6 Best Bike Computer GPS Navigation Tools in 2023

In the world of professional cycling, technology is slowly becoming one of the important factors. If we look at the latest iterations of things like the Tour de France, we can easily find that the technology that goes into these bikes is becoming ever more advanced. For the best bike computer, the same is happening, leading to better features that simplify cycling.

While the Garmin Edge® 1030 Plus GPS Cycling/Bike Computer is certainly one of the ultimate bike computers, there are plenty more brands and cycling computers that you could look into. We have identified Garmin as one of the best and thanks to being the leaders in GPS technology, it makes plenty of sense.

Depending on your rider’s level and personal needs, you might need to consider looking at the best bike computer to simplify the idea of cycling for yourself. Once you manage to understand the data from these computers, it becomes much easier to set up a plan for your trips and ensure that you can effectively manage your race.

What Is The GPS Bike Computer?

The GPS bike computer is a simple tools, or accessory, which attaches to your bike and enables you to measure a few important features. I will get to some of these features in a bit, but understanding how the traditional GPS System works is important. 

Not only does the GPS bike computer offer you the luxury of measuring all the important features and statistics, but the navigation uses true satellite technology, which enables you to have a pin point location. Turn-by-turn navigation helps you avoid and even see possible obstacles before they get in the way, whilst allowing alternative routes to be available for the avid cyclist.

Each GPS unit is loaded with a few maps, which would generally be the maps that are located close to the area in which you find yourself. Those living in the US and those living in the UK would have two different maps. It is important that when you buy your Garmin Edge or whichever computer you would want to use that you focus on the maps as well.

Why You Should Be Managing Your Bike Race With A Bike Computer

One of the key aspects of your cycling experience would be to make it to the end of a race and be in such a position that you either finish or win. For many beginners, the idea of simply finishing should be enough. However, those with a bit more ambition might want to go for the win. Here we look at a few ways the bike computer can assist you:

• Cadence Management: The bike computer has plenty of significant sensors that enable you to manage the cadence rate at which the pedals move). The cadence is translated to wattage and this will enable you to control the power and energy expenditure.
• Managing Distance: If you know a bike route, you might have an idea of how far the route is and what your performance needs to be like. However, managing distance can be tricky and your bike computer will help you with this. The GPS should make it possible to better track your race.
• Preparing For Obstacles: From the perspective of a mountain bike rider, obstacles could be daunting things for you to deal with. With a GPS-enabled bike computer, you can plot and manage these obstacles to ensure you are prepared.
• Bike Management: As mentioned, the best bike computer will have numerous sensors spread throughout the bike. These sensors should enable you to track the wheel speeds and other important information. It can help you notice when something might be wrong on the bike.
• Overall Performance: When you combine all of these factors, you can manage and control the overall performance of your bike ride. You must know how to control your performance if you want the best results. The sensors and data should make this much easier with a bike computer.

As you can see the functionality of the bike computer is ideal for those that enjoy cycling. Without the bike computer and can be hard to manage certain aspects. Whether you are a mountain bike rider or road racer, you can always benefit from the bike computer in some way or another. We would recommend experimenting with one at least.

Best Bike Computers Compared

Best Bike Computer On The Market Today

With all this said and done, you might be wondering which bike computer is the best on the market today. Before we dive into how we went about selecting them, you should check out some of these options. Those who want a brand new bike computer will need to look at these products we selected:

1. Best Mid-Level Bike Computer: Garmin Edge 530 Performance GPS Cycling/Bike Computer

Key Features

• Touchscreen
• Color display
• Performance building
• GPS enabled
• Third-party app compatible
• MTB Specific features
• Route building
• 20-hour battery life
• IPX7 Waterproof rating

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Review

The Garmin Edge 530 Performance GPS Cycling/Bike Computer is one of the most unique options on the market today. The computer is fully designed with GPS compatibility and Garmin mapping. If you include the third-party ANT-plus, you have a power meter as well. This will enable you to track the overall power output.

If you choose the sensor bundle, you have a variety of sensors cadence sensor added to your bike and they directly communicate with the computer. The great thing about these sensors is that they can help with VO2 and altitude acclimatization. Since the unit is made by Garmin, the Garmin routing map is one of the best for GPS tracking.

With the addition of the heart rate monitor feature, your data field would be significantly improved. Not to mention the companion app, which comes with all Garmin bike computers.

Finally, you will need to choose which bundle you want and while this can be one of the more expensive options, we would recommend the mountain bike bundle. The bundle includes all the sensors and features you would need for cycling. It is one of the best options on the market and would offer great value for your money.

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2. Best Mountain Bike Computer: Garmin Edge 830 Sensor Bundle

Key Features

• Touchscreen
• Color display
• Smartphone compatible
• Cadence monitoring
• Performance building
• GPS enabled
• Third-party app compatible
• MTB Specific features
• Route building
• 20-hour battery life
• IPX7 Waterproof rating

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Review

Those with a little more funds to spend might want to consider the Garmin Edge 830 Sensor Bundle for the mapping and navigation. This is one of the more expensive options on the market today but includes virtually everything you would need as a cyclist. It would be the perfect option for those that want the advanced features of a Garmin bike computer.

The unit includes the Garmin map tracking and sensors that will help you track your speed and altitude. The power meter can allow the rider to better understand their power output. One of the biggest benefits is the touchscreen computer. Instead of struggling with buttons when you are riding, you can use the touchscreen to ensure you navigate the features.

With a battery life of up to 20 hours and an additional pack that should give you 40 more hours, you can be sure that you will have the best value for your money. Unfortunately, it is one of the most expensive options on the market today. We would mostly recommend the Garmin Edge 830 Sensor Bundle for professional riders.

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3. Best Road Bike Computer: Garmin Edge® 1030 Plus GPS Cycling/Bike Computer

Key Features

• Touchscreen
• Color display
• Smartphone compatible
• Cadence monitoring
• Performance building
• Pacing Guidance
• Training building
• GPS enabled
• Third-party app compatible
• MTB Specific features
• Route building
• 20-hour battery life
• IPX7 Waterproof rating

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Review

Building on the high-end bike computers we aim to look at, we have one of the best options on the market today. The Garmin Edge® 1030 Plus GPS Cycling/Bike Computer is not only a high-end computer but it has all the important features you would need for performance. It includes the Garmin Mapping technology and the same metrics as the previous version.

Aside from being a great computer, there are a few other features that are also important. These features include the training guide and many people might need some assistance with training. Once you select the training, it will help you set up workout routines and specific targets. The pacing guidance system will help with sustaining a good pace.

Once again, you have access to a variety of third-party applications that could give you even more data if you need it. If you choose the sensor bundle, it might be a bit harder to install, but will give you better data tracking. Unfortunately, this is one of those super expensive options many professional riders will often use.

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4. Best Budget Bike Computer: Garmin Edge® 130 Plus GPS Cycling/Bike Computer

Key Features

• Button-Operated
• Black and white display
• Cadence monitoring
• Performance building
• GPS enabled
• Third-party app compatible
• 20-hour battery life
• IPX7 Waterproof rating

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Review

If you are looking for something cheaper, you might want to consider the Garmin Edge® 130 Plus GPS Cycling/Bike Computer. Much like the other Garmin versions, it has some of the core features you would expect, which include GPS tracking and monitoring of basic stats. These include routes and the speeds you are traveling at.

One of the good features is that you can add third-party applications to the system. The addition of third-party applications will enable you to track different features and eventually set it up like one of the more expensive versions. Mounting the computer is very easy, but navigating the system is tough without a touchscreen interface.

This is one of the cheaper versions of the Garmin brand and offers you some excellent value for your money. It is great for beginners and will not force you to break the bank when you want to buy one. As a beginner, you might not need all the high-end features that other computers have, which makes this the optimal version.

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5. Best Technical Bike Computer: Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM GPS Cycling/Bike Computer

Key Features

• Button-Operated
• Color display
• GPS enabled
• Smartphone compatibility
• Third-party app compatible
• Route building
• 15-hour battery life
• IPX7 Waterproof rating

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Review

Wahoo is not one of the brands you often see on bikes. However, the Chinese manufacturer has come up with a few impressive bike computers. The Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM GPS Cycling/Bike Computer is one of the best-selling versions that Wahoo has to offer and closely competes with the Garmin Edge® 130 Plus GPS Cycling/Bike Computer.

A good GPS design will enable you to track your route and even create your routes while enabling you to monitor some of the basic data that you will need for your performance. It is easy to install and should offer good functionality to the rider. One of the best features is the compatibility with texting-based apps.

As mentioned, the installation goes fairly smoothly and it is easy to use. Unfortunately, the computer does not have any touchscreen features and navigating the unit can be daunting. With the addition of ELEMNT technology, you can save your addresses and plot your routes to ensure you have a functional trip.

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6. Best Entry-Level Bike Computer: Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt GPS Bike Computer

Key Features

• Button-Operated
• Black and white display
• GPS enabled
• Third-party app compatible
• Route building
• 15-hour battery life
• IPX7 Waterproof rating

Check Latest Price

Review

In terms of those looking to enter the world of bike computers, having something a little less sophisticated can always make life easier. The Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt GPS Bike Computer is a smaller option and is only 2.2-inches in size. It comes with a black and white interface that should be decent for navigating with the GPS.

The computer features a durability rating of IPX7 and this ensures that it should be waterproof in many wet situations. With a battery life of 15 hours, it will also ensure that you hardly ever run out of battery life. The bike computer should be compatible with other applications like STRAVA and Komoot, which should allow you to better track your status.

One feature that stood out is the ability for riders to create their routes while they are riding. If you are to set up a training system for yourself, you could easily use this to build a sufficient route that ensures you can easily move about. Wahoo has also recently gotten its hands on its satellites to use for the GPS.

When we compare this unit to some of the Garmin units, it is easy to see why the Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt GPS Bike Computer is so popular. It is one of the cheaper options on the market today and offers some high-grade features as well. You must consider this as one of the top options when you are a beginner starting.

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6 Key Elements To Look For In A Good Bike Computer – Brief Overview

Finding the right bike computer is always a complicated endeavor. You must understand what you need to look for. You can look at our full guide for selecting the best bike computer as well. However, we believe that you should have a brief overview of the features that are important to us when buying a good bike computer:

1. Display

The display can be broken up into two subcategories and these include the size of the display and the color. The higher you are willing to go on the price scale, the better your display would be. A larger display makes navigating terrains easier when you are traveling at speeds. However, it could add more weight to the bike.

The color of the display is great to consider and when you have a good display with a color screen, you can use it regardless of the sun shining on the display. Alternatively, the black and white display will be cheaper. The downside to the black and white display is that the glare from the sun heavily influences your display

2. GPS-Enabled

One of the most important features of any bike computer would be the GPS used. A brand like Garmin has revolutionized the GPS industry and with incredible satellite technology, it is hard for other brands to effectively compete with Garmin. However, GPS technology is essential for navigation.

It would be vital to ensure that your bike computer does have the GPS function to utilize. It should give you a better idea of the track route and the obstacles. You can also use GPS technology for route building. Many bike computers will integrate this with third-party applications for even better performance.

The navigation features are the main reason for many people buying these bike computers. GPS cycling computers are proven to enhance your experience and make sure that you have better structured training as well.

3. Battery Life

The idea of the bike computer is to ensure that you have a computer for the duration of your ride. Fortunately, most bike rides will be around 3-4 hours, but there is occasionally the extra mountain stage that could take around 7 hours to complete. Battery life is essential for ensuring you can keep going.

It is important to look for a bike computer that offers more than 12 hours of battery life when you are using the GPS. While most Garmin GPS computers will give you about 20 hours, they also include a backup battery. With Garmin, you might be looking at closer to 40 hours of consistent usage from your bike computer.

4. Durability

You might be thinking, why do you need durability? However, there are a few important elements about the durability factor you will need to keep in mind. If you encounter bad weather, you want to have a bike computer that offers you some form of protection from the water potentially coming onto the screen.

Having an IPX7 waterproof bike computer would be essential and should ensure you can use the computer regardless of the rain. Additionally, you might find that many brands prefer to have a rubber casing around the bike computer. The rubber acts to absorb the possible impact from potential crashes that might occur.

5. Operation

The operation is not something everyone thinks about until they have bought a bike computer. However, the operation aspect is essential and you will need to make sure that your bike computer can be operated with ease. The choice between a button-operated and touchscreen option will be an important decision.

The buttons are great and they will always work. However, they can be tedious to press and you often need to put additional pressure on them. However, the touchscreen version offers a bit more comfort and you can readily move around on the interface. The big problem is that the touchscreen might be ineffective when wearing gloves or when the display gets wet.

6. App Compatibility

The final aspect you will have to consider is the apps that might be compatible with your device. You would want to have access to certain third-party applications and even your mobile phone. It can be easier to read text messages and certain applications will assist your performance. Unfortunately, it cannot be used for calling.

Applications like STRAVA segment or STRAVA live segments offer riders the ability to set up different programs and plan routes. It is one of the essential applications used by some of the pro riders. Keep in mind that various other applications could also be used if you have the funds. It is important to make sure that you have a bike computer with compatibility.

These apps enable the rider to use an app like STRAVA and transfer data to STRAVA. The apps would reveal training peaks on many of these devices. Bike computers 2023 would be one of the best investments that you could make for your riding with GPS devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Having a good understanding of which bike computer you should choose will not only save you money but could also enhance your overall performance. The bike computers selected are some of the best among the top riders in the world. While we have tried to give you all the information possible, there are still a few questions we might have missed:

Best Bike Computer Summary

No matter how you choose to look at bike computers are entirely up to you. Some of the older riders might want to take the traditional route of riding without one. However, it is an undeniable fact that a bike computer is an important tool for improving your performance and making sure you get the best value from each performance.

If we were to make the decision, we would highly recommend that all riders consider the bike computer as part of their arsenal to ensure they get the best performance. Let us know in the comment section if you prefer to ride with or without a bike computer.