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What is the best cycle computer for your electric bike?
Cycle navigation and bike computers are standard equipment for many road cyclists, mountain bikers and cyclo-cross riders. But for those with an electric city bike, the use of cycling computers can be less obvious. This is changing though thanks to the development of a new feature that allows you to pair your cycle computer with your electric bike! In this blog, we will take a closer look at this new feature and the question of which cycle computers are suitable for your electric bike.
When your electric bike and your bike computer are connected, you have easy access to various data from your e-bike, such as battery status, total ride time and speed. All this new data will make your bike ride even more fun! Read below which bike computers can be paired with your e-bike.
Garmin Edge Explore 2
The Garmin Edge Explore 2 is a comprehensive bike computer for the recreational cyclist who likes to explore new regions. It includes a new feature, e-bike connectivity, which enables it to pair with your electric bike. On the screen, you will then see navigation directions and alerts based on your bike's battery status, range and assist mode. You can let the Explore 2 create routes based on your bike's remaining battery life so that you don’t end up with a dead battery halfway along the route.
Which e-bikes can pair with the Garmin Edge Explore 2?
The Garmin Edge Explore 2 can pair with electric bikes with a Shimano STEPS system or ANT+® technology. Shimano STEPS is Shimano's ultimate e-bike system, which is used by more than 160 bike brands. Once you have paired the Edge Explore 2 with your compatible bicycle, several e-bike data will appear on the screen.
Pairing with the Varia Radar collection
The Garmin Edge Explore 2 cycle computer can also connect with Garmin Varia bike radars. These radars have a sensor that detects any traffic approaching from behind and indicates this via visual and audio signals. The sensor detects traffic up to 140 metres away. Moreover, other road users will also see you from a great distance thanks to the built-in rear light with visibility up to 1.5 kilometres in daylight. So, with a Varia radar you can be aware of any traffic approaching from behind and be seen by them, increasing your safety.
Mio Cyclo Discover Pal
The Mio Cyclo Discover Pal (or Plus Pack) can now also pair with your electric bike. This bike computer offers several ways to create routes, including Komoot and the national bicycle junction network. To be able to pair your e-bike with the Mio Cyclo Discover Pal, you must first complete the latest software update. The display of the Mio Pal will then show real-time e-bike data such as assist mode, battery status, total ride time, speed and distance. And the Surprise Me™ feature can now also create routes based on the battery level of your e-bike. This way, you can be sure to get home before the battery dies!
Which e-bikes can pair with the Mio Discover Pal?
The software update makes it possible to connect an electric bike using Shimano STEPS to the Mio Cyclo Discover Pal. The following Shimano STEPS series are compatible with the Mio Pal: SC-E6100, SC-E7000, SC-EM800, EW-EN100. So if you want to pair the Mio Discover Pal with your electric bicycle, make sure it uses a system from one of these series.
How to download this new software
The update can be downloaded via de MioShare™ app, which is available in the App Store and Google Play. Once installed, the app lets you pair a Shimano STEPS sensor easily via the settings on the Mio Cyclo Discover Pal. To display the data of your e-bike on the Pal’s dashboard you only need to activate the Shimano STEPS data screen.
Pairing with a cell phone
You can also use a mobile phone for navigation when cycling or pair a mobile phone with your electric bike. For the latter you need the Shimano E-TUBE RIDE app, which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play. After pairing, your phone serves as the display of your e-bike and lets you see various data, change the assist mode etc. The Shimano E-TUBE RIDE app includes the option of creating several rider profiles with different data fields. This way, the app remembers exactly what you need for every ride.
Smartphone accessories
Many people use their cell phone during an electric bike ride. For safety reasons it is important to do so using a phone mount or phone case. These allow you to keep your hands on the handlebars and your focus on the road. Phone mounts and phone cases are easy to attach to your handlebars or stem. Some smartphone accessories are suitable for specific smartphones, and universal phone mounts and phone cases are also available. So, you can attach almost any mobile phone to your bike.
Joris van Rossum
As a sports enthusiast, I have always had the ambition to one day climb a beautiful mountain by bike in, say, France. With this ambition in mind I started cycling several years ago, and working at Mantel also helps me get better. It is great to be involved with cycling and to learn more about it every day. I use my bike for the commute between Nijmegen and Arnhem, and you will also find me riding in the hills around Nijmegen or on the Posbank hill near Arnhem.