Garmin’s new Edge 500 computer is available with or without a cadence and heart rate monitor. Our top pick goes to the Garmin edge 500 with cadence and premium heart rate monitor because of the extra features it offers.

It is a significant improvement from Garmin’s last, long-standing bike computer, the Edge 305. Not only is it lighter in weight at 2.1 ounces and smaller in size at 2.7 x 0.9 x 1.9 inches, but also includes a larger, more readable display, along with more functions and inclusions.

Garmin Edge 500 Bike Computer Review

With the Garmin Edge 500 with cadence and heart rate monitor, there is no need to run wires, no need to attach magnets, or to enter wheel sizes. It uses Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology to calculate all that information and more.

All you have to do is strap it on your bike and go. Also, this bike computer has ambient temperature and power output. The power output is available if you link the Edge 500 to any power meters available on the market through the onboard ANT+ wireless antenna.

Once you add on the wireless heart rate monitor and combined speed/cadence sensor, you pretty much have all your information bases covered. As found in Garmin’s older model, the data is displayed in up to eight customizable fields per page, except now, there are also 41 full options to choose from and three (instead of two) pages on which to spread them out on.

This feature makes the device very customizable to your needs. You can use one page to display certain pieces of information, such as your usual speed, distance traveled, and time spent.

On another, you can review post-ride data, such as vertical ascent and average heart rate. Then for the third, you can summarize power data, like averages and maximum output. Really, it’s whatever combination you find most suitable for you.

The luxury of it is that you can display as much or as little information you want, and then organize it based on your personal preferences. The device is customized to your rides and your training sessions.

The menus and operations in the Garmin edge 500 are laid out in a more intuitive way. The GPS receiver connects with the satellite signals much quicker than with previous models, and because of the rechargeable lithium battery, the run time on the battery has increased 50% (battery life is 16-18 hours). It is possible that you might lose GPS satellite signal if you’re going through a highly wooded area, for example, but the loss of connection is still really rare.

An advanced feature of this product is its ANT+ compatibility with wireless power meters. We mentioned this briefly above, but what this really means is that with this piece of technology, you to see your ride’s power output in terms of watts. With this date, you can know how hard you are working and how your training session would look if it was transferred into electricity.

Combine this advanced feature with the cadence and heart rate monitor and you can use all the data collected from your ride to train smarter. With the heart monitor feature, you can track your heart beats per minute and figure out how many calories you’ve burned. To improve your fitness level, you can train in a certain heart-rate zone, or you can compare your results to previous findings.

Another included feature is the ability to analyze your ride and connect with other cycling enthusiasts. Connect Edge 500 to your computer with the included USB cord and it will upload all the recorded data it has 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 you may have answered. It’s a great resource for serious cyclists.

When it comes to price, the Garmin Edge 500 with cadence and heart rate monitor is selling on Amazon.

Garmin Edge 500 Bike Computer – What Could be Improved

Even though the Garmin Edge 500 with cadence and heart rate monitor is our top pick for best bike computer on the market, there are still a few things we’d change. Everything can be improved.

For example, with this model, Garmin abandoned the sliding attachment style mount in favor of a more simplified quarter-turn twist motion mount. This new mount is a bit easier to operate and less likely to break—this is true—but the foundation of the mount isn’t as secure as it was in the older models. There is some more wiggling that goes on when you press the buttons on the display.

With the buttons, it’d be better if Garmin moved away from using side-mounts and tried top-mounting ones. The side-mounts are waterproof but top-mounts are easier to operate on a bike. They’d also prevent the wiggling that happens.

Product Overview and Features of Garmin Edge 500 Bike Computer

• Advanced heart rate calorie computation feature
• ANT+ power meter compatible
• Garmin Connect
• Barometric altimeter
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with up to 18 hours of life
• Light weight: 2.1 ounces
• Compact/small size: 2.7 x 0.9 x 1.9 inches
• Twist mount
• Sale on Amazon
• Customizable features
• Color options
• USB cord included

The Verdict

Even including the few complaints, the new Edge 500 with cadence and heart rate monitoring makes the top of our list for best bike computer on the market. It’s a smaller and lighter product. It’s more powerful, easier to use and read, and it includes more customizable features.

Garmin has always given you more color options to choose from, so you don’t have to stick with the same blue-and-gray colors as before. This is the best product for those who are serious about cycling and who are looking for a bike computer that will allow them to make their training sessions as beneficial as possible.

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