Cycling Computers & GPS Selection Guide

An odometer has a sensor to measure your speed and calculate your total riding distance. However, an odometer has no function to transmit the measured data at the end of the ride (e.g. to a phone or computer). A GPS bike computer retrieves its data via GPS, which means that it does not need a sensor to measure your speed. You can, however, connect a speed sensor and other sensors for more precise measurements. In addition, the route travelled can be read out afterwards, and in many cases you can navigate without maps with a breadcrumb trail. A bicycle navigation system has the same features as a bicycle computer with GPS, plus the function to follow a predetermined route with a map and on-screen instructions.