Best bike computers for triathletes

Bike computers are a staple of the triathlete’s gear armoury; in fact, they’re still omnipresent even when armed with a multisport watch.

That’s because by sitting on either your stem or bars, they’re easily seen no matter what speed you’re riding at. Or they should be…

Read on for our complete list of the best bike computers for triathlon.

Tried and tested: best bike computers at a glance

• Best bike computer overall: Wahoo Element Bolt | Buy now from: Swinnerton Cycles
• Best budget bike computer: Garmin Edge 130 Plus | Buy now from Argos
• Highly-rated bike computer: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar | Buy now from: Tredz
• Best bike computer for tech: Garmin Edge 1050 | Buy now from Tredz

The best bike computers for triathlon in 2025

Wahoo Elemnt Bolt

• £249.99 / $279.99

If there’s one thing that any piece of fitness tech needs to be, it’s easy to use. Fortunately, Wahoo’s new 16GB Elemnt Bolt ticks that box with aplomb.

From the app, you can easily import GPX files, review previous rides, upload rides to compatible apps like Strava, and customise the data fields that your device displays.

Updates to navigation are where you’d expect the Bolt to really show its value, and it’s fair to say it does the job really well. It’s easy to send routes to your device via Bluetooth and the GPS picks up signal in no time at all.

When following a route, turn-by-turn directions appear on screen, while piercing beeps let you know when you’re coming up to a turn (thankfully, these can be turned off). Roundabouts are shown by a circular symbol, with a number in the middle denoting which exit you should take.

Meanwhile, the new options to retrace your ride to the start or to take you to the start of a route are really handy and well thought-through additions.

The ‘take me to’ navigation function, which allows you to pinpoint a location on the map for the Bolt to then direct you to. This can be done in the app, or on the Bolt itself, so there’s no need to create and send over a route on an extra device via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Like the original Bolt, battery life is impressive, with a six-hour ride only draining 35% of the claimed 15-hour reserve. If you like the look of the Wahoo Roam but fancy a smaller, more aerodynamic option, the new Bolt has it all and is £50 less, too.

Find out more in our full Wahoo Elemnt Bolt review

Garmin Edge 1050

• £649.99 / $699.99

The Garmin Edge 1050 trades the Edge 1040’s huge battery life for a brighter and clearer screen which is visible even in murky light. It will still run for a respectable 20 hours though.

The brand also seems to have improved usability and made the touchscreen more responsive relative to the Edge 1040 while adding beneficial features. 

You can now alert other cyclists to road hazards, make contactless payments and invite your mates to group rides. 

A-to-B navigation, where you enter a destination on the computer, is excellent, and the Edge 1050 will notify you when you’re about to hit a different surface. 

Our tester found the GPS signal was accurate and sustained. Potentially this explains why the Edge 1050’s sensitivity to gradient changes seems more acute. 

The Edge 1050 will connect to all the sensors and provide all the data you could wish for. 

Costing £20 more than the Edge 1040, the only real fault of this outstanding bike computer is the price. 

Garmin Edge 1040 Solar

• £629.99 / $699.99

Given its price, you’d hope the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar has a lot going for it and, luckily, it does. Set up and connectivity with the Garmin Connect app and any sensors is painless, usability is impressive and the great touchscreen and buttons come together to form a winning combo.

It’s easy to load up routes via Garmin Connect and navigation is as good as you’d expect, too, with the accurate multi-band GPS doing its job well. The turn-by-turn directions and off-course rerouting both hold up to scrutiny, too.

There’s also a host of performance data, including recommended power targets, remaining stamina and training status, while you can even sync training plans. Battery life is up to 45 hours in heavy use, but you can get more out if it if you’re using less features.

Read our full Garmin Edge 1040 Solar review here

Bryton Rider S800 T

• £419.99 / $479.95 (bundle price)

The Rider S800 T tops Bryton’s cycling computer range and looks the part with its 3.4-inch touchscreen and sleek profile. 

The touchscreen is simple to use but the closely spaced side buttons are trickier to press. 

Bryton sells the bike computer in a bundle made up of a heart rate monitor and cadence and speed sensors. It’ll connect to all these and more sophisticated devices, such as power meters, electronic groupsets and rear-view radars. 

Navigation generally works well and Bryton has its own climber feature, which alerts you to and previews upcoming climbs. 

To make the touchscreen easier to read, you have to turn the brightness up high, which drains the battery quicker than you’d hope. 

The Rider S800 T will pair to your phone via Bluetooth, but not Wi-Fi, unlike many of the best bike computers. 

Read our full Bryton Rider S800 T review

Wahoo Elemnt Ace

• £549.99 / $599.99

Wahoo has supersized the Ace in terms of its weight, screen, battery and price. 

In a first for the brand, the Ace gains a responsive and user-friendly touchscreen while retaining buttons to the side of and beneath the screen. I’m all for this because you can still operate the computer with winter gloves on. 

Despite the screen’s enormous scale, its clarity isn’t up there with the best bike computers in this regard. The Garmin Edge 1050’s is brighter and crisper. 

Bread-and-butter functions like connectivity and navigation are as slick as you’d expect for a bike computer this expensive. 

And then there’s the wind sensor, a novelty for any bike computer. I collected some interesting data from this in testing. It indicates to what degree your speed on a segment owed to the wind versus your own power, for example. But I wasn’t sure quite what to use this information for. 

If the Wahoo does eventually upgrade this technology or the Ace itself into an aerodynamic sensor, which would measure your CdA in real time, that would be some coup. However, I’m sceptical that this is achievable. 

The weight of the Ace (208g) and the need for a bespoke outfront mount may put off some potential buyers. 

Read my full Wahoo Ace review for more.

Bryton Rider S800E

• £339.99 / $349.95

Bryton’s second-tier bike computer is full of real-time performance data and practical navigation features. A good pick for fans of big screens, the 3.4in colour touchscreen with ambient light sensor is crisp and clear, while the simple map graphics do the job in terms of navigation.

Routes can be created on compatible apps like Strava and uploaded via Bluetooth, with no reliance on a phone to record. The Bryton warns the rider of turns ahead with a distance countdown, though doesn’t differentiate between junctions and bends, while it’ll reroute you if you go off course.

Syncing additional sensors via ANT+ is straightforward, offering additional insight into heart rate, cadence and power, alongside built-in metrics of elevation, speed and temperature.

A handy climb-segment feature, which indicates the start of a climb (on pre-loaded routes), lets you know the duration and elevation remaining. Battery life is up to 36 hours.

Coros Dura

• £249.99 / $249

The solar-charging-equipped Coros Dura is claimed to last for a massive 120 hours in GPS mode while costing far less than the Garmin’s solar model. 

Training features are another of the Dura’s strong suits. Suggested workouts, preloaded sessions and training plans are available to sync on to the computer via the intuitive Coros app. 

If you already own a Coros watch, the Dura will automatically pair with it once detected, potentially making it one of the best bike computers for triathletes. 

Coros appears to have rectified most of the initial issues with navigation. We still found routing worked less well off-road than on tarmac.  

Since the touchscreen is so simple to ease, the inclusion of a side dial seems unwarranted.

• Read our full Coros Dura review

Wahoo Elemnt Roam

• £349.99 / $379.99

Released in 2022, the second generation Wahoo Elemnt Roam is showing its age, but still functions as well as the best bike computers for triathletes.

As we’ve come to expect from Wahoo, the Roam is intuitive to use and promptly syncs with your phone once you’ve made the initial connection.

Compared to Garmin screens, the Roam’s 2.7-inch, 240 x 400 pixel display could be sharper, and it’s not touchscreen. 

The Roam is good at finding and retaining a GPS signal. But if you ride off course, it doesn’t always lead you back to the route in the quickest way possible. 

We really like the Summit feature, which colour-codes the gradients of climbs as you ascend them and calculates the time remaining to the top.

Stages Dash L200

• £289 / $329

The Dash L200 does a lot well. The 2.7in screen is bright, GPS pick-up is accurate and pairing with a phone is easy. The button controls are also user-friendly, even with gloves, while adding sensors is straightforward and can be done via ANT+ or Bluetooth.

Navigation is also decent. You can create a route in the Stages app, import one from third-party apps like Strava or transfer a GPX via USB, but only the former will include turn-by-turn instructions. There’s plenty of data at your disposal while riding, including power and heart rate if sensors are connected. We’re a fan of the optional drink/eat reminders, too.

Unfortunately, the only web-based software available is the subscription-only Stages Link website, which we felt was in need of an update, as syncing it with our app and device was less than seamless. Battery life is up to 10hrs in standard mode and 18hrs in reduced power mode.

Polar M460

• £154 / $179

The first thing that strikes is the large size of the M460, especially compared to the Garmin Edge 130 Plus. Despite this, it’s not as clear to see on the fly. That mild lack of clarity sums up a solid computer.

GPS pick-up proves swift and there’s the Strava Live feature, which tells you when a segment is approaching and then, in real time, gives you your results (it includes a 60-day trial of Strava Summit). There’s a wealth of training features, yet you’ll need the HR package that’s £199.50.

It’s worth the extra spend to tap into common Polar hits such as a 5-min fitness test, training-load feedback and session planning, all analysed further via Polar’s usable Flow app. Power metrics are available, but you’ll need a power meter. Battery life is 15-16hrs.

Garmin Edge 130 Plus

• £169.99 / $199

The standout feature of the Garmin Edge 130 Plus is the training plans section, where you can wirelessly send workouts from Garmin Connect and third-party apps (i.e. Training Peaks). It’s a smart tool for making every session count.

That training detail stretches to the ClimbPro feature where you can see the remaining ascent and gradient when following a pre-loaded route. Beyond gauging your effort, it’s a useful addition to plan fuel intake.

The Edge 130 Plus also comes with Incident Detection, and there’s MTB Dynamics for those of you who boost fitness via mountain biking. As for the basics, satellite pick-up is adequate and the interface is crisp. Battery life’s up to 12hrs and the price rises to £219.99 with a HR strap.

Costing under £200 / $200, the Edge 130 Plus proves you don’t have to spend a shed load on the best bike computers for triathletes.

Lezyne Super Pro GPS

• £135 / $149.99

At sub-£150 / $150, Lezyne’s Super Pro GPS is one of the cheapest bike computers we’ve tested.

In terms of navigation, routes can be made via the Lezyne Root website and GPS Ally app. There’s also the function to navigate to any destination, the route created can then be sent to the device via Bluetooth to follow.

Sensor connectivity’s lightning quick and accurate. We liked the addition of side buttons rather than delicate touchscreen navigation on the go, but the buttons proved stiff and temperamental to use.

We know bike gadgets can be a bit of an information minefield, so we liked the helpful resources provided through Lezyne’s YouTube channel. Saying that, navigation was a bit of a struggle, the unit often freezing when we tried to switch between data fields and the map when in motion.

But the simple, black and white 1.6in screen was easy to read in all conditions, with a backlight useful when riding in low light conditions.

Bontrager RideTime Elite

• £54.99 / $69.99

If you’re a fan of Strava and can’t pedal without generating a wad of data, this affordable model from Trek’s component arm isn’t for you. It lacks GPS, so no routes or navigation. USB is also absent; instead, it runs on a slimline battery.

It features ANT+, however, so you can connect with respective sensors to measure standards such as cadence, speed and power. Yet its most basic package comes with no sensors at all, meaning an extra £30-plus outlay required for, at the very least, Bonty’s DuoTrap digital speed-and-cadence sensor.

That’s when things turned around. It’s easily paired via the sole front button. That info is then presented vividly – the clear display really easy to view on the fly.

How we tested

Former 220 Triathlon magazine editor James Witts has tested the majority of bike computers in this list. 

He assesses how well the screen works whether operated by buttons or a touchscreen. He also judges the screen’s resolution and readability in different light conditions. 

To test a bike computer’s navigation, James follows routes he’s loaded on to the device and sees how sensibly the device leads him on A to B routes. 

He looks for bike computers with a user-friendly interface that are simple to customise and connect to sensors. 

To get a sense of real-world battery life, James runs the bike computers in navigation mode, paired to other devices and with the backlight on. 

Last but not least, he weighs up value for money.

What should you look for in a bike computer?

You can spend less than £200 on a quality model or invest three times more for a range-topping device. 

Considering the following factors will help you decide which kind of bike computer meets your needs and budget. 

Screen 

In general, the larger the screen size, the easier the info is to read, though pixelated digits or a small font often mean that’s not the case. This is key if you’re relying on your computer for navigation so, when appropriate, check its resolution.

A colour screen is far better for map-reading than a black-and-white display. Imagine trying to read a monochrome OS map and you’ll get the picture. 

On the latest bike computers, there’s also the option to colour code your data, like heart rate and power. While far from essential, you can see at a glance if you’re in the desired training zones. 

For the most marginal of gainers, obviously the larger the screen, the less aerodynamic a computer is, though that’s a minor sacrifice worth making if it’s easy to navigate via a touchscreen. This is especially important when wearing gloves. But large usually means more features and that means extra cost.

What about buttons versus a touchscreen? Many people happily do without a touchscreen and favour the tactility of quality buttons. 

Rain droplets hitting a touchscreen will often cause it to play up. So you have to lock the touchscreen and revert to operating the buttons.

Where a touchscreen has the edge over buttons is when you’re using the map. You can zoom in on a certain area much easier with a touchscreen. 

• What’s the difference between a bike computer and a power meter?
• Training: the 3 most valuable metrics triathletes should measure

Connectivity 

The best bike computers for triathletes should also feature Bluetooth as standard, making it easy to sync your data to your smartphone for ride analysis.

Look out for ANT+ connectivity as well, which will enable the computer to pair with all your sensors (heart rate monitor, power meter, multisport watch etc) simultaneously.

The best bike computers tend to have WiFi too. When connected, planned routes and workouts will sync to your device. Post-ride, your activity data will also upload seamlessly. 

More affordable models strip features right down but don’t let that put you off. For many time, speed and distance are enough. 

Navigation

How important is navigation for you? If you like to explore new routes, a bike computer with reliable mapping is worth investing in.

You’ll want to be able to upload routes you’ve planned in a third-party app, and then receive turn-by-turn directions and be rerouted if you make a wrong turn. 

It can be handy to receive A-to-B directions to a destination of your choosing and be directed back to the start of your planned route. 

The gold standard for bike computer navigation is multi-band GPS. This is where the device uses multiple satellite signals to pinpoint your location more accurately. 

On the flipside, if you prefer to go with your nose or usually ride familiar roads, you won’t need superb mapping from your bike computer. 

Battery life

How long is your longest ride? Unless it’s north of eight hours, most mid-range bike computers will meet your needs, even while connected to multiple sensors and navigating.

Depending on what triathlon time you’re targeting, six to eight hours of juice should be sufficient for an Ironman bike leg. 

Extra-long battery life is valuable on genuine all-day rides and multi-day cycling trips, if you can’t recharge the battery. 

A few computers in this list have solar charging to further extend battery life. In our experience, this feature offers minimal benefit in the UK, even in summer, and probably isn’t worth spending more for. 

Extra features

Many of the extra features debuted on top-of-the-range bike computers, like live Strava segments and climb guides, have trickled down to more affordable head units. 

Training-data fiends may be drawn to Garmin’s bike computers. Higher-spec models will calculate your FTP, VO2 max and estimate your fatigue and fitness levels. 

Do bear in mind that the validity of this data is questionable. Coaches maintain that it isn’t a replacement for fitness testing or subjective assessment of your freshness and form. 

Safety features including live ride tracking and crash detection are also now widely available.

But only the Wahoo Ace and Garmin Edge 1050 currently incorporate a bike bell.