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  • 12 hours ago
The best bike computers are getting incredibly expensive and the brands making them are packing in features which either seem to be unnecessary or already exist within your smartphone. So, why is it we even buy head units? In this video, Sam Gupta takes a look at Cadence, an app designed to replace your bike tracker and unlock all the functionality that exists within your phone. Cycling GPS computers are incredibly good at navigating us while out on the road, however many of us already use our phones to navigate us while driving, so it makes sense to save your money and instead just buy a robust cycling computer mount for your bike or even replace your cycling computer altogether.
Transcript
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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