Phone VS Cycling Computer: Does A Smart Phone Do The Job?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 มิ.ย. 2024
- Cycling computers have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. Gone are the days of a rats nest of wires twisted down your fork blade to a magnet on your spoke. Now we have Gorilla glass, GPS mapping, and enormous battery lives! But, Smartphones have improved a lot as well. For many people, they represent a great alternative to a specific bike computer and most of us own one already. There are pros and cons to each set up and, in this video, Conor finds out what works best, and whether you really need a bike specific computer.
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Which do you prefer to use when cycling?
Phone in a top tube bag. Phone on top, gells and bars below. All wins te me.
@@jordyd8916 same even listen to music while I'm riding also the komoot app is really light on my battery
I use my Garmin Forerunner watch. I've never really understood what advantage a dedicated bike computer would have over a watch.
Bike computer for me. Phone is for emergencies. Don’t want to drain that and be unable to call for help.
And the price of higher-end phones you mentioned is another point. Don’t want to risk my Galaxy 10.
I have a dedicated bike phone - for 40 euros. Doesn’t even have internet. Just have to change the SIM.
Great Info . One thing to remember with navigation is when you are riding around in another country. Its often cheaper to get a cheap sim card for the country and use your phone for navigation, I have been cycling in the US a few times with a Garmin 1000 and needed to get a map, Open Source or a dedicated map on a SD card. Not sure about other bike computer makes whether they have world maps or you have to buy them and download them. It would be interesting to have a video about these options.
I've gone back to an analog bike comp this year. Reverting to the eighties where pedalling was king and data mostly unheard of. Now, I know at what speed i'm going and what time it is. At the end of the ride, I check the distance, elapsed time and six hours later, all that is left is my total mileage. At 61, having beat cancer this year, gps, power, cadence, heart rate, elevation are just in the way of enjoying life and smiling on my bike. Conor is really adding to GCN's coverage. Cerebral, curious, not your average ex-pro cyclist, kudos for another fine presentation.
Hugues Québécois Congratulations on getting through cancer. My dad went through it a couple of years ago, he made it out okay, but it’s a bear. Glad to hear you’re staying active.
When times were simpler, just bike until tired and satisfied with the distance and to hell with stats.
Can you mention the analog bike comp to which you are referring? As a kid in the early '80s I had a speedometer on my handle bars that ran a revolving cable to my front wheel. Is that the kind of thing you are talking about?
@@kennethpaquin8574 No cable for this one, 70 cm of bluetooth. www.trekbikes.com/ca/en_CA/equipment/cycling-accessories/bike-computers-gps/bike-computers/bontrager-ridetime-cycling-computer/p/21829/
@@tmbmtl I see. I don't think that is really analogue though. Looks digital to me, especially if it is Bluetooth.
Definitely phone for me. A modern waterproof phone with Quad lock is the way to go. Better quality image, better apps plus if I did have a dedicated bike GPS i'd have my phone in my pocket anyway so why have both? When I need to go on a long ride then I simply use an external battery housed within a top tube bag so its kept at 100%. I also have my phone screen to turn off after a set amount of seconds and to turn on again with a single tap. Convenient. Maybe suits my need better, particularly as I tend to cycle tour more than race etc
Instead of external battery you can activate Power Saving mode
Sounds like a great setup Phil, especially with the extra battery pack
@@pedronalesso1464 Powersaving mode disables gps/strava tho (at least on Android that is) so if you want to track your ride, you are kinda forced to disable powersaving.
Yes it does turn off the GPS but you can turn it on manually
@@pedronalesso1464 Yes. I put my phone into a low a power state as possible, but as others have said that usually turns off the GPS although you can customise this to allow it to stay on. Unfortunately the GPS/location service is one of the biggest battery drain. I can definitely see that the bike GPS may suit some people better, but for me the phone is the way to go :-)
Phone vs bike computer is nice and all, but I want to see sport watch vs bike computer, for those of us with history as runners or triathletes before cycling who already have Garmin watches.
Was searching for that one! Would like to see it too
Subbed.
Agree sport watch vrs Bike Computer. I already ditched the phone as the watch works way better.
Sport watches don't have maps though really
@@ImMamba yes they do :) Garmins fenix range for one
A couple counterpoints to some of your arguments:
“You can’t use your phone in the rain”. Most phones (especially the mainstream ones) nowadays have decent waterproof ratings. An iPhone X which came out 3 years ago, is rated to be submerged up to a meter of water for 30 minutes...rain isn’t going to hurt it.
“A phone costs $1000”. That’s a sunk cost since most people will own a phone regardless. Meanwhile, the wahoo computer is an additional $300 for a device that has a very specific and limited usage. The better comparison would have been to compare the ongoing cost of an app (many require a monthly fee to unlock their full functionality and analytics) vs the cost of using a bike computer in addition to any additional app costs
Only thing about using your phone in the rain, is that the rain drops can trigger the touch screen. Happens to me on my motorcycle with an S8. Not sure if newer phones resolved this, or if the cycling computer has the issue as well....
Even water resistant rated phones aren't warrantied against water damage.
Touch screens work dreadfully when wet. I agree with many of your points but this is a fact and I’ve struggled when out in the rain, to use my navigation because of it.
To add to this: some phones have ant+ connectivity too, it just is not well known. My samsung S8 (from 2017!) has this feature and works with my garmin HRM.
Phones are only water resistant to their spec when new and this makes for some awesome TV ads. After being handled on a daily basis for about six months much of that water resistance is gone. This is because phones flex when you handle them so those seals fail. I have the iPhone XS and absolutely love it but it's not waterproof. There's a reason no phone manufacturer will actually stand behind their water proof claims.
I’m an amateur’s amateur, but I love GCN! Woohoo! Cycling for me is being able to escape for 2-3 hours sprinting, or relaxing, or just taking in the sights ❤️
I use a simple bike computer for speed and cadence. Then I have a smart watch for route, distance, heart rate, and mile by mile updates.
I'm really glad that you did this video since I wondered if I would miss some things that I would really like to have by not using a bike computer. But for my style of riding my conclusion of "My phone will do just fine" has only been enhanced.
I've just started cycling again after almost 40 years in order to work against the negative effects of a neurological disorder, disc hernias, and of course general ageing. Expense is more an issue for me now than ever, so I've been wondering about this question for a little while. I have to admit that as a tech-ignorant phone user, I was concerned that using my iPhone 5s (not worth much nowadays!) as a GPS computer would destroy my 50MB (yes, really) of data included in my phone plan. I'd like to clarify this for others who might have the same concern. I use Strava on my phone with data usage turned OFF. GPS relies on dedicated satellites and so doesn't use cellular data to function, so in fact, I use essentially no data for my cycling needs. For the moment, syncing to a chest band HRM and soon to a Cadence sensor, this will remain my solution of choice. Perhaps this will change if (when!) cycling becomes more intense for me :) Apologies to those more tech-savvy than me to bring up such a basic issue! Edit: I turn off notifications to avoid distractions, and usually just put the phone in a pocket!
Good insight Tony, we should have included the part on GPS and data usage. Great to hear it works for you and proves that you don't need to spend the money
@@gcntech Thanks GCN - No not needed immediately, but I do suspect that I will need a dedicated head unit sooner or later! Great video...
Tony Knight ...But Strava stopped supporting stand alone sensors some months back - rendering both my HRS and cadence sensor useless 😤???
@@geraintjones7060 I feel your pain! That stopped me using strava premium. I think there are other apps that record using Bluetooth and push the data to strava but its not ideal..
I was using Viiiiva HRM to bridge Garmin Cadence and Speed to Cyclemeter. I would upload cyclemeter to Strava after my ride. Started using wahoo RFLKT to save phone battery. Now all Garmin. Viiiva integration with cyclemeter stopped working last year. Not sure which side broke it, but it broke. Picked up the Garmin 520 headend for $90 on eBay. Works great, integrates directly with Strava. Love the tech!
I use the Garmin 530, it’s fantastic! Clear routing and very neat 👍
I’m old school, I like to use the sun, moss and my beer thurst-oh-meter. Good segment Conor.
most reliable and free equipment that beer thurst-oh-meter. brilliant idea!!
Relaxed and friendly review by Connor, covering most of the major factors in deciding on bike computer or phone. I've been using a simple Cateye speed/distance computer since 1992, and put my phone in a Topeak case, when I need navigation. I can definitely see the benefit of a dedicated cycle computer with navigation, and will switch to a Wahoo, Garmin, or similar, when I get a bike more suitable for longer rides. More tech stuff from Connor!
I recently bought Wahoo Bolt. I'm so happy I did, following GPS is just so much better on it, especially on a bright sunny day!
can you just punch in an address and go or must you download
If bike computers had Spotify I'd get one. Shame I have to carry a battery pack over 100km but whatever
I use my garmin watch as bike computer. They do have Spotify. Meaning you can sync music before your ride.
I usually see something like 10% battery drain for an hour riding. Have you turned off all other background apps, wifi and such? Also do you have an OLED screen? If so, choose an app with a black background, it will save a ton of battery.
Imagine using bike computer and getting Spotify from your phone which you carry anyway 🤷♂️
Michal Wozniak should I have both my phone and computer mounted? Or just computer mounted with my phone in my jersey ?
@@lukeklaas6786 Whatever you like. I keep my phone in back pocket and prepare playlist before the ride. I rarely put my phone on handlebars although I have mount for that.
I started riding last year, and have been using my phone just for recording the total distance and time, and the overall route to keep track of my rides (speed, elevation, gradient, etc. are not stats I trust much with my phone). So I decided to get a GPS bike computer with sensors to know more about my conditions, such as cadence and speed, and gradient, so I can train better knowing my in-real-time stats.
I see my ride as time away from my phone and those distractions. I carry it for emergencies but it stays in the zip pocket on my jersey, on silent.
nope, that's all too expensive. i'll just use a compass, map and what's left of my memory. :-(
Great video GCN.Still have a hard time to decide between phone with Strava and a Garmin bike computer. Thank you.
Both
I bought a Wahoo Bolt V2 this week. Before, I used my Polar Vantage M as a tracker but lacked GPS. I was in doubt between buying a Wahoo or just a bike mount. Went eventually for the Wahoo for battery and fact that my Galaxy S10 Plus is just too damn big for my steering wheel. Thanks for the video!
Love the form factor of the Bolt V2. Not obnoxious, low profile.
I am using Komoot for many years. It is great on large screen. The best offline Navi with a lot of POI for bikers. Sometimes I am switching on mobile data... If need "reroute" or looking something interesting to see around. In "airplane mode"+"GPS on"+"auto screen off" after 100km ride...still 40% battery. For longer trips I have always powerbank. About phone holder...go for GUB. That's the best choice. Universal and sturdy. No way to loose phone during ride even on forest trials.
I use a Garmin and it works brilliantly. A friend I ride with uses his phone. His phone often fails to record the full ride and the data compared with my Garmin always has huge variances. I always take both, but my phone is in my back pocket in case of emergencies. Great video.
When it comes to urban road navigation, screen size really does matter. And bigger (than bike computer) is necessarily always better.
The best phone mount is the Quad lock by a mile also has a rain cover heaps better than top peak
Bought my out front mount quad lock the other day, thought it was a bit pricey for the full kit including the rain cover but I’m sure it’s worth it no doubt
Quad Lock is great...IF you have one of the phone it supplies cases for. iPhones and Samsung's mainly. But if you have one of the other brands or entry level Samsung phones, you are less catered for. There are universal mount options for Quad Lock, but they don't have the rain cover and you have to find a suitable case to stick them on.
If you have the top end iPhone or Samsung and want to use your phone as a bike computer, this is the best option
l can also recommend the QuickChilly ones. I littlebit harder to mount, but cheaper and also very sturdy.
I love quadlock, especially the out front mount. Still looking for a good computer app though, currently using Bikemap.net.
love mine, much better then any of the old ones ive had
Hi Connor, it was just yesterday I had an epic fail on what was suppose to be an epic bike ride. Navigating with Komoot on my phone it died a little more than half way through my 40 mile (65 KM) bike ride. Riding in an unfamiliar city, I got lost and ended up doing closer to a 50 mile (80 KM) ride. Other things went wrong yesterday to; I ran out of water and I fell. The reason for watching your video is to get more information on bike computers and which one to purchase. I really need a bike computer that supports navigation. Thanks for posting the video! Rick
I used a phone for several years, but seemed to always to be buying different mounts and battery packs. The available phone apps were quite good, but eventually I moved on to a Wahoo Bolt and have been very pleased with my decision. My phone stays well charged in the case of emergencies and I like the dedicated form factor and display of the Wahoo better.
Absolutely a phone for Me!
IPhone X with a Quadlock out front pro mount on my TCR SL.
Bike has a power meter and cadence sensor.
Apple Watch 4 for heart rate.
I run Paid Cyclemeter app which is $15.50 per year - cheap as chips.
I’ve configured my display screens on the app so that when in cycling I have the following:
- current HR
- Average HR
- total ride time
- current speed
- Average speed
- current power
- 20 second average power
- cadence
- distance
It’s on a black background with large clear bold fonts in different colours for the different data sources. These summary screen are completely configurable in the app so you can chose as much or as little as you want.
Notifications are disabled as soon as I start riding.
Swipe right and I have the map on the next screen. I’ve created routes in Strava and imported GPX file straight into the app. So that solves app switching and navigation.
The setup is perfect for me and my rides. Today after 4 hours in the saddle I had over 50% battery life left. That was with the screen on the entire time plus some photos when I stopped. Phone was also used to buy coffee and food as I no longer need to carry a wallet or cash. A phone is also a good thing to carry for your own safety or emergencies so if you carry one, might as well get the most out of it.
Phone and mount are only marginally more heavy than a top of the range Garmin 1030 etc and it’s definitely the lighter option if one decides to run a computer and THEN carry their phone in their pocket!
As a last resort for a REALLY long ride, I’ve got a Knog PWR torch I can mount - head comes off and reveals the 85g battery pack it attaches to - I carry a 10cm charging cable. Have still never actually had to use this as a simple phone will last for hours if set up correctly.
Phone all the way
Wich app are you using?
I use Cyclemeter - few limited write ups on the app but their tech support is awesome and provide heaps of info via email.
thanks, very insightful!
+1 for Cyclemeter!
And then your Quadlock is having some sort of material fatigue. Your phone will fall into your spokes, which are accelerating it face down across the asphalt. Now you have a scratched & cracked display on your device you are using every day, multiple times per hour.
I mostly use my watch (Garmin Fenix 6) for tracking my activities, but for navigation, when needed, I use my phone with Komoot. My phone has ant+ built in, so I could use (and have used in the past) as a proper cycling computer by pairing my sensors to it. Used to be able to pair them to Strava, but they cut the support for sensors, so I had to switch to the Wahoo app. But battery life is a huge concern, as is the phone heating a lot on a warm sunny day even with just the screen always on, but especially if charging from a power bank at the same time.
lot of love for bike computers in the comments.
My issue though is I bet most people still carry their phone too.
So why double up? Why pay twice?
Because you can’t call an ambulance on a bike computer.
Wahoo element bolt, hrm, and my Asiomas is a great set up for me. And it must be said, Connor has gotten so much better in front of the camera!
I track my rides on a phone in my back pocket. And - shock horror - I don't mount ANY device on my headset. I'm not convinced that watching the stem is the best way of enjoying a day on the bike, and I prefer to ride by feel, not watts.
If you are riding on your own it is much better to have your phone in a safe place like saddle bag or something similar. In the event of a crash it won't get damaged and you are still able to call for emergency. Same goes for a dying battery.
Very good point, it's always useful to have a fully charged phone for safety
Recently added the Garmin 530 to my bike. Super handy and tons of metrics to analyze your ride with sensors etc . Also, I like saving my phone battery during my ride
Thank you for this video. I was considering on using my phone. I am now going to invest in a nice bike computer.
Thank you
And don't forget the risk of burn in on smartphone equipped with OLED. Running these displays in sunny conditions with max brightness can cause some serious image retention.
You’re right, OLEDs do burnin. But, modern phones are equipped with display controllers that can detect and prevent burn-in (sometimes at a pixel level) by quickly refreshing the displayed image with an “anti” color image. The refresh is so quick, it’s impossible to notice with the human eye (for example, 1 frame in 60 on a 60 hz display)
not hard to work out who the sponsors are!
Almost certainly not you. Are you a patron? Let people make some money, damn.
@@Choonzord yeah ok. People look for advice and should be told of a video is sponsored by a particular brand and so may not be completely impartial (in fact product sponsorship declaration is now the law in U.K.)
I started out using my phone but after running out of power on a few rides I decided I needed a dedicated bike computer. Now I have 4 bike computers, one for each of my bikes. And I have invested in speed and cadence sensors, power meter and heartrate monitors.
I used to use Garmin but always found tricky to plan routes and upload (older cable connect to pc type). When changing to IPhone 6 found GPS to be excellent and reliable so now use Komoot for SUPER EASY trip planning on PC, seamless sync to phone app, running Strava for metrics too and battery still ok for long ride days. Using Bluetooth headphones for turn by turn navigation, so phone lives in back pocket and no screen distractions at all. Phone goes into “do not disturb” mode on ride days. Suggest £20 Anker battery pack for anyone struggling with battery life. I would always take phone out for safety reasons anyway, so no longer use Garmin at all.
Exactly!
Even while Connor is crouching, the tripod needs to be on a second floor.
When I’m riding, my phone is a safety device. I use my Garmin to track my ride. Also, if I take a spill and damage my bike computer, well darn. If I damage my phone, I could be stuck looking for a pay phone (good luck with that).
Agree. And the idea of hanging a $1000 iPhone on the edge of some Chinese made bike mount just doesn’t make financial sense.
I've been leaning towards mounting my phone on my handle bars, but this is the exact reason that I haven't been able to bring myself to doing it.
I have my phone mounted on stem. The mount is a Bone Tie Pro 4 made of rubber and absorbs any road buzz. Have fallen off bike onto my back, while the phone stayed securely on the stem. Quadlock are very good, but you have to buy a phone case with that
My setup is using a Samsung Galaxy S7 phone with IP Bike application and a Quadlock mount. It does everything I could ask of it except Strava segments. The phone works with ANT+ therefore the app captures power data, heart rate data, cadence, etc. Even works with Varia Radar. The app has so much data available and you can customize each screen. Only thing is that you see your planned route overlayed on a map but no turn-by-turn info. I have no problem with that since the map is clear but if you are on a different screen/page without the map shown you could miss a turn. I ride every day with ride lengths ranging from 1hr to 3hrs. Battery life is fine and I can always charge my phone when I get back.
Another oprion is watch as they are used in running too. Some accessory to fix to bar and gone !
Good balanced video, thanks !
I’ve got a super basic bike computer. It tells me how fast I’m going and a few other things like time, max speed and average speed. I plot routes on a map and just crack on and have an adventure. Like we all did before bike navigation computers with every metric known to man came along. I’m not about to compete in any races as my racing days are long gone and I pace my efforts to how I’m feeling. If I want to slow down and look at the view, I do and don’t have to worry about segments or other comparisons with other riders. I think the tech is awesome for those who can use it for furthering their fitness and training goals but for now, I’ll keep my low tech, low distraction setup until I start getting lost...
Unfortunately those basic bike computers also have a very basic small screen, once you go big you need to get (and pay) for all the extra's.
If battery life wasn't an issue a smart phone would be the best option as long as one can not get a mere basic gps big screen bike computer.
The one I have now is the sigma rox 7.0, just a black line on a very small grey screen, with still lots of functions I can do without.
Does the job most of the time, but a simple one with only distance, speed and route uploading option and a four times bigger screen would be ideal.
Have not found it yet.
I use a Garmin watch when I ride and it works well enough for me. I can't do the navigation bits though, but it suffices for my training. :)
What model of garmin watch are you using?
@@justindomingo1905 I'm using a Forerunner 45. If you're planning to get one, might as well go for the updated model, the 45 Plus.
I have to say...
This is one of the best honest reviews I have seen!
Very well done my friend!
New subscriber here!
I bought a Magene C406 with Magene H603 HR along with their Speed and Cadence sensors and it's a great combo. Works flawlessly all the time. All this for well under $200.00 CDN. I've been out in pouring rain on many occasion and or very wet road and have had no issues. It's a great system and gives more than enough data including temperature.
Phone with battery pack is superior for bike touring but that's it. For training, racing you really want a dedicated bike computer.
I put away my phone for touring as well. I run GPX files on my head unit. (Admittedly, the phone isn't far away just in case I need a search).
Hell if you're daring enough you could watch videos in-flight too.
I use a Garmin touring computer but it occasionally gets confused and I am glad I have a phone for backup. I wouldn't use my phone as my main navigation device as my phone is my safety net and I want it with plenty of charge.
For me the ELEMNT bolt is the best bike related purchase yet , I love it and for £165 it’s better value over the roam
I use an old Phone as bike computer, with the SIM taken out and hardly any apps installed, with screen on all the time it'll last 6+ hours, only downside is not being waterproof. Then I use my current phone for navigation with Komoot audio cues going to bone conducting headphones. Best of both worlds!
Best of both worlds, do the routes sync nicely on the phones?
@@gcntech Sadly they don't. But it's easy enough to do, once I'm home back at my computer, which I use to plan my routes on Komoot (it's just easier than using a phone I think).
I do something similar, but wirelessly tether my iPhone5 on my bars to the iPhone X in my bag, so I can use mapping apps on the iPhone5. Most apps will sync between devices when I have this setup. Then I just use the Quadlock waterproof case so I can use in all weathers.
If I am going on an all day ride and will be using mapping, then battery is an issue, but then I just strap a small USB battery to my bike.
Thanks Connor, I recently transitioned from using my iPhone and old school bike computer (speed / distance) to a Wahoo Element Bolt. My main use was to monitor speed and distance and record rides for Strava, the old set up worked ok for that. After making the move to more modern tech I'm very pleased, the data fields are what I want to look at and I can more easily plan and share my routes than before. The upgrade cost was the deterrent but I'm glad that I made the move, much better battery life, sleek and stable mount, much better data fields, more data options, real weather proof, etc. No regrets.
mts
Do you feel that this computer would be a good purchase and decent to use for a 5 year span? Don’t want to buy one every couple years because tech changes
@@samson2143 I would recommend - determining exactly what functions are important (Navigation, live data fields, color screen, touch screen,,,,) then purchasing the make and model to fit that requirement. For Navigation purposes the Wahoo Bolt may not be as good as other larger models, but if Nav is not important it is a great value.
I believe that when dealing with technology, you must accept that it will refresh often and our old products will be outdated quicker than they wear out.
@@m.t.keepmoving4137 thanks. I’ll keep that in mind with the purchase.
“I don’t know if I could justify spending so much on a phone”....I guess you could justify spending much more on another bike....or another bike...or another bike!
:-) @#@
Still using the same 7 function computer that I put on the bike when it was new in 1998. That's all you really need. These days I only look at it for the time. I may tape over the speed bit and just write SLOW on there.
Garmin has been making GPS devices for years ; as well as motorcycle GPS . These are BULLET PROOF .. & I agree with everything Conor says ; especially not being able to read/ see your phone in the daylight . Great video !!
I got one of those Lucas made things from the 50s that hook on to wheel nut, and a notch on the spoke knocks a star wheel to show the mileage. No batteries required.
My man's never used a bicep weight apparatus in his life
Savage
its bad for aero
Make you look like you're going backwards on 2 wheels though
Yeah- like, do you even lift bro?? 😅
Seriously though- he's probably still tougher than you anyway. Especially athletically speaking. Probably a lot more.
(I know I'm coming in late here, and plenty of people have already commented, but imma still plead my case) I'm not sure if you've been a part of competitive sports, or even solo sports like climbing or, in this case biking, but It's a pretty well-known fact that long, lean, lenky guys/gals are usually better than everybody else. I've been a part of these things my whole life how many times I've stood next to somebody ordinary like me and complained about how these tall lean guys beat us at everything. But don't take my word for it, ask any athlete you know. Bro. 🤷🏾♂️
@@portzblitz There’s a bit of a misconception that muscles increase only as you get stronger. A big part is anaerobic capacity in the muscle (energy that gets used when your cardiovascular system can’t keep up) People who have very good cardio don’t need as much anaerobic capacity so when they train their muscles add strength but not anaerobic capacity. So their muscles tend to be less bulky.
It’s a big reason why body builders for instance do lots of high rep low weight work because it taxes that anaerobic capacity more heavily.
If you think about it makes sense from a survival perspective as well. The human body wants to minimize its size to conserve strength as being heavier means you need to more energy everyday while at same time achieving adequate strength.
Conor, great video! I started with my phone, then moved to a Wahoo RFLKT, VIIIIVA HRM, and now I’m all Garmin. Computer is harder to figure out initially, but much more consistent. It simply works every time, no problem. As for cost, plenty of used options on eBay!
Did you like the RFLKT?
D Kohn I was a huge fan of the RFLKT. Paired it with cyclemeter and used that configuration for years. But the RFLKT was a little unreliable pairing with cyclemeter on occasion. Following some issues with my VIIVA HRM/Garmin sensors no longer being supported in cyclemeter, I decided I had enough. Picked up a used Garmin 520 Edge and absolutely LOVE it. No more integration issues.
Thanks. Very informative. I ended up getting a bike computer. Btw, your plush Jaguar looks cool but it was facing the wall! I wanted to see the front of it.
All I want is to know how fast I'm going and how far I've gone. That should be possible to accomplish with a couple of buttons on a simple inexpensive device. I do not in the slightest need to be connected to a phone or anything else.
I use my Garmin Fenix 5X Plus watch which is great for all activities, like running, swimming etc.
Your next video should compare a head unit to a sport watch.
The only disadvantage of the watch is the smaller screen, I believe...
For me I switched from using my Garmin watch, to a garmin bike computer because it was dangerous to keep looking at my wrist to track my HR, Cadence and speed. All which I like to keep in constant green zones to keep me from overworking / hurting myself.
I’ve got a Garmin Vivoactive smart watch that I use for tracking my rides. The distance is quite accurate, but the altitude is spotty at best. Granted, there’s not much elevation change here in Central Florida, but it’s still a bit crap.
Thank you for your video. I forced myself to look into the use of my phone as a bike computer as I already laid my eyes on the Wahoo Roam, because after all that is an extra investment and maybe my phone is ok-ish enough. However, I'm now fully convinced I will buy the Wahoo, especially since the V1 is now available in a bundle with speed and cadence sensors as well the tickr belt for "only" €249 including shipping. I think that's a great deal.
Used cyclemeter app on android/samsung-a8, but recently switched to wahoo elemnt roam cause of readibility of the screen and battery life. Love it!
Loved the video. At the moment I am using my Iphone 11 (the non pro) as my bike computer coppled with an Apple Watch 5. I am just getting started to road biking with an Canyon Endurance CF bike, which I was lucky to get my hands on for 700€ on ebay with about 500km on the clock. In my opinion this is perfect to get started, because: 1. Its very cheap to mount (30€) 2. You have your Smartphone stored at the bike with good protection 3. Its waterproof 4. The battery on the newer (I)phones are just great (4hrs + rides are no problem) 5. Together with the Watch and Komoot it is perfect for tracking and routing your rides (heartrate etc.) In conclusion I think for the beginning its the better solution, if you have a good phone, which is waterproof and its battery is good enough. My next step will be an affordable powermeter (maybe the IQ2), which can be connected to the phone and a normal bike computer. After that I will think about transitioning to a dedicated bike computer :D Thx for this video :D
Cheers David! Good idea on the power meter, sounds like a great set up. Stay safe and happy riding
GCN Tech Thank you :))
You may wanna watch your phone in serious weather as it's not water proof at all, it's water resistant up to 30 minutes and 2 metres as apples site says. Yes it should last but you may not wanna test it as water can and will still get in most times and then it's on you to replace as its water damage. Just a thought (been there and had to replace)
Wait until it’s 5C or colder, it’ll just shut down.
@@bikenerd101 Thx for the info mate. Usually I am not riding in rain anyways, so I will be extra carefully if I get in this scenario... :)
I used to use a Quad Lock mount for my phone, which is a great mount. But i had a less popular phone so Quad Lock didn't have a case to match. Also, not just in rain, but having your phone in direct sunlight for long periods is not good for it. I recently bought a Wahoo Roam and love it! It has a great screen; yes Garmin maps are clearer with more detail, but if you have a route planned or let the unit find it's way back home, the navigation is easy enough to follow.
Also a phone is REALLY big on the front of your bike, and if you crash which would you rather replace? A £300+ bike computer or a £1000+ phone??? (Yes there are cheaper phones and bike computers, but i was using the higher end price points as examples)
Good points Han-Soo-Cho!
You assume most people have £1000 phone. Practically speaking, one can/should use a £250 phone and upgrade every 3 years.
By the way isn't Quad Lock overpriced?
@@elachichai the same argument can be made for bikes. Why do people spend £1000+ on a bicycle when you can buy a new bike for £200 or less. You could buy a £200 new bike every year and it will still be cheaper than some mid to top range bikes that you'd keep for 5-10 years (or more).
As to Quad Locks being overpriced, it depends on the value you wish to pay for quality of design, materials and manufacturing. There are cheaper brands out there and you can get a non branded versions from eBay and Amazon.
Like bike locks, you can buy a £10 lock from a supermarket, but would you trust it with your £1000+ bike?? Then would you trust a mount for your phone that you bought for £5 on eBay?
I got a Garmin Edge 200. They were released a long time ago but you can still get them new for very cheap. It doesn't do Ant+ but it gives you the basics to get started, like GPS and bread crumb navigation, has good battery life and is tiny, so out of the way. It is a good option to consider if you are on a budget and you are not worried about Ant+ or maps.
I use my Garmin 6x Pro watch strapped to my handlebars with the purpose made mount. It has all the information you need including mapping and can connect to an external heart monitor (plus other devices simultaneously if you want).
Now with my latest eride I use the Bosch Nyon display. Mapping, GPS and ride monitoring all come as standard. You can also connect a Bluetooth heart monitor to it but the data gathering is nowhere near as sophisticated as Garmin's (so I use both).
For the price of a wahoo I can buy a second phone just for navigation.
I can change apps on the phone while on a dedicated bike computer I am stuck with the software and philosophy it came with.
Most of the time this doesn't work out for me because there is always something missing.
I can use a powerbank with my phone.
You have the phone with you anyway. Which means a powerbank and a phone equals bike computer and phone.
I can use voice navigation with my phone to switch off the screen.
Yes bike computer have a much better readable display.
But they also have a very tiny display.
And here is the most important part, obsolescence.
Every device get's obsolete over time.
Most of the time the company goes bankrupt because people loose interest.
So everything you buy is limited in time.
The bike computer is expensive as a phone but can not be used for anything else.
The phone even when it is old can still be used as a bike computer.
I cycle a decent amount, using my phone for navigation and tracking (sometimes running Wahoo and Komoot simultaneously). I completed a 100k ride, just under four hours, using both apps and the phone lasted absolutely fine, with battery on about 75% when I finished the ride. I have a three year old iPhone 8 with its original battery and have never had an issue with battery life while cycling. I use a quadlock case and mount, which ,while not cheap, mounts incredibly securely and has a very tough case (I dropped my phone while disconnecting it and it only ended up chipping the screen protector a little bit) as well as the phone being waterproof enough out of the box. Given that I already own a phone, I can't see the justification to fork out £300 for a head unit instead of £50 for a case and mount, unless you're wanting to do cycling at a much higher level where the extra accuracy actually has an impact.
My experience exactly. Quadlock, no battery issues, would carry the phone anyway!
I use both having several bikes. Both are great depending on the use however there are a few things I would like to point out here; 1st I find my bike computer actually being more distractive than my phone. Reason is I don't have the cadence and ❤ monitor which I keep staring on my bike computer. Also less functions on a bigger screen means no buttons pressing to scroll back and forth between functions. 2nd; Since about two years now, most popular smartphones brands are now making phone rated IP67, which mean they are protected against dust and up to 1 meter deep in water but remember that no will cover any warranty due to water damage. Finally I recommend The Quadlock case along with the Pro version bar holder type so that the phone is not in your knees' way while you stand up. Tip: lock your phone's screen rotation before your ride as it will likely rotate during your ride. Phone is a good alternative but not the best for sure.
I use a Fitbit smart watch paired with my phone - best of both worlds and you get heart rates, distance speeds, log of where you have been..
I believe that all cyclists still use their phones as weight lifting aparatus
Why do all bikers have skinny ass arms? I just got a new bike. Will I end up that way too? 🤔
Had this concern too haha just hit gym ever so often you'll be ok
@@TraumaER how are your arms?
@@antonhelsgaun my arms are bigger than ever. I also haven't cycled since last year due to weather LOL!
@@TraumaER that must be why, then
Used a cellphone once and my screen saver cracked as these aren’t made for continuous vibration on your bike , good for short rides on smooth surface bout not long rides
Great video. Super informative.. I'm leaning towards continuing to use my phone, over buying a dedicated bike computer.. I plan on buying either a Google Pixel 6 or a 5a, both of which are supposed to have outstanding battery life.
-As others have said, modern phones are designed to withstand being submerged in shallow water for an hour, so its doubtful any rainstorm I'd be riding in is going to damage it.
- I would prefer to put more money into a phone upgrade than $300+ into a dedicated bike computer.
- The other thing that has me leaning towards the phone is that its an all in one solution, i can take screenshots of my ride data and share the info with friends,
- I can associate the photos I've taken during the ride to the data, and share with my friends instantaneously,
- the phone ride tracking apps automatically upload my ride information to the internet for me to view, track and analyze on my pc, so I don't have to worry about an extra step...
I have gotten my self a Quad-Lock which works amazingly. My phone usually gives me enough juice for several hours usually 3+ hrs and during each pit stop I do I will likely charge up with a mini power bank that I carry in the back pocket of my jersey. I also have a Mini Speedometer mounted on my drop bar so I'm able to track my speed etc. With the Quad-lock my phone is mounted towards the front of my Drop Bar.
I'm officially never saying dumbbell again. #bicepWeightApparatus #StretchyManStretchyWord
I only use my phone for riding and do find the other notifications distracting at times.
Great content as always ! Keep in mind that a Bike Computer is not a Bike GPS. A Bike GPS has a built-in GPS and can export your data in a .fit file used by Strava and such to display map, elevation etc. Not all bike GPS allow navigation though. A bike computer doesn't have a GPS or might require to connect to your phone's GPS. You usually can't export the data from a bike computer and you won't get much insights either.
Locus Map Pro on my Android phone does the job - mounted on my stem with QuadLock. Garmin speed & cadence sensors and Wahoo Tickr are connected over ANT+ or Bluetooth. Recently I've ridden 150 km, using only 40% of my battery with screen, map, sensors reading, gps, mobile data always on. Problem arises in rain and in winter below 5 C degrees.
I always have my phone hooked up to a battery charger when riding so it won't drain the battery. Mike
Garmin edge 820 , bought as a bundle, you get heart rate monitor speed sensor and cadence sensor , cant go wrong, connor you are the man love to listen to your videos 👍
Most phones now have ip.68 water resistance witch basically means they can be submerged up to 6 meters! Therefore rain won't do anything at all.
So is my phone but still, some rain water in the USB socket after a ride prevented me from charging it for a while. I managed to get it dry though but it was a bit of a headache.
really good video on the difference...older, much older bike computer, so thinking of upgrading, but phone..for 10 miles and fitness only seems ideal.
Wahoo with HRM, speed, & cadence sensor and Komoot does everything i need. I only charge the Wahoo up once a week
Which wahoo model do you use
How much?
GCN sponsored content is paying off. Do you have Topeak accessories too?
This should really be smartwatch vs. cycling computer
Can't use a smart watch for mapping/navigation whilst cycling.
Not safely anyway
@@syedahmed1387 I've used one easily enough for nav on a 200k ride but ok, sure mate
it might not be as good as a bike computer for this task, but it's fully capable
I bought my first GPS bike computer, a Garmin Edge 305, in early 2007 months before the first iPhones were released. And I have stuck with a dedicated bike computer - it's small, light, and rugged with long battery life, and gives me all the information I need and nothing I don't. The phone stays in my pocket.
I used Garmin for long time and still use it as my bike computer that I almost never use my bicycle without; however with all the advanced features of google maps I think it is a better option for navigations whether for training or cycling journeys specially with road updates and trip optimisation
I used to use a phone for my 25-mile commute, by the time I got there my phone only had 20% battery.
You have to keep in mind that you will probably have to put on full brightness if its sunny or you keep your phone in a case. Which will eat through your battery.
I now bought a wahoo bolt, which lasts me all week with just one charge.
I keep my phone hooked up to a small power bank when I'm using it for navigation.
Which power bank do you use?
Jezmund90 i bought a anker 1300 mah and i love it so much
Jezmund90 13000
I agree, I have a slim 20AH battery which gives me over 24 hours screen time on my iPhone. Modern iPhones are also water proof to IP67.
Mine measures
I use a Garmin 735XT watch for recording, Garmin 500 for display and phone for navigation!
Put phone in pocket with screen turned off and listen for directions... battery lasts.
Watch also used to record running and watersports, so same device used for all disciplines.
Genuinely useful video. Thanks!
I ve stopped using my smartphone. The cold kills the battery.
Yes I totally agree
The cold kills any battery lithium ion.
I guess u missed out to mention about the phone heating issues when using it as a computer. I’ve almost lost my iPhone once due to this. A 100 km ride, phone attached to handle bar, battery backed with a power bank. But lil did I expect the phone to heat up so badly as I was riding under the hot sun. I’m glad the phone did not burst. However the phone did show a warning message that the phone’s temperature had gone up beyond the functionality range. So it was rightly pointed out in the video phone can used as a bike computer only for short rides.
Rain is no guarantee when you live in Las Vegas. Average 4.5 inches per year. But, your phone may shut off in the heat, so you might want to put it in your pocket on the hot days in May, June, July, August, Sept, and Oct...
what a beautiful and odd tree behind you @ 5:17 great vid as always
A bit to much sponsors suggested disinformation(false or partially true statements)... I would still not use a phone but for a different reason.
3:02 - "Purpose built", Kamoot and the likes are also purpose built and actually contain more features and details.
4:40 - saying that phones do not resist rain. For the past 5 years, most phones have been 100% rain resistant and even can be dropped in a pool. I wash mine every other week for example.
6:19 - suggesting that phones have worse GPS, which is true for very-very old phones(~7-10 years). The phones that most of us use, have a Significantly Better GPS module inside than Bike Computers.
8:06 - Android phones have Bluetooth and ANT+ basically since the inception of the OS. No ANT+ native support only on iOS.
I would not recommend phones on the bike only because the battery gets hot(especially when it's sunny) and that considerably degrades the battery of the phone. But there is no need to slip in hidden lies(mostly partially true statements that apply only to phones that are older than 5 years).
6:04 Larry the Leopard spotted. Hey is he in trouble of some sort? He is always looking at the corner.
I use a Wahoo Elemnt as my bike computer and have an Apple Watch 5 that is connected to my cellular service which allows me to stay connected without having to take my phone with me. Today's tech is so amazing. It blows me away that I can make a call from my watch!! Oh yeah, the Wahoo can automatically sync with Strava through my watch. Gotta love it.
One of the last times I used Strava, the app shut down due to the power-saving settings of my phone, disabled mid-ride then I re-activated it toward the end. This resulted zero time elapsed between two distand points, so and I finished the ride with average speed of 101 km/h.
happened to me yesterday
Literally all newish iPhones are water resistant to 1m
So to summarize, phones are a good option for people who are just getting into cycling. They provide basic information without having to invest in a dedicated head unit before you know whether or not you'll stay with the sport. But once you know you're addicted...and you'll know...it's best to find yourself a dedicated unit.
Nicely put!
100 percent. I use my phone for pictures along the way and music. Love the connectivity of garmin with sensors and gps. It gives route info really well.
You’ve put it in a nutshell. 👍
I have a small inexpensive bike computer on my handle bars that I can get speed, distance, and time riding pretty easily. I have had it for much longer than I have had my iPhones. I use the apps on my phone (which stays in my pocket) for GPS and Strava type recording as well.