00:00The best cycling computers are only going one way in price, and that is up. Sure,
00:06their functionalities are also getting more extensive, but it's almost to the point of
00:11having features for the sake of it. However, we all most likely own a device which is just
00:18as competent as many of the best cycling computers. I am, of course, talking about
00:24your smartphone. These things cost as much as, if not more than, the best cycling computers,
00:32and for good reason. They are packed full of tech, and with it, so much capability.
00:37What you need are the right tools to unlock all of that capability, and happily,
00:43there's an American company called Cadence that has managed to do such a thing. It has created an
00:49interface that will feel familiar while including all of the same tools and features you'd expect to
00:55find on any Garmin or Wahoo device. What may surprise you is just how far that functionality actually
01:03extends. First off, we have to speak about that interface, because you can create as many
01:10customised screen layouts as you like, and then, of course, you can swipe between them while you're
01:16riding. You can have up to 24 data points at the same time, or just choose one to have full screen.
01:24Happily, Cadence does come with multiple pre-made layouts to get you started. However,
01:29be prepared to spend a bit of time getting it just right for you, because there are over 100 different
01:36data points to choose from, and each data field can be customised from text colour to light or dark
01:43background colours and heart rate and power zone colours too. I think you get the idea though.
01:48You really can make the interfaces your own, and since you're using a mobile phone, you get to enjoy
01:53a fast response time when you're interacting with the app. Not to forget, you have a nice bright display
02:00when you're riding during the day. While a fully customisable interface is very cool,
02:06it's somewhat to be expected for an app, but what may surprise you is just how compatible it is
02:13with external devices. For example, if you use a heart rate strap, you compare that to the app,
02:19and the same goes for speed, cadence, and power meter sensors too. It also works for exercise bikes
02:25like the Schwinn IC4 and Bowflex C6, as well as indoor trainers like the Wahoo Kickr and the Tax Neo.
02:34But, once again, it doesn't even stop there, because if you have a radar fitted to your bike,
02:40like a Garmin Varia or a Brighton Guardia, then even those will connect. As soon as a radar is paired
02:48and connected, the main screen will show how many vehicles are behind you and how fast they're
02:53approaching, just as they do on a head unit. You can even set up audio alerts for added awareness.
02:59There's one fundamental tool we need a GPS computer to do, and that is navigate. However,
03:06it's probably quite likely you already use your phone to do a lot of navigating,
03:11be it in the car or just when you're out on foot. So, why not employ it for use during your rides too?
03:18Within Cadence, you can create custom routes with turn-by-turn navigation. It will work for your rides,
03:24your runs and even driving directions. You can save existing activities as routes or import GPX files
03:31from all the usual places like Strava, Komoot, Garmin and of course, plenty of others. However,
03:37if you're already out and you just want to head to a nearby cafe, then you can just enter your
03:42destination into the app and the app will take you there. Lastly, I doubt it will come as any sort of
03:50surprise that with all of this functionality, you can also make use of Strava live segments while
03:56you're out training. Cadence allows you to view all nearby segments and then switch between them
04:01in a very detailed interface. You can view your location in comparison to your segment efforts
04:07on both a big map and an elevation graph. You can see how far ahead or behind you are and how much
04:14further you have to go. And of course, you can fully customise the data points on the live segment
04:20screen for your own personalised view. Let's not forget, once you've completed a ride,
04:25Cadence can automatically sync your activities to Strava.
04:31It's clear that Cadence has found a way to unlock all the potential your phone holds
04:37as an alternative to a head unit. Thanks to mounting systems like the quadlock phone mount or even more
04:43budget friendly options like the ones I have here, it's easy to secure your phone and if you want
04:48to protect it from the weather, then there are plenty of waterproof cases out there too. Of course,
04:53you will go through your phone's battery a little more quickly, so my advice would be to ensure you
04:59either have a way to charge up at your destination or instead carry a small power bank.
05:04Typical battery life when using Cadence is around 10-20% per hour depending on device and settings,
05:11but Cadence does have battery saving features like dark mode and auto screen dimming.
05:18If you are considering buying your first head unit, then I would encourage you to seriously consider
05:24using your phone as an alternative. As technology has developed, the limitations from even just a few
05:31years ago are actually no longer present and by going down this route instead, you could stand to save
05:38hundreds of pounds. Cadence is free to use, however, there are pro and elite versions of the app that
05:46unlock more functionality. You can compare the differences between the membership levels over on
05:51the Cadence website to which I have left a link to down below. I've not been able to touch upon all the
05:57features that Cadence offers such as detailed analytics, live tracking and the standalone Apple Watch
06:02app. There's simply too much to cover in just one video. Let me know your thoughts on this though.
06:08Would you ever consider using your phone rather than a dedicated cycling computer?
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