Cycling is a fantastic way to stay fit thanks to minimal impact on your joints. Being on a bike also allows you to cover more ground, making it a fun way to explore. Bike computers, also called head units, are incredibly useful tools for all types of cyclists, ranging from professional athletes to casual cruisers. They serve as a replacement for your phone with a cycling app and come in a variety of formats with different features, but broadly speaking, these devices attach to your bike’s handlebars to provide useful information front and center while you ride.
Even basic bike computers will track your rides and display key stats like time, speed, and distance. Plus, if you have additional sensors like heart rate monitors or power meters, you’ll see that data front and center as well. Most bike computers feature built-in GPS, providing accurate distance information and navigation tools, helping you explore new areas. So whether you are going on casual rides around town, tackling epic backcountry adventures, or amping up your fitness, the best bike computers will help you get the most out of every ride.
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Best bike computer overall
Garmin Edge 1050
A bright display with loads of features
The Garmin Edge 1050 is a premium cycling computer with a bright, responsive touchscreen. It offers plenty of safety features like road hazard alerts and an electronic bell, along with useful navigation tools and Garmin’s robust training platform.
- Road hazard alerts and other safety features
- Very bright, responsive display
- Built-in speaker with electronic bell
- Very useful navigation tools
- Battery life could be better
- Expensive
The Garmin Edge 1050 is a pricey bike computer, but if money is no object, it is absolutely the best you can get. Garmin finally modernized the display on this latest device, and it is now incredibly bright and vibrant. I’ve had no issues reading it in full sun, and the ambient light sensor seamlessly adjusts the brightness when I go under bridges. It’s also incredibly fast and responsive, more so than any other bike computer I’ve used.
The Edge 1050 features a speaker that enables a bell to alert others on the trail or road to your presence. It even sounds like a real bike bell, which is impressive. It offers lots of navigation tools and even makes it easy to sync Strava routes to try out new rides. The head unit will notify you of upcoming hazards like busy roads or tight turns, which I really appreciate when riding in a new area. You’ll even have access to Garmin Pay, meaning you can leave your wallet behind on rides.
Of course, as a Garmin device, you have access to its impressive suite of training tools and accurate data. It tracks pace, distance, speed, and more and can pair with a number of different sensors for even more well-rounded data. If you also wear a Garmin watch, you’ll be able to get a very comprehensive view of your fitness and get guided training tips to maximize your performance.
Best value bike computer
Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2
Lots of features for the price
The Wahoo Elemnt Bolt V2 offers a lot of value for the price. You’ll get plenty of connectivity options, an easy-to-read display, and useful navigation tools.
- Easy to use
- Plenty of useful metrics
- Unique programmable LEDs
- Good navigation tools
- No activity-specific settings
- Battery life is only okay
Wahoo is another big name in the fitness world, with its smart indoor trainers among its most well-known items. Its bike computers are great, too, though, and the Elemnt Bolt V2 is one of its finest. In fact, we prefer it in value terms to the more feature-packed Roam.
Read our review
Wahoo Elemnt Bolt (v2/2021) cycling computer review: The Bolt is dead, long live the Bolt
The second-gen Wahoo Bolt makes a number of changes – but can it earn a place on your handlebars?
This unit has a clear and easy-to-use screen and tracks countless metrics during your rides. One of its more unique features is the programmable LED indicators, which can make it easier to keep an eye on performance metrics during your ride than reading numbers on the screen. It also offers turn-by-turn directions and automatically adjusts should you get off course or want a new destination. Plus, it has thousands of pre-baked routes to help you quickly find a great ride.
With ANT+, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi on board, you’ll also find it easy to upload your data and sync it to all your desired apps and platforms, such as TrainingPeaks. There’s also GoPro connectivity, so you can control your camera right from your bike computer to record your epic rides. All in all, the Elemnt Bolt V2 offers a lot of features for a reasonable price.
Best bike computer UI
Hammerhead Karoo
A smartphone-like device
The Hammerhead Karoo is a bike computer with a phone-like UI for intuitive use. It offers some of the most useful navigation prompts and physical buttons for use in the rain or with gloves,
- Fantastic touchscreen
- Intuitive use
- Excellent navigational prompts
It might not have a brand name as familiar as Garmin or Wahoo, but the Hammerhead Karoo is simply a great bike computer. That’s largely thanks to its Android base, which results in fantastic useability. Using it is much more intuitive than many of the other options selected since it feels rather like a smartphone with a responsive touchscreen.
Even though the touchscreen is fantastic, the Karoo also features plenty of buttons for easier use with gloves or in the rain. This bike computer also offers some of the best navigational prompts, making it one of the best head units for navigation.
This is the third version of the Karoo, which offers 30% better battery life and a smaller, more lightweight design. It still doesn’t offer as much battery life as the other options on this list, but at 15 hours, it’s more than enough for most people. Plus, since Hammerhead is now owned by SRAM, it offers seamless connectivity with SRAM AXS products if you want all the data.
Best bike computer for long rides
Coros Dura
Epic battery life for epic rides
The Coros Dura bike computer provides a whopping 120 hours of battery life with an extra two hours for each hour of solar charging. It’s an ideal choice for long adventures on the bike.
- Superb battery life
- Unique design
- Affordable for what you get
- Simple UI
- Many features require the Coros app or Coros web platform
- Bugs to workout
Those who like to tackle epic adventures need battery life to match, and the Coros Dura is up for the challenge. This is Coros’ first foray into bike computers, and while they do have some things to refine, it has a lot to offer.
Read our review
The Coros Dura is a worthy companion for my long bike rides
The first bike computer from Coros promises long battery life but has some kinks to work out.
The most notable benefit is the long battery life. Coros promises up to 120 hours of battery life. To extend that even more, Coros says the built-in solar panel will add up to two hours of juice with an hour in the sun. I haven’t been able to test if those numbers are accurate yet, but the battery life is extremely impressive and far better than any other head unit I’ve used so far. As a result, it would be a great choice for bikepacking trips or long adventures.
The Dura offers a very simplified, paired-down UI that makes using it very easy, even if you’ve never used a head unit before. It offers navigation (albeit without road names), pairs with sensors, and features customizable data screens for a personalized experience. The Dura is also quite affordable for what you get, as long as you are okay with Coros working out the kinks while you use it.
Best budget bike computer
Cateye Quick Wireless Cycle Computer
Simple and affordable
Cateye’s simple bike computer delivers a simple interface. The sleek, minimal design features an easy-to-read display and provides basic metrics for beginners.
- Very simple and intuitive
- Easy to attach
- Has all the key metrics
- Compact and minimal design
- No navigation tools
- No built-in GPS
- Can’t connect to other sensors
Not everyone needs (or wants) a high-end bike computer with all the bells and whistles. If you don’t want to break the bank and don’t mind losing some features, this Cateye option is the way to go. It’s a great, dead simple bike computer with one of the cleanest designs on the market.
The CatEye Quick is nice and simple, providing a minimalistic look on your handlebars. Despite that, it still tracks distance, speed (current, average, and maximum), moving time, and time. Though that list is basic, it’s a great set of metrics for those starting out or only using the bike for commutes.
This budget head unit is really intuitive to use and check while you’re riding. The display is easy to read at a glance, and it automatically starts and stops. If you’re looking for a simple intro to the cycling computer world, this could be a superb first option.
The bottom line: What’s the best bike computer?
There isn’t necessarily one bike computer that is the best since everyone has different needs and preferences. However, if you’re willing to spend the money, the Garmin Edge 1050 is our favorite option available. It offers a well-rounded feature set, a bright and extremely responsive touchscreen, a built-in speaker, and robust training and fitness features. The high price tag certainly gets you a lot, especially if you are already invested in the Garmin ecosystem.
How we chose the best bike computers
Bike computers come in a range of shapes and sizes, catering to differing levels of enthusiasm and expertise. We’ve tried to represent that with the list above. Some options are more focused on navigation and won’t track quite so many stats, while others do everything to give you a total solution. Usability and durability were key variables in making our selections. We evaluated the features and capabilities of each, choosing devices that provided the most useful features and tools helpful for all sorts of cyclists.
FAQ
Q: Do I need a bike computer?
You certainly do not need a bike computer to go out for bike rides. However, a bike computer can greatly enhance your ride depending on your goals and where you are riding. Many bike computers provide navigation tools to help you find your way around new routes or even suggest new routes to get you out of a rut. They track lots of useful data, making them critical tools if you are serious about your cycling fitness. Finally, bike computers also typically provide safety features to notify emergency contacts if you’re in a crash or give you a heads-up to hazards on the road.
Q: What are the alternatives to a bike computer?
If you don’t want or need a standalone bike computer, you can still get lots of head unit features with your phone. With a phone mount and a cycling app, you can get things like navigation, safety features, and basic data collection without a bike computer.
Q: How much battery life should I look for in a bike computer?
How much battery you need depends on how long your rides are, how often you ride, and how frequently you want to charge the device. Naturally, long rides require long battery life. Likewise, if you’re on a trip without access to power, you’ll need a long battery life. But, if you’re sticking close to home and only tackling short rides, you can opt for a device that’s cheaper and doesn’t have extensive battery life.
Most bike computers will offer roughly 15 to 20 hours of life, depending on how you use the device. When evaluating battery life, be sure to pick a device that at least promises more battery life than the longest rides you think you’ll tackle.
Q: Does a cycling computer need Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity?
Bluetooth and ANT+ connections will allow you to pair additional sensors like heart rate monitors, speed and cadence sensors, and power meters. The Bluetooth connection will also allow you to pair your phone to the device. If you want to collect as much data as possible with additional sensors, be sure to get an option with Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity. You’ll at least want a Bluetooth connection if you want your phone connected for notifications during your rides and easier setting adjustment.
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