Cycling Computer

I use an Edge 520 - which I upgraded to from a 500 a couple of years back. I don't think I've ever done 10 hours straight, but I've never had any trouble with the battery.

The Garmin Edge 1030 was just on sale on chain reaction for Black Friday. Big screen and has got great reviews. Purchased and waiting on delivery myself. It came back into stock after it sold out the 1st time so could be worth putting an alert on it.

I was looking for a smaller unit like the 530 or 830 but they were so close in price I went for the 1030 in the end.

I bought the 520+. I opted for that model because I wanted navigation, but I didn't want the touch screen.

It can be got for about €160-170

a_shed wrote: »

Just checked and it's currently £468 compared to £240 for the 530 !

Link for £299 here but out of stock currently.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/garmin-edge-1030-cycling-computer/rp-prod166020

I've a Garmin 520 for the last four years and while it was fine for the first two years, I can't wait to get rid of it. Poor battery life - really bad in low temperatures. I went on a 40km spin today (elapsed time 1:51) - 100% battery at the start and 26% when I got home. Backlight off, brightness at zero. On longer spins, even in summer, I bring an external battery so I don't get caught out.

Sensors (speed, cadence, heart rate) drop out for no apparent reason. Any bit of tree cover causes the speed reading to behave erratically - shouldn't be an issue if the speed sensor would connect.

Following a course can be tedious - late turn warnings, no consistency with straight on/main road turns. The base map on the 520 is rubbish with lots of roads omitted - you'll need to load an Open Street Map for proper detail.

It has a mind of it's own when it comes to LiveTrack.

Syncing can be hit and miss (although it hasn't misbehaved in this regard for a few months).

I've tried everything over the past two years but no luck.

I'm hoping to get a Wahoo in the coming weeks.

I really couldn't recommend a Garmin 520 and my experience with the 520 has put me off Garmin altogether.

I have the 1000 for 4 years now. Very happy with it.

ED E wrote: »

BOLT is bulletproof, just putting it out there.

I concur, rock solid from Wahoo, operating from the app is so convenient and easy, terrific battery life probably because it does away with anything too fancy. Plenty of data fields, i couldn't fault it.

ED E wrote: »

BOLT is bulletproof, just putting it out there.

it just gets the job done innit. charge once, use on long spins (3-4hrs) three or four times without having to recharge.

I've been using a giant neostrack now for about a year. I have cadence and HR sensors connected and never any issues. Very happy with it. No touch screen, but it's a very solid unit with a great battery life.

D13exile wrote: »

Let me just say that I firmly believe in "each to their own" but I'm just curious as to why you guys use these bike computers? I use my phone to track my cycles, but just once a month now so I can monitor my progress. I find that if I track each and every cycle, I find I end up "racing myself" each time and I don't actually enjoy the act of being on my bike out in the fresh air. Plus having a computer on my bars constantly reminding me that I'm slightly slower than last time would be a cause of stress imho. When I do my monthly tracking of my spins, my phone is left in my back pocket until I get home and see how far/fast I've gone. As my average speed is holding around 33-35kph, I'm happy enough with that. Don't think having a bike computer would make me go any faster, just make me enjoy the cycle less I think.

And I'm not having a go at those who use them, I just don't see the point.

Very often, I'm using my bike computer to display a map of where I'm cycling, but if I know the route, I tend not to look at it too often. It's a habit to log all my activities that I carried over from running

D13exile wrote: »

Let me just say that I firmly believe in "each to their own" but I'm just curious as to why you guys use these bike computers? I use my phone to track my cycles, but just once a month now so I can monitor my progress. I find that if I track each and every cycle, I find I end up "racing myself" each time and I don't actually enjoy the act of being on my bike out in the fresh air. Plus having a computer on my bars constantly reminding me that I'm slightly slower than last time would be a cause of stress imho. When I do my monthly tracking of my spins, my phone is left in my back pocket until I get home and see how far/fast I've gone. As my average speed is holding around 33-35kph, I'm happy enough with that. Don't think having a bike computer would make me go any faster, just make me enjoy the cycle less I think.

And I'm not having a go at those who use them, I just don't see the point.

It's just a motivational tool for me. Nothing else. I like tracking my rides and trying to keep a consistent pace while also enjoying the fresh air and scenery.

thejaguar wrote: »

Without my computer I'll generally be slower and with a lower cadence. Not a huge amount for either, but the computer keeps me honest I guess. It doesn't affect my enjoyment at all, I like seeing the numbers.
I also like to see the stats at the end of a year - total distance mainly...

That's something I forgot to add in my post. I like looking at overall figures, but one of the things I love about Garmin, is the ability to monitor mileage on gear and components.

I have an overall mileage count for the runners I wear, I have an overall mileage covered on my bike, but I've new tyres and a new chain on the bike, and I can track the mileage on these components separately

D13exile wrote: »

...having a speed readout in front of me for the entire spin would be like having a whip at my back constantly pushing me on....

This is exactly why I like it. I need something similar beside my work laptop...

I have been on a GPS computer journey from the 25 to the 520 to the 820 and then the wahoo elment. I am now on a Sigma Rox 12 and it is by far the best I have had so far. OK it is very German in the way that it does things, but it is excellent at navigation and has gotten me out of bother more than once. Also it can be had cheaply at times. I got mine for about 230 from Amazon germany from the amazon warehouse seller. I sold my 820 for 150 and was delighted to see the back of it.

Again not one that has been adopted by the masses, but great little device. Brilliant for club spins