GPS cycling computer

[Katana]

Hi guys, just wanted to gather your views on cheap and cheerful GPS bike computers. I know ideally Garmin would have been my first choice but I can’t afford to spend £200-300. I have been looking at some cheap ones say with the likes of “West Biking” for £25 mark and seems decent enough with right amount of info it provides. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated as always😀

 

[88robb]

West Biking is fine for basic speed and distance. Battery life is good. The big catch is the app and syncing can be clunky. If you just want to record a ride and look at the numbers later, it works. If you want live navigation or seamless Strava uploads, save up for a second hand Garmin 130.

 

[markemark]

If you only want navigation then the beeline velo beats al the others in terms of price, ease of use, battery life, size. However it's very limited and does not do lots of things garmins do. But for me, that's one of the positives.

 

[Dogtrousers]

What do you want from it? Recording how far you've gone? showing current speed/distance? uploading to PC/website? Navigation? Maps?

This is important because if you only want specific functions you may be able to get something cheap that does just that. But you have to decide what "that" is first.

The very cheapest devices are generally called just "cycle computer", they don't have GPS but work from a sensor on the wheel. Perfectly adequate, but no navigation capability. So double check the description of any device you looking at.

Also, if you already have a smartphone then an app could be the cheapest solution. A bit of a compromise but one that many people are quite happy with.

 

[fossyant]

I've seen a few adverts for Coospo fully functional GPS units. £90..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Touchscree...1370101815-B0FPFWDYR2-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I hesitate to have my phone on the bars but then I don;t really need it as my ebike controller gives me speed and mileage anyway

but if I wanted it on a "normal" bike I would probably look for a second hand small cheap phone and use that with Strava or some other similar system
I think I have an old Android phone in a drawer somewhere that would work fine

It depends what you want and how good a display you need

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Forgot to say - I do use STrava on my phone for rides

I just keep it in my pocket so it is safer - I have never found a decent mount that I trust with my main phone and I don;t really use it until I get home anyway

 

[fossyant]

If you need a 'computer' for navigating in the wilds, miles from roads/towns, then you can't beat the 'big' makes for reliability etc. But if it's for recording rides with little fuss and maybe some navigation, then it's really hard not to look at the cheap versions.

I use an old Garmin 200 to record my commutes and a Garmin Edge Explore for anything off the beaten track.

 

[a.twiddler]

Used Garmin etrex series? Can be used as a basic bike computer for recording speed, distance, average etc as well as a variety of other functions. Battery life about 25 hours with AAs, none of your rechargeable nonsense. Can change batteries mid ride, keeps its trip memory if the batteries die. No faffing with setting up for different wheel sizes. Main advantage, as well as its drawback, is its small size if you are going to use the screen a lot for map reading. It's more set up for walkers in that respect, but I have an etrex 20 which works well for me. There's no need to use a phone app either, which is a huge advantage as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Katana]

West Biking is fine for basic speed and distance. Battery life is good. The big catch is the app and syncing can be clunky. If you just want to record a ride and look at the numbers later, it works. If you want live navigation or seamless Strava uploads, save up for a second hand Garmin 130.

Thanks bud🙏🏻

 

[Katana]

What do you want from it? Recording how far you've gone? showing current speed/distance? uploading to PC/website? Navigation? Maps?

This is important because if you only want specific functions you may be able to get something cheap that does just that. But you have to decide what "that" is first.

The very cheapest devices are generally called just "cycle computer", they don't have GPS but work from a sensor on the wheel. Perfectly adequate, but no navigation capability. So double check the description of any device you looking at.

Also, if you already have a smartphone then an app could be the cheapest solution. A bit of a compromise but one that many people are quite happy with.

Many thanks 🙏🏻

 

[Katana]

I've seen a few adverts for Coospo fully functional GPS units. £90..

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Touchscree...1370101815-B0FPFWDYR2-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Thanks 🙏🏻

 

[Katana]

I hesitate to have my phone on the bars but then I don;t really need it as my ebike controller gives me speed and mileage anyway

but if I wanted it on a "normal" bike I would probably look for a second hand small cheap phone and use that with Strava or some other similar system
I think I have an old Android phone in a drawer somewhere that would work fine

It depends what you want and how good a display you need

Thanks buddy 🙏🏻

 

[Katana]

I hesitate to have my phone on the bars but then I don;t really need it as my ebike controller gives me speed and mileage anyway

but if I wanted it on a "normal" bike I would probably look for a second hand small cheap phone and use that with Strava or some other similar system
I think I have an old Android phone in a drawer somewhere that would work fine

It depends what you want and how good a display you need

Thanks 🙏🏻

 

[Katana]

If you need a 'computer' for navigating in the wilds, miles from roads/towns, then you can't beat the 'big' makes for reliability etc. But if it's for recording rides with little fuss and maybe some navigation, then it's really hard not to look at the cheap versions.

I use an old Garmin 200 to record my commutes and a Garmin Edge Explore for anything off the beaten track.

🙏🏻