Whether you’re a casual cyclist or a hard-core pro, everybody can benefit from using a bike speedometer. A good speedometer will help you track distance traveled, speed, calories burned, etc. all of which are essential metrics for upping your biking game.
For a new cyclist, or experienced veterans looking for change, it can be hard or even intimidating to decide which bike speedometer is best for them. This is especially true considering how many different options there are and what the difference is between them or if there’s any difference at all.
Well truth be told; each speedometer really is different and there’s a right model for each cyclist. It’s just a matter of finding the one that fits your specific needs and wants in the cycling world. That’s why today were going to explore several different products to help you figure out which one is the best for you.
A quick overview of the types of speedometers
Before we begin our review, we should first do a quick overview of important things to consider before making your purchase. The first and probably most important thing to consider is the data tracked. This is where we make a very basic distinction between biking products. There’s your basic bike speedometer, and then there’s your advanced and typically more expensive bike computer.
Basic Speedometer:
The typical speedometer measures things like instantaneous speed, average speed, and cycling time. These are fairly low-tech devices which are great for beginners. They work by measuring your wheel rotation per second with a magnet which is then computed into speed.
The main advantages of basic speedometers are that they are cheap, easy to use/install, and normally have a long lifespan if taken care of properly.
Advanced Bike Computer:
Unlike your basic speedometer, a bike computer can measure much more than just velocity and time. A bike computer relies on much newer technology like GPS and internet to output a lot of important data. When paired with compatible sensors, a bike computer can often track things like calories burnt, nutrition, heart rate, VO2 max, and a lot more.
On top of this, the computer uses real-time GPS data to track your precise location and speed. These typically cost more than basic speedometers.
Another distinction to be made is about the display/user operation of your bike speedometer. There are basically two general classifications when it comes to this and that is touchscreen and buttons.
The touch screen is good because it has a larger display of everything but can become difficult to use in cold or wet conditions. The button display works well in all weather conditions but has a smaller display and is often heavier.
Now that we’ve made a couple of general distinctions its time to review some popular bike speedometers!
best speedometers for road bikes OVERVIEW
Image | Model | Features | Price |
 | Kastewill Wireless Bicycle Speedometer |
| |
 | CHILEAF Bike Speedometer |
| |
 | SOON GO Bike Speedometer |
| |
 | Solar Energy Bike Speedometer |
| |
 | CATEYE- Velo 7 Wired Bike Computer |
| |
 | XOSS G GPS Cycling Computer |
| |
 | CATEYE Padron Wireless Bike Computer |
| |
 | Bryton Rider 320T GPS Bike/Cycling Computer |
| |
 | Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V1 GPS Cycling/Bike Computer |
| |
 | Garmin Edge 530 Performance GPS Bike Computer |
|
Kastewill Wireless Bicycle Speedometer
This speedometer is great for beginners as its functions are straightforward, easy to use, and pretty cheap. The screen has an LCD display making it easy to read your biking statistics in both day and night while also being lightweight at just 100 grams. It is also controlled by pushing buttons which make it easy to use in all weather conditions.
It takes lithium cell batteries and is wireless meaning the installation is simple and only takes a few minutes. This product also provides a backlight which automatically comes on during the night hours for easy viewing.
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: 100 grams
- Battery: Lithium-ion replaceable
Pros
Cons
CHILEAF Bike Speedometer
This is another great option for beginners as its easy to use and install. The CHILEAF Speedometer works the same as the Kastewill product by using a magnet to track cycling speed and is controlled by buttons.
This product uses an LCD display for easy viewing in both day and night, is lightweight at 100 grams, uses a USB rechargeable internal battery, and includes a tail light and horn for safe riding.
All around this product is very similar to the Kastewill Speedometer in terms of price and functionality. The main differences are that it’s rechargeable and comes with a head and tail light along with a horn. A few downsides are that it isn’t wireless and doesn’t have the best battery lifespan.
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: 100 grams
- Battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable
Pros
Cons
SOON GO Bike Speedometer
Again, this is another excellent choice for beginner cyclists. This speedometer is pretty similar to the first two as it works by magnetic wheel rotation tracking and has an LCD screen which is controlled by buttons. This product is wireless, and also has the unique capability of turning itself off after 5 minutes of inactivity to save battery life.
In general, this is probably a better product than the first two if you want the simple and cheap route. The speedometer is waterproof so it works great in the rain and cold weather and also is the extremely easy to use and install.
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: 45 grams
- Battery: Alkaline replaceable
Pros
Cons
Solar Energy Bike Speedometer
Yet another great option for beginner cyclists! This speedometer has an LCD display with a lightweight wireless and waterproof design making it great for riding in all weather conditions. This product also has the capability of turning off automatically after 300 seconds of inactivity to save battery life!
One of the biggest advantages to this speedometer is that it has built-in solar panels to extend battery life when the sun is out. This speedometer also has the capability of tracking calorie consumption on top of normal speed-measuring functions.
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: 45 grams
- Battery: Lithium-ion replaceable
Pros
Cons
CATEYE- Velo 7 Wired Bike Computer
This product is great for beginner cyclist who maybe want to track their riding statistics a little more seriously. This speedometer tracks speed and distance products but also has the ability to stop recording time spent stopped or at red lights. This way being stopped at a red light doesn’t bring your average speed down for the entire ride.
This product is also lightweight and weatherproof with an LCD screen that’s button-controlled making it great for riding in rain or shine. This speedometer has a battery that lasts 3 years so you don’t have to worry about replacing it.
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: 91 grams
- Battery: Internal rechargeable
Pros
Cons
XOSS G GPS Cycling Computer
This is the first bike speedometer we will explore that actually uses GPS technology to track your cycling statistics. The product is great for intermediate and beginner cyclists as it also comes at a great price of under $40.
Not only does this product have GPS, but it also has a lot of the features that the other speedometers we have reviewed so far. This includes, it being waterproof, wireless, and having an internal rechargeable battery, LCD screen that’s controlled by buttons, and a one-warranty. This speedometer also allows you to connect to an app that helps you track your biking stats!
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: Unknown
- Battery: Internal Rechargeable
Pros
Cons
CATEYE Padron Wireless Bike Computer
Although the word computer is in its title, based on our definition we will consider this product to be a bike speedometer. And although it’s a little more expensive than the others we’ve looked at, this one does have its own advantages. Its extremely light weight at just 31 grams and has one of the largest LCD displays available.
The speedometer works magnetically similar to the other speedometers but this one also accounts for when you stop riding. This one is waterproof, button controlled and great for all weather. Another interesting fact is that this product saves your odometer miles even when you change the battery.
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: 31 grams
- Battery: Lithium coin replaceable
Pros
Cons
Bryton Rider 320T GPS Bike/Cycling Computer
This is our first more advanced product that we will explore. Not only does this computer use GPS to track your location and distance but it also is capable of tracking things like heart rate, calories burned, and power output. This is done by using ANT+/BLE sensor support which can help you better view health statistics through a specialized app.
On top off all this, the product is also has a 35-hour battery life, is extremely versatile in all weather conditions, fairly lightweight at 2.36 ounces. All around this is great for riders that want up their game or start seriously tracking their exercise.
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: 67 grams
- Battery: Internal rechargeable
Pros
Cons
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT V1 GPS Cycling/Bike Computer
Another GPS-enabled device that is perfect for riders that want to take their cycling to the next step. This bike computer also displays a map and gives turn signals for your own pre-designed bike routes. This device is also configured to allow you to call, text, and email your friends directly from your bike making it great for group riding.
This device also has an awesome display and allows you to toggle through different data field display configurations to optimize your tracking experience. The companion app setup allows you to track your post work out riding stats and upload to third-party apps. This computer also has a patented design to make it the most aerodynamic on the marketplace!
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: 60 grams
- Battery: Internal rechargeable
Pros
Cons
Garmin Edge 530 Performance GPS Bike Computer
If you’re looking for the best, this is it. This bike computer has pretty much everything a user could ask for from GPS mapping to texting/calling and tracking health statistics when linked with compatible devices. Things like VO2 max, heart rate, nutrition info, training balance, along with your speed and distance calculations are all provided with this epic product.
This is also one of the only touch screen products on the market making it even more unique. This bike computer comes ready to pair with multiple apps to enhance your exercise and riding experience. This device is also outfitted for mountain bikers as it can track jump count and various other mountain biking statistics. This truly is an all-in-one!
Key Features:
- Display: LCD
- Weight: Unknown
- Battery: Internal rechargeable
Pros
Cons
Things you should consider before making a purchase
Durability:
What kind of conditions do you plan on riding in? If you want to ride in the rain be sure to get a speedometer that is waterproof. Consider things like warranty time spans to judge how long the product will last especially if you plan on riding over harsh terrain and bad weather.
Versatility:
Just like durability, you should think about what kind of conditions you will be riding in. If you want to ride in cold or wet weather you should consider getting a device that is controlled by buttons instead of a touch screen which may be difficult use in the cold and rain.
Battery:
This one is important. If you plan on going on simple day rides a battery lifespan of just a few hours may work for you.
But if you want to go on long, multi-day trips you should get a product with a longer lifespan that way you don’t have to waste time and worry about plugging it in.
Who you ride with:
If you like to ride in groups it’s always easier to communicate with one another if you have a device that enables communication with one another. This is especially handy if someone gets lost or if you don’t want to carry your phone with you. Even if you ride solo having a way to communicate is great in order to stay safe if something happens.
How Serious you want to take cycling:
This is probably the most important thing to consider. If you want to casually ride once a week you probably don’t need anything too advanced.
If you really want to push yourself and reach your health or cycling goals, you should think about all the products that some of the more advanced options have to offer. Keeping track of things like heart rate and calorie consumption can really make a difference to helping you be the best version of yourself.
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FAQS ABOUT best speedometer for road bike
Now that we’ve gone over some of the best bike speedometers/computers on the market we will go through a few frequently asked questions to help you make your decision.
1- How accurate are bike speedometers/computers?
GPS-enabled devices are extremely accurate as they are able to pinpoint your exact location and speed almost all the time. The classic magnetic speedometer is a little more prone to error but is still pretty reliable. Magnetic speedometers have been proven to generally stay within 10% of the actual value of distance/speed.
2- How long does the average device work?
Our cheaper options tend to work for up to a year or more depending on how often you ride. The more expensive options will last for close to a decade if used properly and not abused.
3- Why can’t I just use my phone as a speedometer?
Technically you could do this although it isn’t ideal. The main reason being that speedometers are designed to be easily used while on a bike. They are easy to read and control since they sit right on your handlebars. A smartphone isn’t specifically made for this.
4- Do I need a bike speedometer?
You don’t have to have one but they definitely make it easier and more fun to reach your cycling or health goals. Having a speedometer lets you record your progress and makes it easy to motivate you to be your best.
Conclusion
Picking out a new speedometer may be a little intimidating for some. Afterall, these devices can be fairly high tech which may leave some people confused with which one is best for them. By following our guide, we can ensure that you will pick out the right one for you. If you want our top suggestions they are listed below.
- The Garmin Edge 530 is the most capable product on this list. With everything it offers, this is a great option for people who want to take riding to the next level.
- The Wahoo Element is also another great bike computer that can help you track close to everything you need to be you’re best. This on is awesome for people that want to save a little money but still take biking seriously.
- The CATEYE Pardon is our most recommended speedometer for beginner riders. This one is significantly cheaper and tracks just the basic speed and distance data but has the best display, versatility, and is the easiest/most convenient to use.
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