Garmin has just updated their Edge cycling computers, and there’s a lot to talk about. No longer just a tool for the road cyclist, GPS computers have already come a long way. But with the latest updates to the new Edge 530 and 830, riders of all kinds will find features that are quite appealing.
Measuring roughly the same size, the 830 is actually a bit shorter since it uses a touch screen where the 530 is button only. Both have a 2.6″ high resolution color screen, and offer up to 20hrs battery life without an external battery pack (with Garmin’s Charge that life is extended to 40hrs).
When it comes to cyclist safety, the GPS units include a new bike alarm feature with a pin code for disarming it, group messaging and tracking, compatibility with the Varia rearview radar and lights, plus an incident detection function that will notify someone when it detects a crash.
Mapping has also improved with functions like popularity routing which picks the route based on the roads that are most commonly uploaded as part of rides. Rerouting once you’ve gone off course is said to be twice as fast as previous models, and the mapping enters the mountain bike world like never before.
Now, the mountain bike bundles come preloaded with data from Trailforks which allows you to see and navigate through trails uploaded through their network. Stopping mid-ride provides a Forksight mode which shows you upcoming forks in the trail and your location within the trail network. Then there are features that will track your air time, jump distance, and jump count as well as ‘Grit’ which will tell you how difficult the ride will be, and ‘Flow’ which tells you how well you’re flowing the trail.
If training is what you’re after, the computers have new features like an acclimation indicator, ClimbPro feature which helps you gauge your effort, and in-ride notifications to hydrate or eat.
If you use compatible speed and cadence sensors like the new Garmin Speed & Cadence 2 sensors, it will also calculate your power curve to compare to previous rides.
Like other Garmin computers, you can customize the device with apps, widgets, and data fields from the Connect IQ store including apps like AccuWeather MinuteCast, Yelp, and ride tracking apps like Strava and Komoot.
Offered in different bundles, prices range from $299 to $499 and they’re available in May.
