When your cycling shifts up a gear, so should your equipment. Find out how a cycling GPS monitors your performance and helps you hit new heights. So you’ve got the bug. You’re out every day now, taking out your 2 wheels on different roads and trails - varying challenges and degrees of difficulty. But are you getting the most from your beloved pastime? We looked at why you may benefit from using a cycling GPS…
Put simply, because they do the lot. If you’re looking to build and improve as a cyclist – not to mention enhance your fitness – you need to know where you’re starting from and how you’re progressing.
A cycling GPS helps you by tracking and analysing:
the route you take
the distance you travel
how fast you do it
your heart rate
your pedalling cadence
how much power you use
your progress compared to others
And there are plenty of other advantages to using a cycling GPS.
They’re wireless: Rejoice! Gone are the days of faffing around with endless cables and antennas sticking off your bike.
Set yourself targets: Most cycling GPS devices let you set yourself specific goals. Loads of us find this the most fruitful way of pushing ourselves – after all, who wants a computer getting the better of them?
Buy add-ons: Even if you’re kicking off with a modestly-priced piece of kit, you’ll often have the option to upgrade. If you’re looking for more detailed analysis, why not tag on a heart rate strap or cadence sensor?
Software possibilities: Most new GPS units come with an ANT+ interface – while an increasing amount are using Bluetooth Smart. In short, they’re getting smarter and better connected every day.
Which Cycling GPS
Before investing, it’s worth considering the type of cyclist you are, and what you really need from your GPS.
Prices range from £100 right up to £500-plus, so take a look at what sort of bang you can expect for your buck…
Entry level: Cateye Stealth Evo GPS
If you’re simply in the market for learning how far, and how fast you’ve cycled, this trusty little number ticks your boxes. It’s light, waterproof, simple to use and mountable. You can even record up to 60 hours of data which you can then upload and share via web-based training sites.
Check out the Cateye Stealth Evo GPS
Mid-range: Garmin Dakota 20 Mapping GPS
Going mid-range brings a considerable amount of added features. This piece from industry-leader Garmin offers colour touchscreen navigation, HotFix satellite prediction and boasts a microSD card slot – so it can up and download oodles of added information.
Check out the Garmin Dakota 20 Mapping GPS
High-end: Garmin Edge 810 Trail GPS
Models like the 810 are fully-integrated with smartphone technology, so you can pair devices to connect with the social world and get even more for your records. With heart rate and cadence add-ons readily available, the 810 also lets you create activity profiles, allowing you to easily configure data fields, routing preferences and device settings based on your rides.
Check out the Garmin Edge 810 Trail GPS
However much you want to spend, or data you want to record, a GPS unit will enhance your ride and help you improve on your personal bests – check out Evans Cycles’ full GPS range.