Garmin has just announced the 820 as the next new GPS computers to join the top of their completely updated Edge lineup. Available in both the Edge Explore 820 configuration aimed at cyclists looking to head off on more of an adventure of the standard Edge 820 targeted at the competitive cyclist, both 820 are all about connectivity whether it is to live Strava segments, weather & notifications, an array of external sensors (including your electronic drivetrains), or the newest feature GroupTrack that lets you track friends on your group rides in realtime. All the while it does so with a compact touchscreen that slots it nicely in between the 520 & 1000 computers. Take a look at the full details and a video of the GroupTrack functionality after the break…
Riders can now stay connected with family and friends, both on the ride through the new GroupTrack, and with those at home following along with LiveTrack. GroupTrack is designed to link cyclists on a ride so that you can keep track of the other riders in your group, for example if you get separated or if one rider has a mechanical or gets dropped out of the bunch. LiveTrack on the other hand lets you loved ones check your progress from a web connection so your family will know when you will be home for dinner or for example to be able to follow along as you compete in some event.
At the most basic the new Garmin 820s deliver the same premium GPS tracking performance, comprehensive ride data collection, bike-specific navigation, and ease of use that has made the Edge series the industry benchmark for modern cycling computers. The 820 joins the 520 and 1000 in offering unmatched wireless connectivity and seamless functionality through the use of Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone, wifi connectivity to your computer, and even device-to-device direct links for sharing files.
Both devices feature a 2.3″(58.4mm) diagonal screen with 200×265 pixel resolution. They use a quick capacitive touch display for easy all-weather use, even with gloves, and the Edge 820 adds auto adjusting brightness care of a light sensor. The both weigh 68g, with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery giving up to 15hr of GPS tracking.
Both computers also use built-in GPS, GLONASS, and an altimeter to deliver accurate ride data on top of Garmin’s Cycle Map with turn-by-turn navigation, points of interest, bike-friendly trails, and more, all now on 16GB of onboard memory. They are also compatible with ANT+ sensors for speed, cadence, and heart rate tracking, and in the case of the Edge 820 for power metering.
Both 820s now go beyond pretty much everything else in the Edge line (and most other computers on the market) to offer pretty much every feature and connectivity we’ve heard of yet. The Edge 820 includes a lot of additional performance, training, and power analysis functionality geared towards the competitive athlete, like on-board logging of you personal records on preset segments, VO2 max, a Recovery Adviser, FTP/Watts/kg tracking, Performance condition, lactate threshold, and a new Stress score. It also adds integration with Di2 shifting, ANT+ electronic shifting systems and bike trainer compatibility.
Both new 820s also offer connectivity to the most recent and innovative tech accessories, like the new Varia rearview radar detection system, Varia Vision heads up display, Varia smart lights, and even control a Virb camera. Besides connecting to a Varia setup the 820 devices have their own accelerometer for incident detection, and can be setup to automatically send a rider location message to an emergency contacts if it detects a crash.
Both devices are also Connect IQ compatible, meaning power users can individualize either 820 setup by downloading additional data fields (kind of like apps) through the customization platform.
A couple other new features will provide improved usability, including an auto start setting that automatically begins to record a ride/activity after it hits a user-set speed, and a special new battery saver mode that extends the standard 15 hour run time up to 50% longer by putting the screen to sleep while still tracking and logging all of your riding data.
The Edge 820 is available now for $400 alone or $500 bundled with a speed & cadence sensor and heart rate monitor. The Edge Explore 820 sells for a bit less at $350.
