The new Garmin Edge 550 & Edge 850 cycling computers bring a lot of updated features, plus bigger, brighter 2.7-inch color displays and extended battery life.
Much of the new tech is aimed at cyclists looking to improve their performance, starting with integrated Garmin Cycling Coach, which includes FREE plans based on course demands, and individual recovery patterns.
Pair either head unit with a power meter and heart rate monitor, and you’ll get reasonably good coaching that adapts your training program based on progression, but that’s just the start.
Smart fueling alerts remind you to eat and drink based on fitness level, environmental conditions, and power output during structured workouts.
Real-time weather overlays show wind direction and radar data, while new GroupRide features compare individual metrics against other riders in your group (so you know when to attack).
For the tech geeks, pair them with electronic shifting, and they’ll show a gear ratio analysis with a post-ride summary of time spent in each gear combination.
Both models carry over safety features such as incident detection, LiveTrack location sharing, and road hazard alerts from other Garmin users. They’re compatible with Garmin’s Varia radar and camera systems and all other modern ANT+ and Bluetooth accessories.
Mountain Bike Features, too
If you liked the mountain bike-specific profiles from the recent Edge MTB computer, but wanted something bigger for road and gravel, too, these new Edge 550/850 models are the ticket.
Both have the higher-resolution 5Hz GPS recording for downhill and enduro riding, with timing gate functionality for tracking segment splits. Check our Edge MTB launch story for details on how those work.
Why Upgrade to the Edge 850?
For $100, actually, there are four good reasons:
- Built-in speaker gives you a digital bike bell, audible turn-by-turn navigation, workout prompts and more
- Touchscreen lets you pan and zoom on the map, quickly and easily report road hazards, and swipe between screens
- Garmin Pay Contactless Payments lets you buy that mid-ride snack & coffee break with the tappy tap
- On Device Course Creator lets you create a course point-by-point directly on the device via touchscreen.
Edge 550 / 850 Pricing & Other Specs
The Edge 550 runs $500, while the Edge 850 is priced at $600. Both units provide up to 36 hours of battery life in power-saving mode and 12 hours under demanding conditions with GPS and sensors active.
Garmin also launched updated Rally power meter pedals today, and recently dropped an advanced all-in-one GPS navigator & satellite communicator for off-bike and overland adventures.
