Cycling is a great way to stay healthy as it puts minimal strain on your joints. It’s also a fun way to explore as you can cover more ground when you’re riding a bike. Bike computers, also known as head units, are extremely useful tools for all types of cyclists, from professional athletes to casual cyclists. They act as a replacement for a smartphone with cycling apps and come in a variety of forms with different features, but broadly speaking, these devices attach to your bike’s handlebars and provide helpful information front and center while you’re riding.
Even a basic bike computer will track your ride and show you key stats like time, speed, and distance. Plus, if you have additional sensors like a heart rate monitor or power meter, that data will be displayed up front. Most bike computers also have built-in GPS to give you accurate distance information and navigation tools to help you explore new areas. So whether you’re casually cycling around town, tackling an epic backcountry adventure, or working on your fitness, the best bike computer will help you get the most out of every ride.
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Best Overall Bike Computer
Garmin Edge 1050
Bright display with plenty of features
The Garmin Edge 1050 is a premium cycling computer with a bright, responsive touchscreen and plenty of safety features like road hazard alerts and an electronic bell, plus handy navigation tools and Garmin’s robust training platform.
Pros: Road hazard warnings and other safety features Very bright and responsive display Built-in speaker with electronic bell Very useful navigation tool Cons: Battery life could be longer Expensive
The Garmin Edge 1050 is a pricey bike computer, but if money is no object, it’s hands down the best one you can buy. Garmin has finally modernized the display on this latest device, making it incredibly bright and crisp. It’s easy to read in direct sunlight, and the ambient light sensor seamlessly adjusts brightness when you go under a bridge. It’s also incredibly fast and more responsive than any bike computer I’ve used.
The Edge 1050 has a built-in speaker that rings to alert others on the trail or road to your presence. It even sounds like a real bike bell, which is awesome. There are plenty of navigation tools, too, and you can easily sync your Strava routes to try out new rides. The head unit will notify you of upcoming hazards, like busy roads or sharp turns, which is super helpful when riding in new areas. You can also access Garmin Pay, so you don’t have to carry your wallet with you while riding.
Of course, being a Garmin device, you get access to its impressive suite of training tools and accurate data. Track pace, distance, speed and more, and pair with a range of sensors for even more comprehensive data. If you’re also wearing a Garmin watch, you’ll get a comprehensive view of your fitness and get guided training tips to help you maximise your performance.
Best Value Bike Computer
Wahoo Element Bolt V2
Plenty of features for the price
The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 offers great value for the price, with plenty of connectivity options, an easy-to-read display, and handy navigation tools.
ProsEasy to usePlenty of useful indicatorsUnique programmable LEDsGreat navigation toolsConsNo activity-specific settingsSo-so battery life
Wahoo is another big name in the fitness world, and some of their best-known products are their smart indoor trainers. Their bike computers are also great, with the Elemnt Bolt V2 being their best product – in fact, for the price, I prefer it to the more feature-packed Roam.
Read the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt (v2/2021) Cycling Computer Review: Bolt is Dead, Long Live Bolt
The second generation Wahoo Bolt has a lot of changes, but is it worth having on your handlebars?
The unit has a clear, easy-to-use screen that tracks a myriad of metrics as you ride. One of the unit’s most unique features is its programmable LED indicators, which make it easier to monitor your performance metrics as you ride than reading numbers on a screen. It also provides turn-by-turn directions and automatically adjusts if you go off course or need a new destination. Plus, it comes with thousands of pre-prepared routes to help you find a great ride fast.
Equipped with ANT+, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, it’s easy to upload and sync your data to any app or platform you need, like TrainingPeaks. It even has GoPro connectivity, so you can control your camera directly from your bike computer and record your amazing rides. Overall, the Elemnt Bolt V2 offers a lot of features at a great price.
Best Bike Computer UI
Hammerhead Karoo
Smartphone-like devices
Hammerhead Karoo is a bike computer with an intuitive phone-like UI, with the most convenient navigation prompts and physical buttons that you can use even on rainy days or with gloves on.
Pros Great touch screen Intuitive use Good navigation prompts
It may not be as well-known a brand as Garmin or Wahoo, but the Hammerhead Karoo is still a fantastic bike computer, and it’s super easy to use, mainly because it’s based on Android – it feels like a smartphone with a responsive touchscreen, making it much more intuitive to use than many other options.
The touchscreen is great, but the Karoo also has plenty of buttons for ease of use even with gloves on or in the rain. This bike computer also offers some of the best navigation prompts, making it one of the best head units for navigation.
This is the third version of the Karoo, and it boasts a 30% improvement in battery life and a smaller, lighter design. It doesn’t have as long a battery life as some of the other options on this list, but 15 hours should be more than enough for most people. Plus, because Hammerhead is now owned by SRAM, it seamlessly connects with SRAM AXS products if you want all your data.
The best bike computer for long distance riding
Koros Dura
Great battery life for a great ride
The Coros Dura Bike Computer adds 2 hours of battery life for every hour of solar charging, giving you an incredible 120 hours of battery life – perfect for long distance bike adventures.
Pros: Good battery life, unique design, affordable price, simple UI Cons: Many features require Coros app or Coros web platform, bugs need fixing
If you’re up for an epic adventure, you need battery life to match, and the Coros Dura delivers. It’s Coros’ first foray into bike computers, and while there are areas to improve, it has a lot going for it.
Read the review Coros Dura is the perfect companion for long distance bike trips
Coros’ first bike computer promises long battery life, but there are some issues to be ironed out.
The most notable benefit is the long battery life. Coros promises up to 120 hours of battery life. To extend that even further, Coros states that the built-in solar panel provides up to two additional hours of power for every hour of sunlight. We haven’t yet been able to test whether these figures are accurate, but the battery life is very impressive and far better than any head unit we’ve used to date. As a result, we think it’s a great choice for bikepacking trips and longer adventures.
The Dura has a very streamlined, simplified UI that makes it very easy to use, even if it’s your first time using a head unit. It offers navigation (although no road names), pairs with sensors, and has a customizable data screen for a personalized experience. The Dura is very reasonably priced for the features it offers, provided you don’t mind Coros solving some of the problems for you as you use it.
Best Budget Bike Computer
Cateye Quick Wireless Cycle Computer
Simple and affordable
Cateye’s simple bike computer has a simple interface. The sleek, minimalist design features an easy-to-read display and provides basic metrics for beginners.
ProsVery simple and intuitiveEasy to installAll the main indicators are thereCompact and minimalist designConsNo navigation toolsNo built-in GPSCannot connect to other sensors
Not everyone needs (or wants) a fancy bike computer with every bell and whistle. If you don’t want to go over budget and don’t mind sacrificing some features, this option from Cateye is a great choice. It’s a very simple and excellent bike computer with one of the cleanest designs on the market.
The CatEye Quick is simple and nice, giving your handlebars a minimalist look. Nevertheless, it tracks distance, speed (current, average, max), travel time and time. This list is basic, but it’s a great set of metrics for someone just starting out on cycling or someone who only uses it for commuting.
This affordable head unit is incredibly intuitive to use and keep you connected as you ride. The display is easy to read at a glance and it starts and stops automatically. If you’re looking for an easy introduction into the world of cycling computers, this would be a great first choice.
Conclusion: What is the best bike computer?
Everyone has different needs and preferences, so there’s no single best bike computer. But if you’ve got money to spare, the Garmin Edge 1050 is our top option. It offers a well-balanced feature set, a bright and very responsive touchscreen, built-in speakers, and powerful training and fitness features. Its higher price tag comes with a lot of benefits, especially if you’re already invested in the Garmin ecosystem.
How to Choose the Best Bike Computer
Bike computers come in all shapes and sizes, catering to different levels of enthusiasm and expertise. We’ve tried to represent that in the list above. Some options are more focused on navigation and don’t track as many stats, while others go all out to provide an all-around solution. Ease of use and durability were key variables in making our selection. We evaluated the features and performance of each and selected the devices that offer the most useful features and tools to benefit all kinds of cyclists.
FAQ
Q: Do I need a bike computer?
You don’t absolutely need a bike computer to ride a bike, but having one can greatly enhance your cycling experience, depending on what you want to do and where you’re riding. Many bike computers have navigation tools to help you find new routes and even suggest new routes to get you out of a rut. They track a lot of useful data, making them an important tool if you’re serious about your cycling fitness. Finally, bike computers usually also have safety features that can notify emergency contacts if you’re in an accident and warn you of hazards on the road.
Q: What are the alternatives to bike computers?
If you don’t want or need a standalone bike computer, you can get many of the head unit’s features on your smartphone. With a smartphone mount and cycling apps, you get navigation, safety features, basic data collection and more, even without a bike computer.
Q: What should I expect from a bike computer’s battery life?
The amount of battery you need depends on how long you ride, how often you ride, and how often you charge your device. Naturally, long distance rides require long battery life. Similarly, if you are going on unpowered trips, you will need long battery life. However, if you only ride short distances close to home, you can choose a cheaper device with a less long battery life.
Most bike computers offer around 15-20 hours of battery life, depending on how you use the device. When evaluating battery life, choose a device that promises a battery life at least as long as the longest distance you plan to undertake.
Q: Does my cycling computer need Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity?
Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity allows you to pair additional sensors such as a heart rate monitor, speed and cadence sensors, and power meters. Bluetooth connectivity also allows you to pair your phone with the device. If you want to collect as much data as possible with additional sensors, choose the Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity option. If you want to connect your phone to receive notifications during your ride and easily adjust settings, you will need at least a Bluetooth connection.
