Deciding Whether it’s Worth Buying a Dedicated Bike Computer vs. Using your Smartphone? Read On

Current smartphones feature incredible technology, from cameras to GPS mapping to computing power. With so many apps and options in the smartphone that you may well already have, is it worth getting a separate bike computer? Let’s look at the factors comparatively one by one: price, battery life, weather resistance, screen qualities, aerodynamics, accuracy, and more.

One other critical differentiator is durability; do you really want to have an expensive smartphone attached to your handlebars? Or would you prefer a purpose-built computer that can endure impacts and all sorts of weather? What happens when it rains?

With that leading set of questions put out there, let’s dig in.

Bike Computer vs Smartphone: Price

Bike computers range in cost from basic computers for $200 to the full-featured Hammerhead Karoo 2 for $399 up to the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar for $750. New smartphones can cost well over $1,000; the latest iPhone 14 Pro is $1,600, for instance. And of course those prices just include the equipment itself, not the cellular service.

This brings up another difference: most modern bike computers work on Bluetooth and WiFi, so you can upload your rides, download routes and workouts to use while riding, and update the firmware. Once you own a bike computer there is no cellular service fee.

On the plus side for smartphones, you can use a variety of cycling apps, many of which are free or have free versions. Many cyclists use apps like Strava or Ride with GPS to track and share their riders, and to create routes. While most cyclists use these apps before and after their rides, some riders also use them during their rides to record their data and in some instances get GPS guidance.

Another cost to consider is how you are mounting a bike computer versus a smartphone to your bike. All bike computers come with a stock mount to affix it to your handlerbar in a way that is safely visible while riding. You can buy aftermarket mounts that may be lighter or offer other features like a built-in light or action-camera mount, but most riders use the stock mount that is included with their computer. Smartphones, however, do not come stock with a bike mount. Quadlock is one option to mount your smartphone. It costs $60.

Bike Computer vs Smartphone: Navigation and GPS

Both modern bike computers and smartphones can do an excellent job of general navigation.

On smartphones, the ubiquity of Google Maps is no coincidence; being able to search virtually anything, anywhere and be given turn-by-turn directions in a manner optimized for cycling in less than a second is incredible. Google Maps can also reroute you if you change course part way through a route, and give you a realistic estimated time of arrival.

As good as Google Maps is, the software is fundamentally not cycling-specific, and sometimes suggested routes are not what a local cyclist would recommend.

Strava and Ride with GPS, however, are cycling-specific, and both offer excellent routing. Strava uses its heatmap for routing suggestions, based on millions of rides of actual cyclists. This allows you to select your destination and get a dependable route. You can also specify your route by selecting waypoints. For other cyclists, Ride with GPS offers a more robust route builder. Both offer turn-by-turn guidance, and routes from both can be used on a smartphone in their own app (fees may apply) and on a bike computer.

On bike computers, navigation properties vary by model. The most basic bike computers do not offer navigation, but simply record your data. Most modern bike computers offer GPS navigation, however, and cyclists use them in two main ways.

One common way to use a bike computer for navigation is to follow a route, whether that is created by you or a friend or someone else on an app like Strava or Ride with GPS. The best bike computers like the Hammerhead Karoo 2 automatically sync your routes from Strava and Ride with GPS and elsewhere, so all you have to do is select the route on your computer and follow the turn-by-turn directions on the color map.

Another way to use a bike computer for navigation is to use the on-board search functionality. This is less common and only available with higher end computers. On the Karoo 2, you can use the touchscreen to select a specific point on the map, and then the computer will generate a cycling-friendly route for you.

One cool feature that the Karoo 2 has is its CLIMBER feature, which automatically shows you upcoming climbs with color-coded gradients. This helps you not only navigate and prepare for upcoming turns but also regulate your effort based on the upcoming topography.

Bike Computer vs Smartphone: Durability

Smartphones are designed to be held in your hand, and transported in your pocket or purse. Bike computers are designed to be bolted to a bike that can be ridden over all sorts of terrain in all manner of weather.

If you drop your bike computer on concrete or rocks or any other rough surface, say, as you are walking into your house, it will almost certainly be fine. If you drop your smartphone without a protective case, you may well be in trouble.

A bike computer wins here.

Bike Computer vs Smartphone: Battery life

Battery life for both bike computers and smartphones have improved by leaps and bounds in recent years. But both categories still have wide variations based on model and the age of the product. That to say, it’s not a simple manner of saying one is better than the other.

With both groups, using navigation and other robust features definitely affects battery life, as does screen brightness.

For bike computers, battery life can last anywhere from just three or four hours to 12 or more. The same can be said of smartphones.

For the Hammerhead Karoo 2, battery life is between seven and 14 hours, depending on which features and settings are being used.

Bike Computer vs Smartphone: Weather resistance and functionality when wet

Many smartphones have a good amount of weather resistance built into them; your smartphone likely will not be harmed if it gets rained on. Bike computers are certainly designed to handle weather — and sweat.

One noticeable difference however is functionality when wet. Touchscreens are certainly handy for many situations, such as typing in words or numbers, navigating around on a map, or adjusting settings.

Sometimes on the bike, however, touchscreens are not ideal, and riding in the rain is chief among these times. Your smartphone will still show information, but try changing screens or typing when the screen is wet. The Hammerhead Karoo 2 has the best of both worlds, in that you can use the touchscreen or buttons on the side of the unit to control the unit.

Bike Computer vs Smartphone: Screen

Most smartphones have superior resolution and clarity to most bike computers, and with much larger screens. For cost and durability reasons, most bike computers are designed with lower resolution than smartphones.

The latest iPhone 14 Pro Max, for instance, has a resolution of 2,796 by 1,290 pixels. The screen is also more than 6 inches tall.

A better comparison to bike computer might be by pixels per inch, which is a whopping 460ppi on that iPhone 14 Pro Max.

For bike computers, the two best units in terms of resolution are the $399 Karoo 2 at 292ppi and the $599 Garmin Edge 1040 at 157ppi. Other bike computers have lower screen resolution.

The Karoo 2 is also built with an anti-glare screen that is built to withstand the rigors of cycling.

Bike Computer vs Smartphone: Aerodynamics

Gravity and air are the two main types of resistance against your forward momentum in cycling. The less aerodynamic resistance you and your bike generate, the faster (and easier!) you go for the same amount of physical output.

A bike computer is typically much smaller and therefore more aerodynamic than a phone, so it’s faster. Also, since bike computers are designed to be used on a bike, their respective mounts are often streamlined for visual and aerodynamic minimalism in front of the handlebar, whereas a phone bike mount is a much larger and sits on top of the stem or the handlebar, adding aerodynamic drag.

Bike Computer vs Smartphone: Accuracy

There are two families of measurement for cycling metrics between bike computers and smartphones: the things that the computer or phone itself measures, and the things that external sensors like a cadence sensor, a power meter, or a heart rate meter measure.

For the latter category, both bike computers and smartphones are simply monitors to display and record, but most smartphones do not work on the ANT+ frequency used by many cycling peripherals. An increasing number of heart rate monitors, power meters and even speed sensors now also work on Bluetooth, but older models do not.

For the first category of internal measurement, accuracy varies by unit, but is generally quite reliable for new smartphones and certainly for high-end bike computers. Smartphones and high-end computers have built-in GPS to measure and record speed, distance and routing.

High-end bike computers like the Hammerhead Karoo 2 also measure altitude through barometric sensors and ambient temperature, which smartphones do not.

Bike Computer vs Smartphone: Training

Both bike computers and smartphones can be used for training, but your options for smartphone-guided workouts are more limited, particularly if you want to integrate power measurement into your training.

High-end computers like the Karoo 2 can sync TrainingPeaks so your daily workouts pop up on your computer, where you can follow each interval step as measured by your power meter and/or heart rate monitor, in addition to the time duration.

In Conclusion

Smartphones are incredible pieces of technology that allow us to do a wide variety of things, from photography to video to researching information. Smartphones can also record the basics of a bike ride, and be used for navigation with the use of one of a few apps. Bike computers, however, are purpose-built for cycling and as such have better durability, more features, and better integration into both mounting on the bike and interacting with cycling technology like power meters.

Considering buying a bike computer this year? Here are some things to consider

Like smartphones and other pieces of personal technology, bike computers have advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years in terms of capability, battery life, durability and connectivity. While you might still be able to find an old computer that measures distance with a magnet on the front wheel and a wired sensor running up to the handlebar, GPS is basically a given with modern computers.

Riders use bike computers for a variety of things these days, and so customization is a key part of the equation.

Some performance-minded riders like to focus on training, so connecting with sensors like heart rate monitors and power meters is important for them, as is wireless syncing with programs like TrainingPeaks.

Some adventure-minded riders like to focus on exploring, so reliable, easy-to-use navigation is important for them. Being able to follow a created route, or navigate to a destination on the fly, or reroute back to where a ride started are all very valuable navigation characteristics.

Many social-minded riders like being able to record their rides for easy uploads to Strava.

And most riders like to be able to track their preferred list of metrics on the handlebars while they are riding, whether that is simple things like time, elevation and distance, or more complicated things like power balance, VAM and TSS.

And then of course there is the preferred surface or surfaces to consider.

Here are some things to consider when shopping for a bike computer.

What makes the best bike computer for configuration?

As modern cyclists, we have a wealth of choices. From categories of bikes to tires to clothing, the options are deep and sophisticated. We have a similar abundance of choice with metrics on our computers. There are hundreds of potential data fields that can be shown on a computer. But who wants hundreds of fields?! So, being able to both pick and choose, as well as also have some fundamental guidance at the outset makes for the best overall experience.

The Hammerhead Karoo 2 sets you up for success by offering four initial options at start up: Basic, Heart Rate, Heart Rate + Power, and Indoor. From there, you can customize to your heart’s content, or simply press start and ride.

Within each of those four profiles, popular fields have been pre-selected. Basic gives you the color navigation screen with speed, and then a secondary screen with distance, average speed, maximum speed, and temperature. For some riders, Basic is great.

The Heart Rate option builds on the Basic with those fields plus current and average heart rate.

And the Heart Rate + Power builds on that with those fields plus 3-second power, maximum power, cadence, power zone, heart rate zone, and average cadence. It also has a third screen with total elapsed time, ride time, TSS, and electronic drivetrain battery level, then a fourth screen with current elevation, elevation gain, and temperature.

If that last configuration sounds like a lot, then you understand why a preset configuration is helpful — because those fields are only a tiny fraction of what is available from Hammerhead, Garmin, Wahoo and other computer makers.

Being able to add or subtract pages and fields in an easy way — read: by using the computer’s touchscreen — makes for the best experience.

In addition to being able to select what shows up and where, you can also select options like which notifications from your phone show up on screen. New messages? Phone calls? Notifications from other apps on your phone? These are all things you should be able to configure to your liking.

What makes the best bike computer for navigation and GPS?

One of the most important developments in cycling computers in recent years has been the advent and the rapid improvement of GPS capability and on-board processing for navigation.

When selecting a computer where navigation is important, you want to consider things like:

• turn-by-turn navigation functionality
• re-routing capability
• whether base maps are included or cost extra
• if you can scroll on the map and select a destination manually
• how routes are imported into or synced with your computer
• screen size and clarity
• how you interact with the map on your screen (buttons? touchscreen?)

Many of us are now accustomed to using our phones for navigation when in the car. We type in a destination, Google Maps or Apple Maps provides a route, we hit start, and off we go. Not all bike computers yet have this level of sophistication. The best bike computers, however, are able to provide turn-by-turn instructions on a clear map based on either a route created elsewhere, such as Ride With GPS or Strava, or by calculating a route themselves based upon you selecting a point on screen.

Being able to reroute is also a valuable function. Some bike computers that offer navigation only create and present a route, but then should you deviate from that route intentionally or otherwise, you are not provided guidance as for getting back on track or getting to your destination via another route.

The Hammerhead Karoo 2 offers easy navigation with rerouting, best-in-class display resolution, color-coded surface information, and it comes with access to base maps around the world included, whereas Garmin charges $50 per region beyond the one home region that is included. In addition to following saved routes that wirelessly sync to your computer, the Karoo 2 also offers you the ability to pinch and scroll on screen to find and select a destination manually.

What makes the best bike computer for performance training?

Cycling coaches and professional cyclists have a variety of opinions on which fields are ideal for training, but virtually all include a few variations on power (including cumulative numbers like Training Stress Score), heart rate, time, and distance.

Being able to connect your bike computer to a heart monitor and a power meter is critical for serious training, and all modern bike computers offer this functionality, over both ANT+ and Bluetooth wireless protocols.

Some riders like to just monitor their efforts while riding, and then wirelessly upload their ride to a site like Strava, which offers some post-ride analysis as well as social sharing. The Hammerhead Karoo 2, current Garmin Edge computers, and Wahoo Elemnt computers offer this functionality.

For riders following a training plan, being able to have the day’s workout wireless populate on the computer is a big advantage. The Karoo 2, the modern Edge computers, and the Elemnt computers offer this functionality.

What makes the best bike computer for road biking?

The best bike computer for road cycling is one that is easy to use in all conditions, has good battery life, delivers the information that you want in an easy-to-read format, and interacts smoothly with all your favorite websites.

There is no one perfect configuration for road cycling; some riders prefer a minimalist computer and others like data-rich monitoring. Therefore, what makes for the best road computer is one that is easily tailorable to your preferences. (See the section above about configuration.)

That said, there are a few traits that work well for all road cyclists. A good screen that is viewable in all light conditions is appreciated by everyone. Some computers have anti-glare protectors available separately; the Hammerhead Karoo 2 features built-in anti-glare.

A crisp, high resolution display also makes for a great road cycling computer. The Karoo 2 has at 292ppi display, which is more pixels per inch than any computer on the market.

Being able to interact quickly and easily with the computer is another positive trait. Many computers only have buttons, which means menus must be navigated through an often-long series of button presses. The Karoo 2 has a touchscreen for smartphone-like navigation of scrolling menus and pinching and swiping maps. It also has buttons for times with a touchscreen isn’t ideal, such as when you’re wearing gloves or when it is raining.

Good navigation is also a critical feature for a road cycling computer, and the Karoo 2 delivers the ability to route and automatically reroute you to destinations based on saved routes or points you select on the computer’s map.

Once you are back home, having a computer that automatically connects to your home WiFi for ride upload (and, when available, software update) without having to drop and drag a file makes roadies happy, so the ride file goes straight to Strava and/or TrainingPeaks or other popular sites.

What makes the best bike computer for gravel biking?

The best bike computer for gravel cycling includes everything above about a good road computer, plus navigation features tailored to dirt-road and even some trail riding. The Karoo 2’s navigation includes terrain-specific guidance with routes color-coded by the surface type. You can also set your preferences to route you on trails vs roads.

One feature that is unique to the Karoo 2 that benefits all types of cyclists is the Predictive Path Technology, which auto detects upcoming climbs and delivers color-coded infographics about the upcoming gradient, distance, and elevation, breaking the climb down into chunks to help you with pacing and anticipation of what’s coming ahead.

Related reading: The Best Bike Computer for Mountain Biking 2023 

Why can’t I use my phone as a bike computer?

Well, you can use your phone as a bike computer, but it is not ideal for a few reasons.

Smartphones are incredible pieces of technology that allow us to do a wide variety of things, from photography to video to researching information. Smartphones can also record the basics of a bike ride, and be used for navigation with the use of one of a few apps. Bike computers, however, are purpose-built for cycling and as such have better durability, more features, and better integration into both mounting on the bike and interacting with cycling technology like power meters.

And honestly, do you really want to have an expensive smartphone attached to your handlebars when it rains or your bike tips over? Or would you prefer a purpose-built computer that can endure impacts and all sorts of weather, and doesn’t drain the battery of your phone in a few hours?

Related reading: Bike Computer vs. Smartphone for Cycling: Which One is Better?

What cycling computer do pro teams use?

All professional cycling teams use computers, as being able to monitor and record data — and often the route — is vital to racers. But here’s the thing: pro racers don’t get to choose which computer they want to use; teams are paid by various sponsors and the riders are simply handed a unit.

As everyday riders, we get to choose the computer that is best for us and our needs.

Key takeaways

Bike computers are handy tools for a variety of facets of cycling, from navigation to training to social sharing. With many computers can provide the basic elements, it’s worth doing a little comparative shopping to understand the key differences, such as the Karoo 2’s Predictive Path Technology, being able to interact with the computer with a touchscreen and buttons, or a crisp, clear, high-resolution screen.

Here’s How the Hammerhead Karoo 2 Stacks Up Against Wahoo’s Bike Computer Models

High-end bike computers share many basic features — such as primary and derivative fields on metrics like speed, distance, power, heart rate, elevation and more. But there are notable differences in models, and here is how the Hammerhead Karoo 2 differs from the two current Wahoo Elemnt models, the smaller Bolt and the larger Roam, plus the original Roam V1 that is being phased out but remains for sale.

Before we look at the individual differences, let’s examine a few traits that Wahoo computers have and how they compare to the Karoo 2.

The Elemnt Roam and Bolt have color screens, and use buttons to drive the operation. The Karoo 2 has a color touchscreen, and it also has buttons for alternate operation for a best of both worlds situation.

The Wahoo computers and the Karoo 2 connect to peripherals like heart rate monitors, power meters, cadence sensors and more on both ANT+ and Bluetooth. Both sets of computers also connect to WiFi for automatic ride uploads, and syncing of workouts with TrainingPeaks. Both sets of computers pair to smartphones for on-screen notifications. Only the Karoo 2 has the ability to connect with a cellular signal on 2G, 3G, and 4G.

Both the Karoo 2 and the Wahoo computers ship with out-front mounts. The Karoo 2 has both its own, rock-solid secure method of connection to the Karoo 2 mount, but also ships with a simple converter if you prefer to use another type of mount with a quarter-turn engagement.

Both have navigation features, and can reroute you if you go off the prescribed route. Both have color infographics for approaching climbs that indicate gradient, distance, and elevation, but the Elemnt computers require you to be following a route for this feature to route. The Karoo 2 does this both when you are following a route and when you are not. In fact, the Karoo 2 is the only computer on the market with Predictive Path Technology, which auto-detects upcoming climbs when you are riding without a preset route on your computer and displays the data in graphic and numeric terms to help pace you up the climb.

Now let’s examine the individual computers and differences.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 vs. Wahoo Elemnt Roam

The Elemnt Roam is Wahoo’s largest and most expensive computer. This $399 model has a 2.7-inch color screen with a 166 pixels per inch resolution.

The Karoo 2 is also $399, but has nearly double the resolution at 292ppi, and also has a larger, 3.2-inch color screen.

Both recharge with a USB-C cable. The Karoo 2 has a 14-hour battery life, and the Roam has a 17-hour battery life.

The Roam uses buttons to drive the operation, and has two strips of LED indicators that can be configured for various notifications. The Karoo 2 works on both a color touchscreen, which is often the easiest option, especially for navigating around a map or scrolling through a list, but it also has buttons for alternate operation, such as when you are wearing gloves or it is raining.

Both the Karoo 2 and the Roam have navigation features, and can reroute you if you go off the prescribed route. Both have color infographics for approaching climbs that indicate gradient, distance, and elevation, but the Roam requires you to be following a route for this feature to route. The Karoo 2 does this both when you are following a route and when you are not. In fact, the Karoo 2 is the only computer on the market with Predictive Path Technology, which auto-detects upcoming climbs when you are riding without a preset route on your computer and displays the data in graphic and numeric terms to help pace you up the climb.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 vs. Wahoo Bolt

The Elemnt Bolt is a smaller computer with a 2.2-inch color screen with a 182 pixels per inch resolution, which is slightly higher than that of the larger Roam. It costs $299.

The Karoo 2 is $399, but has a larger 3.2-inch color screen with a 292ppi resolution.

Both recharge with a USB-C cable. Battery life is 14 hours for the Karoo 2 and 15 hours for the Bolt.

The Bolt uses buttons to drive the operation, and has a strip of LED indicators that can be configured for various notifications. The Karoo 2 works on both a color touchscreen, which is often the easiest option, especially for navigating around a map or scrolling through a list, but it also has buttons for alternate operation, such as when you are wearing gloves or it is raining.

Both the Karoo 2 and the Bolt have navigation features, and can reroute you if you go off the prescribed route. Both have color infographics for approaching climbs that indicate gradient, distance, and elevation, but the Bolt requires you to be following a route for this feature to route. The Karoo 2 does this both when you are following a route and when you are not. In fact, the Karoo 2 is the only computer on the market with Predictive Path Technology, which auto-detects upcoming climbs when you are riding without a preset route on your computer and displays the data in graphic and numeric terms to help pace you up the climb.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 vs. Wahoo Roam V1

The Elemnt Roam V1 was the first iteration of Wahoo’s largest computer. This $249 model has a 2.7-inch uses 8 colors in its screen, compared to 64 colors on the newer model.

The Karoo 2 is $399, with a larger, 3.2-inch color screen that has a 292ppi resolution.

Both recharge with a USB-C cable. The Karoo 2 has a 14-hour battery life, and the Roam V1 has a 17-hour battery life.

The Roam V1 uses buttons to drive the operation, and has LED indicators that can be configured for various notifications. The Karoo 2 works on both a color touchscreen, which is often the easiest option, especially for navigating around a map or scrolling through a list, but it also has buttons for alternate operation, such as when you are wearing gloves or it is raining.

Both the Karoo 2 and the Roam V1 have navigation features, and can reroute you if you go off the prescribed route. Both have color infographics for approaching climbs that indicate gradient, distance, and elevation, but the Roam V1 requires you to be following a route for this feature to route. The Karoo 2 does this both when you are following a route and when you are not. In fact, the Karoo 2 is the only computer on the market with Predictive Path Technology, which auto-detects upcoming climbs when you are riding without a preset route on your computer and displays the data in graphic and numeric terms to help pace you up the climb.

Hammerhead vs. Wahoo’s Mounting and Extras

Both computers come with dedicated, out-front mounts that put the computer in front of and level with your handlebars.

The Hammerhead mount locks the Karoo 2 securely into place and holds it firmly for easy use of the touchscreen. If you have another mount that you already like, or perhaps a second bike, the Hammerhead Karoo 2 comes with an adapter that snaps into the back of the computer, allowing it to be used with any quarter-turn mount, such as those made for Garmin computers.

The Wahoo computer uses a quarter-turn mount that is quite similar to the Garmin design but works on a 90-degree orientation. If you have a Wahoo mount and want to use a Karoo 2, for example, you just need to unbolt the plastic inside of the Wahoo mount and rotate it 90 degrees, then rebolt it.

Both computers come with USB-C charging cables.

Heart rate monitors are typically sold separately, and all ANT+ and Bluetooth units are compatible with both Hammerhead and Wahoo computers.

Key takeaways

Hammerhead and Wahoo both make quality computers, and share the ability to customize a wide number of data fields onto various pages. Both have color screens and provide turn-by-turn navigation. Both work with third party peripherals and connect to your phone for on-screen notifications.

The Karoo 2 offers a superior screen, both in terms of being a touchscreen and having crisper resolution.

The Karoo 2, which being the same price as the top-end Wahoo computer, is the only computer on the market with Predictive Path Technology, which auto-detects upcoming climbs when you are riding without a preset route on your computer and displays the data in graphic and numeric terms to help pace you up the climb.

Here’s How the Hammerhead Karoo 2 Stacks Up Against Garmin’s Models

Garmin has been making bike computers for many years, and has a variety of models.

The Garmin Edge 530, 830, and 1040 share a number of features with the Hammerhead Karoo 2. All four computers offer a wealth of customizable data metrics, from power to heart rate to speed to distance to elevation and much more. All offer color screens and navigation, and smartphone connectivity so you can read text messages on the computer screen while riding.

They are good computers, but the Hammerhead Karoo 2 excels in a few aspects, particularly in terms of screen resolution and in navigation options.

Here’s how the Karoo 2 compares to the most popular Garmin Edge models.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 vs. Garmin Edge 530

The Garmin Edge 530 is a medium-sized unit with a 2.6-inch color screen that has a 246x322ppi resolution. It costs $299 and does not have a touchscreen.

The Karoo 2 is $399. Its 3.2-inch color screen features a 292ppi resolution, and it is a touchscreen and it also has side buttons for use.

The Edge 530 has a 20-hour battery life. The Karoo 2 has a 14-hour battery life.

Both computers feature a deep menu of potential data fields that can be configured to the user’s preference. Field categories include speed, time, cadence, power, elevation, distance, heart rate, navigation, and much more.

Both computers can control smart trainers via ANT+ or Bluetooth.

Both computers work with Strava Live Segments, to show you where you are on a given Strava segment in real time in comparison to your best time, the best time of the people you follow, or the QOM/KOM.

Both computers work on ANT+, Bluetooth, GPS, and Wifi, but only the Karoo 2 has cell connectivity on 2G, 3G, and 4G.

Both computers sync with TrainingPeaks to display and guide you through power- or heart-rate-based workouts.

For rear-facing radar, the Edge 530 works with Garmin’s Varia unit, while the Karoo 2 works with the Varia as well as the Magene L508 and the Bryton Gardia R300.

The biggest differences between the computers have to do with navigation.

Both computers display upcoming climbs with color-coded gradient graphics, but Garmin requires you to be following a course for this feature to be activated. The Karoo 2 has Predictive Path Technology that senses upcoming climbs and displays a full-page analysis of the climb with gradient, distance to the top, and elevation gain still to go.

Both computers offer turn-by-turn navigation, and can reroute you if you intentionally or unintentionally go off course.

Both computers offer the ability to pan and zoom on the map screen, but the Karoo 2 lets you use both pinch gestures on the touchscreen or use the hardware buttons. The Edge 530 does not have a touch screen.

For included maps, Garmin sells the Edge 530 with one region included, and maps for other regions must be purchased. The Karoo 2 has free global maps, which you can download over Wifi.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 vs. Garmin Edge 830

The Garmin Edge 830 and the Karoo 2 both cost $399.

The Edge 830 features a 2.6-inch color touchscreen with a 157ppi resolution.

The Karoo 2 features a 3.2-inch color touchscreen with a 292ppi resolution, and it is a touchscreen and it also has side buttons for use when the touchscreen isn’t ideal, such as when wearing non-conductive gloves or when it is raining.

The Edge 830 has a 20-hour battery life. The Karoo 2 has a 14-hour battery life.

Both computers feature a deep menu of potential data fields that can be configured to the user’s preference. Field categories include speed, time, cadence, power, elevation, distance, heart rate, navigation, and much more.

Both computers can control smart trainers via ANT+ or Bluetooth.

Both computers work with Strava Live Segments, to show you where you are on a given Strava segment in real time in comparison to your best time, the best time of the people you follow, or the QOM/KOM.

Both computers work on ANT+, Bluetooth, GPS, and Wifi, but only the Karoo 2 has cell connectivity on 2G, 3G, and 4G.

Both computers sync with TrainingPeaks to display and guide you through power- or heart-rate-based workouts.

For rear-facing radar, the Edge 830 works with Garmin’s Varia unit, while the Karoo 2 works with the Varia as well as the Magene L508 and the Bryton Gardia R300.

The biggest differences between the computers have to do with navigation.

Both computers display upcoming climbs with color-coded gradient graphics, but Garmin requires you to be following a course for this feature to be activated. The Karoo 2 has Predictive Path Technology that senses upcoming climbs and displays a full-page analysis of the climb with gradient, distance to the top, and elevation gain still to go.

Both computers offer turn-by-turn navigation, and can reroute you if you intentionally or unintentionally go off course.

Both computers offer the ability to pan and zoom on the map screen, but the Karoo 2 lets you use both pinch gestures on the touchscreen or use the hardware buttons. The Edge 830’s buttons are limited to start/pause and lap while riding.

For included maps, Garmin sells the Edge 830 with one region included, and maps for other regions must be purchased. The Karoo 2 has free global maps, which you can download over Wifi.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 vs. Garmin Edge 1040

The Garmin Edge 1040 is Garmin’s premiere unit and it costs $599. It is also the largest, most feature-rich model that the company offers, with a solar-charging option available for $749. Its 3.5-inch color screen features a 157ppi resolution, and it is a touchscreen. It weighs 172g included the mount.

The Karoo 2 is $399. Its 3.2-inch color screen features a 292ppi resolution, and it is a touchscreen and it also has side buttons for use when the touchscreen isn’t ideal, such as when wearing non-conductive gloves or when it is raining. It weighs 167g including the mount.

Both computers feature a deep menu of potential data fields that can be configured to the user’s preference. Field categories include speed, time, cadence, power, elevation, distance, heart rate, navigation, and much more.

Both computers can control smart trainers via ANT+ or Bluetooth.

Both computers work with Strava Live Segments, to show you where you are on a given Strava segment in real time in comparison to your best time, the best time of the people you follow, or the QOM/KOM.

Both computers work on ANT+, Bluetooth, GPS, and Wifi, but only the Karoo 2 has cell connectivity on 2G, 3G, and 4G.

Both computers sync with TrainingPeaks to display and guide you through power- or heart-rate-based workouts.

For rear-facing radar, the Edge 1040 works with Garmin’s Varia unit, while the Karoo 2 works with the Varia as well as the Magene L508 and the Bryton Gardia R300.

The biggest differences between the computers have to do with navigation.

Both computers display upcoming climbs with color-coded gradient graphics, but Garmin requires you to be following a course for this feature to be activated. The Karoo 2 has Predictive Path Technology that senses upcoming climbs and displays a full-page analysis of the climb with gradient, distance to the top, and elevation gain still to go.

Both computers offer turn-by-turn navigation, and can reroute you if you intentionally or unintentionally go off course. The Karoo 2 is faster to reroute you, however, with speeds of about 5 seconds no matter how long the course. The Edge 1040 can take up to 20 seconds when rerouting on longer courses.

Both computers offer the ability to pan and zoom on the map screen, but the Karoo 2 lets you use both pinch gestures on the touchscreen or use the hardware buttons. The Edge 1040’s buttons are limited to start/pause and lap while riding.

For included maps, Garmin sells the Edge 1040 with one region included, and maps for other regions must be purchased. The Karoo 2 has free global maps, which you can download over Wifi.

Key takeaways

Garmin and Hammerhead both make good cycling computers. The top end of the Edge line offers a number of features from connectivity to training to radar to navigation. The Karoo 2 offers a very similar set of such features, plus it also has a more detailed screen with more than twice the resolution and a Predictive Path Technology that senses upcoming climbs and displays a full-page analysis of the climb with gradient, distance to the top, and elevation gain still to go.

In terms of price, the Karoo 2 at $399 sits in the middle of the Garmin options at $299, $399, and $749.

A Simple Guide to Understanding Cycling Cadence and How to Measure It

Cycling cadence is how many complete revolutions a rider makes with their pedals in a minute. For such a simple action as pedaling a bicycle, we can do a fair amount of analysis into the pedal stroke, how power is made, what cadence range is most efficient, and factors that can influence your pedaling.

What is cycling cadence?

Cycling cadence is the measurement of how fast your pedal. The metric is rpm, for revolutions per minute. One, complete 360-degree rotation counts as a single revolution.

How can a bike computer help you measure cadence?

A bike computer is necessary for knowing your cycling. While the cycling computer does not actually measure the cadence, the screen is what displays the cadence, just like your vehicle’s dashboard doesn’t measure your engine’s rpm but it shows it for you to see. Unlike your car, however, your bike computer also records your cadence in line with all the other metrics of your ride, so you can do analysis after the ride.

There are two ways to measure cadence: with a cadence sensor, or with a power meter.

A cadence sensor is the cheapest option, and most models use a magnet that is fastened to one of the bike’s crank arms and then a sensor that measures the magnet’s rotation. The cadence sensor sends the RPM information to your bike computer in real time.

A power meter is the more advanced way to measure the effects of your pedaling. In cycling, your power output is measured in watts, and the formula is torque X cadence = power. Pushing harder and/or pedaling faster generates more power. Simple, right? The nuance comes when you experiment with finding what the most powerful cadence is for a given duration. Sometimes newer riders will shift their bike into a bike gear and push really hard (generating high torque), but because their cadence drops their power is actually lower than if they kept the bike in the same gear and simply pedaled faster.

Whether you opt for a cadence sensor or a power, you need to have a bike computer to see the data in real time and record it for analysis later.

Do you need a bike computer with cadence?

Virtually all bike computers come with data fields to display cadence. So if you get a bike computer, that is basically a given.

Bike computers can be set up with various screens that you can scroll through while riding, and most riders set their primary screen to display the most important data fields to them. Often these include a map, time, power (if you have a power meter), heart rate, and cadence.

Many workouts specify a cadence range. Most riding is done at a higher cadence, in the 70-90rpm range, but some workouts call for low-cadence drills to work out muscle recruitment, or high-cadence drills to work on having a very smooth, efficient pedal stroke.

What is a good cadence for cycling?

There is no one perfect number that applies to all riders, but as a rule of thumb, 70-90rpm is typically a good range for most cyclists. Professional riders often race at a higher cadence.

For beginner cyclists

For beginner cyclists, the main thing is to get out there and have fun on the bike. Riding regularly will help you feel comfortable and confident on the bike. Once you are comfortable riding, then it can be useful to start paying attention to your cadence. Spinning at a higher cadence might feel unnatural at first, but it can ultimately make propelling your bike easier because you are utilizing your body’s aerobic system as well as your musculature, which is what get primarily used when you pedaling slowly but forcefully.

For intermediate cyclists

Intermediate cyclists can benefit from cadence drills to smooth out their pedal stroke. Having a high cadence is an efficient way to pedal, as you are utilizing both muscle force and your body’s aerobic system. But the rapid-fire motion, like anything, can be less than perfect initially. So practicing a high cadence at both high force and low force is a great exercise to train the body to be efficient.

For expert cyclists

Expert cyclists likely have a good understanding of how their body works on the bike, and what different levels of power output feel like on the bike. Still, it can be helpful to pay specific attention to cadence from time to time, whether during workout intervals or even during competition.

Reviewing the correlations between power output, cadence range, and perceived effort can be particularly insightful for the expert cyclist. Just like with the beginner cyclist, what ‘feels’ like the most powerful cadence might in fact not be the most efficient, and being able to monitor the relationship between cadence and power in real time and in post-ride analysis can be enlightening and actionable.

Key takeaways

As riders, we cannot control the terrain or the wind or the speed of the group we are riding with. We can, however, control our cadence. And the simple act of pedaling a little bit faster can often make us more efficient as athletes. Having a cadence sensor or power meter sending data to a bike computer is an excellent source of actionable data.

How to Build a Cycling Training Plan that Matches Your Skill Level and Goals

Improving as a cyclist doesn’t have to be complicated. At its essence, a good training plan consists of progressively riding more, adding some intensity, and allowing your body to recover and repair itself.

While you can create a training plan yourself, there are many great resources out there that take the guesswork out of the process. Plus, many training plans can also sync with a modern cycling computer like the Hammerhead Karoo 2 to make following the workouts a snap.

TrainingPeaks is a popular platform used by many coaching companies, pro athletes and recreational riders. It is a great resource to not only find a good plan for you, but also to track your progress and drive your daily workouts by syncing with your bike computer so every day’s workout automatically pops up on your screen.

Another option is to hire a coach who can create a training plan just for you. Many companies like CTS and FasCat Coaching offer various levels of coaching to guide you along the way.

Here’s how you can get started.

How should you set goals and a timeline for your cycling training plan?

Training is a lot more fun when you are training for something. That something could be a formal event, a big ride, or a number like a threshold power output.

The best way to pick a training plan is to pick your goal. What is something that piques your curiosity? Something that would be challenge, but would be a realistic goal to strive for? Put that on the calendar, and then work backwards from there.

There’s a relationship between how much time you have to train and what challenge is realistic. For instance, if you give yourself a year to prepare, a whole world of events opens up to you. Conversely, if you have four weeks to prepare, then your target event needs to be doable with a fitness level that is close to what you have now.

One great option is to pick an event that is four or five months away. That will give you adequate time to progressively build yourself up.

Another option is to pick a number. Newer cyclists may find it rewarding to set a personal best for a given duration or a local climb — anything that can serve as a repeatable benchmark to measure yourself against works great. More advanced cyclists who train with a power meter benefit from training to raise their power output.

The best option is to pick an event that inspires you, select a training plan that will get you prepared, and periodically test yourself against your benchmark numbers to see if you are improving.

What is a good training plan for beginner cyclists?

The best training plan for a beginner cyclist is simply to commit to consistency. If you have recently got into cycling, just getting out on the bike four to five times a week and having fun will yield results.

If you want to follow a plan, using TrainingPeaks’ Cycling Training Plans resource is a great place to start. There, you can filter first by level (Beginner, Intermediate, Competitive), then filter by duration based on how far out you are from your target event, and also filter by how many hours a week you have to train.

You can also filter training plans by sub discipline, such as time trial, mountain bike, century, and so forth.

Once you have picked out a plan and set the start date, you’re in business: each day’s workout - or rest day - will be laid out for you. Most plans are set to have a longer ride or rides on the weekend, and shorter rides and rest days during the week.

If you like the idea of following a workout on your bike computer, you go to your Account Settings page in TrainingPeaks then select Apps & Devices and then Manage Connections. This is a one-time step to connect your training plan to your bike computer. After that is done, all your workouts will automatically sync to your computer so you can follow them, and all your rides will automatically upload for analysis.

What is a good training plan for intermediate cyclists?

A good training plan for intermediate cyclists is one that meshes well with your available time to train, and is inline with your cycling goals. Whether beginner, intermediate, or expert, it is also more motivating and more to train for something than simply train. So, selecting a target goal is step one for picking a training plan.

Want to tackle a new event this year? Or perhaps beat your time (or your buddy’s time) at an event you’ve done before? Then pick a plan that aligns with that goal. TrainingPeaks has a clearing house of more than 6,400 plans that you can filter by event type, your skill level, your available time to train, and the duration until your target event.

The more time before your event, the more nuanced you can be with your training. Typically riders will start with a base phase that includes a lot of endurance work (read: longer, fun rides), and then starts to progressively add in intensity through interval workouts. Many training plans include a taper that leads into your event, which means that your volume will come down so you can come into your big day fresh.

What is a good training plan for expert cyclists?

As with beginner and intermediate training plans, the best training plan for an expert cyclist is one that is targeted to the rider’s personal goals. Specificity is key for training, and the demands of a 100-mile mountain bike race at altitude like the Leadville Trail 100 are different than a 45-minute criterium.

As with beginners and intermediate riders, experts can benefit from picking a plan from TrainingPeaks, or by working with a coach to custom build a training plan.

The best training plan takes into account not only the plan on paper, but the work and the recovery that is actually being achieved. The best training plans for expert cyclists are power-based, so riders can modulate and measure their efforts with a power meter, and also measure improvement.

Other cycling training plan FAQs

How many days a week should a cyclist train?

Training volume varies greatly among cyclists. Professional riders get on the bike five to six days a week, most weeks. Some recreational cyclists — even very enthusiastic ones — can only get out for a couple of days as week. Real-life demands dictate what is feasible.

If you have the luxury of a relatively open schedule, however, then riding five days a week is excellent. In broad strokes, doing a short but relatively intense workout on Tuesday and Thursday mixed with easy rides on Wednesday and Sunday and a longer ride on Saturday is a good recipe for success.

How many hours should a cyclist train?

Again, real life dictates total hours more than anything else. Professional riders’ weekly hours will range anywhere from 10 hours to 30 hours, depending on where they are in their training cycle.

For recreational cyclists, effective training hours can be defined by a training plan. Most plans start by ascertaining how much total time you have to train, and then breaking weekly hours down from there.

If you can dedicate four to eight hours a week, for instance, you can absolutely make measurable improvements as a cyclist.

How can I help with recovery between rides?

There are two key ingredients in the receipt for getting faster on the bike: training, and recovery.

One common mistake cyclists make is simply not recovering enough. Because cycling is so fun, many riders will squeeze in rides on what was supposed to be a day off, or ride hard on days that were supposed to be easy workouts. Just sticking to the plan is step one for good recovery.

To recover between rides, healthy living habits help considerably. Getting quality sleep is paramount, and going to bed at a regular time and reducing or cutting out alcohol definitely improves the quality of sleep.

Wearable devices now allow us to quantify our recovery, both in terms of total hours of sleep (and not just total hours in bed) and with HRV, or heart rate variability. The more fatigued you are, the lower your HRV will be. The more rested and ready for training you are, the higher your HRV will be.

You do not need to use a wearable to recover well for cycling; they are simply tools that allow you to quantify your recovery much in the way that a power meter allows you to quantify your output on the bike.

Related reading: What is VO2 Max? What is FTP? And how can I improve them? 

How can Hammerhead help you reach your training goals?

Hammerhead can help with your training by making it easy to follow a plan in both the big picture and in the minute details.

Achieving your training goals starts with setting a goal, then finding a complementary plan to reach that goal. That is the ‘forest’ view of training. The ‘tree’ view of training, which is just as important, is the daily details of training: what workout are you doing today? How long are your workout intervals, and in what training zones? How long is your recovery period between intervals? It is here that Hammerhead can help you every step of the way, with a daily workout overview and then on-screen prompts for each workout step, as well as automatic syncing of your data so you can track your progress as you go.

And of course all of the workout features work right alongside the best-in-class navigation and other helpful features of the Hammerhead Karoo 2.

Everything to Look for in a Great Heart Rate Monitor for Cycling

A heart rate monitor is a basic yet excellent piece of training technology for cyclists. Monitoring your heart rate on the bike can tell you how hard you are working, how you are improving, and how well you have recovered.

There are a few basic style options: the traditional chest strap, an arm band, and also wrist-mounted options integrated into fitness monitors or workout watches.

Unless you are using a workout watch, you will need a bike computer to see and record your heart rate. Heart rate monitors work on ANT+ and often Bluetooth, and thus are compatible with any brand of bike computer.

How does a heart rate monitor work?

There are two primary types of heart rate monitors: electrical and optical.

The traditional chest strap is electrical, and works by measuring the electrical current of your heartbeat. These electrocardiography straps feature two sensors that lay flat against your skin, and work best when there is a bit of moisture to help electrical conduction. Some people use conductive gel; many riders just lick the strap sensors before putting it on.

The arm band and wrist band monitors are optical. These work by using infrared light to detect your pulse through your veins. Smart watches with heart rate measurement and the Oura ring are also optical.

What are the different types of heart rate monitors for cyclists?

There are three basic types of heart rate monitors you can use for cycling: the traditional chest strap, an arm band, and a wrist-mounted strap or watch.

The chest straps use a coin cell battery that must be replaced periodically but last for many months of heavy use. The arm bands and wrist straps and watches use rechargeable batteries and must be plugged in to recharge more frequently.

The chest straps are the most popular because they work easily and reliably, they don’t require recharging, and they are not visually obtrusive. The arm- and wrist-band models can work well too, but must be somewhat tight in order to obtain a consistently accurate reading.

Is it worth getting a heart rate monitor for cycling?

You can certainly enjoy riding a bike without any data! But many cyclists enjoy tracking their heart rate for training and general health purposes. A heart rate monitor is a relatively small investment for something that will last for years and provide daily, actionable insight for workouts and general recovery.

How can a heart rate monitor help you with your cycling goals?

A heart rate monitor can help you achieve your cycling goals in a few ways. First, training by zones is a foundational principle of virtually all cycling programs. Cyclists use heart rate and power zones, usually on a seven-zone scale. These scales are created based on percentages of the maximum effort you are able to sustain for an hour. This is called your threshold. So Zone 1, for instance, is less than 55% of your maximum sustainable heart rate.

By using a heart rate, you can follow a training plan that calls for certain intervals to be ridden at a certain heart rate range.

The next way a heart rate monitor can help you achieve your goals is by measuring improvements. For instance, if it initially took you 10 minutes to ride your local climb at an average heart rate of 160bpm, and after training that same 10-minute climb could be done at a 140bpm heart rate, you have improved your fitness and efficiency, and could thus climb faster.

Another way a heart rate monitor can help you achieve your goals is by giving you objective feedback as to whether you are recovered or not. ‘Recovered’ can be defined as how you were able to bounce back from one hard effort on the bike, and also how your body is feeling after a night of sleep. If you slept terribly, for instance, your heart rate might be measurable off its normal rate when you are riding, and that is a good sign that you need to take it easy that day.

While training stress is part of getting faster, recovering well is another critical part of the equation. A heart rate monitor can help with both.

What to look for in a cycling heart rate monitor

Personal preference on the location of the monitor can play a part, for sure. Some women take the shape and size of a monitor into account regarding compatibility with a sports bra, for instance.

Beyond how a given product looks or feels on the body, making sure it is compatible with your bike computer or smartphone is key. For riders who have a bike computer, that is virtually a given, as all bike computer work on ANT+ and most work on Bluetooth. For riders who are only using their phone as a computer, making sure the heart rate monitor has a Bluetooth signal is critical.

Introducing the Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor

The Hammerhead Heart Rate Monitor is designed for fit and comfort, including conductive rubber electrodes. The adjustable, elastic strap is washable, and the entire unit only weighs 43 grams.

It comes with a CR2032 coin cell battery that lasts about 900 hours.

Not only does it work on ANT+ and Bluetooth, but it can broadcast on two Bluetooth channels, which is handy for indoor cyclists who want to send a heart rate signal to their bike computer and indoor software like Zwift or TrainerRoad. (Most Bluetooth devices only send a single signal, so you cannot connect to multiple devices at once.)

Everything You Need to Know About VO2 Max as a Cyclist

Cycling can involve a lot of numbers, but FTP and VO2 Max are two critical measurements of cycling performance. FTP stands for functional threshold power, and is the most actionable piece of data for any cyclist who wants to improve. VO2 Max is a laboratory measurement for how much oxygen your body can process, but for everyday cyclists is shorthand for super hard efforts of about 5 minutes.

What is FTP (Functional Threshold Power) for cycling and why does it matter?

FTP stands for functional threshold power, which is generally defined as the maximum average power you can sustain for an hour. Cycling power is measured in watts with a power meter, which comes in a variety of forms, from pedals to cranks to spindles to spiders. Some bikes come with power meters, and you can buy a power meter to install on any bike.

You also need a bike computer to display and record the data coming from your power meter.

FTP is important for two primary reasons. One, the higher your FTP, the faster you can go. Just like in a car, more power means more speed. Body weight also figures into the equation, so a rider’s power-to-weight ratio is the common comparison metric.

And two, power-based training plans are based on this number, and your training zones are all derived from it. This is really why FTP is important to you — you can use it to improve your own cycling.

How can I calculate my FTP?

There are a few ways to calculate your FTP. Although the number you are ultimately trying to calculate is the maximum average power you can sustain for an hour, most tests are not an hour long simply because this is such an incredibly difficult effort!

So, the most common FTP test is to warm up well, then ride as hard as you can for 20 minutes, trying to keep your power steady. Your average power output for this 20 minutes, multiplied by 95%, is your functional threshold power.

Some online training platforms like Zwift and TrainerRoad have built-in FTP tests.

How does FTP inform training for cycling?

Your FTP is used to calculate all your training zones, set by percentage ranges.There are a few schools of thought in cycling training, but many use a seven-zone system. Zone 1 is less than 55% of your FTP, Zone 2 is 56-76% of your FTP, and so forth.

For riders without a power meter, you can train with heart rate, and your training zones are defined in a similar fashion, but based on your functional threshold heart rate.

High-end bike computers like the Hammerhead Karoo 2 can display your real-time power output not only in the raw wattage number but by zone, which simplifies your training by allowing you to see at a glance whether or not you are in the correct zone.

How can cyclists improve their FTP?

Improving your functional threshold power can be achieved with a combination of building a strong base of fitness with Zone 2 riding, then adding in intervals workouts in the higher zones. Intervals mean that you break target duration of a certain intensity into chunks. So instead of riding 40 minutes straight at your FTP, you can do a workout of four, 10-minute intervals with rest periods in between where you pedal easily.

As with all training, the methodology is to progressively build up the program, allowing your body to recoup and recover as you go. Everyone has a ceiling to how high they can go, of course, but for most recreational athletes there are gains to be made with thoughtful, consistent, and rest-filled training.

The best way to improve your FTP — and to improve as a cyclist overall — is to follow a training plan.

Related reading: Create the Perfect Cycling Training Plan in 2023 

What is a good FTP for a cyclist?

Professional riders as you would imagine often have a very high FTP; many men have numbers over 400 watts. Bike races are not won based on FTP alone, of course — and a rider’s power-to-weight ratio is a much better indicator of how a given rider will perform than their raw FTP number. Power-to-weight is expressed in cycling as watts per kilo, with the best Tour de France riders able to climb for extended durations at 6 w/kg.

How can a bike computer help improve FTP?

The most efficient way to improve on the bike is by measuring your efforts, not only simply testing your top end output but also your daily workouts. In running, pace is the benchmark metric, and workouts are created around performing intervals of various durations at a certain pace. In cycling, pace is largely irrelevant, as road gradient, surface, wind, group size and other factors impact your speed dramatically.

In cycling, power output is the benchmark metric. A power meter will measure your output, but you need a bike computer to both display and record your power. This allows you to complete power-zone-based intervals. While advanced riders have a good feel for what their Zone 3 is versus their Zone 5, all pro cyclists still ride with power meters to monitor their efforts.

Beyond the real-time monitoring on the bike, capturing your data for post-ride analysis is a vital part of serious training. Off the bike, you can see how much work you did in each power zone, and if you are following a training plan, see if you completed the scheduled workout correctly.

What is VO2 max and how can I improve it?

V02 Max is the maximum rate of oxygen your body is able to use during exercise. Elite athletes can have their VO2 Max measured in a laboratory by riding as hard as they can for a few minutes and having their inhalations and exhalations measured with a hose clamped over their nose and mouth. Sound fun? It is not.

More practically, VO2 Max is commonly referred to as a top-end training zone, often Zone 5, which is the absolute maximum of power you can sustain for about five minutes.

As with other training in other zones, doing concentrated interval workouts can improve your Zone 5 power — and effectively your VO2 Max.

Related reading: Create the Perfect Cycling Training Plan in 2023 

How can a bike computer help me improve as a cyclist?

If you are not measuring something, how can you know whether or not it is improving? A bike computer is a vital tool for cycling training because it measures so many critical points of data. In fact, at first the amount of data available can be overwhelming, but a good computer setup focuses on the critical, actionable pieces of data so you can enjoy your ride.

Whether you are looking to improve your FTP or your VO2 max, or simply increase your overall fitness and health, being able to easily quantify all your training and your testing is the best way to do it. A bike computer plus a power meter and a heart rate monitor is the ideal set up, but the bike computer is the critical first piece. Without it, you certainly can improve, but it’s like losing weight without a bathroom scale — without data, how will you know if anything has changed?

Everything You Need to Know About Cycling Power Meters (And How They Can Help Improve Your Performance)

Cycling power meters come in a variety of forms, but all measure your output in watts so you can quantify your efforts, workout effectively in training zones, and measure your improvement. Some high-end bikes now come stock with a power meter, but most often a power meter is purchased separately and installed on a bike.

Power meters require the use of a cycling computer. This allows you to both see the data in real time as you ride and also to record the data for analysis later, which is important.

Power meters are an excellent tool for training with a training plan, as they allow you to target training zones precisely instead of relying on RPE (rate of perceived effort) or heart rate. Professional and amateur riders alike benefit from cycling power meters.

What does a cycling power meter do?

As the name implies, a cycling power meter measures power output, which is the standard training measurement for the sport.

In running, your pace is the critical indicator. A five-minute-mile pace is a lot different than a 10-minute-mile pace, right? And you can do running workouts based on pace, and measure your improvement based on that measurement.

In cycling, pace is largely irrelevant, as terrain, gravity, aerodynamics and more affect how fast you are going. Instead, measuring how much power you are applying to the pedals is the best way to train, to pace yourself, and to measure improvement.

It is also an excellent way to quantify how much training load you are accumulating. For example, an easy two-hour ride can generate less training load than a very hard 40-minute ride, and your cycling computer can show you this in black and white terms when you use a power meter.

Cycling power is determined by torque times cadence. Torque is the force applied by your legs; cadence is how fast you are pedaling. A cycling power meter measures both of these, and delivers the information measured in watts to your cycling computer.

You can set your cycling computer to display your power in a variety of ways, with 3-second average being perhaps the most common. Just like with running pace, your cycling power is tied to duration, so tracking your average power output for durations like 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 1 hour are command measurements.

What are the different types of power meters?

Cycling power meters come in a variety of styles. The most common are found on the crank or cranks, the spider, or the pedals. High-end indoor trainers also have power meters built into them, so that is another good option for measuring power if you ride inside.

The cycling power meter was first created and commercialized by Uli Schroeber and his company SRM in 1986. The SRM is sold as a complete crank system, and SRM also now has mountain-bike power meter pedals.

Quarq, Stages, Power2Max, 4iiii, and other companies make power meters. Some systems also deliver separate left- and right-leg power measurement.

Bike compatibility and personal preference are major factors in determining what’s best for you. For many riders, having the power meter built into the crank and/or spider works very well.

How accurate are power meters?

Power meter accuracy is a tricky thing to measure, but most brands claim their meters are accurate within +/-2% or better.

The most important thing is how consistent a power meter is. Think of a bathroom scale; as long as it consistently measures your weight and the fluctuations, it’s not as important if it reads a little high or a little low. What’s important is being able to track your improvement in a reliable, consistent manner.

Power meters work by using strain gauges that are built into the crank or spider or pedal. These gauges measure deflection caused by you pressing on the pedals — that is the torque. The deflection can be affected by temperature, so most power meters offer a calibration function. Calibration can be done before each ride, and many meters now have an automatic temperature compensation that works during the ride.

How can a power meter help improve cycling performance

Measuring power not only helps improve your cycling performance, but it’s a very quantifiable way to know if you are improving, and by how much. It’s also a great way to pace your efforts so that you don’t go out too hard and blow yourself up.

Without a power meter, you can use real-world benchmarks, like timing yourself up a local hill. But just clocking your time up a hill doesn’t account for changes in bike or body weight, or wind conditions, or whether you are riding in the draft of a big group or alone. Further, that time only reflects how fast you can go up that particular hill. What about your performance over different durations?

A power meter helps improve your cycling performance in two primary ways. One, a meter measures your average power output over various durations. Without this data, how can you know if you are improving? And two, a meter lets you train very specifically by training zones, which are based on power output.

Intervals are a common ingredient in cycling workouts. The idea is to break a tough workload into manageable chunks, stress the body, allow it to recover, and repeat. In doing so, you can accomplish a high total workload, and with proper recovery the body will rebuilt back stronger.

So say you want to get faster at climbing a hill that takes you about 35 minutes. You can look at your average power for your fastest time up that climb, and use that as a guidepost for doing 10-minute intervals and a slightly higher power. By doing those intervals — and allowing your body to rest on subsequent days — you will get faster when you tackle that hill. And further, you’ll be able to quantify your effort to see if your overall power over that duration has improved.

Aside from the long-term benefits of training with power, a power meter can have immediate impacts on your performance when you use it to pace your efforts. Newer cyclists will often start an effort too hard, and then fade towards the end. It is often faster to ride at a steady power output.

For professional cyclists, training and racing with a power meter is ubiquitous. Team directors, coaches, and physiologists all have access to the riders’ power meter data.

Should I use a power meter to calculate my FTP?

FTP stands for Functional Threshold Power, and it is the basis for power-based zone training. There are a few different philosophies on the number of training zones, but all are based on the maximum amount of power you can sustain for a long period, roughly defined as an hour.

In the common seven-zone system, for example, the zones are:
Zone 1 - Active Recovery - <55% of FTP
Zone 2 - Endurance - 56-75% of FTP
Zone 3 - Tempo - 76-90% of FTP
Zone 4 - Threshold - 91-105% of FTP
Zone 5 - VO2 Max - 106-120% of FTP
Zone 6 - Anaerobic Capacity - >120% of FTP
Zone 7 - Neuromuscular Power - N/A - all-out sprint

As you can see, in order to set your training zones, you need to know your FTP, which is — you guessed it — measured with a power meter. In addition to on-bike power meters, high-end indoor trainers these days now have built-in power meters.

So how do you find your FTP? A common way is to do a 20-minute test, and take 95% of your average power for that duration as your FTP. This 20-minute test is hard! And you should do it when you are rested and fresh. Get a good warm up in, then hit the lap button on your cycling computer and go as hard as you can for 20 minutes, making an effort to keep your power as steady as possible.

What is the best power meter for cycling?

Determining the best power meter for cycling is similar to determining the best bike — much of it hinges on what is best for you, taking into account budget and compatibility with your bike and component groupset.

Power-meter pedals like the Garmin Vectors are the easiest to install yourself and move from bike to bike. Crank- and spider-based systems like Quarq or Power2Max or Stages or SRM are preferred by most riders, from amateurs to professionals.

Once you have your power meter, connecting it to your cycling computer is a one-time step, and thereafter your computer will always find it to display and record your power.

Your cycling computer can be configured to show power in a variety of ways, including current power, 3sec average power, power zone, power-to-weight ratio, and much more.

Your cycling computer can also calibrate your power meter, and let you know when you need to change or charge its battery.

So what is the best power meter? A power meter is a tool, and what you do with it is the important thing.

What Makes a Great Bike Computer for Mountain Biking: Read On

Bike computers come in a variety of options these days, and ease of use, durability, and battery longevity are of key importance for mountain bikers.

Some performance-minded riders like to focus on training, so connecting with sensors like heart rate monitors and power meters is important for them, as is wireless syncing with programs like TrainingPeaks.

Some adventure-minded riders like to focus on exploring, so reliable, easy-to-use navigation is important for them. Being able to follow a created route, or navigate to a destination on the fly, or reroute back to where a ride started are all very valuable navigation characteristics.

Many social-minded riders like being able to record their rides for easy uploads to Strava, or even use Strava’s pace partner features to try and beat their best time — or their buddy’s best time — on a certain stretch of trail.

And most riders like to be able to track their preferred list of metrics on the handlebars while they are riding, whether that is simple things like time, elevation and distance, or more complicated things like power balance, VAM and TSS.

Let’s take a look at some of the key features you should consider.

How does a bike computer help with mountain biking?

A bike computer serves two general purposes: to measure and capture what you are doing, and to navigate where you are going.

In the first category — measure and capture — a good MTB computer serves as an accurate sensor for metrics like distance, speed, elevation, time, temperature, and more. This information is helpful in the moment, and can also be analyzed after the ride.

In the second category, knowing where you are going is vital for all types of cycling, and can be particularly important when mountain biking. If you are riding in a new or unfamiliar place, being able to navigate at a glance makes the experience much more efficient and fun than pulling out a paper map at every trail intersection and trying to figure out where you are. Further, it can be helpful to see ahead on a map, knowing when a sharp corner is coming up and when you might need to slow down.

GPS and Navigation

GPS and navigation work both in the moment to measure live data and also as a predictive, guiding force for mountain bikers. A good mountain bike computer should deliver both of these elements with a minimum of input on the rider’s part.

The Hammerhead Karoo 2 guides mountain bikers with turn-by-turn navigation for routes. Better, you can use routes in a variety of ways: you can import routes created by yourself or others from Ride With GPS, Strava, or other sites. You can use the desktop route builder on Hammerhead.io, where you have the option to set your preference to prefer trail (or pavement or gravel). And you can build a route on the fly on the head unit itself.

Once you’re out on the bike, the Karoo 2 gives you details like cafes, water fountains, and bathrooms — things you might not be thinking about when you selected the route, but can be quite handy to know about while riding.

While the Karoo 2’s default view works very well, you can also zoom in and out on the map like you do on a modern smartphone, pinching and swiping on the anti-glare touchscreen. If you are wearing full-finger gloves, you can also use the Karoo 2’s side buttons to navigate the map.

Managing climbs

Beyond knowing when and where to turn, computer navigation also assists mountain bikers by letting them know what is coming up in terms of elevation. Many high-end computers like those from Garmin and Wahoo will display an elevation profile, and even show gradient breakdown for particular climbs — but you have to be following an active route for this feature to work. On the Karoo 2, you get this functionality not only when following a route, but when free riding also, thanks to Predictive Path Technology, which auto detects upcoming climbs and displays a full-page breakdown of gradient, the distance to the top, and the elevation to the top.

Durability

Mountain biking can be a rough and tumble sport, and you need a computer that can take the occasional tumble. The Karoo 2 is wrapped in a glass-filled polycarbonate body that protects an already durable unit.

The Karoo 2 has a 292ppi 3.2inch smartphone grade touchscreen. The unit is relatively lightweight at 131g, but the computer and the rugged mount are designed to withstand the everyday rigors of mountain biking.

Mounting on your mountain bike

You want to keep your computer securely attached to your mountain bike, and with the Karoo 2 you have two main options. The stock mount locks the computer in place in front of the handlebars, no matter what the trail throws at you. You can also slot in the quarter-turn adapter if you want to use another mount, such as one that puts the computer above the stem.

In conclusion

A robust GPS computer is a fun and vital tool for mountain biking, allowing you to explore new trails with confidence, improve your fitness, and track all your adventures for sharing and analysis. There are a variety of computers on the market that work for mountain biking, but only the Karoo 2 has Predictive Path Technology to deliver visual, actionable data on upcoming climbs through auto detection.