Yahoo News Best bike computers for GPS navigation and tracking performance
Whether you want to try out a new cycle route, record those hard efforts or share your latest ride, there’s nothing better than a good GPS device or bike computer to help with that. Most cyclists love playing with a new bit of technology, and if there’s one piece you want to invest in then it has to be this trusty device.
But where do you begin and what are some key considerations to keep in mind?
Mapping and navigation
This is a key feature, says Daniel Kogan of Sigma Sports. “Brands such as Garmin are experts when it comes to their detailed, easy to follow maps that work harmoniously with third-party training platforms such as Strava and MapMyRide.”
“For those looking for the ultimate training companion, Wahoo's range of ELEMNT GPS cycling computers are well worth considering. With the ability to display everything from the power numbers you are putting out, to working seamlessly with their turbo trainers and other accessories, their computers optimise your time on the bike."
Whilst some cycling GPS devices and bike computers will offer detailed maps and intelligent route suggestions, others will have more basic functionality, which would be better suited to shorter journeys. Also, keep in mind the size of the screen and visual quality which can really help if you prioritise navigation ability.
Smartphone connectivity
It’s a big plus if your cycling GPS device or bike computer has smartphone connectivity. It makes it much easier to send routes and activities to and from your mobile phone, without any need to rely on connecting to a PC and fiddling with USB connections. Some of these devices will also notify you when you get a call or text message, which can be handy if you’re in demand (or working from home and getting in a sneaky cycle), whilst another useful feature is live tracking to allow friends and family to see where you are in real time.
Wifi, Bluetooth and ANT+
For Kogan, a wireless model, with ANT+ and Bluetooth compatibility is a must: “This will allow you to switch the computer between bikes, should you wish, and pair it with your heart rate monitor or other Bluetooth or ANT+ devices”. If getting your ride up on Strava as soon as you get home is your thing, then look out for a device that connects to WiFi.
App integration
Most devices will allow you to upload your activities to apps such as Strava, Garmin Connect or Map My Fitness, but some have more sophisticated integrations or features such as Strava Live Segments. This tells you when one of your favourite segments is coming up and cleverly tracks your performance against your previous best in real time.
Weight, screen size, battery life and price
As with any purchase, price and practicality, are top priorities for most of us. Will you be cycling to meet friends and just want a basic navigation device or is this going to be a key piece of kit that you want to utilise for training, mapping new routes and exploring further?
“Entry-level priced computers will often have the key metrics: speed, time, possibly cadence and heart rate,” explains Kogan. “The top of the range, all singing all dancing computers may have touch and/or colour screens, advanced mapping software and intuitive functionality to pair with apps to really tailor your cycling adventures.”
Devices are usually easy to charge via a USB or micro USB port, but keep in mind battery life if you’re eyeing up longer adventures or are after something for touring. For keen racers and pro-wannabes, the size and weight will help towards those marginal gains. Below, we’ve listed the dimensions, weight and battery life of the best cycling GPS and bike computers out there.
Wahoo ELEMNT Roam
Dimensions: 89mm x 54.4mm x 17.8 mm
Display size: 2.7" (68.58mm)
Weight: 3.3 oz (approx 93.5g)
Battery life: 17 hours
One of the most popular GPS bike computer brands amongst cyclists is Wahoo, with a keen following quick to praise their products. The Wahoo ELEMNT Roam is their latest offering and provides a crystal clear colour display on a 2.7” screen. It’s larger in dimension than the popular ELEMNT Bolt, due to its bigger screen, and weighs in at around 93.5 grams. The smart display includes an ambient light sensor, so the screen backlight and LED lights can automatically adjust to your ride’s lighting conditions.
Set up was straight forward and uploading routes to the device via a smartphone was simple. It’s battery life of 17 hours meant running out of juice wasn’t a stress on long rides and it wasn’t essential to charge it up between rides (even when one of those was London to Brighton and back).
It’s easy to navigate between screens, whether you prefer to see your key metrics such as average speed, riding time and distance, a detailed map or prefer to torture yourself with a look at the upcoming gradients. Its LED lights are also a good cue for when a turn is approaching or when you’ve gone off route.
As well as the colour screen, other new navigation features on this latest Wahoo device, include Get Me Started (route to starting point), Back on Track (on-demand rerouting) and Route to Start (shortest route). You can use its on-demand route generation, breadcrumb trails and saved locations on the device rather than having to use the Wahoo companion app.
Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt
Dimensions: 74.6mm x 47.3mm x 22.1 mm
Display size: 2.2" (56mm)
Weight: 2.2 oz (approx 93.5g)
Battery life: 15 hours
The older sibling of the ELEMNT Roam, the Bolt is still a highly popular choice, with some cyclists preferring the slightly smaller (and aero) dimensions. Unlike the Roam, there’s no colour screen and the display is 2.2” in size (rather than 2.7”), which although still works well, is a smidge less sophisticated when it comes to the visual display. However, the majority of Wahoo’s most loved features are available on the Bolt and it has a lower price tag than the Roam, which comes in at a penny under £300. Again, set up and syncing are simple and a whole host of metrics are easily available to view with buttons on the side allowing for movement between screens.
Dimensions: 58mm x 114mm x 19 mm
Display size: 3.5" (88.9mm)
Weight: 124g
Battery life: 24 hours
If money isn’t an issue, then the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus is worth checking out. It has a whole host of fun and clever features to play with, such as daily workout suggestions based on your current training load and estimated VO2 max. If you get lost in your efforts and need a hydration or fuelling reminder then there’s a feature for that too, or if you want weather alerts then that can also be set up. In fact we could be here all day listing off its vast range of offerings.
It has an impressive 3.5” colour display and, unlike the Wahoo, is touchscreen (which it claims remains responsive even when wet or used with gloves) and it also boasts an impressive 24 hour battery life. Like the Wahoo ELEMNT Roam, there are options to re-calculate if you go off route or for the navigation to direct you simply back to where you started your ride. As well as easily syncing routes from Strava and Komoot, the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus allows you to create new courses directly on the device, or experiment with Trendline popularity routing based on billions of miles of rider data that has been uploaded.
Garmin Edge 130 Plus
Dimensions: 41mm x 63mm x 16mm
Display size: 1.8" (45mm)
Weight: 33g
Battery life: 12 hours
If you like your tech compact and streamlined then the recently released Garmin Edge 130 Plus could be a good option for you. A 1.8” black and white display shows key metrics such as distance, time, speed and total ascent, while the map navigation features turn prompts and a breadcrumb map to show where you’ve been and where you’re headed. Like the Edge 1030 Plus it can also direct you back to your starting point. Routes can be created and downloaded via Course Creator in Garmin Connect and you can set it to automatically upload activities when paired with a smartphone.
Its display is clean, crisp and no-frills and toggling between screens is done via buttons rather than touch screen like on the more pricey Edge 1030 Plus. Its smart connectivity also allows for text messages to show up on the device without a rider having to reach for their mobile.
Beeline
Dimensions: Diameter - 65mm, depth - 18mm, strap length unstretched - 190mm
Display size: Approx 2" (30mm)
Battery life: 30 hours (without backlight on)
You can see straight away, with a glance at its interface, that the Beeline’s aim is to provide straightforward and uncomplicated navigation. It doesn’t have the fancy features or complex mapping of the big players, Garmin and Wahoo, but this is a bike computer that has intentionally kept things simple. It comes in either red, yellow, blue or charcoal grey, and the silicone strap is simply looped round the handlebars, while route planning is done via the companion app. Users can either use GPX files or cycling routes from Google Maps or Strava, build their own route or use an as-the-crow-flies navigation (if you’re feeling brave).
A large arrow shows you the current direction to follow, while a dot shows you the direction of the next turn and the display tells you the distance to it. There’s also a basic measure of your journey’s progress at the top of the screen and the battery boasts a huge 30 hours of use (although this shrinks to 10 hours with the backlight on).
Blubel
After both a bike bell and something to show you the way? Well, you’re in luck. Bluebel’s screen-free navigation system is designed to be intuitive and find users the quietest cycling routes, meaning it’s great for beginners or those who aren’t into tracking performance metrics and data.
The circular device pops into a metal holder, which you have to mount onto your handlebars, and after a quick search on the app for your destination, it directs you with audio signals and no-glare lighting. You can track and share activity via Strava and it also allows you to tag hazards so as to inform the community.
OS Velo GPS
Dimensions: 60mm x 105mm x 20mm
Weight: 110g
Battery life: 10 hours
If you’re a fan of a good old Ordnance Survey map, then this might well be the GPS device for you. This device from the national mapping agency, comes with a 3-year subscription to OS Maps - you can also get more detailed or international maps but these come at a cost.
Although this device is a good option for exploring new routes, its 10 hour battery life could be prohibitive if you want to spend a long time adventuring and finding new tracks. It features both touchscreen and button control and its large full colour screen delivers a crystal clear display. It also comes with a 16GB internal memory.
£209.99 | Ordnance Survey *On sale from £379.99
Verdict:
For ease of use, navigation and its range of useful features, we loved the Wahoo ELEMNT Roam. If money is no object, then the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus is a fun piece of kit to spend hours playing with, with a whole host of features to explore. When it comes to mapping though, we have to give a nod to the OS Velo GPS, which is a perfect companion for those who like an adventure and seeking out new routes that are off the beaten track.
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