want them and have tested the system!
The sensor mounts to the left chain stay with a pair of zip-ties. Garmin thoughtfully added a piece of rubber padding to the bottom of the sensor unit, so it won't rough up your fancy carbon frame or your paint job :)
A single zip-tie attaches the crank magnet to the crank, although I had to use a large (3/4") shim on my FSA crank (which has a curved profile and a hollow back) to place the crank magnet in the proper position for the sensor to "see" it. The spoke magnet clamp has both a round hole and a square hole; make sure you use the right hole for your spoke profile! I mounted mine on a spoke directly opposite the tire valve, just to help keep the wheel in balance.
The sensor unit must be positioned along the chain stay such that it can "see" both the crank magnet as it passes by the cadence sensor (the round part on the side of the sensor unit), and the spoke magnet as it passes the speed sensor (the part that looks like a lever in the picture).
Testing is accomplished by pressing a small button on the sensor unit, which prompts it to flash a red LED, then a green one to indicate that testing is started. As pointed out by another reviewer, the LEDs are hard to see in bright ambient light; I'd recommend testing in a garage if possible. Hi-intensity LEDs would have solved this problem, although I suspect these LEDs were chosen for their low power consumption, so maybe it's a smart design decision after all.
Once the test button is pressed, the next 60 revolutions of the crank should cause the red LED to flash when the crank magnet passes the sensor, while the spoke magnet passing the sensor should generate a green LED flash. If you saw the red/green flash when the button was pressed, but don't see a flash as each magnet passes the sensor, chances are one or both magnets are not properly aligned with the sensor (there are alignment lines on the sensor and both magnets), or the magnets are passing too far from the sensor (this is the problem I encountered and solved with a shim).
When you're sure everything is in the right places, snug the zip-ties and cut them flush. Then set up a screen (typically the Biking screen) on your 305 to display Cadence in one of the data fields, and go ride!
"Garmin GSC 10 Speed Cadence Sensor" 2006-11-09
By Thomas L. Wilson Jr. (Hills of Tennessee)
Easy installation of sensor and magnets. Crank magnet come loose easily.
Pairing the sensor with the receiver unit can fail without much of an indication of the problem. Once the sensor is paired, the unit works very reliably.
"A must have for you Edge 305" 2007-07-14
By Yvan Auger (Ontario, Canada)
I bought the Edge 305 w/o the cadence sensor thinking I don't need it but I was wrong. Once you realize what the Edge can give you for information and you start to plot everything ( I use SportTracks )you became addicted and you want cadence chart too !!!
Furthermore, the sensor allows you to get speed even when there's no GPS signal ( tunnel, cities, etc). A fact that overlooked.
Easy to install and the red/green light tells you if the unit senses the magnets which have to run pretty close to the unit. I would suggest you test the unit on your bike in a rather dark area to make it easier to look at the ligth on the unit.
"Garmin Finally Got It Right" 2007-06-07
By A. Vasquez (Riverside, CA)
I purchased this item and, based on the reviews I had read, I also purchased a battery for it because Customers had complained that the Garmins were being shipped with batteries that did not contain a charge anymore. However, to my surprise, the battery worked fin and I really enjoy having the extra cadence information when I download my workout histories. Works great with my ForeRunner 305. I highly recommend it.
"Works extremely well." 2007-07-14
By Joanne Boone (Ohio)
Unlike the Polar speed/cadence units, the Garmin is made to work from the rear wheel (great if you ride an indoor trainer) and its creative design allows it to catch both speed and cadence from a single unit. Impressive. Just be sure to get a new battery - mine, like others, came shipped with a dead battery.
By Brad Jackson (Panama City, FL USA)
Another handy piece of equipment from Garmin!
This kit comes in three basic parts; a sensor unit, which is about the size of a matchbox, and two magnets about the size of your pinky nail. Several zip-ties are included for mounting purposes; the entire kit weighs at most a couple of ounces.
Installation is pretty straightforward, but do follow the directions carefully and don't snug down the zip-ties until you're sure you've got all three components just where you want them and have tested the system!
The sensor mounts to the left chain stay with a pair of zip-ties. Garmin thoughtfully added a piece of rubber padding to the bottom of the sensor unit, so it won't rough up your fancy carbon frame or your paint job :)
A single zip-tie attaches the crank magnet to the crank, although I had to use a large (3/4") shim on my FSA crank (which has a curved profile and a hollow back) to place the crank magnet in the proper position for the sensor to "see" it. The spoke magnet clamp has both a round hole and a square hole; make sure you use the right hole for your spoke profile! I mounted mine on a spoke directly opposite the tire valve, just to help keep the wheel in balance.
The sensor unit must be positioned along the chain stay such that it can "see" both the crank magnet as it passes by the cadence sensor (the round part on the side of the sensor unit), and the spoke magnet as it passes the speed sensor (the part that looks like a lever in the picture).
Testing is accomplished by pressing a small button on the sensor unit, which prompts it to flash a red LED, then a green one to indicate that testing is started. As pointed out by another reviewer, the LEDs are hard to see in bright ambient light; I'd recommend testing in a garage if possible. Hi-intensity LEDs would have solved this problem, although I suspect these LEDs were chosen for their low power consumption, so maybe it's a smart design decision after all.
Once the test button is pressed, the next 60 revolutions of the crank should cause the red LED to flash when the crank magnet passes the sensor, while the spoke magnet passing the sensor should generate a green LED flash. If you saw the red/green flash when the button was pressed, but don't see a flash as each magnet passes the sensor, chances are one or both magnets are not properly aligned with the sensor (there are alignment lines on the sensor and both magnets), or the magnets are passing too far from the sensor (this is the problem I encountered and solved with a shim).
When you're sure everything is in the right places, snug the zip-ties and cut them flush. Then set up a screen (typically the Biking screen) on your 305 to display Cadence in one of the data fields, and go ride!
By Thomas L. Wilson Jr. (Hills of Tennessee)
Easy installation of sensor and magnets. Crank magnet come loose easily.
Pairing the sensor with the receiver unit can fail without much of an indication of the problem. Once the sensor is paired, the unit works very reliably.
By Yvan Auger (Ontario, Canada)
I bought the Edge 305 w/o the cadence sensor thinking I don't need it but I was wrong. Once you realize what the Edge can give you for information and you start to plot everything ( I use SportTracks )you became addicted and you want cadence chart too !!!
Furthermore, the sensor allows you to get speed even when there's no GPS signal ( tunnel, cities, etc). A fact that overlooked.
Easy to install and the red/green light tells you if the unit senses the magnets which have to run pretty close to the unit. I would suggest you test the unit on your bike in a rather dark area to make it easier to look at the ligth on the unit.
By A. Vasquez (Riverside, CA)
I purchased this item and, based on the reviews I had read, I also purchased a battery for it because Customers had complained that the Garmins were being shipped with batteries that did not contain a charge anymore. However, to my surprise, the battery worked fin and I really enjoy having the extra cadence information when I download my workout histories. Works great with my ForeRunner 305. I highly recommend it.
By Joanne Boone (Ohio)
Unlike the Polar speed/cadence units, the Garmin is made to work from the rear wheel (great if you ride an indoor trainer) and its creative design allows it to catch both speed and cadence from a single unit. Impressive. Just be sure to get a new battery - mine, like others, came shipped with a dead battery.
