Garmin announce the Edge 1000 as their new flagship bike GPS computer.

Garmin continue to lead the market with their brand new offering, the Edge 1000. Could this be the upgrade 800 owners have been waiting for? Garmin have announced the Edge 1000, which looks to be the successor to the 800 that everyone was waiting for. If the Edge 800 was like Windows XP (solid and dependable), then the 810 has surely been Vista (bug ridden but with some eye candy). It looks like the new “1000” model will be Windows 7 (nicer to look at, with great new functions, and it actually works really well).

So, what can we get excited about?

Quite a bit, actually. There are several new features and improvements for the Edge 1000.

Segments

No mention of the obvious thing that everyone wants, but Edge 1000 will have “advanced segment capabilities including the ability to view start and finish point alerts, race themselves or the segment leader, and plan rides using segments”. No, we’re not talking Strava segments, but Garmin Connect’s own version of segments. Who knows, it might work… Oh, and in the small print it says that this feature will be “available with later scheduled software updates” so it sounds like it won’t have this when it’s first launched. Tantalisingly, they do say that the new segment features will offer “leaderboard capabilities including alerts for upcoming segment starts and their finish points, and Virtual Partner automatic syncing with previous best, or the overall segment leader.” This is the sort of thing we’ve been able to do with the 800 via workarounds in the past. For example, How to Use your Garmin virtual partner to help get Strava KOM’s

Network connected

Edge 1000 will offer “instant uploads to social media, live tracking, on-the-go upload and download of data from Garmin Connect™ You’ll also be able to receive incoming calls and text message alerts! “LiveTrack”, which allows friends and family to follow races and training activities in real time, which first appeared in the 510 / 810 models will also feature in the Edge 1000. It’s also got Wifi and Bluetooth to allow quick and easy uploads.

Bigger, higher resolution screen

The Edge 800 screen is often criticised when compared to modern smartphones, but of course it’s designed that way to preserve battery life. The Edge 1000 will have a larger (3″), high-resolution color touch screen display and promises a battery life of 15 hours. It will also have an ambient light sensor for auto adjustment of brightness depending on the environment, just like your smartphone probably does. You will also be able to use the Edge 1000 in landscape mode – the orientation will rotate, just like your phone. Again, this feature is promised in a later software update.

Better than the BaseMap?

The bog standard map that came with the Edge 800 was pretty useless, wasn’t it? I recommend using the City Navigator for road use. The Edge 1000 “comes with preloaded maps and points of interest, including parks and trails”. Like the recent “Touring” model, it will also offer the “round trip” function, where the unit will calculate suggested routes for you, based on a set distance that you specify. You can even review the elevation profiles before making a selection.

Performance

It’s compatible with the expected ANT+™ sensors, including heart rate, and Garmin’s new speed and cadence sensors, plus power meters including Vector™, Garmin’s pedal-based power meter system. Another slightly pointless feature (to me, anyway) is the integration with Shimano Di2 electronic shifting systems. The Edge 1000 can tell you what gear you’re in. Do we really need this? Really?

Remote control

Edge Remote is a new thing – a remote control that allows riders to easily control Edge without removing their hands from the handlebar. Sounds a bit pointless to me, to be honest. I have never ever thought whilst riding with my Edge 800, “If only this thing had a remote control….”. Strange.

When is it coming out?

The Edge 1000 will be available to purchase first week of May 2014, for a suggested retail price of £439.00, and £499.00 for the bundle including HRM and new speed/cadence sensors.

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