Bolo Grubb

I have had my Garmin Edge 305 since 2008. I have used it with the speed cadence sensor. Has worked well for me. but I am having more and more trouble getting it to download ride data, so I think it is time to get a replacement. I am leaning toward the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, but willing to listen to suggestions.

I have 2 bikes, a commuter and a road bike I would like to use the computer with. I like having a cadence, but not an absolute must. I do like GPS and wireless.

texbiker

I am very happy with the Wahoo Bolt. I used Garmin in the past and always seemed to have BT problems. No problems with the Bolt.

Badger6

What’s your budget?

Bolo Grubb

had not considered a budget. so far I can afford anything I have read about so far. Lets say under $500

Seattle Forrest

$500 is a lot for cadence and GPS. I would probably go Garmin Edge 130+ for $200 unless you wanted to have maps or something else.

Steve B.

Hammerhead Karoo 2 is an option. $400. They have a much better screen, better map image, very good navigation and turn by turn. They update every 2 weeks so stay on top of bugs. Only downside is battery life is not as good as Garmin, 10-12 hrs, typical. Thats about what a Bolt can do. Or a Garmin Explore, $249. Designed for the touring market, doesn't have the power and workout functions, also about 12 hrs. battery life, can use a speed sensor. Good size touch screen which is useful for scrolling maps. If you can find one, the Garmin 1030 Plus was selling for $450, very good top of the line unit, 20 hrs. of battery. Not sure they are still available.

In my experience with multiple Garmins including a 1030 currently, the BT issues seem mostly solved. Mine connects with no issues and does Live Track reliably.

Bolo Grubb

I wonder if the speed/cadence sensors I use with my Garmin Edge 305 will work with any of the new computers?

Seattle Forrest

They are available from Garmin, REI, Competitive Cyclist, Western Bike Works, and a lot of other places. For $600.

https://www.rei.com/product/182346/g...-bike-computer

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/g...edge-1030-plus

Steve B.

Yeah, I think the sale is gone sadly. It was a great deal. baffles me why it's back to full price, you can get the 1040 same price, you think they would keep it at $500 or so and get rid of stock.

Badger6

OP, if you’re considering a Garmin 1030+, get the 1040 (non-solar) for the same price when it’s available again. But, as already pointed out, if you only need something to record your rides and cadence, a Garmin 830 or Karoo will easily fit your bill for much less.

rm -rf

Both of my GSC-10 sensors quit working reliably in the last year or so. They would drop out and then work again later. But one was 15 years old! These are the stay mounted + spoke magnet sensors. They worked fine with my 1030 for a few years. I got the newer hub mounted speed sensor to replace them.

Bolo Grubb

ya my GSC-10 sensors were bought at the same time as the head unit, in March of 2008. So maybe time to replace those sensors as well.

pdlamb

You should be able to find a Garmin 830 package, with speed and cadence sensors and an HRM strap, for your $500.

Of course it, and anything else on the market now, has so many bells and whistles it'll take you a while to figure out what you'll ignore, and to learn how to use the good parts.

The Chemist

Bryton Rider 750. One of the cheapest touchscreen GPS head units you can buy. Works really well. Great battery life. Compatible with pretty much any sensor you can think of (including the Varia radar). I love mine.

Bolo Grubb

looks like I missed a 4th of July sale. I am guessing next likely sales with be for labor day weekend.

Seattle Forrest

​​​​​​No, they're not gone, they're just not on sale any more. Now that they're back to full price they'll probably never be gone.

bamboobike4

njkayaker

They should work. If you get the exact model numbers, you could get better info. You can also get a better cadence/speed combo for $70 (maybe cheaper) that don't use the fussy magnets.

njkayaker

That's not an issue I've ever seen before. Who knows if the owner did something. And, it's not like other companies are perfect.

Steve B.

I see occasional complaints similar to this about Wahoo and Hammerhead. Every device can have issues,

bamboobike4

5 more on eBay.
Did anyone say other companies were perfect?
Who knows if you are hallucinating, read the wrong post, or are just stupid.
Could be anything, though.
And, It’s not like you have to prove intelligence to log in here.

Oh, kayaker, and NJ. Yep.

Canker

Pretty much any of the GPS puters will do the basic things you want from $30 no name chinese units up to the $1000 uber fancy units. Not really much point IMO of spending big bucks if all you want are the basics. Go with a decent brand that supports bluetooth to make your life easier with uploads through your phone and don't really worry about all the other stuff. I went lezyne.

And new speed and cadence sensors are also super duper cheap these days if you go chinese and they seem to work fine to me and most support ant+ and bluetooth.