Which​ ​GPS​ ​is​ ​best​ ​For​ ​You:​ ​a​ ​Guide 

Road​ ​or​ ​trail,​ ​day​ ​ride​ ​or​ ​going​ ​full​ ​adventure​ ​tourist,​ ​a​ ​GPS​ ​unit​ ​is​ ​your​ ​digital​ ​route​ ​guide,​ ​a  mapping​ ​buddy​ ​and​ ​cycling​ ​best​ ​friend.

Think​ ​you​ ​can​ ​do​ ​without​ ​a​ ​dedicated​ ​GPS​ ​when​ ​you’ve​ ​got​ ​a​ ​phone?​ ​Think​ ​again!​ ​Phones  are​ ​fragile,​ ​constantly​ ​demand​ ​your​ ​attention​ ​and​ ​need​ ​(usually​ ​awkward)​ ​cases​ ​for​ ​protection  from​ ​rain,​ ​dirt​ ​and​ ​impacts.​ ​They​ ​struggle​ ​with​ ​battery​ ​life​ ​–​ ​something​ ​that’s​ ​getting​ ​worse​ ​–  and​ ​satellite​ ​coverage​ ​is​ ​often​ ​patchy.

Dedicated​ ​units,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Garmins​ ​we​ ​recommend​ ​at​ ​Hargroves,​ ​use​ ​a​ ​dual​ ​system​ ​of  satellite​ ​networks​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​dependable​ ​navigation​ ​both​ ​on​ ​or​ ​off​ ​road,​ ​and​ ​when​ ​you’re​ ​out  of​ ​mobile​ ​reception​ ​areas.

Their​ ​connectivity​ ​offers​ ​everything​ ​from​ ​live​ ​data​ ​uploads​ ​to​ ​instant​ ​messaging​ ​too,​ ​but  they’re​ ​laser-focused​ ​on​ ​cycling.​ ​They​ ​also​ ​connect​ ​wirelessly​ ​to​ ​cycling​ ​peripherals​ ​such​ ​as  heart,​ ​power​ ​and​ ​cadence​ ​sensors,​ ​and​ ​interpret​ ​the​ ​data​ ​in​ ​ways​ ​you​ ​can​ ​instantly​ ​use.

BIG​ ​POWER,​ ​SMALL​ ​PRICE

For​ ​a​ ​surprisingly​ ​sophisticated​ ​suite​ ​of​ ​features​ ​in​ ​a​ ​small,​ ​light​ ​and​ ​rugged​ ​unit,​ ​check​ ​out  the​ ​Garmin​ ​Edge​ ​25​ ​(£139).​ ​​Naturally​ ​it​ ​tracks​ ​distance,​ ​speed,​ ​time​ ​and  location,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​also​ ​records​ ​total​ ​ascent​ ​and​ ​can​ ​download​ ​and​ ​follow​ ​new​ ​routes.​ ​Paired​ ​with  a​ ​heart​ ​rate​ ​strap​ ​it​ ​displays​ ​rate​ ​and​ ​zone​ ​info,​ ​for​ ​an​ ​accurate​ ​picture​ ​of​ ​calories​ ​burned.​ ​And  paired​ ​with​ ​a​ ​cadence​ ​sensor​ ​(via​ ​wireless​ ​ANT+)​ ​it​ ​folds​ ​that​ ​information​ ​in​ ​too.

The​ ​Edge​ ​25’s​ ​battery​ ​charge​ ​lasts​ ​up​ ​to​ ​8hrs​ ​and​ ​is​ ​waterproof,​ ​works​ ​under​ ​dense​ ​cover  (thanks​ ​to​ ​extra​ ​satellite​ ​coverage),​ ​and​ ​fits​ ​on​ ​a​ ​stem​ ​with​ ​room​ ​to​ ​spare.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​even  wirelessly​ ​pair​ ​it​ ​with​ ​your​ ​phone​ ​for​ ​live​ ​tracking​ ​and​ ​instant​ ​data​ ​uploads.

WANT​ ​TO​ ​GO​ ​DEEPER?

The​ ​Edge​ ​520​ ​(£309.99),​  ​boasts​ ​a​ ​large​ ​2.3in​ ​colour​ ​screen.​ ​Pair​ ​it​ ​with​ ​power  and​ ​heart​ ​sensors​ ​and​ ​it​ ​calculates​ ​V02​ ​max​ ​and​ ​recovery​ ​time,​ ​and​ ​tracks​ ​your​ ​Functional  Threshold​ ​Power​ ​(FTP)​ ​too.​ ​It​ ​can​ ​even​ ​display​ ​your​ ​current​ ​gear​ ​when​ ​paired​ ​with​ ​Shimano  Di2​ ​shifters.

Battery​ ​life​ ​is​ ​an​ ​impressive​ ​15hrs,​ ​plus​ ​it’s​ ​tough​ ​and​ ​waterproof​ ​–​ ​it​ ​works​ ​as​ ​well​ ​off-road​ ​as  on.​ ​It​ ​has​ ​all​ ​the​ ​social​ ​media​ ​connectivity​ ​you’d​ ​expect,​ ​plus​ ​it’s​ ​compatible​ ​with​ ​Strava​ ​Live  Segments.

Still​ ​not​ ​enough?​ ​Try​ ​the​ ​Edge​ ​1030​ ​(£499).​ ​​Behind​ ​its​ ​3.5in​ ​hi-def​ ​screen  lurks​ ​all​ ​the​ ​above​ ​and​ ​more,​ ​including​ ​preloaded​ ​maps,​ ​navigation​ ​alerts,​ ​rider-to-rider  messaging,​ ​and​ ​support​ ​for​ ​apps​ ​including​ ​Strava,​ ​TrainingPeaks​ ​and​ ​Best​ ​Bike​ ​Split.