Shopping for a bike computer online? Hollandbikeshop.com has the bike computers you're looking for.

How a bike computer works

With a bike computer, you can keep track of your average and maximum speed, traveled distance and the number of burnt calories. You can even record your route and use a cable to transfer your data to a PC or laptop.

Nearly every smartphone comes with GPS nowadays so you can keep track of all kinds of data during cycling trips, even without a bike computer (or an extensive navigation system). Thanks to apps developed specifically for this purpose, your smartphone can register things like the distance you travel, your speed and the number of burnt calories, just like a bike computer would. So why would you use a bike computer instead of your smartphone?
Firstly, a bike computer battery just lasts longer. Bike computers are also specifically designed for the purpose (and therefore better capable) of logging your data during bike rides. Bike computers are easier to use and they're much less likely to get in your way thanks to their compact size, unlike smart phones that will get in your way sooner by taking up essential handlebar space (especially on a road bike).
 

Bike computers - how to choose

When you're shopping for a bike computer, knowing what you're looking for helps a lot. A bike computer is usually chosen based on the features you plan on using. So, do you want to purchase a bike computer to keep track of your speed and the distance you covered and use it for cycling navigation? Do you want it to have every function and the sensors you’re planning to use, or for it to at least have the option to connect sensors? Is the perfect bike computer wireless? What type of bicycle will you use your bike computer on? 

In short: what should your bike computer be able to do? 
Bike computers keep track of all sorts of handy information that you can read from the display while you're cycling. Some computers have slightly more elaborate displays than others. There are so many different types out there, with countless possibilities, that there's an incredible range of bike computers to choose your next bike computer from. Like a bike computer that you can connect a heart rate monitor, speed sensor and cadence sensor to -  even a power meter. You might have a preference for bike computers with a touch screen, or a button-operated one.

Do you want your new bike computer to be waterproof? Some bike computers can only handle splash water and aren't designed to deal with large quantities of water, which isn't a problem in case of short bike rides home from the train station, but can be quite a problem if you’re cycling all day in the rain. It might actually cause permanent damage to the computer. Bike computers with a touchscreen tend to be more sensitive to water damage than their button-operated counterparts. Other bike computers are completely waterproof and thus better suited for cycling on rainy days. Bike computers that are completely waterproof and have a touchscreen tend to be more pricey, but well worth the investment.
 

The best bike computers

In the extensive range of bike computers available, Garmin is most often recommended. Garmin's motto is “Never Stop Cycling”, hence the brand’s incredibly diverse range of bike computers that go from very simple to very extensive. Bike computers by Polar, Wahoo Fitness and MIO also come highly recommended. 
A great bike computer doesn't have to cost a lot of money! Anyone in need of a simple, straightforward bike computer will do just fine with a CatEye or VDO, who produce affordable bike computers that are in no way inferior to other models.

The best bike computer with navigation you can get is a bike computer by MIO. MIO is a great choice when it comes to navigation. While MIO bike computers tend to be simpler, they definitely give you value for your money through user-friendly bicycle navigation that is easy to operate.
Take the very complete MIO Cyclo 210 Europe, for instance. As its name suggests, this cycling navigation can be used throughout Europe; it has maps of 38 countries. You can use it to get from point A to point B or set a preferred route, but you can also ask the MIO to come up with a route for you, using the Surprise Me™ feature. All you have to do is tell it how long and far you want to cycle. Instructions from the MIO Cyclo 210 are always accompanied by an audio signal so you’ll never miss a turn and the location sensing GPS system keeps you from getting lost by quickly and accurately pinpointing your current location. 
This MIO will also track your distance, speed and burnt calories, and help you quickly find cycling-related POIs (Points of Interest). Its casing is waterproof and the battery can last for up to ten hours of uninterrupted cycling fun.
Another gem from the MIO collection is the MIO Discover, which helps you discovered new paths and roads. Even if you're always starting from the same point and cycling to the same destination, there's no need to get bored: the Discover can find a new way for you to get from A to B every time! The Discover has a bright color display that lets you easily follow your navigation and has WiFi and Bluetooth, making it easy to connect with other devices and install updates, or use the MIO online tool.
 

Bike computer functions: what do you need?

We mentioned before how a bike computer is selected based on its functions. If you're not entirely familiar with the different possible features, don't worry. We've listed a few of the most important ones below to help you make an informed decision.
 

Touchscreen: yes or no?

Smaller bike computers often have buttons, while more luxurious models often have a touchscreen, which is perfect for zooming in on a route or switching apps. A touchscreen tends to be more vulnerable to water damage when it's not fully watertight and more difficult to operate during the winter, when you're wearing gloves. They also tend to get dirty faster.
 

Adding memory

To be able to use the many cool possibilities of the bike computer like downloading (new or improved) maps and routes, you need plenty of memory capacity. The last thing you want once you've downloaded a number of maps and you're using apps, is for the memory to be at maximum capacity already. The best way to avoid this is to buy a bike computer with a lot of memory or one that lets you add memory (with an SD card, for example).
 

How long does the battery last?

The battery life is closely related to your bike computer settings. If you're setting off with the bike computer's backlight and Bluetooth feature on, its battery can run out quickly. Especially when you're using its GPS feature, the bike computer's battery won't last as long. You can counteract this by turning off a few features or you might consider getting a power bank.
 

Why have a speed sensor on your bike computer?

The great thing about bike computers is that you can often upgrade them and add things like a speed sensor, to log your current speed as well as your average and maximum speed. Your bike computer can determine your speed based on GPS data. When you connect a speed sensor to the bike computer, it will display your speed with even more precision.
 

The difference between a bike computer and cycling navigation

Cycling navigation tends to be bigger than a bike computer without GPS so if you're looking for a compact little device for the handlebar, that could be a bit of a challenge. 
Cycling navigation makes using a smartphone to find your way obsolete and lets you easily analyze data in a special app, something regular bike computers can't do.
You can also connect sensors like a cadence sensor or heart rate monitor to your navigation system and keep track of your performance with more accuracy.
If you don't mind your performance data being a little less accurate because you're more interested in knowing how many kilometers you traveled, for example, a bike computer will be more than enough. A bike computer display will show you the most relevant basic information and can also be expanded with a speed sensor. Additionally, you can keep track of your heart rate by wearing a sports watch.
 

Where can I buy a bike computer?

You can easily buy a bike computer with many different features (from simple to extensive) from several brands at Hollandbikeshop.com. At Hollandbikeshop.com, you’ll find great bike computers. We often have bike computers on sale, by top brands like Marwi, Sigma, CatEye, Bryton and MIO.
Hollandbikeshop.com is the number 1 bike shop for all your bicycle computers and parts. We have the widest range of bicycle parts (over 100,000) available from stock.