Choosing the Best Bike Computer for Your Needs

Gone are the days of measuring our workouts based on how much we struggle for breath or how sore we feel the next day. We are living in a data-driven, digital age where technology and the information it collects play critical roles in achieving our fitness and athletic goals. Cyclists, whether new to the sport or regular participants at competitions, turn to tech, like bike computers, for specific feedback to hit certain milestones. However, a saturated product market coupled with a dizzying array of features, metrics and buzzwords can be overwhelming. With that in mind, here is a simplified guide to help you make the right choice when shopping for a bike computer.

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A bike computer is a device that provides feedback and an overview from one's ride. Depending on which bike computer you ultimately select, it can offer data as simple as distance, current speed, and ride time to more in-depth information like heart rate, power and cadence.

Determining the Type of Rider and Features Needed

It's important to ask yourself a few basic questions before whittling down your bike computer options. What type of riding do you do? What are your goals? What is your budget? Your purpose and goals will determine if you fall into a beginner, enthusiast or competitor category, while your budget will help you choose which features are most important. Like all things, the more features and accessories, the more expensive the unit.

If You're a Beginner Cyclist

The beginner cyclist is the rider who wants to get fit through a new form of exercise, and they turn to bike computers for simple feedback or even as a tool for motivation. As a rule of thumb, the beginner cyclist should look for a device that provides the rider with speed, distance and length of time functions. There are plenty of bike computers out there with these basic functionalities, and they typically fall into a price range of $30 - $50.

If You're a Cycling Enthusiast

The next step up is the cycling enthusiast. Whether it is for personal achievement or to begin training for a competition or tour, the cycling enthusiast is a rider who wants to improve in the sport. An important feature in this category is cadence, or the pedal turnover, which is not the same thing as speed. Eventually, riders discover an efficient rate at which to pedal, which improves the overall biking experience and launches riders into the next level of cyclists. Additionally, pedaling too hard in a gear is not just ineffective, but it could be dangerous, exposing the rider to knee injuries. Such helpful and injury-preventative features don't come cheap, as bike computers featuring a cadence function can cost up to $200.

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If You're a Competitive Cyclist

The competitive cyclist looks for bike computers with advanced features and hard, physiological data to assist in his or her improvement. In addition to all of the metrics mentioned earlier such as speed, distance, and cadence, this category adds on a heart rate component, which includes calories burned, heart rate max and training in target zones. This rider also looks for feedback on power output shown as wattage. Competitors choose bike computers that provide app services such as shareable data, data transfer and training regimens. These advanced versions can cost up to $300.

Bike Computer Basics

Now that you've determined which features and sensors you'll need, it's time to look at a few key differentiators among available bike computers on the market. These differentiators include wired, wireless and GPS-enabled computers.

Wired Computers

The wired computer requires the user to run wires throughout the bike. This is a good choice if all you require is a speed sensor on the front wheel. Plus, it is a more affordable option. However, when you start adding cadence and power sensors, the wiring gets tricky and begins to look cluttered. Since the computer is wired to the front wheel, a wired bike computer is great for outdoor riders—issues arise when the user rides indoors on a trainer, where only the back wheel is moving.

Wireless Computers

You'll typically find wireless in more advanced, high-end bike computers that offer similar, and at times more advanced, features as a wired bike computer. These are great for indoor or outdoor riding and give the bike a clean appearance no matter how many sensors or meters are being used. Also, the computer and sensors can easily be removed and used on a different bike without the hassle of rewiring. The only potential issue with a wireless bike computer is that it could experience interference.

GPS-Enabled Computers

A GPS-enabled bike computer tracks your speed, distance and route, and it is powered by a satellite connection. More advanced cyclists tend to gravitate towards this model of bike computer because it allows you to view maps and upload your ride data to popular social platforms and training programs like Strava. This is particularly useful when you want a clearer picture of your surroundings, where you've been and where you are going. Another big advantage is that it is easy to swap out if you own multiple bikes. This is not as simple when using a bike computer with no GPS as it requires the user to remove the sensors and magnets installed on their bike.

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GPS units have a wide price range that based on a computer's features. More affordable options display the typical data of a bike computer, like speed and distance, but it also records your route and ride for analysis afterward. The more expensive GPS options provide full satellite navigation functions, maps and turn-by-turn navigation. One of the downsides of using a GPS-enabled bike computer is that you can only use it outdoors, despite the fact there is potential for interference. For example, if you're mountain biking on very tight, difficult tracks, the constant turning could make it more difficult for the GPS to pick up the route. Heavy tree cover can also interfere with a signal.

There are many other accessories that cyclists can use in conjunction with their bike computers for a more detailed and refined picture of their ride. Many cyclists tend to use a wearable fitness tracker on their wrist for information on calories burned. However, the data recorded can be limited since the tracker uses an accelerometer, and it's on the wrist. The more accurate accessory for physiological information would be a heart rate sensor, which comes as an option with certain bike computers.

Making Data Actionable

The core reason to use a bike computer is to collect data. However, that data is useless unless it's acted upon. A lot of products simply record metrics and leave it up to the rider to determine the next course of action. It's essential to find a bike computer that presents the data in an easy-to-understand format and provides ways to adjust the training regimen to improve the overall experience.

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