The Bike Computers That Still Earn the Bar
Written by John Wren|
Buy Garmin Edge 540 or Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V2. Charge it at the house. Wear a lid. Lock the frame.
Key takeaways
- GPS on the bar.
- Three numbers, not twelve.
- Charge at home.
- Lock the bike.
A bike computer that earns the bar is a GPS you can still read in sun, a mount that will not walk, and a charge you started at the house — not a phone taped to the stem. The short answer: buy a Garmin Edge 540 if you want buttons and maps, a Wahoo BOLT if you want a simple color screen, then a lid and a lock.
Short version. The bike is the thing you are measuring. A first race if the Saturday is already a number. Pair with a lock. Check live prices.
This page is the computer. The bike is a shop. This is Edge, BOLT, a lid, a U-lock.
GPS on the bar beats a phone in a pocket
A computer is speed, distance, a route you can still follow when the tower dies, and a file you can still upload. A phone is a battery you will need at a store. Do: an out-front mount a shop tightened. Don’t: a stem zip-tie and a cracked glass. A first road bike. A tune if the other Saturday is already a skip in the chain.
Cadence and heart-rate sensors are later. The first job is a screen you can glance. A 12-field page is a novel. Three numbers you will actually use.
Edge 540 is buttons and a map you can still click with gloves
The Garmin Edge 540 is the live computer we named: button controls, adaptive coaching if you want it, navigation that still works when the phone is a brick. Check live prices.
Do: charge it the night before. Don’t: a first century on a 12 percent battery. A gravel overnight still wants paper if the file is a spinner. Confirm the listing is the computer, not a random bundle you do not need.
BOLT is the simple color screen
The Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V2 is the live computer we named: a 2.2-inch color screen, turn prompts, a USB-C you can still feed mid-ride if the day ran long. Check live prices.
Do: pair it at the table. Don’t: a first group ride as the setup. A road bike under $1,000 if the other Saturday is already a drop bar. A computer will not make a wrong size bike fit.
A lid and a lock if the bike will leave your hand
The SENA road helmet is the live lid we named. The Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 is the live U-lock we named through the frame and a wheel. Check live prices.
Do: wear the lid. Lock to a fixed rack. Don’t: a cable-only as security. Locks is the long page. A computer on a bike you left unlocked is a gift.
| Want | Honest tool |
|---|---|
| Buttons and maps | Garmin Edge 540 |
| A simple color screen | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V2 |
| A head | A lid you will wear |
| A rack | A U-lock through the frame |
Charge at the house. Check live prices.
Edge or BOLT, a lid, a lock, a charge
That is the computer. Check live prices. Glance. Then ride.
Guests will try to write a phone taped to the stem
Say the rule at the house: a GPS you can still read in sun, a mount a shop tightened, a charge you started at the house. If the answer is a zip-tie and a laugh, sit. The bike. The computer.
Do: three numbers you will actually glance. Don’t: a 12-field novel on a first group ride. A first race if the Saturday is already a number. A tune if the other Saturday is already a skip in the chain.
The Garmin Edge 540 we named is the live button computer. The Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V2 we named is the live color screen. Check live prices.
Pair it at the table. A first group ride is not the setup.
Cadence and heart-rate sensors are later. The first job is a screen you can glance. A first road bike. A lock if the bike will leave your hand.
The SENA road helmet we named is the live lid. The Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 we named is the live U-lock. Check live prices. Wear the lid. Lock to a fixed rack. A cable-only is a courtesy, not security.
A computer on a bike you left unlocked is a gift. A lock. The bike. Charge the computer the night before. A first century on a 12 percent battery is a brick.
A file that is a spinner still wants paper
Hike kit thinking scales to a cue sheet. Leave some gas. Arrive with a charge you still wanted. Confirm the listing is the computer, not a random bundle you do not need.
Do: an out-front mount. Don’t: a stem zip-tie and a cracked glass. A tune. A shop that will torque the faceplate is the shop.
A rainy plan B if the office already called. A trainer hour is a successful Saturday. The overlook can wait.
The same charger pocket every ride
Edge or BOLT, lid, lock, the cable. Don’t: a scavenger hunt at a dark start. Check live prices. A first race. Pin the number at the table, not at 11 p.m.
Kids outside if the other Saturday is already a child on a bike. A lid that fits is the lid. A fashion cap is not a race lid.
Last line: a phone on the stem is not a computer. A charged Edge or BOLT is. Glance. Then ride. Check live prices.
Buttons or a simple color screen — then a lid and a lock
That is the bar. Check live prices. The computer. A lock. A first road bike.
An adventurer day if the other Saturday is already a ridge without a bike. This page is still the computer.
Come home wanting Thursday. A 12-field page is a novel. Three numbers you will actually use.
A weekday charge is the ride you still have
Do: plug the Edge or BOLT the night before. Don’t: a first century on 12 percent. The computer. The bike. A tune.
Three numbers you will actually glance. A 12-field page is a novel. A first race if the Saturday is already a number.
The SENA lid we named still wants a nod that does not rock the brim. Check live prices. Always. A first road bike.
A computer on an unlocked bike is a gift
The Kryptonite Mini-7 we named still wants the frame and a wheel on a fixed rack. Check live prices. A lock. A cable-only is a courtesy.
Pair sensors at the table. A first group ride is not the setup. The computer. Cadence is later. Speed and a route first.
A rainy plan B if the office already called. A trainer hour is a successful Saturday. Leave some gas.
The same charger pocket every ride
Edge or BOLT, lid, lock, the cable. Don’t: a scavenger hunt at a dark start. Check live prices. First aid.
Kids outside if the other Saturday is already a child. A lid that fits is the lid. Family days.
An adventurer day if the other Saturday is already a ridge without a bike. One classroom.
Edge or BOLT, a lid, a lock, a charge
That is the computer. Check live prices. The computer. A lock. A first race.
Last line: a phone on the stem is a hope. A charged GPS on an out-front mount is a computer. Glance. Then ride.
The bike. Come home wanting Thursday.
Write the bar computer card before you leave the house
Say the kit out loud: Edge 540, Wahoo BOLT V2, SENA lid, Kryptonite Mini-7, a charge at the house. If a guest tries to add a seventh job, sit. That is a successful Saturday. The computer The bike A lock.
Do: the same pocket every time. Don’t: a scavenger hunt at dark. Check live prices. A first race A tune.
A cancel you already wrote is a cancel you will still take. A first road bike Leave some gas. Lightning, a flood stage, a fire letter — pavement.
The five-minute leave after the bar computer
Coil so the next day can start. Empty the granola. Mice eat webbing and foam. Dry the bag. Then the bin. Check live prices on the kit you named: Edge 540, Wahoo BOLT V2, SENA lid, Kryptonite Mini-7, a charge at the house.
Do: look at the sheath, the strap, the lockout, the buckle. Don’t: a damp trunk and a March surprise. The computer A lock.
Tell someone the place and the hour. A quiet hour is a search. The bike Leave some gas. Come home and say you are moving again.
Guests will try to rewrite the bar computer as a dare
A shared job can be a short loop and a known kit. A dare into a hole you cannot see the exit of is not a date. Kids out of the bite. The photo waits until the buckle check. A first road bike A first race.
Check live prices. Edge 540, Wahoo BOLT V2, SENA lid, Kryptonite Mini-7, a charge at the house is still the honest pile. A tune The computer. One classroom. New water or new wind or a new hull — not all three.
The bike if the other Saturday is already the sibling page. This page is still the bar computer. That is enough.
Last line on the bar computer
Edge 540, Wahoo BOLT V2, SENA lid, Kryptonite Mini-7, a charge at the house. Check live prices. A lock Leave some gas A first road bike.
Last line: a catalog dare is not the day. A card you wrote is. Wear the lamp on the walk. Come home wanting Thursday.
The computer The bike A tune. The next door can wait until this kit is still in the same bin.
Write the bar computer card before you leave the house
Say the kit out loud: Edge 540, Wahoo BOLT V2, SENA lid, Kryptonite Mini-7, a charge at the house. If a guest tries to add a seventh job, sit. That is a successful Saturday. The computer The bike A lock.
Do: the same pocket every time. Don’t: a scavenger hunt at dark. Check live prices. A first race A tune.
A cancel you already wrote is a cancel you will still take. A first road bike Leave some gas. Lightning, a flood stage, a fire letter — pavement.
The five-minute leave after the bar computer
Coil so the next day can start. Empty the granola. Mice eat webbing and foam. Dry the bag. Then the bin. Check live prices on the kit you named: Edge 540, Wahoo BOLT V2, SENA lid, Kryptonite Mini-7, a charge at the house.
Do: look at the sheath, the strap, the lockout, the buckle. Don’t: a damp trunk and a March surprise. The computer A lock.
Tell someone the place and the hour. A quiet hour is a search. The bike Leave some gas. Come home and say you are moving again.
Guests will try to rewrite the bar computer as a dare
A shared job can be a short loop and a known kit. A dare into a hole you cannot see the exit of is not a date. Kids out of the bite. The photo waits until the buckle check. A first road bike A first race.
Check live prices. Edge 540, Wahoo BOLT V2, SENA lid, Kryptonite Mini-7, a charge at the house is still the honest pile. A tune The computer. One classroom. New water or new wind or a new hull — not all three.
The bike if the other Saturday is already the sibling page. This page is still the bar computer. That is enough.
Last line on the bar computer
Edge 540, Wahoo BOLT V2, SENA lid, Kryptonite Mini-7, a charge at the house. Check live prices. A lock Leave some gas A first road bike.
Last line: a catalog dare is not the day. A card you wrote is. Wear the lamp on the walk. Come home wanting Thursday.
The computer The bike A tune. The next door can wait until this kit is still in the same bin.
Also in the magazine
Keep going with owning a bike, first race, locks, and maintenance. Check live prices.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bike computer?
Garmin Edge 540 if you want buttons and maps. Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V2 if you want a simple color screen.
Can I just use my phone?
You can. You will hate the battery and the glare. A computer is the bar job.
Do I need sensors on day one?
No. Speed and a route first. Cadence later.
What helmet?
A SENA-class road lid you will actually wear.
What lock?
Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 through the frame and a wheel on a fixed rack.
How do I mount it?
An out-front mount a shop tightened. A zip-tie on the stem is a cracked screen.