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If you’re an avid cyclist looking to keep track of your workouts, a cycling computer can be a great investment. With so many options on the market, it can be challenging to choose the right model for your needs. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of the best-rated cycling computers, complete with detailed information about their features.
It’s worth noting that prices for these devices can vary, so it’s possible to find a quality model without breaking the bank. If you’re just starting out or have a casual interest in cycling computers, a basic model that focuses on monitoring physical activity and performance may be sufficient. However, if you’re training for a big race or looking for more advanced features, a higher-capacity model may be more suitable.
One of the benefits of higher-capacity cycling computers is that they’re designed to withstand inclement weather, such as rain, and often have longer battery life than smartphones. Additionally, they typically have more advanced screens and functions to help you track your progress and performance more accurately.
Are you in the market for a GPS device for your bike or MTB? Look no further! In this article, we’ve put together a comprehensive comparison of the best GPS models available, complete with user reviews and a helpful buying guide that outlines the key factors to consider before making your purchase.
We’ll also keep you up to date with the latest deals and discounts, so you can get the best possible price on your new GPS. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, our guide will help you find the perfect device to suit your needs and budget.
| PRODUCT | INFORMATION | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
 GARMIN EDGE 520 PLUS | Screen Size: 2.3 Inches Dimensions: 2.9 x 0.8 x 1.9 inches Map Type: Worldwide Battery Life: 15 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Display: Varia Vision In-sight |  |
 WAHOO FITNESS ELEMNT BOLT | Screen Size: 2.2 Inches Dimensions: 1.86 x 0.87 x 2.94 inches Map Type: Satellite Battery Life: 15 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Display: LED | |
 GARMIN EDGE 130 | Screen Size: 1.8 Inches Dimensions: 2.5 x 0.06 x 1.6 inches Map Type: Worldwide Battery Life: 15 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Scanner Resolution: Display: MIP | |
 IGPSPORT IGS20E | Screen Size: 1.77 Inches Dimensions: 3.35 x 2.13 x 0.71 inches Map Type: Worldwide Battery Life: 20 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Display: Anti-glare Screen | |
 POLAR M460 | Screen Size: 1.3 Inches Dimensions: 4 x 3 x 2 inches Map Type: Worldwide Battery Life: 20 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Display: Varia Vision In-sight | |
 GARMIN EDGE 530 | Screen Size: 2.6 Inches Dimensions: 3.2 x 0.8 x 1.9 inches Map Type: Worldwide Battery Life: 20 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Display: Color TFT | |
 CAT EYE VELO 9 WIRED | Screen Size: 9 Inches Dimensions: 4.25 x 3 x 1.5 inches Map Type: Worldwide Battery Life: 20 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Display: LCD | |
 GARMIN EDGE 820 | Screen Size: 2.3 Inches Dimensions: 2.9 x 1.9 x 0.8 inches Map Type: Worldwide Battery Life: 15 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Display: Varia Vision In-sight | |
 LEZYNE ENHANCED | Screen Size: 16.15 Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 4 inches Map Type: Continental United States Battery Life: 24 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Display: Large display | |
 GARMIN EDGE 1030 | Screen Size: 3.5 Inches Dimensions: 2.3 x 0.8 x 4.5 inches Map Type: Worldwide Battery Life: 20 Hours Mounting Type: Wrist Mount Display: Varia Vision In-sight | |
 BRYTON RIDER 410 | Screen Size: 2.3 Inches Dimensions: 5 x 3.5 x 2 inches Map Type: Worldwide Battery Life: 35 Hours Mounting Type: Handlebar Mount Display: Large display | |
Garmin is a leading brand in the sports world, especially when it comes to bike computers. The Garmin Edge 520 Plus is an excellent choice for competitive cyclists, featuring a 2.3-inch color screen that’s non-touch for easy use with gloves or in wet conditions. Its battery life is impressive, with up to 15 hours of use (10 hours when using navigation), and it can be charged via USB.
With an IPx7 waterproof certification, this device is resistant to water damage, making it perfect for use in all weather conditions. The Garmin Edge 520 Plus comes with preloaded maps that can be updated online, and its navigation system is Garmin’s proprietary Garmin Cycle Map. This system provides detailed directions, including points of interest like restaurants, hostels, and train stations.
In addition to measuring standard training data such as distance, speed, altitude, and calories, this device can also calculate performance data like VO2 max and estimated recovery time when used with rate sensors. It has Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, allowing you to connect to a wide range of sports devices like power sensors, heart rate sensors, and training rollers. You can also connect it to your mobile phone to receive notifications for calls, messages, and apps like Strava.
One of the most impressive features of the Garmin Edge 520 Plus is its compatibility with Strava Live Segments, which records your activity and provides live information about your achievements. It also includes LiveTrack and GroupTrack functions that allow you to share your location live with others or keep track of your companions during group rides. Overall, the Garmin Edge 520 Plus is a top-of-the-line GPS device for serious cyclists looking to take their training to the next level.
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The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt is a compact GPS device that offers high performance for cyclists. Its 2.2″ high-contrast monochrome screen is backlit and uses less energy than a color display. Its side buttons are glove-friendly and easy to operate.
This GPS device has an impressive battery life of 15 hours and is waterproof with IPX7 certification, making it resistant to immersion. Charging is easy via USB.
The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt comes with preloaded maps, and you can load routes to follow in real-time. It also has LED lights at the top of the screen that indicate turns. These lights can be customized based on your preferred criteria.
The device calculates standard training data such as speed, cadence, and calories burned. It also offers additional features such as time remaining for sunset, temperature, and gear display in case of electronic transmission.
It is compatible with Strava Live Segments and offers features such as LiveTrack, which allows you to share your location live in the event of an accident. The mobile app allows you to customize what information is displayed on the screen.
The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt can be connected to cycling sensors and your mobile phone via Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wifi. The mobile app keeps a record of your workouts and allows you to receive notifications of messages or calls.
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The Garmin Edge 130 is a small GPS device that features a 1.8” monochrome display that is easy to read in bright sunlight and during nighttime. You can navigate through its 5 side buttons, and customize its different display screens to show more relevant information.
The device has a 15-hour battery life, which usually lasts around 9 hours. When the battery is depleted, it can be charged using a USB cable. Additionally, it has an IPX7 water resistance rating, allowing you to use it in the rain or while washing dishes.
The device does not have maps or a navigation function, but you can still view the path you are following on the screen with GPS (which includes GLONASS and Galileo). You can even load routes to follow them, but you will not see them on a map. This makes it suitable for road cycling, but not so much for MTB, where separated forks are common.
The GPS is useful for providing more accurate information on the distance, altitude, speed, etc. of the route you are taking, thanks to the barometric altimeter available.
The Garmin Edge 130 has Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, allowing you to connect it to sports devices such as pulse sensors. It also calculates your VO2 max or the recommended recovery time after training. If you connect it to your mobile device via Bluetooth, you will receive notifications of your calls and messages.
Although it cannot be connected directly to apps like Strava, it can be connected through the Garmin Connect app, which will automatically send your data to Strava.
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The iGSPORT iGS20E is a no-frills GPS device that allows you to easily record training data. Its monochrome screen is anti-glare and provides excellent visibility, even in low-light conditions.
With a battery life of up to 25 hours, the iGS20E is also water-resistant with an IPX6 protection rating, which means it can withstand high-pressure water jets.
Unlike some other GPS devices, the iGS20E does not have maps or navigation functions, and you cannot load routes to it. However, it does provide accurate information on your speed, distance, and altitude thanks to its GPS feature.
The iGS20E is a simple device that does not have Bluetooth or ANT + connectivity. To save your training data, you will need to connect the GPS to your computer via USB and download the files of each route in.FIT format. These files can be uploaded to apps like iGPSSPORT, Strava, Endomondo, and other sports applications.
If you don’t need navigation features, this GPS device is an affordable and reliable option that detects GPS signals well and accurately records your training data.
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The Polar M460 is a reliable GPS device with a customizable monochrome display that can be easily read in any lighting. With 10 pages and 4 data points per page, you can choose which information is most important to display. It can be operated through its side buttons.
It has an IPX7 water resistance rating and is charged via USB with a battery life of approximately 12 hours, although the manufacturer claims it can last up to 16 hours.
While it doesn’t have maps or navigation, it does have GPS tracking, which accurately records your route, speed, distance, and altitude. You can view your route on your preferred sports app after downloading the data.
In addition to standard workout metrics like calories, speed, pace, and distance, it also calculates intensity factor (IF), training stress score (TSS), and nominal power (NP).
It supports Strava Live Segments, allowing you to monitor your progress towards your achievements. It’s also compatible with the Training Peaks platform and allows you to configure IF, TSS, and NP metrics to improve your performance. The device has Bluetooth connectivity and supports the Polar Flow app, which lets you transfer your training data to your phone and receive call and message notifications.
To set up the device, you need a computer program, available for both Windows and MAC, which can be downloaded from the Polar website after registering the device. The Polar M460 does not have ANT + connectivity, so you must connect it to other devices, such as heart rate monitors, via Bluetooth.
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The Edge 530 is an outstanding bike computer that is highly recommended for cyclists. Its compact design, larger touch screen, and exceptional features set it apart from the competition. While some similar models may have a higher price tag, the Edge 530 offers unparalleled value for its price.
This versatile GPS device is specifically designed for cycling and comes with special bands that make it easy to attach to your bike’s handlebar. Its excellent reputation is reflected in its impressive 4.6-star rating on Amazon, making it a top-selling product.
If you are looking for a high-quality and affordable device that can enhance your cycling experience, the Edge 530 is an excellent choice. Its advanced features and user-friendly design ensure that your bike rides will be both enjoyable and memorable.
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This cycle computer stands out for its versatility, as it can be adapted to any type of bicycle and provides accurate stroke counting. Not only is it advanced, but it is also very affordable, making it a cost-effective option.
With an impressive overall rating of 4.5 stars, this product is considered one of the most versatile on the market. Negative reviews are typically unrelated to the product itself.
This bike computer is highly regarded on Amazon, making it a great choice for those looking to purchase a quality model at an accessible price.
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This cycle computer is one of the top-rated devices on the market. Its group-monitoring programs for cyclists make it a trend-setting device for sports competitions.
Whether you aim to beat your previous results or achieve better training for a race, this device can make a difference in your workouts. It offers superior performance monitoring and turn-by-turn navigation on any bike.
With an impressive overall rating of 4.5 stars, this cycle computer is a quality device that meets buyers’ expectations. Its feature-rich design makes it an excellent product for workouts.
If you have any concerns when buying, we recommend reviewing the comments section where you can find answers to your questions.
Although this device is small, it performs its job perfectly. However, some users may find the small size unsuitable for their needs.
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This cycle computer may appear simple in design, but it is one of the most popular devices on the market. Its widespread sales can be attributed to effective marketing strategies, but we believe that it is a device that can meet your cycling needs.
One of the main features of this device is its wireless connectivity. Additionally, its durability, performance, and affordability make it a viable option that should not be overlooked.
Although there are differing opinions regarding this device, the majority of buyers appreciate its durability. However, a small minority have reported connectivity issues.
Despite this minor setback, the overall reviews for this product are highly favorable. Amazon purchases have been largely trouble-free, with very few factory defects reported.
Although its appearance may catch your eye, we recommend evaluating this device based on its versatility and performance capabilities, rather than its aesthetics.
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The Garmin Edge 1030 cycle computer is undoubtedly the most advanced model on the market. Despite its higher price, the features it offers are worth the investment, from its mapping capabilities to its high-resolution screen.
This is a premium cycle computer with a maximum 5-star rating from satisfied buyers on Wiggle. The only downside is its higher cost, but this is to be expected for a top-of-the-line product.
However, this model may be more suitable for experienced and competitive cyclists rather than beginners. If you’re looking for a quality device and are willing to invest in the best of the best, then the Garmin Edge 1030 is the way to go.
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The Rider 410 is a top-tier cycling computer that boasts a highly accurate satellite navigation system, allowing for more precise tracking of your location. Additionally, its screen displays up to 8 data metrics simultaneously and can be customized to your preferences.
This cycle computer was specifically designed to provide an optimal viewing experience, making it easy to keep track of your workouts. Here are some of its other advantages:
With these advanced capabilities, this device streamlines the process of tracking your cycling performance, which has resulted in excellent sales and ratings on platforms like Amazon, where it has a 4.4-star rating.
Furthermore, it is compact in size, measuring 53.7 x 83.9 x 18.2 mm, and is IPX7 certified, meaning it is resistant to water, dust, and small shocks.
If you’re in the market for a high-quality cycling computer that offers precise tracking and advanced features, the Rider 410 is an excellent option to consider.
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buying guide on best bike GPS
Adding a GPS device to your bike has numerous advantages. It not only helps you avoid getting lost, but also enables you to explore new routes with greater safety and without the need for extensive research. Moreover, it allows for more accurate tracking of your cycling metrics and bike performance, which can be helpful in enhancing your performance.
The display of a GPS device is an important feature to consider before making a purchase. A monochrome display is sufficient if you only need to keep track of basic metrics like distance, speed, and altitude. They are also better in bright light conditions. However, if you want to use the device for navigation and maps, a color screen will be more beneficial and easier to read.
Touchscreens may look sleek, but they may not respond well in conditions like rain, sweat, or while wearing gloves. Button navigation is a better option in these cases.
It’s essential to check the battery life of the device before buying it and compare it with the duration of your rides. GPS devices with navigation functions tend to consume more battery than those that only record the route. Some GPS devices have rechargeable batteries that can be charged through solar technology or mass dynamos, while most can be charged via USB.
Bicycle GPS devices typically weigh between 30 and 66 grams. A larger screen is always more attractive as it makes navigation easier and shows more information at a glance, without the need to switch between screens. But it’s important to find a balance between screen size and weight, as a heavier GPS device can add extra weight to your bike.
A GPS device can come with preloaded maps, and you can load your routes onto these maps for navigation during your rides. It’s important to ensure that these maps can be updated to keep your route information accurate. The best option is to download the route onto the device itself, instead of loading it in real-time from a mobile device or via Wi-Fi. This way, even if you face coverage problems, you’ll always have the route available.
The essential connectivity features to look out for are ANT+ and Bluetooth. These enable you to connect your GPS device to other measurement devices, such as heart rate monitors or speed sensors, and collect more accurate data. You can also connect it to your mobile phone and share your metrics with sports apps like Strava. Many GPS devices allow you to see notifications of calls and messages when your phone is connected.
If you are into mountain biking, having a GPS with multiple positioning systems like GLONASS or Galileo, in addition to GPS, is crucial for precise location tracking in remote areas. It is recommended that the GPS device allows downloading routes in GPX or TCX formats with important reference points marked.
A compass is also essential for orientation in case of crashes. Some advanced GPS models can even contact emergency services and report your coordinates in case of an accident, but basic models also have safety features like this.
If you are considering using your smartphone for cycling navigation, keep in mind that you will need to purchase a compatible bike mount that is durable and resistant to water and dust. Additionally, using your phone for navigation may be less convenient, as you may have to navigate between apps and deal with potential battery drain.
Alternatively, a dedicated bike GPS device provides better battery life, more precise sensors, and is designed specifically for cyclists with features like GLONASS positioning system and altimeter. These devices are also generally more durable and resistant to the elements.
In terms of disadvantages, a bike GPS requires a separate purchase and may require some time to learn to use effectively. On the other hand, using a smartphone for navigation may be easier but comes with limited battery life and requires the additional purchase of a suitable bike mount.
Overall, the choice between a bike GPS device or using your smartphone for cycling navigation comes down to personal preference and the specific needs of the rider.
What can a bike GPS measure?
A bike GPS can track and provide accurate information on various ride metrics such as ride time, distance, average speed, altitude, calories burned, temperature, recommended recovery time, and stress levels.
Do all bike GPS devices come with maps?
No, not all bike GPS devices have maps. Some only record the route without displaying it on the screen for navigation.
Can a mobile phone be used as a bike GPS?
Yes, a mobile phone can be used as a bike GPS if the user does not require complicated routes or rides in harsh weather conditions. However, a dedicated bike GPS device offers greater durability, water and dust resistance, and more precise sensors.
What is the best GPS for mountain biking?
The best GPS for mountain biking should have multiple positioning systems like GLONASS or Galileo, and should allow for downloading of route maps.
How do I install a GPS on my bike?
Most bike GPS devices come with brackets that can be attached to the handlebar using a screw or rubber clamps.
