The 130 is ancient now - Garmin's spec page says they were going to cease security updates in 2022 and the battery life on them has always been poor.
Looking for a small device that will link to Shimano motor (for battery %) and track rides for Strava.
A forerunner on a bar mount looks like it might be better than a new 130 (current one's replacement battery is failing and that was a one time install the way I did it). Has anyone used both and can compare?
Edge explore 2 (new or refurbished?) will be the default suggestion, I think it can connect up for trickle charge from your Eeeeb with the mount pins too (meaning it stays weathertight), can be had for less than most other Edge devices. Probably has more ‘redundant’ features relative to what you want it for OP but less than a 540/840 and significantly cheaper than those too.
A watch will still suffer the same battery degradation over time (they all do ultimately) the explore is at least intended more specifically for your use case…
Obligatory amazon links:
Not much in it pricewise, STW members can also get discounts from Garmin’s website, so worth a look and comparison.
Be careful the Edge 2 comes in 2 versions, one with the pins and one without. Looking at cookeaa links that is the version without the pins in the mounting to charge on the go.
I recently got a FR255 with 40% off using STW member discount. They might have the FR55 too.
Main use is the Orbea RS Toolbox (for Shimano battery %) and Strava tracking via Garmin Connect.
Be careful the Edge 2 comes in 2 versions, one with the pins and one without. Looking at cookeaa links that is the version without the pins in the mounting to charge on the go.
Apologies, I did indeed link the version without that rather handy feature. It can still be USB cable charged on the go I believe, which is slightly less optimal.
Looks like a far bigger spend if you want the pinout for charging on the go, at which point a 540 is arguably a “better deal” but far from the cheapest choice…
looking at it again none of the garmin accessories for those pinout has become even vaguely sensible in price, more than double the price to use it on the Explore 2, £150 for the special power bank, plus tou need a different out front mount. I cannot fathom why they’ve included the feature since the 530(?) but made so little effort to upsell it. I also can’t believe nobody’s hacked it yet…
Don't want the on the go charging - main requirement is a SMALL device. I'm guessing the explore is the same size as the 530?
I recently got a FR255 with 40% off using STW member discount. They might have the FR55 too.
Main use is the Orbea RS Toolbox (for Shimano battery %) and Strava tracking via Garmin Connect.
Thats exactly what we want to use it for and nothing more - does it work well for that? What price did that make the 255?
(google throws up Temu of all places selling the 255 for £121?)
Don't want the on the go charging - main requirement is a SMALL device. I'm guessing the explore is the same size as the 530?
It´s bigger, so out of the running I guess.
How does E-bike battery reading work? does it connect like an ANT+/BT sensor?
If so could something like this work:
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/cyclometer-gps-500/338370/m8735154
It´s about as basic as a GPS gets these days I think, almost looks like a re-housed edge 500(?)