We’ve mentioned before how a GPS navigation device can get you ready for competition. Looking for further proof? Look no further than Olympic cyclist Kristin Armstrong. Armstrong is a gold medal winner and top notch athlete. She and her coach went to Beijing ahead of time to check out the terrain and train for what they had heard would be unbearable air pollution.

Now it is one thing to train, but it is another thing to train and also capture and analyze data from the experience. Armstrong did this using a GPS device. Without the GPS device, she would have had to rely solely on her memory of training in Beijing for the many months she had between her trip and the actual Olympics. Her husband urged her to take on of his GPS devices with her to China to get an elevation profile as she rode and this advice proved to be invaluable.

Once she was back in the U.S., Armstrong was able to export the data from the GPS device. She used this information to search out a course that would approximate the one she’d be competing on as part of the Olympics. The ability to find a similar trail combined with the elevation data gleaned on her trip to China definitely helped Armstrong and gave her the edge she needed to capture a gold medal.

A GPS device like the Garmin Edge 605 Cycling Fitness Training Navigator GPS will automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude.  The customizable cycle computer shows up to eight different data fields for continuous feedback With a simple connection to your computer, you can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts through Garmin Connect our new, one-stop site for data analysis and sharing. You can also upload the optional Garmin Training Software for further analysis.

ActionGPS.com has the Garmin Edge 605 and other great GPS devices designed for cycling.