The Garmin Edge 1030 review, a great travel and training companion!
Text and photos by Andrea Tiburzi
Garmin has sold the new Edge 1030 GPS cycle computer for several months, equipped with smart connectivity and new functions that enrich the activity recording experience. The first impression taking it out of the box is to have in hand an object very well built and finished in detail (it looks like a small smartphone having no physical buttons on the upper surface), and its 3.5″ color screen capacitive touch could mislead you.
- Weight: 123g
- Dimensions: 59mm high x 114mm wide x 15mm thick
- Internal memory: 16GB – expandable via microSD slot
The Garmin Edge 1030 differs mainly from its predecessor, the Edge 100, due to a screen that is 0.5” larger, a battery time of about 20 hours of use, and other innovative smart features.
Cyclists can choose between road, dirt, or gravel routes, depending on how and where you want to pedal, you will be able to count on reliable indications, thoroughly enjoying your bike ride. Furthermore, via smartphone connectivity, it is possible to view weather forecasts, for your cycling location, social and email notifications, text messages, and call alerts.
Popularity Routing feature
Popularity Routing function provides indications of the most popular and safe rides based on the billions of routes loaded on the Garmin Connect web platform. The new Course Creator function of the Garmin Edge 1030, always based on the data collected by Garmin Connect users, allows you to create new itineraries at will depending on where and how you want to pedal, with the guarantee of tackling sections, on and off-road, known and therefore absolutely reliable for the sportsman.
Edge 1030 comes with the Garmin Cycle Map preloaded, containing points of interest, cycling routes, and a lot of other information. Furthermore, through the rear housing, it is possible to insert the microSD to load additional maps, such as Garmin’s TrekMap, in our case, the v5 (sold separately),
Pop-up alerts
Very useful are the pop-up warnings that appear on the screen, followed by an acoustic sound, clearly signaling the approaching of dangerous sharp bends present on the route. This feature helps to ensure a safe cycling experience. It is also worth mentioning the Rider to Rider function, with which you can send, receive and read preset messages directly on the device to other friends who use Edge 1030 without needing to use your phone.
Incident detection function
What makes the device innovative in terms of safety is the Incident Detection function, i.e. an automatic detection system for a possible accident or breakdown of one’s bike.
But how does it work? In practice, the integrated accelerometer, picks up if the bike remains lying on the ground after an impact, it engages the alert status and can send an SMS containing the user’s exact position to the saved emergency numbers. (by entering the list of numbers during the configuration phase, a message is sent to the recipient notifying the successful activation of the incident alerting service).
Garmin Edge 1030 display
Il The display is easy to read even when exposed to sunlight and can also be used in the rain or when wearing gloves. During the test, it was used both at temperatures below 0°C and exposed to rain or mud, without problems with malfunctions or sudden blocks. Obviously like all devices with lithium batteries, the cold tends to decrease the battery life.
The ambient light sensors guarantee the automatic adjustment of the display’s brightness, making it easy to view in any external light condition. Furthermore, for better battery life, it is possible to activate the energy-saving mode, which deactivates the screen after a few seconds of inactivity.
The visual interface has been updated in such a way as to make setup even more straightforward, and also it is simple to sync up with the Garmin Connect Mobile app (available for iOS and Android), suggesting step by step how to configure the Edge 1030.
GLONASS satellite system, which increases the reception of the number of satellites in conditions of poor visibility of the sky, for example, areas with tall buildings, narrow valleys, and dense woods. The integrated altimeter ensures extremely precise detection of speed, distance, and altitude data covered. During the test, the wait for the signal to lock was always around 5 seconds from switching on in open areas.
The Garmin Edge 1030 is also compatible with the Radar Varia series, the integrated bicycle light system that warns the cyclist of cars approaching from behind, essential for safety or those traveling at night on poorly lit roads. The device supports Garmin’s cadence and heart rate sensors that uses ANT+®.
Who is it for?
Il The flagship product of the US company from Kansas City is undoubtedly intended for PRO use, but it is also designed for those seeking safety and the latest in innovation for their travels and training.
In short, the Garmin Edge 1030 is more than a simple navigational GPS. It is a complete bicycle computer that, by using your smartphone can be used to share the recorded data in real-time with your friends on social networks. Alternative you can use the Garmin Edge 1030 with its numerous functions, to keep you safe on the bike and act as your daily training coach.
This model costs around €400, but you can check if the price has changed.
