You want more motivation to your training. Then a best bike computer will be a useful tool for you to invest in. With it, you can challenge yourself to beat your last record, or you can use Internet-based networks to compare your results with other outdoor enthusiasts. It’s true that sometimes, with training and living a healthy lifestyle, it is more about working smarter, not necessarily hard, and a cycling computer can help you do just that—work smarter.
With the constant and extensive advancements in GPS technologies, wireless communication, power meters, and consumers’ needs, the only constant to expect in the bicycle world when it comes electronics is the constant change. But you want a cycling computer to either amp up your training or to help you start it, and you only want the best.
How to Chose a Best Bike Computer ?
In an area of technology that is constantly changing, asking what product is the best can be a difficult question to answer. After a lot of research and time spent reviewing user all aspects, such as ratings, specs, and overall offered features, we tried to make it as easy as possible and came up with the top three best bike/cycling computers on the market as of now. Does that mean the list can’t change?
Absolutely not. With the requirements and needs of the customer shifting, the list can be expected to shift, too.
To get started, it’s best to ask yourself the follow questions:
- What information do you want, and how are you planning to use it?
- How much are you willing to spend on a product?
- What other functions are important to you? (Computer connectivity, installation, GPS range, heart rate monitoring, etc.)
To make our list, we thought of the features most desired by you—the cyclist. What we took into account was the ease of use, set-up, included features, water resistance, current user ratings and complaints, and, of course, the price. Because each person’s needs, goals, and budgets are different, feel free to choose what product best fits you.
There’s no need to follow our recommendations or pick the first product simply because it’s listed first. If the price is the biggest determining factor for you, go with the least expensive of the three. If you need a product with the most for the money, the first might be your best bet. It is ultimately up to you to make the determination of which one is number one.
It is important to know that all three of the products listed can be ordered through online retailers, like Amazon, or can be found in most stores specializing in sports equipment. Some offer warranties, some outlets have special offers if bought through them. These are just more particulars to consider when going through your options.
Each of the three products is coupled with a brief review that includes available features, specs, and current ratings. If you would like to read more in-depth comparisons, we provide a link to a longer, more detailed review to help in making your final decision.
Top Pick: Garmin Edge 500 Bike Computer with Cadence and Premium Heart Rate Monitor
The first place ranking for best bike computer goes to the Garmin Edge 500. It’s a full featured GPS cycling computer that’s light weight, efficient, water resistant, and designed to keep a low profile on bikes for high profile racers.
The mounting capabilities allow the portable computer to be locked into position securely. It can attach to your handlebars, and with a simple quarter-turn, you’re ready to start your ride. There’s no other product out there like it with its countess features, like cadence and heart rate monitor, all packed into a small, compact size.
At only 2.1-ounces, the size and lightness helps cyclist maintain their quick paces because it doesn’t add extra weight to the bike.
Most bike computers lack the specific features needed by serious cyclists, but the Edge 500 has a high sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix® satellite prediction to calculate your position faster. During the ride, it’ll measure speed, distance, calories burned, time passed, altitude, climb, and descent. It does all and records the date for later review.
The most advanced feature of this product is its compatibility with wireless ANT+- power meters. This allows you to see your power output in watts as you ride. This data shows you how hard you are working, ignoring the conditions that could be affecting you ride.
Combine that with the cadence and heart rate monitor that is included and you can ultimately train smarter. With the heart monitor feature, you can track your heart beats per minute, and then use that data to find out calorie burned. You can train in a certain heart-rate zone to improve your level of fitness or compare your results to previous findings.
Another helpful feature included with it is the ability to analyze your ride. You connect Edge 500 to your computer with the USB cord and it uploads all the recorded data collected. You can also join the worldwide network of cyclists through the added Garmin Connect™ feature. Share your progress, compare it to other cyclists, set new goals, and get any questions answered.
Jumpstart your training and enhance your ride with the Garmin Edge 500 with Cadence and Heart Rate Monitor. If you want to know more details about the top-ranked project, such as price, or if you want to know what is included in the price, read a more detailed review here.
Second Pick: Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS (300)
The second place position belongs to the Garmin Edge Cycling GPS. Like its first place competitor, it too has the light weight (2.1-ounces), small size (0.9 x 1.9 x 2.7 inches), and easy to mount features. Attach it to the bike stern or the handlebars of your bike. It’s easy to use. All you have to do is power the device on, acquire its GPS satellites, and ride.
With the Edge 500 Cycling’s GPS receiver and HotFix® satellite prediction, you can track and measure your speed, time, distance, altitude, calories burned, climb, and decent. You can also review all this data at a later time. For a higher-level of climb and decent information, it also includes a barometric altimeter that can pinpoint changes in elevation faster and more accurately.
All Edge 500 models work with third-party ANT+- enabled power meters, so that you can see your power output in watts. Like with the one above, you can also connect the product with any computer to analyze your performances. You can join a network of other cyclists or outdoor junkies through Garmin Connect™, and chat, share experiences, ask questions, set goals, etc.
What makes the Garmin Edge 500 with Cadence and Heart Rate Monitor different than the Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS? Yes, it’s true they are very similar in the features, but what makes one the better option is the features it includes.
The Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS does not have the advanced heart-rate and cadence feature, or the ability to turn that information into calorie computation, which makes it easy to train smarter, not harder.
Many users found the product easy to use and a smart buy. The Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS received mostly high reviews; however, some users had similar compliments with the screen glare issue and the recorded data being lost. Cheaper than our first place product, this may be the better option for you. Read an in depth review here to learn more.
Third Pick: Cateye Strada White Double Wireless Computer
In third, we have the Cateye Strada White Double Wireless Computer. Don’t let this simple to use training device fool you. It’s anything but simplistic.
First of all, not even a centimeter of its sleek appearance and easy to see display is compromised because of something called ClickTec® interface, which allows a portion of the screen to be used as a button itself. A FlexTight™ bracket lets for an easy installation without tools for most bike handlebars (from 22-31.8mm), and a wheel magnet mounts to the rear wheel of your bike.
The cadence magnet mounts to the crank-arm in order to track performance. The device is a little heavier than the previous two at 4.8 ounces.
On a more technological side, the innovative ISC Tec™ sensor unites speed and cadence into a single unit. Its digital wireless system has more than 30 ID codes to prevent the common problem of cross-talk interference between other nearby computers.
It has a user-friendly interface that includes an auto start-stop feature. It also has power-saving modes and dual-tire size memory. There is a programmable odometer where you can program your mileage into your computer after a battery change.
When you purchase the Cateye Strada White Double Wireless Computer, you also get batteries (one for each head unit and sensor) and a built-in clock. It does not come with barometric altimeter to pinpoint elevation changes or a heart-rate monitor to track changes within your body. It does not include an Internet network like the one used by Garmin.
The Cateye Strada’s reviews are mostly positive and highly rated, but complaints come from the multiple parts needed, like the back wheel sensor. Users also said the mounting capabilities aren’t as extensive as they were led to believe, and some had to use tape or wire-ties to secure the computer onto their bike.
Holding the spot of the cheapest option out of the three, these issues may be ones you’re willing to look over. To read a more detailed review on the Cateye Strada, read more review of Cateye Strada White Double Wireless Computer.
The Recap
As you can see, all three cycling computers offer similar features for the rider. Some offer more than others for varying prices. You can pay more or less, depending on what you want and your budget. What determines which one is truly the best bike computer on the market will be entirely up to you, how much you ride, and what you need to get the best out of every ride.
For the dedicated enthusiast, the top most product, the Garmin Edge 500 Bike Computer with Cadence and Premium Heart Rate Monitor, may be what you need.
For those who are okay without the more advanced features and want something with close to as many features as the best with less of a price, the Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS is a very smart option. And, if budget is your main concern, and you just want something that can calculate your range, the Cateye Strada is still a good choice, too.
Bike computers are a smart investment for the serious cyclist. It is a simple and effective way of gathering data about your rides that can later be used to improve your practice, monitor your health, and set new goals. If you are a dedicated cyclist, you’re going to want to buy one.
The most important factor to consider when buying a bike computer is what you need the device to do for you. If you just want to know how far you’re riding, then a more basic model with a magnetic sensor, like the Cateye Strada, is probably all you need. If you want to monitoring performance over time, or if you want more specific features taken into account, like elevation and climbs and decent, a GPS-based bike computer might be your target.
Your budget is also a big thing to take into account. Cycle computers can range in price from $20 up to several hundred dollars. It all depends on the features offered and the type of tracking capabilities it has.
It’s important to remember that when you are thinking of buying a bike computer, your idea of the best product might be well different from someone else’s. We all have different requirements and needs.
As a recap, make sure to ask yourself the following questions before starting your shopping:
- What information do you want, and how are you planning to use it?
- How much are you willing to spend on a product?
- What other functions are important to you? (Computer connectivity, installation, GPS range, heart rate monitoring, etc.)
The answers to these questions will give you the right idea for the best product for you and lead you in the right direction with your shopping. Of course, take our list into consideration. Use it as a guide to help you. Read the in-depth reviews to get all the details for each cycling computer. It helps to gather as much information as you can before spending your hard-earned money.