The Best Bike Computers of 2024

Cycling is fun and provides plenty of health benefits. Modern bike computers are extremely helpful in integrating and tracking various metrics including cadence, power, speed, distance, heart rate, and course with a GPS cycling computer.

However, with the high volume of bike computers on the market today, choosing the right one for you can be overwhelming. Thankfully we’ve done our homework and put the time in on the saddle, reviewing a wide range of computers in all manner of conditions and riding styles.

We’ve been testing cycling computers since March 2021. To date, we’ve tested 15 of the best cycling computers available. In that time we’ve established some important criteria in our testing, and created an accessible buying guide to help you choose the best option for your riding needs, whether you’re a regular commuter, an up-and-coming racer, or anyone in between.

Scroll through to see all of our recommended buys that will you can jump right into the saddle with. At the end of our list, check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide, as well as our handy comparison table for pitting bike computer against computer, and a thorough FAQ section to answer any lingering questions.

Editor’s Note: We updated our Bike Computers guide on March 18, 2024, to add the Garmin Edge 840 Solar — an absolutely killer bike computer — as well as the Garmin Edge Explore 2 — an eBike-ready unit for those who don’t need training functionality.

Those who have a lot of data to track are sure to love the Garmin Edge 840 Solar ($550). Superior in customization, connectivity, and battery life, the Edge 840 solar satisfies riders of all types — from casual riders to racers.

We tested this computer at our local trails — an area with sporadic service and crisscrossing singletrack that tests the limits of most GPS tracking devices. The 840 Solar, thanks to its excellent Multiband GNSS, didn’t miss a beat while tracking our routes, heart rate, speed, or cadence. We were especially impressed by the slew of features offered, and the amount of customization available. The 840 Solar is sure to appeal to a huge variety of different riders.

Our tester was able to pair the 840 Solar with an HR monitor, cadence sensor, and wheel speed sensor in about 5 minutes, without any cross-compatibility issues. The computer also received some tech from the previous version of the Edge 1040, namely the Power Glass solar charging capability, which even on overcast days still managed to put a little more juice in the battery. In fact, we haven’t needed to charge the 840 since beginning testing in December 2023.

The Wi-Fi capability allows automatic synchronization from the device to Garmin Connect, while ANT+ and Bluetooth allow for connectivity to external sensors. Additionally, the excellent battery life (between 32 and 60 hours) from the internal lithium-ion battery puts this one in the running for the best bike computer on the market.

Our lead tester skews heavily toward mountain and gravel riding, and found the Cycling Ability insights particularly interesting in terms of profiling strengths and weaknesses out on the trails. Want to know how hard your ride was? Check out your Grit score. Looking to smooth out a particular segment? Take a look at your Flow score. Want to know how much air you got on that sick jump? Yup, the 840 Solar will tell you the hangtime and distance.

Training effect and recovery advice are also a potentially helpful feature for many riders, though your mileage may vary here. Weather updates, song control, SMS, incident detection, calories burned, and intensity tracking are just a few of the metrics available with the 840 Solar.

Garmin has really nailed it with the 840 Solar — whether you’re training for the ultimate day of training, chasing the KOM/QOM at your local trails, or just getting data points on the metrics of your choosing, you can customize the 840 for whatever you need.

The Sigma Rox Evo 11.1 ($200) is an impressively featured cycling computer at an even more fantastic price. At under $250, this computer handily beats out other more expensive units while still offering a host of features that even seasoned riders will appreciate.

Inside the box, you’ll find the Sigma unit, an HR monitor and strap, a cadence sensor, and a speed sensor. The mounting hardware accommodates a wide range of handlebars, making this unit great for any bike and style of riding.

Out of the box, the Evo is reasonably easy to set up. Our tester was pleasantly surprised to find the computer fully charged, and batteries ready to go for each of the sensors. Pairing the sensors and the computer is also a snap: Turn the unit on, wet the HR band, and hop on your bike. All of the sensors were paired within a minute or so.

The Rox 11.1 offers riders the ability to create up to 20 different sport profiles (for different bikes and different rides), real-time GPS, barometric pressure, temperature, wind, HR, cadence, and a customizable cockpit. Additionally, riders are able to create and store up to 36 different tracks (though you’ll need to create these tracks on a third-party app like Strava) and up to 100 hours of ride data.

Importing and saving tracks on the device is super simple, and riders can get turn-by-turn directions to and from different tracks. And, if like us, you’re getting absolutely rocked by this year’s winter, the Rox 11.1 integrates with your stationary trainer and power meter. Having trouble with setting up the computer or learning the functions? Pop on over to the Sigma Sport website and find the appropriate tutorial video on their website – there’s a video for pretty much everything you’ll need.

We were super impressed with the functionality and suite of features offered by the Sigma Rox Evo 11.1. And at the price point, our tester was left wondering what more you might want or need. While the Rox 11.1 may not be as slick or impressive as some other models on this list, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better computer and sensor bundle at the price, making it our best budget model.

If you’re a dynamic rider who’s looking for loads of versatility, the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM V2 ($400) just might be the bike computer for you. Newly updated for the end of 2022, it’s as suitable for road biking as it is for mountain biking. And it’s as rugged and durable as they come, which earned it a high spot on our list.

It has tactile buttons instead of a touchscreen display. Still, the companion app that connects your smartphone to this bike computer makes for an incredibly user-friendly device. The ELEMNT ROAM gets high marks for being super-easy and relatively quick to set up.

Updates for 2022 include the integration of dual-band GPS technology, allowing the ROAM to lock onto multiple generations of GPS satellites at once and bump up coverage in typically spotty areas. Wahoo also increased the memory capacity from 4 GB to 32 GB, and added a 64-color screen.

Most of the initial setup and settings are navigated through the smartphone companion app. This means that you rarely need to fiddle with the buttons on the actual computer except when flipping through data fields while riding.

Because you’re already used to your phone, this is a positive feature. However, if you don’t own a smartphone, or if you’re like our tester and simply don’t want to take your phone out on rides with you all the time, this might not be the bicycle computer for you. This is thankfully one of our only qualms with an otherwise dialed device.

The on-demand route navigation feature makes the ELEMNT ROAM V2 a good choice for riders who love to explore. It’s also advantageous if you’ve moved to a new city or see something cool on the map. Just choose a point on the map where you want to go, and this cycle computer will whip up some directions and take you there.

And in an emergency, you can turn on the live tracking app, and your location will be shared with whomever you choose, using your personal link. The ELEMNT ROAM comes with an aero out-front mount.

This computer is designed for mountain bikers and incorporates five different satellite systems to accommodate this type of riding. It’s fully customizable with ANT+ and BLE heart-rate monitors. It can also be synced with Strava Live Segments, TrainingPeaks, and SelfPeaks both automatically and wirelessly.

Now, let’s talk about battery life. The battery on the Bryton Rider 420E ($160) is solid — up to 35 hours on a single charge.

This next feature is either a pro or a con — we’ll let you decide for yourself. The Bryton Rider 420E allows all your calls, texts, and email notifications to be forwarded to you while you’re on a ride.

The full global navigation satellite system (GNSS) makes real-time positioning extremely precise. And the altimeter even allows users to see the gradient profile of whatever route they’re on. It’s perfect for trail riding.

Each page on the Rider 420E allows the user to view up to eight data fields, with a maximum of nine pages permitted. That’s 72 data fields at your disposal at any given time, which should be more than plenty even if you’re tracking even the tiniest of details.

While turn-by-turn navigation is a feature on this bike computer, you’ll have to set your route before you get started. And it’ll only show you that exact route once you’ve begun. You can’t make any changes or reroute and be redirected midway through your ride.

All in all, this is undoubtedly the best bike computer for most mountain bikers and comes with a handlebar mount.

The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar ($750) is the most feature-heavy bike computer in the Garmin lineup currently. And while it certainly comes at a price, the impressive functionality is only bested by how this device charges itself — with the sun.

The Power Glass solar charging lens is integrated into the display of the 1040 itself, meaning anytime the sun is shining, it’s soaking up the rays and extending your ride. In our own testing, we found that Garmin’s claim of an additional 42 minutes per hour while pedaling in the sun to be accurate.

Pushing the 1040 Solar to the maximum (that is, full GNSS reception on, multiple paired sensors, etc) the battery life is able to keep up for up to 35 hours, with an additional 10 hours if the unit is able to charge in the sun.

And if you really par back on the usage, Garmin states that this computer can keep the lights on for up to 180 hours with solar charging — an unheard-of battery life in a full-featured bike computer.

Besides being an ever-energized partner, the 1040 Solar is also an effective trainer — sporting a number of data-driven insights such as VO2 max, training load, recovery time, and power targets.

Our tester received suggested daily workouts based on previous performance and had the ability to upload other workouts from the Garmin Connect app or TrainingPeaks.

It’s also no slouch when it comes to navigation. The Edge 1040 Solar pulls data from a full suite of global navigation satellite systems, and to further increase signal strength, uses multi-band technology to increase fidelity in areas like canyons and dense cities.

The turn-by-turn directions are top-notch (as expected with Garmin), and there are a number of mountain bike-specific features that provide on-the-fly trail data.

Read Review: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar Is the First Solar Charging, Touchscreen, Handlebar-Mount Bike Computer

Want to try out a bike computer and don’t want to shell out an arm and a leg for it? The CatEye Velo 7 ($30) is for you. It’s an entry-level bike computer covering the basics such as time, distance, and speed, which is almost everything leisure riders really need.

It’ll give you some insight into whether you’re using a bike computer often enough to invest in a more expensive one. After a bit of riding, you’ll have a clearer picture of what bells and whistles you may want if you decide to upgrade.

On top of being budget-friendly, the Velo 7 is relatively simple to use. The interface shows two different data fields at once. One is always current speed, while a button allows you to rotate through other data fields including time, odometer, distance, and maximum speed.

One downside to this computer is that it’s a little challenging to set up because it’s not wireless. You’ll have to mount the sensor, and then feed the wire up through the bike parts and onto the front-mounted base unit.

There’s only enough room in the Velo 7’s memory to store one wheel size. This, coupled with the difficulty and many steps involved in mounting and dismounting this unit, should steer you away from planning to share this unit with your family and friends.

This small but mighty contender is a solid choice for trying out a bike computer on a budget. It comes with handlebar mounts.

The Hammerhead Karoo 2 ($400) is an impressively slick computer with a beautiful display as well as solid functionality and integration. For the price, the Karoo 2 competes with other big names in the industry but falls a little short when it comes to user-friendliness and some key features, as well as having a shorter-than-average battery life.

What stands out about this unit is the touchscreen. Not only is it double the resolution of some of its competitors at 400 x 800 and 292 PPI, it feels exactly like using a smartphone when swiping around. The Karoo 2 charges in approximately 3 hours and lasts anywhere from 8 to 14 hours depending on usage.

In the box are two options for mounting hardware: Hammerhead’s own forward mount, which is excellent, as well as a Wahoo-style quarter-turn mount. It features a significantly larger storage capacity than other computers on this list at 32 GB, which is super useful for downloading maps and routes for later. Additionally, it features a sim card slot for folks who like to forget their phones and just ride.

For those of us who are tethered to our phones, the Karoo 2 integrates with smartphones and will show notifications, though users will still need to use their actual phone to respond to messages (which made our tester wonder how important that particular feature is).

The Karoo 2 also offers and supports free downloadable maps, though users will need to create an account to get those, and will automatically upload your rides to Strava once you’ve linked accounts. Also particularly cool is the Climber feature, which uses predictive mapping to detect upcoming hills and displays grade, distance, and elevation. Our tester found the predictive mapping to be spot-on and quite helpful on unknown trails.

However, several other issues prevent this computer from outclassing others in the same category; namely that this computer is not the most user-friendly during setup and that it can be difficult to navigate. Our tester also encountered some difficulty pairing the Wahoo TICKR HR strap, though that could be chalked up to the age of the monitor itself.

These things aside, the Karoo 2 is a beautiful and well-designed piece of equipment. Those of you who find yourselves sneaking out of the office for a lunch ride might find the messaging feature useful, and once you get your devices paired, this computer comes packed with more than enough features to help you keep your training and/or commute on track.

The Edge Explore 2 ($300) is Garmin’s offering for riders who just want a simple bike computer for navigation and basic metric tracking. While not as advanced as the 840 or 1040, the Edge Explore 2 holds its own with a simple setup, extremely accurate tracking, and E-Bike compatibility. Like the 840, the Explore 2 sports an excellent touch screen with full color display which is slightly larger at 3 inches.

Our tester found the Explore 2 to be somewhat more finicky than the 840 during setup. Syncing to the Garmin app was simple and straightforward — but pairing to HR, cadence, and speed sensors was another story. Our tester was able to successfully pair his HR sensor after a few minutes, but was unable to pair the cadence and speed sensors. Between heart rate and the admittedly excellent GNSS tracking, we were able to get the metrics we wanted from the Explore 2, but it’s still important to note that it may not play well with all sensors.

The Explore 2 offers many of the same features as the more expensive computers in the Garmin line — things like turn-by-turn navigation, incidence detection, ClimbPro, activity tracking, and excellent training features like autopause, Vo2 max, and recovery advice. You can, and probably should set up the Explore 2 with the Garmin Varia radar if you are road-riding or commuting regularly.

What makes the Explore 2 an enticing choice is that it is designed to be integrated with your E-bike, and supports battery life, pedal assist, and range monitoring through Shimano Steps or ANT+ connectivity. Because our tester still lives in the age of human-powered cycling, these features aren’t necessary, and as such, the Explore 2 is a less appealing option than the 840.

However, with the advanced tracking features, group connectivity, and incident detection, this would make an excellent computer for folks (specifically E-bikers) who are looking to expand their safety margins while out riding. This is no training computer (look to the Garmin 840 Solar or Sigma Rox), but for those who want a simple computer, the Garmin Explore 2 is a great computer at a great price.

An overall excellent bike computer, the Lezyne Mega XL ($200) covers all the necessary cycling metrics and features, and all at an approachable price. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi capability, so if you need to stay connected, you’ll need your cellphone.

The 48-hour battery life is probably owed to the lack of Wi-Fi, and we’ll take that any day over lugging around a bulky computer, a cellphone, and an external battery.

The versatility of the Mega XL is just another component that makes it a special cyclometer. It’s great for every style of riding, so whether you’re training to go pro or riding for pleasure, you’ll likely get your needs met by the Mega XL. What’s more, the battery life makes it a solid choice for those who plan to take their bike on overnight trips.

The Mega XLs look and feel are similar to the other Lezyne models, with a black-and-white screen navigated by tactile buttons. If that makes you deduct points from this model, just keep in mind that setup and use are almost exclusively through the free, user-friendly companion app, Lezyne Ally V2.

You can transfer and store info quickly and easily between your phone and the Mega XL, which gives it some extra points in our book, although it lacks any preloaded maps, which we subtracted a few points for, along with the lack of a touchscreen.

We love this unit because it’s incredibly versatile and has a ton of features. It’s super easy to set up and use, and it stands as a pretty affordable unit in the GPS cycling computer world, which means anyone looking for a budget entry into the bike computer scene would likely be very happy.

Love the sound of the Garmin Edge 840 Solar but not ready to shell out nearly 600 bones on a cycling computer? Take a look at the Garmin Edge 540 ($350). Superior in customization and connectivity, the Edge 530 satisfies riders of all types — from leisure riders to racers. The large screen (2 x 1.7 inches) is handy for riders who want to track their stats while in motion.

While it offers full-color maps and functional threshold power (FTP) tracking, the lack of a touchscreen on this bike computer makes using the turn-by-turn navigation features a hassle. This hassle centers on the fact that you can’t simply tap and zoom in.

To use the device, you’ll need to learn the functions of each of the seven buttons on the sides, which is doable but tedious. The controls can make setting up a lengthy process for even the techiest riders, which we weren’t the most stoked about.

The Wi-Fi capability allows automatic synchronization from the device to Garmin Connect, while ANT+ and Bluetooth allow for connectivity to external sensors. Additionally, excellent battery life (around 20 hours) from the internal lithium-ion battery keeps this one in the running to be the best bike computer on the market.

The Edge 540 is best suited for riders looking to record complete data about their ride; everything from time of day, to temperature and weather, and even how much water they’re taking in. It’s also a big hit among dynamic riders — who love both road and mountain biking — because it offers a wide range of metrics that support multiple profiles within the same device.

A strong standout computer, the recently updated Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V2 ($280) is easy to set up and user-friendly. You can set it up straight from your smartphone screen, and the Bolt’s battery life (15-20 hours) gives even the Garmin Edge 540 a run for its money.

The BOLT V2 is Wi-Fi-capable and has ANT+ and Bluetooth connection capability so that you can use all your accessories. We love this bike computer for its ease of use. It’s pretty nice to be able to manage all your accessories from your smartphone! Obviously, this won’t apply to everyone (we see you, flip-phone cyclists).

It offers turn-by-turn navigation as well as Strava Live Segments. Another cool feature is the “take me anywhere” setting. This setting allows you to choose a destination on your phone, and the bike computer’s GPS will guide you there.

The screen on the ELEMNT BOLT V2 allows you to see up to nine data fields per page. One of the niceties of this newly updated device was the addition of a full-color screen, an excellent upgrade from the black and white screen of the predecessor computer.

This unit can be mounted on either the handlebars or crossbar.

The CatEye Quick cyclo-computer ($60) is simplicity in design, and best suited for your brew cruisers and commuters who only need a quick glance to tell them their speed or how far until they hit their century for the week.

Stripped down not only by the form factor but in features, the Quick provides only the bare essentials when it comes to cycling info: speed (including average, current, and max), trip distance, moving time, and a clock. A single button on the front face cycles the Quick through its different modes, which we found to be simple as could be.

Battery life is fairly impressive, at a quoted “1 year, if used for 1 hour a day” and is powered by button cell batteries. The unit will auto-start and stop as the bike moves, meaning we won’t forget to turn it off after a long ride.

You won’t get anything like your VO2 max from the Quick, but we found a little comfort in the simplicity of a bike computer going back to basics, which speaking of, certainly applies to the rest of the computer. You’ll have to mount a speed sensor and magnet to your bike in order for it to work, which is a bit clunky, but at least it’s wireless.

Thought of as sort of a basic bike computer done with style, the Quick has a simple design that just looks dang good out front of a bike.

The Garmin Edge 1030 Plus packs a punch. It doesn’t come cheap at $600, but it’s one of the most advanced computers on the market today.

There’s not much it can’t do. A 3.5-inch (diagonal) touchscreen display showcases all its bells and whistles and can be customized precisely to fit your preferences.

The 1030 Plus does all the essential functions like monitoring your distance, speed, and time. Still, it also connects to Wi-Fi along with ANT+ Bluetooth sensors. So, you can keep track of all your riding stats, upload info through the Garmin Connect application, and even reply to text messages and phone calls using preset messages, all from your device!

An Incident Detection feature comes in handy in case of an emergency. Your preset emergency contacts will receive a text and email with your name and location information if it detects an incident has happened.

With its superior navigation capabilities, the 1030 Plus is perfectly suited for both road bikers and mountain bikers. The cycle computer’s standalone GPS makes this a no-brainer choice for those who prefer to ride without their cellphone or in areas with no cellphone service.

Like the Edge 830, the Edge 1030 Plus offers the ability to build routes by just pointing and clicking, then letting the turn-by-turn navigation guide you to your destination. Speaking of navigation, this computer has a microSD slot in the back, so you’ll never run out of maps and storage space. All of these features don’t come for free, however — this cyclometer is a fairly bulky device to mount on your bike cockpit.

The Edge 1030 Plus is pretty simple to set up, with step-by-step directions on securing all the ANT+ and Bluetooth connections, navigation, and everything else you want to do. The programming is done on the handheld unit.

The Garmin Edge 1030 sports an extended out-front mount.

Our team at GearJunkie is composed of former racers, recreational cyclists, folks who bike commute 60+ miles a week, and everyone in between — people who care about fit, finish, and function. Our testers spend their time carefully evaluating new products so that you don’t have to, which translates to more time in the saddle for you. We strive to create thorough, comprehensive, and helpful reviews to help you find the best gear for your individual needs.

In a world of ever-growing technological advancement, it’s really easy for new gadgets to feel overcomplicated and difficult to use. The first thing we evaluate is ease of use — how much faffing about is required to get from opening the box to leaving the trailhead? Products that score well here are intuitive to set up and use, and don’t require anything additional beyond turning on and syncing up.

Once we get things set up and rolling we can evaluate the actual function of the product. In the case of bike computers we look at which features are available — standard things like GPS/GNSS navigation and tracking, heart rate, cadence, speed, weather information, start/stop features, and cross-platform compatibility.

We also take care to evaluate the value of the computer as we’re testing. What’s the price-point-to-features ratio? Products that score well in the value category will offer many of the same features as more expensive computers, but usually in a less refined package, like the Sigma Rox 11.1 which comes with a full sensor bundle and a ton of features at an excellent price.

Finally, we look at fit and finish. Most newer computers on the market today have switched over to the ¼ turn mount which simplifies things for fit, but we still look to make sure that the design is streamlined and secure. We also evaluate the user interface in terms of analog navigation or touch-screen function. Are the buttons/screen well made? Is the software clunky or non-responsive? Computers that score well here offer turn-key navigation.

Paul Mandell has two decades of experience in the saddle as an itinerant racer and recreational rider. He completed his graduate studies in exercise science and studied the critical power model for cycling, meaning that he’s no stranger to testing, training, and racing bikes.

While these days Paul prefers lift-accessed gravity riding and long adventure rides with plenty of descending, he still finds time to get out for the occasional gravel grind or single-track loop in his home base in California’s Eastern Sierra. (Got to keep the legs and lungs tuned up, after all!)

There are a plethora of bike computers to accommodate every type of riding. Do you ride one bike consistently? Or do you rotate through several bikes? If you use several bikes, get a bike computer that allows you to create multiple profiles so you can use the same computer with any of your bikes.

The Roadie: You’re no stranger to the supportive embrace of Lycra, and grinding out your next century is second only to improving on your VO2 max. When the road calls, you’ll need a bike computer that’s aimed at long rides and has all of the training stats, sensor integration, and third-party app support built in. At the very least, ensure that your road-cycling bike computer has all of the navigation features you’ll need to get around.

When it comes to performance tracking, it’s hard to rival the comprehensive synthesis that the leading Garmin devices have going on under the hood. Computers like the Garmin Edge 840 Solar churn out a staggering amount of information based on your rides, and support Strava, Training Peaks, Komoot and more. For $100 less, the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM V2 is another compelling option that includes global maps and some lesser, but still adequate, training features.

The Commuter: Whether you’re bumping around town or just jetting into the office, using a bike computer can be a fun way to casually keep track of your weekly mileage. Ease of use should be the name of the game here, and a simple bike computer without too much tech-bloat will see you through any traffic jam.

For a real budget pick, the CatEye Quick is about as bare-bones as it gets, but still provides the speed and distance info that commuters are looking for. If you want plenty of the functionality of pricier devices while still retaining some of your hard-earned Benjamins, the Sigma Rox Evo 11.1 really punches above its pricetag.

The Gravel Grinder: Kicking up dust never gets old, and everybody can get behind a little underbiking from time to time. Gravel biking is only getting bigger, and choosing a bike computer to go with it will mean looking for a device that’s up to the challenge. If your riding often turns into full-out bikepacking, you’ll need a bike computer that has some real legs when it comes to battery life.

For real barebones builds, the Lezyne Mega XL cuts out the faff in exchange for longevity. For those who want it all — plus extended battery life — the integrated solar display face of the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar keeps chugging well past other computers on the list. It also retains all of the Garmin performance tracking we love.

The Trail Hound: Whipping the steel pony around never gets old, and if “tech” and “flow” are part of your vocabulary, angle for a device that sports more than just a GPS chip — and ideally a full suite of GNSS receivers with dual-band support. This will provide the best satellite reception in traditionally poor coverage areas and dense tree cover.

Many bike computers today also offer third-party support from the Trailforks app, which loads detailed mountain bike trail routes onto your device. You also may want to look for a computer that mounts directly to the bars. Out-front mounts introduce more leverage into the system and hitting large drops can unnecessarily stress the mount.

The Bryton Ryder 420E features five different satellite systems and a barometric altimeter to best track the ups and downs of mountain bike trails — and it fights the good fight for up to 35 hours. Going with the pricey Garmin Edge 1040 Solar gets you a solar display face and exceptional battery life. Finally, the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM V2 can’t be left out, as it sports a tough build that won’t quit on hard trails.

Early bike computers made use of wired sensors that were clunky, difficult to adjust, and not very aero. When a small magnet mounted to the spokes of your bike wheel passes a sensor mounted to your fork, a revolution is registered.

Because different wheel sizes will affect the computation of speed and distance, you’ll need to adjust this within your device to receive accurate information.

Today, a whole host of wireless sensors exist that provide bike computers with new and exciting feeds of information. It’s easy to create a suite of sensors that provide your display unit with everything you want to know while riding.

Like the chips in handheld GPS devices or your smartphone, modern bike computers make use of the array of global navigation satellites in orbit in order to gain information on speed, distance, and navigation.

It’s important to note that there are a number of different satellite systems currently, and while the U.S.-sponsored GPS is the most broadly used, other systems can offer higher fidelity in different parts of the world.

Some bike computers are also following recent trends in GPS devices and fitness watches and are integrating Dual-Band receiver technologies into their GPS sensors, which allow for multiple generations of satellites to provide information to a device.

This increases the accuracy of the GPS signal and can provide information in zones that have typically been dead zones, like canyons or beneath tree cover. Newly updated, the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM makes use of this technology.

Now the standard on bike computers that don’t make use of GPS, proprietary wireless sensors like the one used in the CatEye Quick mount to the fork and wheel of your bike and relay speed and distance information back to your display. The information they pull in is rather simple, but on devices that are used for quick bike commuters, it’s often all you need.

Because these sensors are made for specific devices, they won’t be cross-compatible with other bike computers and may need to be adjusted to properly send and receive signals while riding.

Simply put, ANT+ is a universal language that allows different electronic devices to speak to one another. Manufacturers will integrate ANT+ into devices that will vacuum up information and display it for easy viewing, like fitness watches, smartphones, and bike computers.

Many different devices today will be ANT+ enabled, including heart rate monitors, cadence sensors, speed sensors, and even wireless derailleurs and rear-view radars. This can all be a bit overwhelming (and heavy if your bike is festooned with sensors), but it allows riders to pick and choose what information is important to their riding or training.

Some bike computers like the Garmin Edge 840 Solar come with a suite of ANT+ sensors, including a speed, cadence, and heart rate monitor.

Of most use in connecting bike computers to riders’ phones, Bluetooth allows for further interactivity through applications. Many bike computers will offer a simple slate of adjustability through the device’s display unit, but much more through the app. Examples include the Garmin Connect app and the Wahoo ELEMNT app.

Select bike computers even allow for the pass-through display of texts and emails from your phone, like the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM and BOLT.

Your device’s setup difficulty — or lack thereof — ultimately depends on how many features your computer has and how many you’re going to use. Understandably, a basic computer doesn’t take as much time to set up as a more advanced computer you plan to connect to a few ANT+ devices.

Setup also includes the physical attachment of your computer to your bike. Suppose you have more than one cycle and plan to regularly mount and dismount your computer.

In that case, the Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM comes with both a standard mount and an out-front mount, making it a very versatile device. The CatEye Velo 7 computer takes a bit longer to set up because it uses a wired sensor, but it’s budget-friendly.

Both the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT and ROAM, plus the Lezyne models, are extremely user-friendly for setup. This easy setup is thanks to their respective companion apps on your smartphone to do all the programming and then transfer it over to your primary device.

Touchscreen devices are also straightforward to set up, as that’s an intuitive task — just touch and go. Wired devices are not as easy to install, but beginners can do it if they read the directions.

Do you even need a navigation system? If you usually ride on familiar roads, you probably don’t need navigation at all, and a basic cycle computer like the CatEye Velo 7 will likely suffice.

If you want to plan your routes and even be able to go off track and be rerouted, you need a cyclometer with an advanced navigation system such as the Garmin 1030 Edge Plus.

Many computers will allow you to pre-select or build routes right on the screen, however, some computers will require you to build the route in the manufacturer app (or a third-party app like Strava) before uploading it to the unit. This is especially helpful as you are researching new sectors and planning a new route.

Some computers, like the Garmin Edge line, offer turn-by-turn navigation similar to the navigation you’d use while driving. Garmin’s computers are especially sensitive to changes in routes and rarely miss a beat during navigation, which includes updating and re-routing in real time.

As e-bikes are becoming more and more common, computer manufacturers are beginning to offer computers that integrate specifically with e-bikes via ANT+ or the Shimano STEPS system.

The Garmin Edge Explore 2 is one such computer that allows you to monitor battery life, range, pedal assist, and all of the other standard metrics like speed, distance, cadence, etc. We anticipate that more and more computers will offer e-bike integration and support as technology improves and progresses.

Smartphones these days can be huge. And even though you might not plan on riding in the rain, you need to prepare for it. That means putting a waterproof (and shockproof) case on your phone, making it even larger.

Now imagine your phone: large, heavy, and expensive. Where are you going to put it?

Is your smartphone screen conducive to checking data fields intermittently? Can you read the screen in the bright sun? Do you have a way to call for help if you crash and your phone breaks?

You’ll find the best bike computers to be weatherproof and lightweight. What’s more, even the most expensive models don’t compare to the cost of the newest smartphones. They are designed to be mounted onto your bicycle with aerodynamic performance as a top priority.

The easy-to-read screen on a bike computer won’t leave you squinting to read in the bright sun. Plus, it doesn’t need a waterproof case, so the device’s screen and buttons are user-friendly, even with gloves on.

We think it’s best if your expensive smartphone stays packed safely and not mounted on the front of your bike.

High-quality bike computer batteries are designed to hold up on longer rides. Most bike computer batteries last a minimum of 15 hours, even with satellite navigation and ANT+ connections running.

Before purchasing, consider the type of battery your device is going to need. Cheaper models like the CatEye Velo 7 use disposable batteries, which aren’t that expensive, but they produce waste.

However, it’s much easier to pack extra batteries than to bring along clunky charging units — which you’d need with a rechargeable model — if you plan to go on a multi-day ride.

On this list, the Bryton Rider 420E is an excellent rechargeable computer that offers up to 32 hours of battery life. And if you’re looking to stay out even longer, the solar-charging ability of the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar boosts the battery out to an incredible maximum of 180 hours.

There are a plethora of potential extra features on the best bike computers. For example, you may appreciate the alarm feature on the Garmin Edge 840 Solar if you plan on leaving your bike outside in urban areas. And riders who love to see their altitude while pounding up a hill might benefit from the barometric altimeter found on the Bryton Rider 420E.

Also, think about if you’ll want to pair any accessories to your computer. If that’s the case, make sure your computer has ANT+ and Bluetooth connection so you can easily track stats like heart rate and nutrition.

Finally, cyclists who plan to stay connected to friends and family during their ride are sure to enjoy the communication features on the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus. This GPS-cycling computer can send preset messages to people in your contacts straight from the device.

High-quality bike computers are better suited for tracking and routing rides than a smartphone. This is because of its sturdy and aerodynamic design, battery life, GPS accuracy, and cost-efficiency. For those who spend a significant amount of time in the saddle, bike computers are a worthy investment.

A bike computer is a small, aerodynamically designed electronic device mounted on a bicycle’s handlebars. Its purpose is to record various data types about the user’s ride, such as tracking their speed and distance.

Some can be so technologically advanced that they register the user’s heart rate, calories burned, and cadence (pedal rate). Professional riders use this information, along with analyzing certain variables like weight and wheel size, to efficiently fine-tune and improve their performance.

A commonly sought-after feature of bike computers is a global positioning system (GPS), which riders use to navigate popular or undiscovered routes. GPS computers can remove the hassle of stopping to deal with a cellphone for directions while biking.

With bike computer prices suiting all budgets (ranging anywhere from $25 to several hundred dollars) and accommodating every type of rider, we think bike computers are worth it.

So, you’ve decided you want a cycling computer. But how will you choose the best bike computer to fit your unique needs? Some questions you’ll need to answer to find the best bike computer for you follow:

To answer these questions for yourself, check out the “How to Choose” section of this article.

There are certainly bike computers out there to satisfy all budget levels. You can spend anywhere from $25 for a simple computer to several hundred dollars for an advanced one. When it comes to bike computers, the more money you spend, the more features you get.

But suppose you don’t care about monitoring your heart rate while riding. In that case, you can probably go with a cheaper model bike computer that covers the basics. Once again, the best bike computer will be different for everyone, so consider what you need.

Using the GPS feature on a bike computer is much more accurate than using a smartphone with GPS. While both devices use basic GPS, smartphone apps analyze data and positioning after it’s uploaded. Conversely, bike computers use GPS and GLONASS to give real-time data.

Bike computers can also use a barometric altimeter sensor to accurately track climbs, which is especially handy when mountain biking.

The Garmin Edge 1030 Plus model is top-of-the-line and feature-packed. If you’re looking to save $50, we recommend the Garmin Edge 840 Solar. It has everything most riders need.

Not all bike computers have GPS, but not every rider needs GPS. Remember, the best bike computer varies from person to person. Riders who stay within the confines of familiar roads and trails don’t necessarily need a GPS cycling computer.

Hopefully, now you’re equipped with all the information you need to make a solid choice on the best bike computer for your unique riding needs. We specifically designed our buying guide to be helpful to both beginners and seasoned riders. So just focus on the facts, ask yourself the right questions, and don’t get overwhelmed.

There are plenty of roads to ride and fun to have — no matter what bike computer you end up picking.

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