i am thinking about getting a new cycle computer (currently have a garmin edge 20 which i like but battery life is very short).
am more leaning towards the garmin as it is cheaper slightly than the wahoo (on amazon) but unfortunately i do not currently have a pc and cannot download the garmin app to my phone (vodafone n9 lite). i can download the wahoo app though.
both computers seem to be very good in reviews.
thanks in advance 👍
If you're interested in using maps/route planning, reviews suggest that the Edge 520 Plus is underpowered. It's been replaced by the Edge 530 which is sufficiently speedy:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/04/garmin-edge-530-cycling-gps-in-depth-review.html
I’ve got the Bolt and find it much quicker to fix gps signal, publish finished rides to Strava, etc than any of the garmins I’ve had. Following a route is easy too. A lot of club mates have made the switch as well
I would say that if mapping/navigation is at best a secondary concern to you then you’d probably prefer the Bolt, and if it’s a primary concern you should look at the similarly priced Edge Explore rather than the 520 Plus. But the devil’s in the detail so that’s far from a hard-and-fast recommendation. YMMV.
I have the bolt and love it but agree the mapping is basic. You can follow a breadcrumb trail, zoom in and out but no colour and no panning(which can be annoying when used to touch screen tech)
If you're after basic mapping then it's brilliant.
Pretty much what's been said above, my bolt is awesome and the battery lasts for ages - the route guidance is basic but works. I just use trailforks/OS maps on my phone for any proper mapping.
I've got the Elemnt (so the Bolt but slightly embiggener). For following a route on road, I think it's great, the mapping is perfectly functional. It's just about okay for following a pre-loaded route offroad too. Battery lasts ages too.
For 'navigating', i.e. using it as a map to find/modify a route, it's pretty rubbish. That doesn't bother me, cos that's not what I use it for.
https://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle-computers-gps-hrm/lezyne-mega-xl-gps-cycle-computer/11777347.html is £145, lot of features for the money at that promo price.
I've had a Bolt for a while now and it is excellent. I've used the navigation quiet a bit and have found it easy enough to follow. The intergration with Komoot and Strava is excellent and the smartphone app makes screen customisation easy. It's a good product and I'd say most of my club riding buddies are using them now.
Upgraded from Edge 500 to Element Bolt and it was like stepping into the future. I liked the Edge, but it's a massive improvement on most levels. Can't really comment on how it compares to the 520.
The mapping is all most people need on the road. If it were mainly for off-road activities and navigation was important I might be looking at something a bit more detailed.
thanks everyone 👍
i ended up ordering the garmin edge 820 (mainly due to the colour display and map display).
once the lockdown has ended i cannot wait to start using it with gusto (haven't ridden for over 5 months due to various reasons).
As above, it depends what you want to do.
If you want to load a ride in & follow it, without a requirement to navigate when underway apart from following a breadcrumb trail then I would get the Elemnt Bolt without question. It's what I did.
On road it's great. Off-road it still works fine, but the mapping is definitely more basic.
I have a real dislike of Garmin stuff having had a very problematic Edge500, so am fairly biased.
But, the Wahoo does pretty much just work. It's easier to set-up, the files download before I've even got my bike back in the garage after a road ride, the battery life is great....
The thing that highlighted the ease of use of the Wahoo for me was last yr when we stayed at the Cycle Hub in North Yorkshire. We didn't have an mtb route for the Sunday morning & the chap in the bike shop (Neil, I think) gave me an A4 map with some very complicated verbal instructions - no way I was gonna remember them. I asked if he had a gpx he could e-mail me, which he did. I had never stuck a route on the Wahoo before via this method (normally just sync with ridewithgps), but basically it took less than a minute from the e-mail arriving to having it uploaded onto the device & ready to navigate.
The guy was really surprised/impressed as he said he'd tried to do a similar thing with a bloke a few weeks before who had a Garmin & they gave up after an hour of trying to get it to work.