Talk to me about cycling computers. I need help, please!

[RC1807]

I've a birthday soon. Mrs RC wants some present ideas from me.

I floated the idea of a cycling computer, and she didn't balk at the idea as she was thinking of getting me an Apple Watch. I have about 8 watches already.

I was recording my rides on my 2015 vintage TomTom Runner Cardio+ watch, but running GPS + HRM kills the battery in ~7 hours. I'm often out for 6+hours, and have nearly lost my records as a result. Oh, and it's often slow to upload data to its own TomTom App then Strava.

I'm now recording directly to Strava on my iPhone, mounted on a Quad Lock stem mount, but the idea of a dedicated cycling computer still appeals.

I missed Amazon Prime Day's offer on the Garmin 130 Plus, which seemed to tick all the boxes, and was available for about EUR120 i/o about EUR180..... but since Mrs RC was talking about getting me an iWatch, I'm sure I can get something like a Garmin Edge 530 instead.

What are people's thoughts on Garmin vs. Wahoo vs. Hammerhead, please?

I read this report, but, well, still undecided....
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/cycling-...

Thanks for your input / comments / advice.

[Harpoon]

Couple of recent threads which might be useful:

Karoo 2:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Garmin / Wahoo / Hammerhead:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

If you want product reviews for any of the options, DC Rainmaker is the king:

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/

GPLama also has good bike computer content:

https://www.youtube.com/user/gplama

[RC1807]

Thanks, Harpoon.... I knew I'd commented in one of those threads myself, but then couldn't find it in the Search!

[Captain Raymond Holt]

I have an Apple Watch (6, with cellular) and an Edge 530.

The AW is what I use for running and the Edge for riding (mainly mtb). I do often wear the AW when riding through so I dont have to take my phone.

Don’t buy a 510/520 (whatever the earlier model Edge is) as the 530 is better in every way!

ETA: you can also use a chest band with the 530 (unsure about earlier models)

[vwsurfbum]

Look at the Garmin Edge Explore, in my opinion, the best value "edge" out there.

[Piginapoke]

Captain Raymond Holt said:

I have an Apple Watch (6, with cellular) and an Edge 530.

The AW is what I use for running and the Edge for riding (mainly mtb). I do often wear the AW when riding through so I dont have to take my phone.

Don’t buy a 510/520 (whatever the earlier model Edge is) as the 530 is better in every way!

ETA: you can also use a chest band with the 530 (unsure about earlier models)

I have exactly the same set up for running and cycling. Recommended. 530 has really been improved by firmware updates.

[numtumfutunch]

Serial Garmin tart here for many years

Started with an Etrex for MTB nav and data logging and have worked through a number of bike specific Edge models and am currently using an 830

Have gone through a couple of cycles of fad and fashion from using it purely as a dumb Strava uploader to logging every parameter with every optional sensor

Am currently pretty happy with the 830 for the following reasons:

Superb battery life
Good display and touchscreen
Sensible size
Bluetooth for phone functions
Wifi for up/downloads at home

Unlike my old 810 (shame on you) it just works without weekly firmware updates

I use it for power measurement and to nav from time to time plus Strava

It cost me £270 for the unit and an ahead mount direct from Garmin in one of their not infrequent promotions

Cheers

[klootzak]

The answer to this depends greatly on what's important to you.

If you're looking only for the key stats and integration with Strava, the Edge 130 is fine. Clear, customisable display and it lasts ages between charges. It works with the Garmin rear light too, to give a visual indication of approaching traffic. Nav is possible, but a bit st.

If you need navigation, have poor enough eyesight to need a bigger display or just want colour and six stats, and can put up with charging every ride, the 530 is brilliant.

k

[flight147z]

I've had a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt since 2017 and I recently bought and returned a Hammerhead Karoo 2 that was meant to replace the Bolt so can provide thoughts on both of those. As noted previously the best place to start to get all of the details is DC Rainmaker.

For me the most critical things on a cycle computer are the below

• Really clear screen that is visible in all conditions even at just a quick glance
• Battery life that you don't have to think about
• Guaranteed reliability with no risk of losing rides
• Decent mapping

The Karoo failed on points 1 and 2. I found the screen really hard to see in normal daylight. It also burned 10% of the battery in 30 minutes on the ride that I took it out on. Whilst the screen is really nice indoors it wasn't something that I needed on a computer, I'd rather have something that does the basics really well than has a lot of what I see as "nice to haves". On the other side the mapping and turn-by-turn features on the Karoo are excellent

The Bolt does all of the above well, newer computers do mapping better as the Bolt doesn't do turn-by-turn unless you build your route using Komoot or Ride with GPS. It also can't re-route if you go off course. It does include proper on-screen mapping unlike cheaper computers.

The screen visibility of the Bolt is exceptional regardless of conditions (I think the newer Bolt and the Roam are even better). Display size is *just* about big enough (I'd prefer the size of the Roam but that wasn't available when I bought the Bolt)

My Bolt has never lost any of my rides, has never crashed or frozen whilst recording. I've recorded just under 600 rides on it. It's also never ran our of power whilst I have been out and I normally only charge it once every couple of weeks. I've done rides of up to 125 miles with it.

Garmin - I don't have experience with, albeit I do have a Forerunner watch which I have no issues with and was good value. Any newish Garmin will have a lot more features than a Wahoo, what put me off a Garmin is that you have to set everything up on device using the clunky Garmin UI rather than on your phone like on a Wahoo. Garmin also had a lot of mixed reviews on older units. Based on what people are saying now the main issues seem to be sorted.

If it was my money now I'd hold off until Wahoo release a newer version of the Roam and get that (I think one must be due soon as the updated Bolt has some features that the Roam doesn't and the Roam is supposed to be Wahoo's flagship computer)

[davidd]

flight147z said:

For me the most critical things on a cycle computer are the below

• Really clear screen that is visible in all conditions even at just a quick glance
• Battery life that you don't have to think about
• Guaranteed reliability with no risk of losing rides
• Decent mapping

The Karoo failed on points 1 and 2. I found the screen really hard to see in normal daylight. It also burned 10% of the battery in 30 minutes on the ride that I took it out on. Whilst the screen is really nice indoors it wasn't something that I needed on a computer, I'd rather have something that does the basics really well than has a lot of what I see as "nice to haves". On the other side the mapping and turn-by-turn features on the Karoo are excellent

You took it out on one ride? I've had mine for months and many rides, screen on 25% great visibility in bright sunlight, HRM, Cadence and very active phone paired and I get on average 8% power draw per hour.

[alock]

flight147z said:

Stuff about Wahoo

And to add to that, they have phenomenal customer service.

When my Roam was a few months old, I had a crash on my mountain bike which smashed up the mount and main unit. I enquired about buying spare parts and transferring the internals myself, but they just replace the whole thing under warranty.

[flight147z]

davidd said:

You took it out on one ride? I've had mine for months and many rides, screen on 25% great visibility in bright sunlight, HRM, Cadence and very active phone paired and I get on average 8% power draw per hour.

One ride was enough to know that I couldn't live with that screen. I guess it depends what you come from but for me it wasn't usable. I was using it at 25% brightness, which is above Hammerheads own "medium battery use" scenario. Interestingly your 8% an hour is actually above what Hammerhead suggest you would get on the settings that you have described above

Compare it to your phone, the Karoo has an LCD screen rather than an OLED so won't get the same high contrast that you get from a phone display. When you use your phone outside the auto brightness will default to close to 100%. To use the Hammerhead properly outside I think you'd need to do the same but the battery obviously can't stand up to it

For me the USP of the Hammerhead (the screen) is it's biggest flaw as for it's intended purpose it's actually worse than a high contrast, low resolution basic black and white display

If you value the quality of the graphics over functionality (which I don't) then it's probably the best option on the market (battery life aside)

Appreciate that my experience with battery life won't be helpful to others given it's such a short example

[davidd]

flight147z said:

One ride was enough to know that I couldn't live with that screen. I guess it depends what you come from but for me it wasn't usable. I was using it at 25% brightness, which is above Hammerheads own "medium battery use" scenario. Interestingly your 8% an hour is actually above what Hammerhead suggest you would get on the settings that you have described above

Compare it to your phone, the Karoo has an LCD screen rather than an OLED so won't get the same high contrast that you get from a phone display. When you use your phone outside the auto brightness will default to close to 100%. To use the Hammerhead properly outside I think you'd need to do the same but the battery obviously can't stand up to it

For me the USP of the Hammerhead (the screen) is it's biggest flaw as for it's intended purpose it's actually worse than a high contrast, low resolution basic black and white display

If you value the quality of the graphics over functionality (which I don't) then it's probably the best option on the market (battery life aside)

Appreciate that my experience with battery life won't be helpful to others given it's such a short example

I know a few people have had issues with battery life, I've never known anyone have an issue with the screen. I bought it because I wanted good navigation with clear maps along with the ability to have a few stats, it delivers on that for me. I had a go with a garmin 530 and was not overly impressed. I've also got a Garmin vivoactive watch and have never liked the garmin platform. A few cycling friends have Whaoo units, they feel somewhat like very old technology, although I would have gone Wahoo if not Karoo.

I guess it comes down to personal preference.

[flight147z]

davidd said:

I know a few people have had issues with battery life, I've never known anyone have an issue with the screen. I bought it because I wanted good navigation with clear maps along with the ability to have a few stats, it delivers on that for me. I had a go with a garmin 530 and was not overly impressed. I've also got a Garmin vivoactive watch and have never liked the garmin platform. A few cycling friends have Whaoo units, they feel somewhat like very old technology, although I would have gone Wahoo if not Karoo.

I guess it comes down to personal preference.

Agreed that Wahoo's are pretty basic - I think that Hammerhead have put together a good example of what this technology could be, I just don't think they have got it quite right yet. Also agree that it comes down to personal preference though, if I only ever did shortish rides and could run the Hammerhead at high brightness constantly and recharge every day then I think that would also work well.

I think the Karoo 2 is much better value than the Roam too for those that like it

[Some Gump]

I have an edge explore. Very happy with it.

Best bit is that now I can create a route in strava, and bingo 2 mins later it's synced to my Garmin software and then the Edge itself. You need to follow the instructions here to make this happen

https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/articles/21691...

Routing and navigation has been great, it's not crashed on me yet, it boots / navs sooooooo much more quickly than my old Garmin 800 (which did a good job for 5 years and still works fine but needs to be plugged into a PC every time you want to draw a new route...)

Oh, the Edge Explore doesn't do power meters or strava live segments. So if you're into that, look elsewhere =)

[Daveyraveygravey]

Might be worth a look at some of the Bryton models. From your original post, it sounds like you don't want/need all the bells and whistles, so an Edge of some kind might be the right answer.

I suggested Bryton because I bought a Giant Neostrack, which is based on a Bryton of some kind. It was on offer at the them, about £100 less than the equivalent Garmin, a 520 I think. As well as the offer, it claimed a 33 hour battery life, which seems about right in normal use. You still get that feeling sometimes when you turn it on, "oh god, not much battery left, will it last for the ride?" But it is infrequent. If I'd gone for something with a 15 hour life, that would be weekly or more, and with all the rechargeable gadgets we have these days, it's just another thing to not have to think about too often.

[RC1807]

Thanks for all your input. There's a diverse range of opinions on what's what, too, which is often the way.

I think I'm going to go for the Hammerhead Karoo 2* and trial it to see how it goes. Ordering direct there's a 45 day trial period offer, which you don't get with the likes of Wiggle, albeit Wiggle has the, 1% cheaper. *and also 'cos they're a young tech company and I work for a young tech company too

[RC1807]

Ordered my Hammerhead on 21st.

DPD email today said they'd deliver between 11:23 and 12:23 - doorbell rang at 11:23!

Easy to set-up
Pity I'd already been out this morning for 40km before work
Occupied helping a mate tomorrow, so Sunday it will get used properly