It doesn’t matter if you are a casual rider, an enthusiast, or a competitive cyclist, keeping track of your ride using a bike computer is the only way that you truly know you’re getting faster, better, and stronger with each ride.
The sweat on your back is no longer a measure of how hard you have ridden and the best bike computer can offer stats such as cadence, heart rate, calories burned, speed, and wattage, which will not only let you get your geek-on but will also give you the proof (and bragging rights) that you have pushed yourself as hard as you can on each of your best mountain bike rides.
Why get a Cycling Computer?
One of the main reasons to get a bike computer is to record and keep track of your rides. For example, a casual cyclist might just wants to know the speed, distance, and time. Whereas an enthusiast rider might want to keep on top of their trip distance, the total odometer as well as maximum and average speed.
Whatever the reason, a bike computer is a great means of motivation helping you to burn off those extra calories and if you are serious about biking and improving your cycling performance, then keeping a track of your data is a means of ensuring that you are doing the right type of training with the right amount of intensity at the right time to maximize your performance on each ride.
Best Bike Computer Brands
When it comes to buying the best bike computer there are really only a handful of brands that are worth your attention (and money). Bike computer brands such as CatEye, Garmin, Wahoo, and Sigma produce some of the best and most popular choices when it comes to bike computers for mountain bikes and road bikes. Buying any bike computer from any of these brands will ensure that you will be seamlessly keeping track of your biking stats for years to come.
Best Bike Computer our 5 top Picks to get Your Geek on
The below bike computers are the best options for casual and pro riders giving you all the stats mid-ride and allowing you the get your geek on with a deeper analysis once you’ve cooled down.
✓ Garmin Edge 810 GPS Bike Computer
Rating: ★★★★★
For the true biking enthusiast the Garmin Edge GPS bike computer gives you more data than you’ll probably ever need. Displaying some of the most comprehensive ride data you will find on any of the best bike computers with GPS such as; elevation, power, speed, distance, time, heart rate, cadence, and location, plus you can use the GPS to track your ride with interactive maps in real-time on the 2.6″ rugged and customizable color touchscreen.
And there’s more, the Garmin Edge 810 can also sync with your smartphone so you can get even more data such as live weather forecasts mid-ride and the ability to upload your rides to compare with others.
✓ CatEye Padrone
Rating: ★★★★★
When it comes to reliable, well-made biking computers CatEye have the market cornered. Sure, they might not have GPS capabilities or give you the option to sync with your smartphone but when it comes to pure accurate old-school data the CatEye Padrone shines.
The CatEye bike computer shows relevant data such as distance, speed, time, and averages on its clear, squint-free 2″ high, 3″ wide display (one of the largest displays available). If you are a beginner rider or if you just prefer a good back-to-basics cycling computer for commuting to work, the CatEye Padrone is the cleanest, most readable wireless bike computer on the market.
✓ Sigma Sport Rox 8.1
Rating: ★★★★★
The Sigma Sport Rox 8.1 is the best bike computer without GPS and tracks everything you need such as cadence, heart rate, altitude, gradient, and power to name just a few, that all shows up in a lightweight, easy-to-read display. So it doesn’t matter what type of cyclist you are there is enough data at your fingertips to keep you happy.
For example, if you love to look back at your previous rides the Sigma wireless bike computer stores up to seven previous rides allowing you to easily compare your previous rides with your latest stats. Sigma Sport Rox 8.1 also comes with an optional heart rate monitor and cadence meter inside of the box which add some added value to the overall purchase price.
✓ Wahoo Fitness RFLKT
Rating: ★★★★★
If you are looking for a smartphone, ride focused wireless bike computer look no further than the Wahoo Fitness, let’s be honest your phone already runs your life so why not let it work with your bike to.
The Wahoo Fitness RFLKT is the best bike computer for syncing with your smartphone, allowing you harness the power of the many cycling apps readily available such as Map My Ride, Wahoo Fitness, Strava, Ride with GPS, and Cyclemeter to give you the most accurate and relevant data right at your fingertips, when you need it most on a small, clear, customizable screen attached on your handlebars.
The Wahoo bike computer wirelessly receives your speed, heart rate, cadence, power and turn-by-turn navigation, heck, you can even control your music with the Wahoo Fitness (but not whilst you are riding, unless you’re on the trainer!).
When it comes to the best biking computers the Wahoo Fitness RFLKT is the best value in class and is one of the most the most powerful bike computers for the price.
✓ Garmin Edge Touring
Rating: ★★★★★
With the Garmin Edge Touring bike computer you can leave your maps behind making it easy to get from point A to point B and back again with 17 hours of turn-by-turn, cycling-specific directions. The Garmin Edge Touring works just like a GPS navigator in your car, with maps and features designed to help you find your way whilst out on your bike.
The Garmin GPS bike computer even lets you search by locations interest and you can even choose a bike ride based on your riding style, such as mountain biking or touring.
The Garmin comes with all of the bells and whistles you’d expect to find on any of the best bike computers and even syncs with a heart rate monitor if needed, but unless that’s an absolute must, the Garmin Touring will give everything you need to get from A to B easily accessed on a touchscreen interface, without losing ground or struggling with physical maps.
