6 Best Bike Computers with GPS
On my blog you will find an article about low-end and mid-range bicycle computers, today’s text will be about more advanced devices and thus more expensive because they range in price from 150 to 500 USD
Our Review of Best Bike Computers with GPS Function
In bicycle shops, you will find a lot of different bicycle computers in a huge price range, the cheapest for the price from a few dollars to super advanced devices that cost over 1000 dollars.
In this article, I would like to focus on meters with the GPS function. Some models that I will present to you allow you to connect additional wireless sensors: speed, cadence, pulse or via ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart or via your own wireless transmission system and connecting your phone – thanks to this solution we will receive notifications of incoming calls and messages. Many of the devices shown by me can be found in different versions, for example with additional sensors, therefore their prices may vary.
Bike Computers with GPS we're looking into:
Surely many of you will say why buy an expensive additional device when I have a smartphone with built-in navigation? Well, if you ride bicycles in unfamiliar terrain 2 times a year and you don’t mind the additional load – powerbank, additional mount, etc. This is indeed a bicycle computer with GPS may not be for you, but if you often go on bicycle trips outside the places you know, you like to discover new wonderful routes, you will not be able to do without a good GPS for a bicycle.
Let’s start with the Garmin offer:
Garmin Edge 130 Plus
The Garmin Edge® 130 Plus is a small, handy computer with more features than the Edge 20/25, for example. It has the ability to connect accessories and a phone via Bluetooth / ANT + (also a power meter), offers pre-loaded track guidance, and is also compatible with Strava Live segments. It can be purchased for around $199.
Garmin Edge 530
It’s a continuation of the very successful and still popular 520 model, whose biggest complaint was the lack of extensive navigation functions and limited map area. The new model complements these shortcomings, and also extends the functionality with additional regeneration indicators and a new training module.
Garmin 530 comes in two variants: In a bundle set and as a standalone computer. The extended option consists of a heart rate monitor and additional cadence and speed sensors. These accessories are new sensors from Garmin, which, in addition to changes in appearance, have received new possibilities in terms of connectivity. We are talking about parallel support for Bluetooth and Ant + technologies.
Check if the model you buy has maps of the country in which you want to use the meter.
Photo thanks to Pro Bike Kit
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus
Garmin Edge 1030 Plus is a high-quality cycling computer with the ability to synchronize training plans. Thanks to the new Grit and Flow function, it is possible to measure the difficulty of the route and check how smoothly it was covered.
Edge 1030 Plus is a high-quality, modern cycling computer with many features, such as:
Preparation for routes – the ability to use default personalized route profiles based on data from the previous Edge device.
Battery life – characterized by a 24-hour battery life, even with very intensive use.
Synchronization of training plans – the ability to download training plans or routes using the Garmin Connect, TrainingPeaks or TrainerRoad applications.
Performance monitoring – the counter allows you to check the body’s reaction to the training performed. Control of VO2 max, recovery time and many other functions.
Advice on daily training – the ability to use daily commands regarding training loads and VO2 max, which will allow you to choose the right training for your condition.
Climbpro function – allows you to determine the time left to the end of the route and how fast it is covered.
Cycling dynamics – the ability to check the number of jumps, distance and time in the air performed on a mountain bike.
Garmin cycle map – inform about the height, points of interest and allow you to search for addresses.
Pause in navigation – the ability to pause navigation when you want to deviate from the route. When returning, the device shows how to do it.
Creating routes – the ability to create routes using the Garmin Connect application or other platforms such as Strava or Komoot. The Garmin Edge 1030 Plus device will help you find the best route, thanks to the many kilometers that other cyclists have ridden.
Safety – the device connects to the Varia rearview radar and lights, thanks to which we are more visible on the road and know when a vehicle is approaching us.
Livetrack function – allows you to share your location and view the entire route.
Accident detection and emergency call – in the event of an accident, the device sends the location to the entered emergency contacts. The function can also be started manually.
InReach – the meter can be connected to the inReach communicator, thanks to which we can be mobile all the time.
It is also worth taking a look at what the Taiwanese brand Bryton offers, which has recently conquered the markets in the USA and Europe
Bryton Rider S500
An advanced small computer, ideal for players who will appreciate its size and low weight. It has a color display and is operated with buttons or touch.
The price of the device varies depending on the option we choose – with or without sensors
The most important features and elements of the Rider S500
VOICE SEARCH
The Bryton Rider S500 speaks your language! Thanks to the Internet connection, the Rider S500 eliminates the need to use on-screen keyboards by providing the Google voice search function. It is available in over 100 languages, offering a faster, more intuitive and more convenient way to find addresses or POIs, whether on or off road, wherever you are!
IMPROVED NAVIGATION FEATURES
Rider S500 has extensive navigation features, providing turn-by-turn guidance, advanced directions, including street names, and support using OSM (OpenStreetMaps) maps already installed on the device. The Rider S500 also has advanced features to help you stay on track, such as automatic route guidance when you go off track, POI information, reverse route to change the start and end, and route replay to return to the starting point by the same route . You can also create your own route in the Bryton Active application or upload a route created in an external platform to the device, also marking your own POI information on the routes.
LIVE TRACK
Share your real-time location with friends and family using the new Bryton Live Track feature. Just generate a share link from your phone and send it with one button via any messenger. Thanks to the Live Track link, anyone can follow not only your real-time location, but also your current speed, driving time, distance and last update time.
CLIMB CHALLENGE
Reach new heights with the Climb Challenge feature! When approaching an uphill stretch, the Rider S500 will switch to the uphill section page, providing an overview of the segments on the route. The Climb Challenge screen also features a graphical summary with multiple ascents, vividly colored ascent segments, distance, elevation gains, and start and end points for easy access to route information.
IMPROVED TRAINING FEATURES AND BETTER USER INTERFACE
Training with the Rider S500 just got even better! This is due, among others, to a new user interface and a new graphical workout overview with zoom support, and new advanced features including real-time intensity adjustment, TrainingPeaks support, a new endurance training mode and workout notes features (for adding notes from the Bryton Active or TrainingPeaks app). A preview of the progress of the remaining training and customizable target power zones are presented in vivid graphical form. The target cadence can be displayed together with the target power and heart rate. In addition, facilitation for training with power measurement will be personalized power zones that can be displayed on the page with the target power.
INDOOR SMART TRAINER
Thanks to new advanced features and a wide range of integrations, the Rider S500 combined with an interactive trainer provides an extremely exciting driving experience. Compatibility with ANT+ FE-C smart trainers allows the Rider S500 to control target resistance and power, simulate custom virtual workouts (Smart Training) and even ride a route of your choice (Virtual Ride).
REAR-VIEW RADAR SYSTEM SUPPORT
With the use of an ANT+ connected rearview radar, cyclists can receive alerts alerting them to vehicles approaching closer than 150m. The bars on the right of each data screen will display different colors and beep to warn of approaching vehicles the vehicle. Green bar: no vehicles approaching from behind, green bar: vehicles approaching at normal speed, red bar: vehicles approaching at high speed.
E-BICYCLE SUPPORT
Thanks to the support of Shimano STePS and cooperation with ANT+ LEV, Bryton Rider S500 is perfectly prepared to work with electric bicycles. The Rider S500 can display a lot of e-bike data, including assist mode, battery level, range and gear ratios.
AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR
By utilizing the built-in ambient light sensor, the Bryton Rider S500 can automatically adjust the display backlight based on the lighting conditions it is in. When driving indoors, passing through a tunnel or under trees, regardless of where and when you drive, the backlight will automatically adjust to provide you with the optimal screen settings.
CUSTOMIZED QUICK STATUS MENU
The quick status menu can be accessed at any time from the meter page by simply tapping the screen. You can personalize this menu with the data you care about the most.
The S500 is a very successful bike computer with GPS, which absolutely does not lack anything to satisfy demanding cyclists. It works fast, is reliable, has all the features you need for training and a long-lasting battery. These features – along with small size and low weight – make it a great proposition for athletes and intensively training amateurs. The build quality also does not disappoint, and simple operation and elegant design are additional advantages. The navigation on the small screen is a bit hard to read, but it’s enough to learn new routes at the training camp and not get lost during training.
Photo thanks to Pro Bike Kit
Bryton Rider 750 E
It’s a device where the list of features is impressively long. Its features put it among the best devices on the market, and at the same time you can buy it about 30% cheaper than comparable models of competitors in terms of functionality.
The Rider 750 has a large, color and touch screen, and the number and richness of its functions are so extensive that it can be placed somewhere between the Garmin Edge 830 or even 1030
The dimensions of the device are quite compact, although the Bryton is clearly larger (longer) than all “500” from Garmin. Thanks to this, the Rider 750 has a really large screen. Its diagonal is 2.8 inches. This size ensures excellent readability of data while driving and offers us the ability to set up as many as 12 fields on one screen that will be easy to read.
The list of functions is huge, and among the most advanced ones it is worth mentioning: voice selection in navigation, the ability to operate the virtual trainer from a computer, cooperation with the radar, compatibility with Shimano STEPS (in the case of which it can act as a display) and Di2 and the Sram drive stage. Of course, OSM-based navigation and standard all the functions needed in training and compatibility with ANT + and Bluetooth sensors.
Photo thanks to Pro Bike Kit
Bryton Rider S800
Great value for money, large and clear display and many advanced features. Designed with the highest quality materials, carefully selected to fully optimize every aspect of this device,
The Rider S800 features a large 3.4 inch color touchscreen with a high-contrast outdoor-suitable display with unparalleled durability thanks to an exceptional 36-hour battery life, as well as cutting-edge features such as Explore, Group Ride, Live Tracking, advanced navigation and training features, and compatibility with indoor smart trainers, rear bike radar,
The most important information
- Bryton Active app
- compact and modern design
- 3.4″ color touchscreen display with MIP (Memory-in-Pixel) technology
- ambient light sensor that adjusts the screen backlight to the environment
- up to 36 hours of operation on a single battery charge and the ability to charge the device while driving
- extensive navigation functions based on free OSM maps
- new route discovery function
- Live Track function with sharing your current location and driving parameters with others
- Climb Challenge – a function that informs you about the next segments of the climb, the distance to its end and the current elevation gain
- extensive training functions, including analysis of driving dynamics data
- smart notifications on the device screen
- full support for ANT+ sensors, power measurement, cycling radar and interactive trainers
- group ride – stay in touch with other participants of your trip and track their location on a previously prepared route
- automatic synchronization with Strava, TrainingPeaks, Selfloops, Relive and Today’s Plan platforms
- protective case and touch screen protector included