Garmin Bike Computers Set The Standards For GPS and Metric Delivery

Garmin bike computers are among the most used bike computer units in the pro peloton and amateur ranks alike. Head units like the Garmin Edge 510 are forging new ground with touch screen navigation and real-time data transfer with a Bluetooth Smart compatible phone.

GARMIN VECTOR POWER PEDALS

Garmin purchased Metrigear two years ago with the goal of developing power pedals that display left/right power balance. When they do arrive these pedals will work with Garmin Edge 810, Edge 510, Garmin 500 and Garmin Edge 800 to deliver all Training Peaks power metrics along with left/right power balance. Polar's Look Keo power pedals are already out and it will be a huge disappointment if Garmin does not deliver this product to market in 2013.

Garmin was very smart in embedding Bluetooth Smart in their new Garmin Edge 810 and Garmin Edge 510 cycling computer units. This allows the bike computers to communicate all data in real-time with Garmin Connect training software and with social networks as long as you have a Bluetooth Smart compatible smart phone.

THE GARMIN BIKE COMPUTERS 2013 LINE

Garmin offers the entry level Garmin Edge 200, which does not deliver heart rate data. The Edge 200 does real-time speed, distance and pacing, plus it has excellent post-ride maps that you can download into Garmin Connect, the free online training software.

Garmin Edge 510 definitely ranks as the most improved bike computer for 2013 in the Garmin line up. Edge 510 now offers touch screen navigation, real-time data transfer and tracking, a much better metric display and the new out front bike mount, which is vastly superior to the old stem mounts.

Garmin Edge 810 is the new flag ship and the best bike computer in the world in our opinion, especially for those that want navigation, color maps and turn-by-turn directions. Edge 810 also has the new real-time data transfer and tracking features, plus the Garmin out front bike mount.

GARMIN CYCLING WATCHES

Garmin has two cycling watches with built-in GPS that we are very fond of. The first is the Garmin Forerunner 910XT, which is without a doubt the finest triathlon watch in the world bar none. It also delivers just about every major swim, run and bike metric available, along with heart rate data and a 15 hour plus battery life in one second recording mode.

The Garmin Forerunner 610 is smaller and lighter than the 910XT and is the first-ever touch screen GPS watch. If 6 or so hours in one second recording is enough then this watch is awesome for cycling, running and virtually any outdoor sport.

It is pretty hard to critique Garmin bike computers and cycling watches too much because they are so far ahead of their competition. A few company's, like Suunto, with their Suunto Ambit, have kept pace with Garmin but they are the exception and not the rule.

OUR FAVORITES

Without question our favorite Garmin bike computers are the Garmin Edge 510 and the Edge 810. Nothing else in the world even comes close and our sponsored bike team, Team Rockford, has the majority of its members all riding Garmin Edge. If you would like some true expert advice from people who actually use, test and know the products then simply call us here at the Heart Rate Watch Company at 866-586-7129. Bike computers and heart rate monitor products is what we do best because it is all we do.

copyright 2013, Rusty Squire, author, rsquire@heartratewatchcompany.com