Team Garmin edition of Edge 705 GPS-enabled cycling computer is made available to the public

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that its innovative line of Edge cycling computers will now include a Team Garmin model, inspired by the iconic orange and blue argyle pattern made popular around the world by Team Garmin-Chipotle presented by H3O. The Team Garmin Edge 705 is being introduced this week at Interbike in Las Vegas.

The Edge 705 represents several breakthroughs in cycling technology, including power compatibility, wireless unit-to-unit connectivity and the ability to monitor GPS position, heart rate, speed, cadence, altitude and gradient on the same display. The sleek orange and blue Team Garmin edition of the Edge 705, which was first seen on Team Garmin’s handlebars at the 2008 Tour de France, comes bundled with a heart-rate monitor, speed and cadence sensor and City Navigator mapping, which provides turn-by-turn directions and millions of preloaded points of interest. And Team Garmin athletes and recreational cyclists alike can share data – including official race courses, saved rides, waypoints and workouts –through ANT+™ wireless technology.

“As a professional athlete using the Edge 705, I’m assured that I’ll always have the accurate data and instant feedback that I need to give me every possible advantage in training and racing,” said Team Garmin leader Christian Vande Velde, fresh off his victory in the Tour of Missouri and fifth-place finish in the Tour de France. “And as an everyday cyclist, I’m assured that I’ll always be able to find my way home – even if home is a hotel room in a distant city.”  

Vande Velde and two of his fellow Team Garmin cyclists from the Tour de France, Stage 3 runner-up Will Frischkorn and Canadian climber Ryder Hesjedal, will be meeting fans, signing autographs and discussing the Edge 705 from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday of Interbike (Sept. 24-25) in the Garmin booth #2630.

Team Garmin has made headlines and impressed fans around the globe by pairing innovative technology with a strict anti-doping stance. In tackling the world’s toughest races — and redefining the face of cycling — Team Garmin relies on the Edge 705 on their bikes and nüvi personal navigation devices in their cars.

“The mapping capabilities and turn-by-turn directions available on the Edge 705 provide details about the twisting roads ahead,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports, LLC, the sports management company that runs Team Garmin. “So rather than relying on our radios to describe changes in terrain, direction or elevation, we can focus on tactical discussions that put us in position to win the race.”

Slipstream Sports is dedicated to promoting ethical competition and developing the next generation of cycling champions.  In 2007, Slipstream partnered with the independent Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE), to create the most progressive anti-doping system in the professional sports world. The team of 25 riders undergoes combined voluntary testing at least 700 times throughout the cycling season. Vaughters’ staunch “ride clean or go home” philosophy earned him a nomination by Sports Illustrated for the prestigious Sportsman of the Year award.

Recreational cyclists can join Team Garmin and its coaches in tracking their progress, sharing workouts and participating in an online community – even sharing recent rides with fellow riders around the world. Garmin Connect displays measurements such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate. This information is shown through charts, illustrations, reports and a variety of map representations including street, photo, topographic, and elevation maps as well as the popular Google Earth application.

Garmin and Slipstream Sports share similar success stories rooted in hard work, innovation and an unwavering insistence on quality results. Just as Garmin is a global leader with facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia, the Slipstream squad assembled elite athletes from around the world.

About Team Garmin-Chipotle Presented by H30
Owned and managed by Slipstream Sports, a sports marketing and development company, Team Garmin-Chipotle presented by H30 is dedicated to promoting ethical sporting and developing the next generation of cycling champions. In 2007,  Slipstream partnered with Agency for Cycling Ethics (ACE), to create the most progressive anti-doping system in the professional sports world. Each of the team's 25 riders undergo combined voluntary testing at least 700 times throughout the 2008 season, 20 times the number of tests that most professional cyclists are subject to annually. Additional information is available at www.slipstreamsports.com.