Garmin Edge 1000
What is it?
A feature-packed GPS cycling computer
How will it change my life?
Inevitably many of us will over-indulge during the holidays. As January rolls around so too comes the annual pilgrimage to shed those excess pounds and get back in shape. For me, maintaining motivation tends to be the biggest problem in the pursuit of fitness goals and I have only ever found success on that front by training in a group, thus providing the means to push each other on and force my reluctant self off the sofa when it's dark and raining outside. But what to do when there's not a friend to coax and cajole? Garmin's latest cycle computer, the Edge 1000 is an ideal companion to help keep you striving for greatness.
Good points
The Garmin Edge 1000 is bursting with features that have been gleaned from the best aspects of the touring and 810 versions to create a super cycle computer which will have something for everyone be it staying on track to achieve goals or to shed that post-festive blubber.
Motivation can be found via the virtual training partner that allows you to ride against your personal best time for a course/segment or indeed those set by anyone else in the world who has also completed that same route.
Believe me, the urge to brave the conditions is never greater then when you have just received an alert to say a friend has just ridden 60 miles and broken 10 records.
The tracking functionality allows friends or family to monitor your movements in real-time, be it for support or safety as if you have an accident they will know your exact GPS fixed position.
New features include Di2 gear connectivity to provide invaluable information on your electronic gears including battery charge status which has been complete guesswork up till now. Building on previous mapping and route planning, Garmin has increased the accuracy of its turn-by-turn instructions and added a route finder so you don't have to go to the trouble of researching courses. You simply tell the device how far you want to ride and it'll come back with three options of varying difficulty in terms of elevation and so on. The Edge 1000 will also alert you to who is calling or texting you so you don't have to stop and check when halfway up a 25% graded climb.
Bad points
The unit is rather bulky, about the size of a smartphone and although the price has dropped considerably in recent weeks among many retailers (some as low as £310), it's still arguably beyond the casual cyclist's budget.
Best for
The keen cyclist who wants the freedom of touring maps combined with the more professional sensor-based accessories such as a power meter.
Avoid if
You are just happy knowing your speed and how far you have travelled.
Score 9/10
[ITALS] Garmin Edge 1000, £439.99 (garmin.com)
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