00:00The best cycling computers are only going one way in price, and that's...
00:05is up.
00:06Sure, their functionalities are also getting more extensive.
00:10But it's almost to the point of having features for the sake of it.
00:14However, we...
00:15We all, most likely, own a device which is just as competent as many...
00:20of the best cycling computers.
00:22I am, of course, talking about...
00:25Your smartphone.
00:26These things cost as much as, if not more...
00:30than the best cycling computers.
00:32And for good reason.
00:33They are packed full of tech...
00:35and with it...
00:36so much capability.
00:38What you need are the right tools...
00:40to unlock all of that capability.
00:42And, happily, there's an American company called...
00:45Cadence that has managed to do such a thing.
00:48It has created an interface...
00:50that will feel familiar...
00:51while including all of the same tools and features...
00:54you'd expect...
00:55to find on any Garmin or Wahoo device.
00:58What may surprise you...
01:00is just how far that functionality actually extends.
01:04For...
01:05first off...
01:06we have to speak about that interface...
01:08because...
01:09you can create...
01:10as many customised screen layouts...
01:12as you like.
01:13And then, of course...
01:14you can...
01:15like between them...
01:16while you're riding.
01:17You can have...
01:18up to 24 data points...
01:19at the...
01:20at the same time...
01:21or...
01:22just choose one...
01:23to have full screen.
01:25Basically...
01:26Cadence...
01:27does come with multiple pre-made layouts...
01:28to get you started...
01:29however...
01:30be prepared...
01:31to spend a bit of time...
01:32getting it just right for you...
01:33because...
01:34there are...
01:35over 100 different data points...
01:37to choose from...
01:38and...
01:39each data field...
01:40can be customised...
01:41from text colour...
01:42to light or dark background colours...
01:44and heart rate...
01:45and...
01:46power zone colours too...
01:47I think you get the idea...
01:48though...
01:49you really can make the...
01:50interface as your own...
01:51and...
01:52since you're using a mobile phone...
01:53you get to enjoy...
01:54a fast response...
01:55when you're interacting...
01:56with the app...
01:57not to forget...
01:58you have a nice bright display...
02:00when you're riding...
02:01during the day...
02:02while a fully customisable...
02:05interface...
02:06is very cool...
02:07it's somewhat...
02:08to be expected...
02:09for an app...
02:10what may surprise you...
02:11is just how...
02:12compatible it is...
02:13with external devices...
02:15for example...
02:16if you use...
02:17a heart rate strap...
02:18you compare that...
02:19to the app...
02:20and the same goes...
02:20for speed...
02:21cadence...
02:22and...
02:23power meter...
02:24sensors too...
02:25it also works...
02:25like...
02:26the Schwinn...
02:27IC4...
02:28and Bowflex...
02:29C6...
02:30as well as...
02:30indoor trainers...
02:31like...
02:32the Wahoo Kickr...
02:33and...
02:34the taxed Neo...
02:35but...
02:35once again...
02:36it doesn't even...
02:37stop there...
02:38because...
02:39if you have...
02:40your bike...
02:41like a Garmin Varia...
02:42or a Brighton Guardia...
02:43then...
02:44even though...
02:45those will connect...
02:46as soon as...
02:47a radar...
02:48is paired...
02:49and connected...
02:50the main screen...
02:50will show...
02:51how many vehicles...
02:52are behind you...
02:53and...
02:54how fast...
02:55they're approaching...
02:56just as...
02:57they do...
02:55on a head unit...
02:56you can even...
02:57set up...
02:58audio alerts...
02:59for added awareness...
03:00there's one...
03:01fundamental tool...
03:02we need a GPS computer...
03:03to do...
03:04and that...
03:05navigate...
03:06however...
03:07it's probably...
03:08quite likely...
03:09you already use...
03:10your phone...
03:10a lot of...
03:11navigating...
03:12be it...
03:13in the car...
03:14or...
03:15just...
03:16when you're...
03:17out on foot...
03:18so...
03:19why...
03:15not employ it...
03:16for use...
03:17during your rides...
03:18too...
03:19within Cadence...
03:20create custom routes...
03:21with turn-by-turn...
03:22navigation...
03:23it will work...
03:24for your rides...
03:25and even...
03:26driving directions...
03:27you can save...
03:28existing activities...
03:29as routes...
03:30or import...
03:31GPX files...
03:32from all the usual places...
03:33like...
03:34Strava...
03:35Komoot...
03:36Garmin...
03:35and of course...
03:36plenty of others...
03:37however...
03:38if you're already out...
03:39and you just want to head to...
03:40a nearby cafe...
03:41then...
03:42you can just enter your destination...
03:43into the app...
03:44and the app will take you there...
03:45lastly...
03:47I doubt...
03:48it will come...
03:49as any sort of...
03:50surprise...
03:51that with all of this...
03:52functionality...
03:53you can also make use...
03:54of Strava...
03:55live...
03:56segments...
03:57while you're out...
03:58training...
03:59Cadence...
04:00allows you to view...
04:01all nearby...
04:00segments...
04:01and then...
04:02switch between them...
04:03in a very...
04:04detailed interface...
04:05you can view...
04:05your location...
04:06in comparison...
04:07to your segment...
04:08efforts...
04:09on both a big map...
04:10and an elevator...
04:10activation graph...
04:11you can see...
04:12how far ahead...
04:13or behind you are...
04:14and how much further...
04:15where you have to go...
04:16and of course...
04:17you can fully customise...
04:18the data points...
04:19on the live...
04:20segment...
04:21screen...
04:22for your own...
04:23personalised view...
04:24let's not forget...
04:25the ride...
04:26Cadence...
04:27can automatically...
04:28sync your activities...
04:29to Strava...
04:30it's clear...
04:32that Cadence...
04:33has found a way...
04:34to unlock...
04:35all the potential...
04:36your phone holds...
04:37as an alternative...
04:38to a head unit...
04:40thanks to mounting...
04:41systems...
04:42like the quad lock...
04:43phone mount...
04:44or even more...
04:45budget friendly...
04:46options...
04:47like the ones I have...
04:45here...
04:46it's easy...
04:47to secure your phone...
04:48and if you want...
04:49to protect it...
04:50from the weather...
04:50there are plenty...
04:51of waterproof cases...
04:52out there too...
04:53of course...
04:54you will go through...
04:55your phone's...
04:55battery...
04:56a little more quickly...
04:57so...
04:58my advice...
04:59would be to ensure...
05:00you either...
05:00have a way...
05:01to charge up...
05:02at your destination...
05:03or instead...
05:04carry a small...
05:05power bank...
05:05typical battery life...
05:06when using Cadence...
05:07is around 10...
05:08to 20%...
05:09per hour...
05:10depending...
05:10on device...
05:11and settings...
05:12but...
05:13Cadence...
05:14does have...
05:15battery saving features...
05:15like...
05:16dark mode...
05:17and...
05:18auto screen dimming...
05:19if you are considering...
05:20buying your first hedge unit...
05:21then...
05:22I would encourage you...
05:23to seriously consider...
05:24using your...
05:25phone...
05:26as an alternative...
05:27as technology...
05:28has developed...
05:29the limitations...
05:30from even just...
05:31a few years ago...
05:32are actually...
05:33no longer present...
05:34and...
05:35by going down...
05:36this route...
05:37instead...
05:38you could stand...
05:39to save...
05:40hundreds of pounds...
05:40Cadence...
05:41is free to use...
05:42however...
05:43there are pro...
05:44and elite versions...
05:45of the app...
05:46that unlock...
05:47more functionality...
05:48you can compare...
05:49the differences...
05:50between the...
05:50membership levels...
05:51over on the Cadence...
05:52website...
05:53to which...
05:54I have left...
05:55a link to...
05:56down below...
05:55I've not been able...
05:56to touch upon...
05:57all the features...
05:58that Cadence offers...
05:59such as...
06:00detailed analytics...
06:00live tracking...
06:01and...
06:02the standalone...
06:03Apple Watch app...
06:04there's simply...
06:05too much to cover...
06:05in just one video...
06:06let me know...
06:07your thoughts...
06:08on this though...
06:09would you ever...
06:10consider...
06:11using your phone...
06:12rather...
06:13than a dedicated...
06:14cycling computer?
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