[Closed] Best mountain bike computer

If you just want to log shortish rides anything will do: the cheapest GPS unit you can find (used Edge 200?) or a phone.

Is this your first computer? Can be tricky working out how you'll use something that you've never used before.

My first was an Edge 200, bought because it was only a little more than a traditional magnet/non GPS computer I wanted to keep track of time/distance on a SDW in a day ride.

I started using it more for following routes, on and off road and it wasn't long before I started looking for one with mapping.  Breadcrumb is fine if you're on track, but if you get off track by much, or you need to cut a ride short, or find another way, it's limiting.

I'd suggest the 520.

and as per bez, if you know all you want is to log every day rides, I'd use a phone or something cheap like his 2nd hand edge 200 or a maybe a Bryton 10 - don't know much about them, other than they're meant to be as basic as possible, just a trad computer using GPS rather than a magnet on your wheel.

I actually just sold my Garmin Edge 520 and replaced it with the new (and much smaller) Edge 130.

The 520 is technically the better unit, but it's full of features I never used like virtual partners and multiple training modes etc. so it seemed a waste.

Very easy to setup and simple one button push to start recording once you've turned it on.

Screen is mono colour, but VERY easy to read and the customisable data fields allow you to show as little or as much info as you want.

Still does navigation based on uploaded GPX files and has a 'return to start' button if you want to turn around and come back (but only the way you came).

Is the 130 already available?  looks a really interesting model from Garmin.  How do routes/mapping compare to the 520?

The only place I could see that had them in stock over the weekend was Wiggle, ordered Sunday afternoon, arrived on Monday and currently sat on my bike waiting for some action!

As far as I can see the routes/mapping work the same way as the 520, breadcrumb directions but if you go off route it will only point the right direction to get back to the trail, it still won't re-route you.

but if you go off route it will only point the right direction to get back to the trail, it still won’t re-route you.

So breadcrumb trail only - no map?  Might work on that size screen.  Point me back to the route is the thing missing from all the colour Garmins.  Back in they day of basic black and white breadcrumb navigation I used to have 'distance off route' and 'direction' as the most important data fields.  The first tells you you've taken a wrong turn, the second how to sort it.

If you want edge 520, sigma doing £30 off if you spend £200 so edge plus a few bits to tip it over £200 is only £170. Same price as new 130

new unit of measure from DC rainmakers review:

the 130 includes "a crapton of stuff"

win.

I sold my Edge 520 for the larger sized Wahoo Elemnt. Very happy with it. I liked the 520, but it had a couple of issues that bothered me.

- I like to use Strava live segments to measure myself against myself. With the Wahoo, it shows you your PR. With Garmin, it shows the fastest rider you follow, which I found demoralising rather than encouraging.

- You can load good maps into the 520 (it ships with crap, but DC Rainmaker has a good guide).

- Wahoo has maps preloaded and space for most of the world. It has better turn by turn navigation, but neither work too well if you drift off course. Garmin can show your route further zoomed out that Wahoo, but I didn't need that.

- Wahoo better integrates with everything through a nifty app on your phone. No need to USB sync a GPX from your desktop to the GPS like the 520, instead you can link ridewithgps, komoot, etc directly to the app one your phone and any route that's there is automatically on the Wahoo without user input.

- You can also fire up the maps app in Wahoo and choose a new destination, it'll route you there on the fly (though that works best on road than mtb).

Honestly the two features I wanted most were the personal segments rather than who I follow, and the bigger screen for my ageing eyes. I also enjoy the ability to toggle between multiple segments during a ride if they overlap.

The 130 looks good, but it's going head-to-head on price with the Elemnt Bolt, which also has a crapton of stuff including mapping (albeit mapping that has nothing other than roads on it).

I recently bought the Lezyne Super GPS.  It's got everything I need and at £110 is cheaper than the competitors.

Great battery life, all the usual metrics and Strava Live Segments is a bonus.  You can select to compare against your PR or the KOM.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lezyne-super-navigate-gps/rp-prod154491

I was reading the DC rainmaker review of the 130 the other day, it seems like a very good product, filling the gap between the Edge 520 and 25 I could be tempted by one actually when my edge 25 eventually dies.

But the OP did ask "Best mountain bike computer" and stated it's primary function was really just ride logging.

If it has to be a Garmin I would say the Edge 25, it'll scrape 8 hours battery life, connects to ANT+ sensors/HRM if you need, and can upload via Bluetooth/Mobile app best of all it's even cheaper than the 130 and won't come with the inevitable SW patch fun of a brand new Garmin Product.

Better yet maybe consider a GPS watch if you do other sports...

So breadcrumb trail only – no map?

No, you just get a line drawn of the trail and a marker showing where you are, there's still no proper map base layer behind the drawn trail.

I like to use Strava live segments to measure myself against myself. With the Wahoo, it shows you your PR. With Garmin, it shows the fastest rider you follow, which I found demoralising rather than encouraging.

If it has to be a Garmin I would say the Edge 25, it’ll scrape 8 hours battery life,

I just don't think an 8 hour battery life is enough.  It's not common but I do have some days each year when I'm out on the bike longer than that and a lot where I the garmin is on for more than 8 hours over a weekend.  That means charging before every ride.

Lezyne Super GPS.

Great features but complex UI and poor mount - sits really high, no after market alternatives.

it’s going head-to-head on price with the Elemnt Bolt, which also has a crapton of stuff including mapping (albeit mapping that has nothing other than roads on it).

So my 200 is dying fast (the power button is almost unusable now) and I will need a small, neat easily readable device to supplement my Edge Touring (which gets used when I need mapping).  Are there any downsides to the Wahoo Element Bolt?  Does it fit in Garmin mounts?

Are there any downsides to the Wahoo Element Bolt? Does it fit in Garmin mounts?

Yes, though it's still excellent for most people; and yes, with a 30 second modification to the mount (which will still work with Garmin devices).

https://mashing53.cyclyc.com/wahoo-navigation-nailed-or-failed/

I just don’t think an 8 hour battery life is enough.

I was really thinking about the OP, assuming he's talking about general riding use a few hours a week not multi day epics.

Like you I've found the 25 limited on a big weekend of riding and it doesn't seem to like charging from a power bank either, so under those circumstances I'd look further up the garmin range or consider the other available brands...

Fastest Follower (Rival, I think they call it) is the default but on Garmin you can also choose between PR/KOM/goal time!

On the 520? Not that I could find (unless you have to toggle it actually on the segment screen mid segment)? There's been a lengthy thread or two about this in the Garmin (and/or Strava) forums. In the end I gave up waiting.

edit: on the 520 you can change it on an individual segment basis, not as a default. So you need to update every single segment. If someone you follow gets a faster time then the segment is re-synced, reset, and you need to go back in and change it again. That's just not useful at all.

edit: on the 520 you can change it on an individual segment basis, not as a default. So you need to update every single segment. If someone you follow gets a faster time then the segment is re-synced, reset, and you need to go back in and change it again.

You'll probably want to bear in mind that Garmin have never made a reliable product that works properly, ever.

Bryton 330 is ace. 36 hour battery life, 1 second recording, basic mapping (but the app to put it on is dead easy to use)

For £100. Way better than the garmin edge 25 for £150...  A bit better than the garmin 520 for £250

Bryton do less complicated ones, so bryton 310 without route mapping for £80, rider 10 for £50 (I think!)

If all you want is tracking miles and Strava, then a Garmin is way over the top.

phone, stick google fit on it. Forget about it. tracks your activity automatically, works pretty well these days, saves you having to press start and stop all the time.

Will a Bryton fit all my after market Garmin mounts?