If you are serious about biking and are looking for an innovative gadget to boost your performance, you should seriously consider a GPS bike computer. You will be surprised by the number of ways it can help you. It can motivate you, tell you take the day off if you are training too hard, log your stats and track details and much more. However, if you are worried that this might burn a hole in your pocket, you will be surprised at the price range available.
Bike computers are the latest gadgets available in as low as 20 USD.
The more expensive ones like the Garmin Edge 520 and Garmin Edge 1000 have full satellite navigation functions including speed, real-time mapping, round-trip routing with distance, personalized coaching and other advanced functions.
While the budget-friendly computers only offer basic functions like calculate trip and total distance covered along with current, average, and maximum speed during the ride.
There is a middle path where you can enjoy the benefits of both worlds with advanced functionality, GPS yet budget-friendly tag. Here we list the top 10 cheap GPS bike computers to help you make the right choice.
Now if you think, you can use your smartphone app to deliver these functions think again. It can drain your phone’s battery, not suitable for wet weathers and not compact enough.
Best Cheap GPS Bike Computer – Buyer’s Guide
There are tons of GPS bike computers available in the market today, making it overwhelming for beginners. But here are a few parameters to consider before you zero in on a particular gadget –
- Price
- Features like average speed, current speed, maximum speed, distance, cadence, GPS, calories, HRM and elevation.
- User friendliness
- Battery
- Design and weight
- Accuracy
The most important factor to keep in mind when buying a bike computer is the features that you are need. If you are pro, monitoring your performance and need more accurate data, then you should probably go for only the best ones. However, if you only need only basic features, a cheaper model might just be sufficient.
| Product Name | Display size | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Edge 200 GPS Enabled Bike Computer 235 | WxH – 1.23″ | ||
| Cateye Stealth 50 | WxH – 1.44″ | ||
| Garmin Edge 800 | WxH – 1.61″ | ||
| Timex T5K615 GPS Bike Computer | WxH – 1.65″ | ||
| Garmin Edge 25 | WxH – 1.55″ | ||
| Bryton Rider 100 GPS Cycling Computer | WxH – 1.55″ | ||
| Sigma Sport ROX 10.0 GPS | WxH – 1.65″ | ||
| Polar M450 | WxH – 1.65″ | ||
| Lezyne Mini GPS Bike Computer | WxH – 1.65″ | ||
| CycleOps Joule GPS | WxH – 1.65″ |
1. Garmin Edge 200 GPS Enabled Bike Computer 235
Garmin Edge 200 is a user-friendly, straightforward device with essential features available at an affordable price tag. It might not be groundbreaking, but it delivers what it promises.
-
Monochrome LCD display with backlight- Garmin Connect compatible to create routes and later download them on device to show progress
- racks time, distance, speed, location and calories burned
- Breadcrumb navigation
- Battery life of 14 hours
No ANT+ compatibility so no cadence, heart rate or power measurements.- Data fields can’t be customized
2. Cateye Stealth 50
It is a good value for price with essential features as well as heart rate and cadence measurements.
- GPS and ANT+ enabled with Heart Rate, Cadence and Speed sensors.
- Waterproof design with LCD display and backlight
- Unique features include Maximum and Average Power, Heart Rate and Cadence measurements, with Power Balance and Current Altitude
- Upload data to Cateye Atlas, Starva and Training peaks for performance analysis
- USB connectivity
- Battery life of 10 hours.
- CatEye Sync software not very user-friendly
- Low battery life
3. Garmin Edge 800
With a touchscreen display, OS maps, easy to use interface and latest features it is great for performance monitoring and navigation.
It is everything a pro cyclist ever wishes for combined in one awesome package.
It’s has great mapping capabilities, power measurement, create custom workouts,
- Sturdy yet sensitive touchscreen display that is sunlight readable.
- Water resistant
- Tracks your location and data like speed, distance and calories burnt
- Displays maps on screen
- ANT+ heart rate monitor, speed/cadence sensor
- Built-in basemap
- Garmin Connect compatible
- Battery Life – 15 hours.
- Heart Rate Monitoring requires chest strap and cannot be taken directly from wrist.
- Low-resolution screen with dull design
- Sleep tracking does not offer detailed report
4. Timex T5K615 GPS Bike Computer
Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0 or T5K615 is an affordable unit with decent functionality with ANT+ sensors and good battery life.
It also has some unique features like landscape mode, ability to be used as a running watch and a magnetic compass.
However, the device is not at par with some of the units in the same price range.
- Intuitive and customizable data display with waterproof design and backlight
- Measures speed, distance, calories burnt, map data along with elevation data
- Compatible with ANT+ sensors for speed, cadence, HRM and power measurements
- Training software like TrainingPeaks integration compatible
- Breadcrumb trail
- Advanced features like Auto Pause, Auto Lap.
- Battery Life – 18 hours.
- Waypoint entry is a little cumbersome
- Lack of power meter features
- Mount system is a little outdated
5. Garmin Edge 25
From the industry leaders Garmin, the Edge 25 is one of the smallest and lightest GPS computers weighing in at only 25g.
- Compact light-weight design with 128×160 pixel display with sharp and readable font
- Tracks important metrics like distance, speed, elevation, heart rate and cadence
- ANT+ sensor connectivity
- Bluetooth enabled to allow smartphone syncing
- Breadcrumb style navigation using courses that can be download courses via USB or Bluetooth
- Battery life could be longer.
6. Bryton Rider 100 GPS Cycling Computer
This Bryton computer is a powerful, simple and affordable which automatically detects movement, measures speed, distance and time along with customizable data points like heart rate and cadence.
- Slim, lightweight and waterproof design
- Large, anti-glare display with backlights
- Simple, user friendly menu
- Compatible with ANT+ HR monitor, speed and cadence sensors.
- The FIT-files can be uploaded to popular training websites, such as Strava and TrainingPeaks
- Highly sensitive GPS for quick positioning.
- Battery life – 25 hours
- Does not allow smartphone pairing
- Mounting straps is not very durable
7. Sigma Sport ROX 10.0 GPS
The Rox might look like a basic GPS computer, but closer look tells us that this one has all the advanced features one might need with a pocket friendly price.
- Simple looks with backlight, LCD display
- Highly sensitive GPS with ANT+ wireless transmission technology
- Measures basics like speed, time, temperature and elevation measurements
- Advanced features like GPS track navigation, digital 3 axis compass, elevation profile along with temperature and lap counter
- Create and save routes using the software DATA CENTER 3.
- Breadcrumb navigation
- Compatible with heart rate, power and cadence sensors
- Battery Life – 13 hours
- Breadcrumb navigation
- Not waterproof
- Poor battery life
- Limited push notifications
- Heart rate tracking is not consistent when running
- Poor sleep tracking
8. Polar M450
This is a compact yet powerful GPS computer, weighing in at only 51 g.
If you are looking for a sophisticated device that delivers both essential and advanced features like training, heart rate monitoring and more, this device might be prove to a one time investment.
-
- Measures your speed, distance as well as route
- Fast and accurate GPS
- Chest strap for HRM
- Internal barometric pressure altimeter provides accurate altitude information
- Bluetooth enabled for wireless syncing.
- Connect your Flow account to training sites like Strava
- Offers personalized feedback and suggestions
- Unique training features like Orthostatic test, fitness test, recovery status, training load and OwnCal feature to calculate calories burnt.
- Battery life of upto 12 hours in GPS and training mode
- Lacks on-screen mapping
- Not as simple
9. Lezyne Mini GPS Bike Computer
If you are looking for an entry level computer with a minimalistic design, then this powerful Lezyne model might be right for you. Its easy to use and very affordable for a GPS and Bluetooth enabled device.
-
- Weighs only 29gm and probably one of the smallest design
- Elegant design with sharp, semi-customizable display and backlight
- Tracks time, speed, distance, elevation, lap, temperature with battery life indicator.
- Fit files are used to save ride data and upload to Strava and TrainingPeaks
Bluetooth enabled to receive text, calls and emails from smartphone, and pair it with training tools like power meters, heart rate monitors and speed/cadence sensors - Functions like auto start/stop and custom lap presets.
- Battery life of 10 hours
- Lacks ANT+ connectivity
- GPS is not fast enough
10. CycleOps Joule GPS
This CycleOPs Joule is a big leap for CycleOps with this functional unit that provides essential data with rich history dataset and deep historical power related efforts information.
However, if you are looking for an equipment with 3rd party application compatibility, wireless syncing or data field customization this one is not for you. The hardware is rugged but not waterproof.
-
-
- In-depth power meter display metrics
- Equipped with backlight, barometer and magnetic compass
- ANT+ compatible to work wirelessly with power meters, heart rate straps and speed/sensor cadences
- Data transfer through USB
- Shows breadcrumb trail but no maps .
- Advanced features like auto start/stop, waypoint entry, temp recording
- Battery Life – 17 hours
-
- Automatic activity starting can be sometimes frustrating
- GPS lock is not very fast
- No Bluetooth or smart connectivity
- The screen is small and not very legible
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.
Rachel Skinner
Rachel Skinner is a Nashville-based dietitian & nutritionist, media personality, speaker, and consultant. She has been a health and fitness writer since 2006. Rachel Skinner is a huge advocate of healthy living and when she's not writing for her health blog, you will probably find her at the gym!
