Garmin seems to be paying close attention to cyclists’ needs more than ever. With the recent introduction of their Varia System, they obviously recognize the importance of safety to a cyclist and decided to take it up a notch with “Incident Detection” in the new Edge Explore 1000.
It’s aimed more at those looking to get out there, travel less trafficked roads and spend more time away from it all. There are no Segments, power data is more limited, and the GUI is more iconic and intuitive than the more performance oriented Edge units. Aimed at the adventure cyclist and long distance rider, it’ll even take an SD card to hold larger, more detailed maps. It also builds in a 15 hour battery life and can operate while plugged into an auxiliary power source, too.
Navigate past the break to see how the new Edge Explore 1000 can assist you on your next adventure…
For adventure types and those that ride alone often, the new Edge has many similarities to the current Edge 1000, but eliminates some of the “training” features to make the interface more friendly. While the segment-chasing Stravaites would be shattered not having the Live Segment Tracking or the Virtual Partner, the Edge Explore still has the ability to measure heart rate & power. It also has Round Trip routing that will show you three potential routes based on the distance and direction you want to head from wherever you are and Live Tracking that allows friends and family to follow you during your adventure from their computer or phone. The Explore 1000 also syncs with Garmin Connect giving you Instant Upload, call and text notifications, as well as weather alerts.
The big feature on the Edge Explore is Incident Detection, (and we assume this won’t be the only unit with it in the near future). It uses an integrated accelerometer to detect a crash and will automatically (or manually), alert your emergency contacts within 30 seconds. This feature could be life saving and will likely be appreciated by loved ones as well. For those that ride in some desolate areas alone, they might appreciate pairing this with the Varia rear radar for the ultimate amount of precautionary safety.
Without the training focus, the screen and buttons are reworked. The result is a simpler interface with more of what you need at your fingertips, without any additional “information overload” cluttering the screen while giving you a little more peace of mind knowing that even in the worst scenario you’re not alone. The new Edge Explore 1000 uses the fast-acting ability to find your location due to its compatibility with both GPS and GLONASS satellites and retails for $449.
