You do it through the Garmin connect website, register on there and there is a link to activate the 3 months trial

I don't see it as inefficient to use two different devices, quite the opposite - I'd rather two devices optimised for their purpose than one device that's a compromise for both. What I want from a phone and a cycle computer are almost the complete opposites of each other, I like my phone for its huge, high resolution screen and sensitive touch screen but even if its batterylife was better and it was more durable I still wouldn't want that on my bike. I like the Garmin because it's small and simple plus it does everything I need when cycling generally better than the phone does, I think Garmin took a mis-step with the Edge 1000 (if I was doing touring or something and needed maps I'd probably mount a smartphone) but the Edge 25 and 520 seem a good balance of features and size. I'm sure smartphones have eaten into some of the Garmin market but there's very few people I go cycling with that don't have a recent Garmin or Wahoo device.

That said I can see why people use their phone for the same purpose and don't disagree with that, more just that I think there's good reason to use a cycle computer as well.

John

Its a good question, but the GPS on even good smart phones is nowhere near as good as this. Plus as others have said live segments. You can also let others track where you are. Nothing that can be sorted in future apps and phones but they are not there yet.

That said, and I do agree with those reasons (they're largely why I got an Edge 1000), I do think that for most people who are fair weather riders and have phone insurance that they could get away quite happily with using their phone, Strava app and a Quad Lock to mount it.

Also means less weight on the bike, which starts to make using the phone instead of a dedicated unit appealing to weight weenies. We go to great lengths to drop a few grams here and there after all.

I spent around £350 at the end of May just to drop around 60 grams (new crank and derailleur). The old ones were only two months old, almost perfect condition. Just losing weight really where I can.

It's simply poor use of technology to be taking two units. Inefficient and wasteful. It's human nature to simplify and improve, which is why I don't see Garmin units lasting in the medium term. Garmin will end up being known for sensors and visual accessories (like the new Varia vision stuff) when it comes to cycling.

We're not quite there yet. Battery life, waterproofing. Two big ones, but solvable. The one that I scratch my head over is the capacitive screen. That's a step back for mobiles in terms of the daily user, so you've got a real problem there in making a phone bike friendly out of the box...

Time will tell, there are clever people in tech, they just need the mandate and it'll get done.

If you're only using the device to track a route then a phone can be suitable although even then I'd prefer not to as it drains the battery quicker and if the phone dies when you need it in the middle of nowhere, that could be a real problem.

I prefer to have the cycle computer bar mounted so I can see the data from it as I go along and wouldn't use a smartphone for this, it's too large, too fragile and it uses a capacitative touch screen which doesn't work well when wet or with gloves on. Furthermore in a crash, if the Garmin failed entirely I wouldn't be too fussed about but smashing up the phone when I really need it is a risk I wouldn't take. The 520 on the other hand is small, durable and easily usable in the wet and with gloves on plus it does all I need including some additional features like working with a rear radar system which the phone cannot.

John

You can get a cheapo sensor set from fleebay.

I got one for a tenner as they were left over from a few weeks ago. Still worth a look, you never know.

Go into your Garmin Connect account (set it up if you haven't already), then click on the segments widget which should take you though to Strava and activate the free Premium offer. Something like that.


I'd have bought a couple sets if I knew about that! Wahoo ones are a bit too pricey to take a punt on just for the sake of testing options.

gps wipes out most smartphones batteries, but i can understand the viewpoint, i'm actually using a garmin gps watch over my phone and the readings are far more accurate, my mates who use phones over estimate distance, speed and meters climbed by 10%
plus the fact it runs for 6+ hours on gps, and takes less than an hour to fully charge,

were as using a smartphone saturday afternoon and then having a night out is a real pain, as phone never recovers its battery charge. and so the phone dies early evening.

How do you get the 3 months strava live free, I bought one when the deal was on but never got the free stave live as I should of?

Lidl were selling a Bluetooth cadence sensor and speedometer recently.

Yep, phones have more memory and processing power. You can just use the Strava app.

However, a lot of speed, cadence, power sensors are ANT+ which most phones don't have yet.

what ever fancy stuff this can do... surely they could release the functions as an app for a cheapo smartphone?

I don't get spending £150 on this device when its all software nowadays?

Nice price. Well done anyone who snagged this. Live Segments is amazing. Been using it for past two weeks. Love it!

Gutted I missed out on this :disappointed:
Good spot but expired now and they wont be getting more stock apparently...and also with their sister sites (contacted them on Facebook of all places)

Odd time for this to go hot, it's not in stock.

Sold out now. The issue with it asking for a size is what happens to their site when items sell out. I've seen it happen before with hot deals on rucksacks etc. Glad I got one ordered!

Gone?

Recently bought one of these , very good bit of kit, you also get 3 months free of Strava live segments.
Hot!

unable to add to basket asking for size, sizzling hot if you can get it heat added

Worked without issue for me!

unable to buy from website - adding to basket issue - disappointing

6% cashback from Quidco also, making it £143.82 voted hot!

I tried adding a photo to the post but it hasn't shown up.