Spec me a cycle computer

NoNameNoNumber · 21 Apr 2017 at 18:18

With the following spec;
HRM
GPS (for Strava)
Cadence
<£200

The Garmin 520 seems to do the lot and gets good reviews but is £50 more than I was hoping to spend...
What can people personally recommend?

Thank you

The_Baron · 21 Apr 2017 at 18:58

Am using the 735xt from Garmin. It has just been replaced by the more expensive 935 but I expect you might find decent deals on the 735xt second hand now as people start to upgrade. It's a wearable and works great as an every day watch. Battery life is brilliant too. And if you wish to track your running and swimming too its worth the extra outlay.

Shamrock · 21 Apr 2017 at 19:12

Elemnt Bolt is in your budget but good luck finding stock at the moment.

lordrobs · 21 Apr 2017 at 20:08

Personally, as someone who uses a fenix3 to track my rides, I wouldn't recommend a wrist based unit for cycling use.

As for what I would recommend... it really is hard to look beyond the ELEMNT Bolt TBH.

neil_g · 21 Apr 2017 at 20:55

Second hand garmin 800?

NoNameNoNumber · 21 Apr 2017 at 21:41

The_Baron said:
Am using the 735xt from Garmin. It has just been replaced by the more expensive 935 but I expect you might find decent deals on the 735xt second hand now as people start to upgrade. It's a wearable and works great as an every day watch. Battery life is brilliant too. And if you wish to track your running and swimming too its worth the extra outlay.

Although the multi sport aspect is appealing I don't want a watch. I carry my phone with me whilst running and I swim just to get the job done, don't want to track that part

Shamrock said:
Elemnt Bolt is in your budget but good luck finding stock at the moment.

Wiggle are showing stock

lordrobs said:
Personally, as someone who uses a fenix3 to track my rides, I wouldn't recommend a wrist based unit for cycling use.

As for what I would recommend... it really is hard to look beyond the ELEMNT Bolt TBH.

Thanks, just googled them and they look promising

neil_g said:
Second hand garmin 800?

Not considered 2nd hand tbh, do the batteries deteriorate like in mobiles? Anything to watch out for?

neil_g · 21 Apr 2017 at 22:08

NoNameNoNumber said:
Not considered 2nd hand tbh, do the batteries deteriorate like in mobiles? Anything to watch out for?

I've had my 800 for almost 4 years since new and the battery has no noticeable loss of life.

NoNameNoNumber · 21 Apr 2017 at 22:19

Promising

Do you use Strava?

neil_g · 22 Apr 2017 at 07:26

NoNameNoNumber said:
Promising
Do you use Strava?

Yes. Plug into your pc and Garmin express app puts the data into garmin connect which you can link to strava so it auto syncs.

You might be able to load the activity files straight to strava but letting it automatically do it takes seconds.

The_Baron · 22 Apr 2017 at 11:11

ps with regards to the watch type ones like the 735xt I do not wear mine on the bike but rather have it mounted using the optional Garmin bike mount. Works well. No need to carry your phone. All data uploads to Garmin Connect and Strava automatically over blue tooth when I get home. Just for clarification!

thedinks · 22 Apr 2017 at 13:09

I use a galaxy s5 with the quadlock case and mount.

BennyC · 22 Apr 2017 at 13:12

Elemnt / Elemnt Bolt or gtfo tbh

NoNameNoNumber · 27 Apr 2017 at 18:57

Cheers guys, after a fairly exhaustive google and a good bald patch inducing think I agree the Elemnt is the one to go for... I know I originally said I wanted sub £200 but I am happy to pay the extra £84.99 I think

FrenchTart · 27 Apr 2017 at 19:08

NoNameNoNumber said:
Cheers guys, after a fairly exhaustive google and a good bald patch inducing think I agree the Elemnt is the one to go for... I know I originally said I wanted sub £200 but I am happy to pay the extra £84.99 I think

Get the Elemnt Bolt, not the Elemnt.

UTmaniac · 27 Apr 2017 at 19:57

Don't forget 10% British Cycling discount at Chain Reaction Cycles, plus they usually have better Topcashback rates.

As a cheaper alternative, maybe check out the Polar M400 and H7 hrm bundle, Wiggle at least has this for £120.

NoNameNoNumber · 27 Apr 2017 at 20:23

FrenchTart said:
Get the Elemnt Bolt, not the Elemnt.

Really? not worth the extra to get the Elemnt?

UTmaniac said:
Don't forget 10% British Cycling discount at Chain Reaction Cycles, plus they usually have better Topcashback rates.

As a cheaper alternative, maybe check out the Polar M400 and H7 hrm bundle, Wiggle at least has this for £120.

I am not on Topcashback nor do I have any affiliation with British Cycling, CRC don't Bolt bundle either... Also I am against having a watch

But thank you!

FrenchTart · 27 Apr 2017 at 20:24

NoNameNoNumber said:
Really? not worth the extra to get the Elemnt?

If they were the same price it would be a toss up but as the Bolt is cheaper it's crazy to go for the Elemnt now tbh

NoNameNoNumber · 27 Apr 2017 at 20:25

The Elemnt comes with the TT mount, has a larger screen and a longer battery life though... What downsides are there?
That being said though £50 more for a TT mount is excessive

FrenchTart · 27 Apr 2017 at 20:34

You get an aero out front mount with the Bolt to save those precious wattzzz

Some people regard the Elemnt as a bit too big and clunky (personally I wouldn't care, much like I don't about the "aero" benefits of the Bolt if I'm honest). The one unarguable advantage the Elemnt has is that it can display two more data fields on the screen...which to be honest really doesn't matter. When my 810 broke I moved to the Bolt and despite having a million data fields previously I'm perfectly happy with "only" 9 on the Bolt. Also, the smaller screen really doesn't matter - the maps are so much clearer than my Garmin in the sunlight that I don't care about the loss of colour and (maybe?) smaller screen.

Anyhow, essentially the Bolt and the Elemnt are neck and neck. I'd say it makes sense to go for whichever is cheaper.

NoNameNoNumber · 27 Apr 2017 at 20:39

That's awesome real world advice, thank you for the Frenchie