How easy is it to navigate through menus and functions? You simply open up the ELEMNT app, swap around data fields, and sync to your device. Top-rated models allow your phone to attach and detach from the bars in seconds. A bit larger than the Edge 520 Plus, the Edge 530 weighs 76g and has a slightly larger screen too at 51 x 38mm, while battery life is increased to a claimed 20 hours. Still, both give you the basic info for less than half the highest performing models' price. This is definitely the sturdiest of all the bike computers, and if weight is a factor, this… Compare the new Garmin Edge units - Edge 205, 305, 605, 705, 200, 500, 510, 800, and 810 and see how theyare different. Setup should factor into your purchase decision, but keep in mind that more sophisticated products with more features need a bit more time investment upfront. The Lezyne computers, the Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT BOLT, and the Edge 1030 also deserve a nod for their compatibility with both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart Sensors. We feel the user interface and ease of navigation on the device are the most important of all these factors. GPS enabled units like the Lezyne Micro C GPS have decent navigation, but the Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT ROAM, Garmin Edge 1030, Edge 520 Plus, and Edge 830 are the most capable computers in this regard. The Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT ROAM shakes out to be one of the most versatile models we tested. We got these numbers with an average of 10-14 hours a week of ride time, so it is entirely feasible that many users would get a year or more with moderate use. However, this advanced cycling computer comes at a price; it is the most expensive model in our test by far. The screen gets larger as you move up the range too, and goes from black-and-white to a colour display. You get the basics such as speed and distance, and can hook up via ANT+ or Bluetooth with peripheral devices. Whatever your reasons for riding, adding a cycling computer to your riding routine can provide you with quantifiable information to help you reach your training or fitness goals, navigate, or compete or socialize on apps like Strava. The Bike Alarm is also a nice security feature that tells you via your smartphone if the bike is moved while you’re away from it. Regardless, we still feel it's a top-notch device that earned every bit of its award. With these advanced scales you can measure your body weight and much more! Garmin has recently done some housekeeping on its Edge range, discontinuing some older longstanding models, so you might not see some familiar names below. Lots of practical features and a long battery life - what more could you want in a bike computer? What was once the tool of only the professional cyclist, the bike computer has come a long way in the last 30+ years. Wireless: No. Shop for Garmin Cycling Computers at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Navigation is on a whole new level, with maps, turn by turn directions, round-trip routing, course creation, and more. Select Garmin cycling computers come with mountain bike-specific metrics to help you evaluate your ride performance and gain you some bragging rights. It's also unique in that it can be used in either portrait or landscape orientation, depending on your preferences. If you are an avid cyclist and want to keep track of your ride data, you want to get a cycling computer. This allows you to pair your Edge to your phone, and they will talk to one another, with the computer showing you notifications of incoming calls and texts. The IPX rating system is a European standard that assigns rating protection numbers for electronics. The Garmin Edge models also have numerous activity profiles that you can customize for different types of rides, including indoor cycling. Future firmware updates will also allow the 130 Plus to control smart trainers. ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart sensor compatibility, Can use multiple satellite networks simultaneously, Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ sensor compatibility, GPS, GLONASS, BEIDOU Galileo, and QZSS satellites, Can be used in landscape or portrait orientation. Garmin has a comprehensive range, but other brands to look out for include Fitbit, Suunto and Polar. In terms of form factor, it is most akin to the Edge 1030, with a large color touchscreen, a weight of 116g and up to 12 hours battery life. Which option is better? Stages Dash M50 GPS Bike Computer. If you’re into racing or you take part in racing competitions, this model will be of great help to you. The downside to phone mounts is that most phones are massive compared to a bike computer. Rides displayed on the Lezyne Ally V2 app. The Lezyne computers offer the least in navigation and mapping. Tracking his performance in the pursuit of amateur racing dominance is one of his many obsessions, and as a result, he is intimately familiar with cycling computers. Setup for the Elemnt Roam was awesome. Performance racers and touring cyclists alike need technology that can be counted on. Updated November 25, 2020. There's so much going on with the Edge 1030 that most users will barely scratch the surface of its capabilities that we feel that most users will be just as happy while spending significantly less money. Product comparison table # Product Name ... Quality Score Sentiment Score Sales Volume; 1: Garmin Edge 130 GPS Bike Computer, Black 9.8 9.3 9.9 2: Garmin Edge 130 Plus GPS Bike Computer… All of the Lezyne devices have a four-button interface compared to the seven on the Garmin Edge 520, and all of their buttons are multi-function, making it a bit less intuitive to use. Connectivity is via ANT+ and Bluetooth, the latter letting you pair the computer to your phone. That suits many riders just fine, but for those that want a little more functionality, you'll need to look a little higher up the line for a more advanced, GPS-enabled computer. Moving up the range gets you increasingly larger devices with larger format colour touchscreens and more training data available. It also adds the ClimbPro feature, which tells you how much further a climb goes on and how steep it gets ahead. Whereas a couple of years ago, a bike computer was a Garmin, there are now alternatives from the likes of Wahoo and Lezyne, which in some cases offer other features, such as better aerodynamics, or lower price points. Like the other Lezyne models we tested, the Mega XL doesn't come with preloaded maps, but you can quickly and easily import maps from the app or the GPS Root website to the device to use for offline navigation. Related: Buying Advice for Bike Computers. After programming and playing with each competitor, we took to the roads and the trails to test each model for accuracy and to see how well those features and functions worked in the field. In addition to staying up to date on the most recent product releases, our team spent hours researching the best cycling computers to incorporate into this review. If you've just started cycling, you'll probably notice that many riders have some type of cycling computer attached to their bike. The app can also share your position and other metrics with other riders and family at home. It's straightforward to scroll around and select options. The ELEMNT BOLT also claims to use BeiDou Galileo and QZSS satellites for even more accuracy. It is impressively small and lightweight and punches way above its weight and size class in terms of performance and features. The Micro C GPS offers connectivity for both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart sensors with a decent range of performance metrics available for display. Battery life: Up to 48 hours. The well designed and user-friendly app is one of the main reasons we liked this GPS bike computer so much. Shop now at Competitive Cyclist. Raniaco Bike Computer. All of the Garmin Edge models also have a unique Incident Detection feature that, when enabled, can automatically notify your contacts in the event of a crash. This site is a free online resource that strives to offer helpful content and comparison features to its visitors. All of the other products we tested claim to be "water-resistant" but do not conform to any universal standard. The Edge 130 is compact too, weighing just 33g with overall dimensions of 62 x 40 x 17mm. Overall, navigation is faster on the Edge 1030 and 830, due to speedier scrolling by using finger swipe motions instead of tapping buttons to move through data screens on the Edge 520 Plus. Planet Bike 8.0 Protege. The Cateye Strada Slim employs two, one in the head unit and one in the wireless speed sensor. The Lezyne models can create up to five bike profiles for different bikes and types of cycling. It's such a smart design. Each evaluation's scores were derived from a mixture of testing out in the field and a ton of research for each cycling computer, looking at performance and function claims and potential lapses in performance. 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