Ding Ding!
<Annoying Electronic Beep>
Black screen
<Annoying Electronic Beep>
Black screen
<Annoying Electronic Beep>
Black screen
<Annoying Electronic Beep>
Black screen
<Annoying Electronic Beep>
Black screen
“Erm, aren’t you going to do something about that?” asks my wife pointedly.
“Yeah, just trying to re-set it now”
<Annoying Electronic Beep>
Black screen
“How is it going?”
“Hold down power button for ten seconds and your Garmin will reset” I mutter to myself
“What?”
“Nothing, just trying to sort this out” I reply.
<Annoying Electronic Beep>
Black screen
“Bloody hell! I’m just looking on the Garmin website for more solutions, sorry”
“Should I just throw it away for you?”
Now the thought of throwing away a loved and very well used bike accessory really rankles with me.
But maybe it was time. I’d dropped my Garmin quite a few times, the screen was cracked across the top and been with me on my bike for well over 1,300 hours.
However, am I really going to give up on this piece of kit?
<Annoying Electronic Beep>
Black screen
<Annoying Electronic Beep>
Black screen
“Damnit! Here, just chuck it away before I smash it to pieces!”
A cyclist’s relationship with their bike computer is an interesting one.
For most of us it goes out on every ride. Probably the one thing that is there all the time, whatever the season, whatever the type of ride.
And we probably look at it hundreds of times a week.
It is our confirmation that we’re going well.
Our voice in our ear telling us we could (should) be going faster.
Our warning system our heart rate is too high.
Or our power is too low.
It has also become our safety beacon if we crash.
And our navigator when we are lost.
It tells us how far is left on the climb.
And how steep it is going to be.
It warns us when there’s a steep corner ahead.
And can even function as a bike alarm when we’re stopped for coffee.
And it is pretty much the first thing we grab when we finish our rides.
*Unclip*
*Press Save Ride*
*Upload to Strava*
I’ve been lucky to have a pretty trouble-free device right through from my first Garmin Edge 200.
And I’ve stuck with the brand because of that ease of use.
But now I was thinking about what next?
I use the Wahoo training plans and have always been frustrated as to how you can’t output the training sessions to my Garmin for use outdoors.
Hence, I was very tempted to switch over to the Wahoo Element Ace as apparently it offers that facility.
And I could tell you that I went through all the reviews and compared specs and functionalities and ease of use and battery life and … and …
just hit that little button the bottom right corner for DING DING!
But you know what swung it for me back to the Garmin 1050 was this part of the review from DC Rainmaker
Hot take: The bike bell is the best part of the Edge 1050
Yep, what swung it for me is that there’s an integrated bike bell.
I’ve got a physical bell on my commuter and gravel bikes and find it invaluable.
But I always blanched at putting a bell on my road bike (I know, I know) so this new feature really sucked me in.
So listen out for me next time we’re out on a ride.
Ding Ding!
Featured Tour - Tour de France Week at Mont Ventoux
Days Riding: 6 - Total Distance: 450KM - Total Climbing: 7,460m
Price: from CHF 2,495
If you’ve always wanted to be on the side of the road for the Tour de France then this trip is for you. You will see the pros climb Mont Ventoux and attend the depart the following day in Bollène. You will also climb Mont Ventoux via 2 different routes and ride the fabulous Gorges de la Nesque. You’ll be able to soak up all the pre and post tour atmosphere as well as enjoying all the surrounding fantastic roads in the region.
We will be based near the foot of Mont Ventoux and enjoy fully catered accommodation in a beautiful villa with outdoor pool.
What I’ve been listening to while writing
Primal Scream – Movin’ on Up
From the all time absolute classic album Screamadelica, Movin’ on Up is just the perfect feelgood tune. From that opening jangling guitar to the house influenced piano, and Bobby Gillespe’s scratchy vocals, married with the gospel chorus just gives me the feels. A perfect earworm for those hard climbs.
I'm movin' on up now
Gettin' out of the darkness
My light shines on, my light shines on
My light shines on
Enjoy, and Shine On!