Bike Electronics 101: How to Choose a Bicycle Computer

 Knowing how fast of a lap you've had and all the data that comes from it tells you a lot about how much progress you're making if any. This is why most people who cycle and are serious about it make use of a bike computer. This is a small piece of hardware that can be attached to the handlebars. It provides you with plenty of information about your ride and it can be used for a lot longer than a smartphone from a single charge. The body of a bike computer is quite durable too as it can withstand the rigours of the elements quite well. Using a bike computer is far better than using your smartphone since the latter is not as rugged or as long-lasting when it comes to extended use.

What to Look for in Bike Computers

Display

The size of the computer's display as well as its resolution are going to make a big impact on how you use it. The bigger the screen the more information you'll be able to have at a glance. More sophisticated bike electronics will have a colour display which will make all the information on it more discernable.

But keep in mind that smaller displays are going to add less weight and those with greyscale displays will be more readable in direct sunlight. More advanced cycling electronics have touch screens nowadays which are slowly becoming the norm as they'll make it easier to navigate through menus.

GPS

GPS is a feature no bike computer should be devoid of. But not all devices have the same GPS capabilities. More affordable devices are going to allow you to perform a limited number of navigation functions. Costlier cycling electronics, on the other hand, offer full satellite navigation and are usually larger since they display a map instead of just a path.

Connectivity

Something that more and more bike computers have is the ability to work together with your smartphone. Be it via an app or through a cord, the device can use the phone's GPS together with its own to make for a more accurate reading and mapping.

HRM

HRM or heart rate monitor functions are able to record the activity of your heart and provide data that corresponds with a ride. You'll need another device for this such as a smartwatch or a chest strap in order to provide the computer with the necessary information.

Battery

If you want to go on long journeys with your bike, then a computer with long battery life is something you should aim for. The larger the capacity of the battery the more you can use the device without the need to charge it. Usually, most bike electronics will last you up to 18 hours but more expensive ones will last you even longer. Remember though that these are usually larger too since bigger battery capacities make for larger batteries and thus the computer itself.

Compatibility

When it comes to the sensors of your smartwatch, cadence or power meter what you need to remember is that they need to be compatible with the computer you'll be using. While more affordable bicycle electronics allow you to connect only one monitoring device at a time, more expensive ones allow you to make multiple connections. This is thanks to the use of ANT+ or Bluetooth.

Notifications

Although you can't rely on just a bike computer to handle all the readings, you can't rely on your phone while biking either. In order to focus on what's ahead you should look for cycling electronics that can sync with your smartphone's notifications. These are known as smart notifications since they are automatically showing up on the computer although you initially receive them on your phone. This way you won't have to stop and check your phone when you receive a notification, just look at your bicycle computer.

Wired vs Wireless

There are two types of bicycle electronics you can choose from, wired and wireless. Although there was once a big gap between the two, nowadays almost every bike computer is wireless. This is because they are more convenient and provide long runtimes at the same time.

Water Resistance

The most undermined ability of bike computers is to survive through all kinds of weather conditions. Well, in order for that to be the case with yours you should look for one that has a good enough IP rating. Devices that have altitude functions are not meant to be immersed in water since they have a vent that can get filled with it.

Rear Wheel Sensor

In case you're going to use a bike computer together with a turbo trainer then you should know that the sensor and magnet should be able to get readings from the rear wheel. Make sure that your unit is able to fit the chain stays and if it's a wired model you should have a long enough cord that's able to reach that far back.