The best bike computers can provide you with a huge range of information and data to help you get the most out of your rides and improve your performance and enjoyment on the bike, but choosing the right one can be a minefield full of jargon and confusion.
Nowadays, even the best budget cycling computers can provide you with a lot of that useful information. They will all tell you how fast and far you have ridden and how long for, and many will include a GPS chip that enables them to provide a lot more navigational assistance such as where you’ve ridden, speed over different parts of your route, link to Strava segments and often provide at least basic navigation tools.
But like most things, when it comes to comparing cheap vs expensive bike computers, the list of features and functionality grows as you spend more. For example, the basic navigation will be replaced with full-function on-device base maps for seamless navigation. This will also tend to come alongside a nicer display and improved screen quality. You may be able to adjust and design custom layouts, and in addition, there can be more focused support on training and performance optimisation, including an assessment of the rides you’re doing and whether or not you are at risk of overtraining.
The best cycling computers can also be used to pair with and control indoor workouts on many of the best bike trainers. They can be linked up to a heart rate monitor, a power meter and even some front and rear bike lights. You will be able to see this additional data on your screen when you ride and you can download and analyse the data from your ride afterwards. They’ll also pair with a smartphone to alert you to calls and texts while riding, let a chosen contacts know where you are, and send an alert if you have a problem out on the road.
The Cyclingnews tech team has had hands-on experience with every bike computer that we know exists, from the main players to the smaller brands. We’ve tested them for functionality, accuracy, ease of use, durability, battery life and more to find out which is best for everyone. In this buyer’s guide, we’ve listed what we believe are the best bike computers available, and at the bottom of the page, you can find our guidance on the key points and specific features to consider when choosing the right bike computer for you.
The best bike computers available today
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CyclingNews RSS Feed…