BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Garmin has announced the launch of the Edge 1050, the brand’s brightest, smartest and most connected cycling computer to-date.
The Edge 1050 is marketed as delivering up to 20 hours of battery life in the most demanding use cases and up to 60 hours in battery saver mode.
Cyclists can also receive road hazard alerts reported by fellow cyclists and see in-ride messaging and leaderboards during group rides.
Further new additions include on-device course creation, Garmin Pay, and a built-in speaker.
Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales, said: “We are excited to introduce our most capable, high-performing bike computer yet with the Edge 1050.
“Delivering an exceptional in-ride experience, superior navigation and community-focused features, our latest cycling computer is made to keep cyclists motivated — whether they’re planning a group ride with friends or a long, solo adventure.”
New improvements to GroupRide let riders stay connected with in-ride messaging, live locations and incident detection alerts that can notify and route fellow riders to a cyclist in need of help.
Cyclists can also add competition to their ride with in-ride leaderboards for climbs, plus postride awards, including Speed Racer (highest max speed), Chatterbox (most heavily using the GroupRide messaging feature), Worker Bee (most time spent pedalling) and more.
Receive road hazard alerts on-screen that are reported by fellow cyclists – like potholes or fallen trees – and even contribute hazards to help alert other riders.
GroupRide updates and road hazard alerts will be available on Edge 540, Edge 840 and Edge 1040 series cycling computers soon.
Timothy O’Donnell, professional triathlete and Garmin-sponsored athlete, adds: “I’ve seen a lot of Edge iterations over the years and none have ever had me as excited as the 1050. The user interface on the new Edge is amazing. Whether it’s messages, the weather or Strava segments, everything is quickly available.
“The new features are amazing as well. I never have to worry about my wallet again with Garmin Pay now on the Edge and being able to create courses on the Edge (and finding water stops) is a huge plus too. But I have to tip my hat to the built-in speaker—there is a bike bell button. My days of yelling ‘on your left’ are finally over.
“The new display is insane and it completely changes the experience. The vibrant colours and amazing contrast make the display crisp and easy to see. As an experienced rider, I really appreciate the ease of use of the new Edge 1050. Honestly, new features and tech get harder to use for us old-timers, but the Edge 1050 integrates them perfectly and makes them easily accessible.”
For added confidence during a ride, Edge 1050 includes safety features like LiveTrack and incident detection and is compatible with the Varia line of cycling radars and smart lights, as well as inReach satellite communicators.
For year-round riding, Edge 1050 easily pairs to Tacx indoor smart trainers. It can also be customised with data fields, apps and widgets from the Connect IQ Store smartphone app.
Edge 1050 has a suggested retail price of £649.99.
