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, there's an
00:43American company called Cadence that has managed to do such a thing. It has created an interface
00:49that will feel familiar while including all of the same tools and features you'd expect to find on
00:55any Garmin or Wahoo device. What may surprise you is just how far that functionality actually extends.
01:04First off, we have to speak about that interface, because you can create as many customized screen
01:11layouts as you like, and then of course you can swipe between them while you're riding. You can have up
01:18to
01:1824 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, be prepared
01:30to spend a bit of time getting it just right for you, because there are over 100 different data points
01:37to choose from, and each data field can be customized from text color to light or dark background colors,
01:43and heart rate and power zone colors too. I think you get the idea though. You really can make the
01:49interfaces your own, and since you're using a mobile phone, you get to enjoy a fast response time when
01:55you're interacting with the app. Not to forget, you have a nice bright display when you're riding during the day.
02:02While a fully customizable interface is very cool, it's somewhat to be expected for an app. But what may
02:10surprise you is just how compatible it is with external devices. For example, if you use a heart
02:17rate strap, you compare that to the app. And the same goes for speed, cadence, and power meter sensors too.
02:23It also works for exercise bikes like the Schwinn IC4 and Bowflex C6, as well as indoor trainers like the
02:31Wahoo Kickr and the Tax Neo. But once again, it doesn't even stop there, because if you have a radar
02:39fitted to your bike like a Garmin Verrier or a Brighton Guardia, then even those will connect.
02:46As soon as a radar is paired and connected, the main screen will show how many vehicles are behind you
02:51and how fast they're approaching, just as they do on a head unit. You can even set up audio alerts
02:58for added awareness. There's one fundamental tool we need a GPS computer to do, and that is navigate.
03:05However, it'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
03:16your rides too?
03:18Within cadence, you can create custom routes with turn-by-turn navigation. It will work for your
03:23rides, your runs, and even driving directions. You can save existing activities as routes or import
03:30GPX files from all the usual places like Strava, Komoot, Garmin, and of course, plenty of others.
03:37However, if you're already out and you just want to head to a nearby cafe,
03:41then you can just enter your destination into the app and the app will take you there.
03:47Lastly, I doubt it will come as any sort of surprise that with all of this functionality,
03:52you can also make use of Strava live segments while you're out training. Cadence allows you to view all
03:59nearby segments and then switch between them in a very detailed interface. You can view your location
04:05in comparison to your segment efforts on both a big map and an elevation graph. You can see how far
04:12ahead
04:12or behind you are and how much further you have to go. And of course, you can fully customize the
04:18data
04:18points on the live segment screen for your own personalized view. Let's not forget, once you've
04:24completed a ride, Cadence 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 as an alternative
04:38to a head unit. Thanks to mounting systems like the Quad Lock phone mount or even more budget-friendly
04:43options like the ones I have here, it's easy to secure your phone and if you want to
04:48protect 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 to 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 hundreds
05:38of pounds.
05:40Cadence is free to use. However, there are pro and elite versions of the app that unlock more functionality.
05:47You can compare the differences between the membership levels over on the Cadence website,
05:52to which I have left a link to down below. I've not been able to touch upon all the features
05:57that
05:57Cadence offers such as detailed analytics, live tracking and the standalone Apple Watch app.
06:03There'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?
06:13So
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