GPS units ride data and bike satnav from as little as 5. In a few short years cycling GPS units have opened up a huge range of possibilities in the ways we plan, record and compare our rides. Lets take a look at what they can do for you and which ones perform best. GPS stands for Global Positioning System, which if were being pedantic refers to the USAs network of 2. Garmin fenix 3 Gray The Garmin fenix 3 is a rugged, capable and smart multisport training GPSGLONASS watch. With uncompromising construction details like stainless. View and Download Garmin G3X Touch installation manual online. G3X Touch Avionics Display pdf manual download. Best Software For Garmin Edge 705 Bundle' title='Best Software For Garmin Edge 705 Bundle' />This is just one of several positioning systems in which a receiver uses satellite signals to determine its location on the earths surface. However, like hoover and aspirin, its become the generic term for its category. An artistss impression of a GPS satellite US Government. GPS satellites broadcast very high precision time signals, generated by the atomic clocks they have on board, along with information about their orbits. From the data in the signals from at least four satellites a GPS receiver can calculate its position and determine your latitude, longitude and altitude. EV282961-8590-33.jpg' alt='Best Software For Garmin Edge 705 Bundle' title='Best Software For Garmin Edge 705 Bundle' />That piece of raw data opens up a huge range of possibilities. A GPS unit can calculate your speed without needing to measure how fast your wheels are turning it can measure the distance youve travelled, and record a series of location points so you can review your route on a map after the ride or in real time if the unit has a map display. Given a map with the right additional data such as road and junction layouts, a GPS receiver can also help you navigate, and this is the function thats really driven the proliferation of GPS devices. I cant imagine trying to drive without one. The ancient AA road atlas thats in the car just in case is really there to roll up and fend off anyone who tries to take my car GPS away from me. Early GPS receivers were slow to get a positional fix and struggled to pick up the signals from satellites if there was anything in the way, like tree cover or buildings. Advances in electronics have improved performance dramatically. Modern GPS units can get a fix indoors, and some use the Russian GLONASS system as well as the American satellites, improving speed and accuracy. And where GPS receivers were once wallet clenchingly expensive, you can now get a non mapping unit for under 9. Moores Law and economies of scale. If you have multiple bikes, a big advantage of GPS computers is that you can swap them from one to another without faffing around changing set up. Manufacturers. Bryton Rider 6. E GPS Cycle Computer. Bryton has a big range with a total of 1. Rider 2. 0 to the full featured Rider 6. Rider 5. 30 and variations in the included accessories mean the complete range is huge. Find a Bryton dealer. VLFN37D8' alt='Best Software For Garmin Edge 705 Bundle' title='Best Software For Garmin Edge 705 Bundle' />Cateye stealth zero. Cycling accessories maker Cateye has long included computers in its range, and has several models with GPS capability. Cateyes Stealth models have built in GPS, but most of its GPS computers use the GPS receiver in your i. Phone or Android phone to determine your location. That makes the 5. Strada Smart one of the cheapest ways of displaying GPS data on your handlebars. Find a Cateye dealer. Garmin Edge 8. 20 main. Garmin dominates the cycling GPS scene by dint of having got in early with the Edge 2. The USTaiwanese company has refined and improved its range and now offers nine models, from the simple, non mapping Edge 2. Edge 1. 03. 0 which starts from about 5. Find a Garmin dealer. Lezyne GPS 9. 6. Known for lights and other accessories, Lezyne jumped into the GPS arena in 2. Micro GPS, Micro C GPS, Mini GPS, Macro GPS, and Super GPS. All five are non mapping devices for riders who just want their ride data. Theyll all work with Bluetooth Smart sensors and the Micro, Micro C and Super work with ANT too. All Lezynes GPS units connect to the Lezyne GPS Ally smartphone app app which allows for on the fly email, text and phone call notifications, and they provide live tracking that displays your current location and metrics to specified email recipients. Find a Lezyne dealer. Mio Cyclo 5. 05. You might know Taiwanese electronics maker Mio better as the manufacturer of Navman satnav systems for cars. Mio is another brand of parent corporation Mitac. Mio makes three ranges of GPS units, all with map displays the wifi enabled Cyclo 5. Cyclo 3. 1x series, which are virtually identical but without wi fi and the large screen but reasonably priced Cyclo 2. Find a Mio dealer. Polar V6. 50 GPS cycling computer screen 4. Polar is best known as a pioneer of heart rate monitors, and has developed probably the most extensive and advanced range of training features in that category. Its two cycling GPS units, the M4. V6. 50 have a wide range of training orientated features including fitness tests and assessments of training effect and training load. The M4. 60 is a non mapping device while the V6. Open Street Map to guide you on your way. You can find the V6. GPS. Find a Polar dealer. File Recovery Trial Version Virus. Wahoo Element GPS Bike Computer on bars. Fitness electronics maker Wahoo Fitness started out with sensors that transmit cycling data to your phone, then expanded with two models of GPS enabled computers. The Elemnt is a full featured mapping GPS unit, while the Rflkt uses the GPS receiver in your Apple or Android smartphone to determine your location. Find a Wahoo Fitness dealer. Other brands pop up from time to time. For example, youll find GPS units on Amazon from Holux, Canmore, i got. U, Memory Map and others, and cycle computer maker Sigma Sport has one GPS unit in its range, but the ones listed above are brands youre most likely to find in bike outlets. GPS types and functions. There are two main types of GPS mapping and non mapping. The larger display needed for a mapping GPS requires a larger battery, and that all increases the cost. For the extra money you get navigation and routing functions that can be extremely useful when riding in unfamiliar areas. Many riders dont need a map. If you just want to record data like your route, heart rate and power output if you have a power meter, a non mapping unit is all you need. The massive array of functions offered by even relatively basic GPS units can be daunting, but manufacturers have generally done a good job of designing user interfaces that make it easy to find your way around them. Lets take a look at some of the functions youll find. Standard computer functions. Like any conventional non GPS computer, a GPS unit will tell you your current speed, distance, ride distance, average speed, maximum speed and so on. Since theres a fairly powerful little processor sitting in most GPS units, designers tend to include just about every speeddistancetime function you can think of. For example, some of Garmins GPS units have a feature called virtual training partner which pits you against an electronic competitor whos doing a set average speed, or against yourself the last time you rode a course. Garmin Edge 8. 20 GPS Cycle Computers 0. Heart rate functions. Many GPS units come with a heart rate strap, or will work with one, usually using the ANT protocol see below. Power functions. If you have a power meter, many GPS units will work with it to record your power data along with your ride and heart rate data, and display a range of measurements and averages so you can confirm that the reason you feel like youre working your arse off is that youre working your arse off. Training functions. With a programmed workout sequence, many GPS units can do the brain work of counting intervals or timing efforts for you, feeing you up to concentrate on the effort itself.