Garmin Edge 520 GPS Cycle Computer Reviews

• Review score: 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 55 reviews

Top reviews:

Brilliant step forward from Garmin by Mudlove, 10 February 2016, 16 out of 16 people found this review helpful I got this for Christmas so have been using it for 6 weeks, in combination with stages power meters, and I love it. My last computer is a 500, which still works fine but I felt compelled to upgrade to take advantage of some of the ease of use features of the 520. The first of these was that the 520 has done away with bike profiles – with the 500, when you switched bikes you had to switch profile so it connected to the sensors. This sounds simple but it takes about a dozen button clicks and as many menu options to get from one profile to the next – with the 520 it just detects the sensors being used as the bike starts to move. I am coached and have to upload my workouts when complete so the coach can see what I have done – usually 5 or 6 a week. With the 500 this involved plugging it into my laptop and synchronising with garmin express. With the 520 I can upload straight away, via my phone, with a couple of presses of a button. These features alone sold it to me but since using it I have fallen in love with other features. You can set up different training profiles – I have indoor, outdoor and race – the screens for each profile can be separately customised to display the info you need so I don’t get metrics like speed and distance when I’m bolted to my trainer! Text messages appear on the screen as you receive them. If a call comes in, it will tell you on the screen who is calling, so you can decide weather you want to stop and answer it or not. You can easily check the battery power of your power meter on the status page. I do have a few gripes – but I believe these could be fixed with a software upgrade: The notifications are many (you can switch each or all of them on or off). On the 500 I used the workout limit notifications, which give a high pitched and low pitched sound when you are above or below the desired intensity – with the 520 you get a standard sound and a big visual e.g. ‘power is too high’ – the visual blocks the whole screen and locks it for a few seconds – whilst blocked you cannot see any of your metrics so you don’t know how far under/over you are out and consequently what you have to do to get back in the zone. This makes the notifications for workouts useless so I have had to switch them off – okay for a short intense workout on turbo when you are focused and able to stare at the screen but not so good on a long endo on the road when there is a risk of losing focus. You cannot customise the workout screen – you just get the basic metrics of your workout and nothing else like RPM that may be essential.

Does what it’s supposed to. by Fuzzynavel, 22 October 2015, 13 out of 13 people found this review helpful Got this to replace a broken Garmin 705 that had the misfortune of having a dodgy mount causing it to leap to its death under a passing car! (it had lasted 6 years without missing a beat) The 520 is much quicker at acquiring a GPS fix than the 705 was and hasn’t lost signal yet in dense undergrowth when I feel like using the MTB rather than road bike. The screen is nice and bright and the battery life is good although I only go out for a few hours at a time and usually charge after every ride so not really pushed it much! Integration with Garmin connect is nice and the bluetooth connectivity is great allowing me to upload my ride automatically shortly after pushing the stop button. Live tracking seems to be an interesting feature along with the deep Strava integration. Will need to try the free Strava Premium to see how that works. I’ve paired it up with my old GSC10 cadence sensor and Garmin heart rate sensors from my 705 and my Forerunner and all work nicely together. Pros: it works bluetooth uploads- easy syncing live tracking out front mount can be turned 90 degrees garmin connect has been revamped Cons: a little expensive at time of purchase

Options: Colour Black

• • Virtual Partnerå¨ (train against a digital person)
  • Courses (compete against previous activities)
  • Auto Pauseå¨ (pauses and resumes timer based on speed)
  • Auto Lapå¨ (automatically starts a new lap)
  • Auto Scroll (cycles through data pages during workout)
  • Advanced workouts (create custom, goal-oriented workouts)
  • Time/distance alert (triggers alarm when you reach goal)
  • Interval training (set up exercise and rest intervals)
  • Heart rate-based calorie computation
  • Customisable screen(s)
  • Power meter compatible (displays power data from compatible 3rd party ANT+‰ã¢-enabled power meters) Yes (records data approx. 1 per second)
  • Temperature (displays and records temperature while you ride)
  • Shock Resistant

• • Here‰Ûªs Your Competitive Edge: Garmin started with the aerodynamic form factor of the popular Edge 500, added in-ride challenges on Strava live segments, colour display, connected capabilities and advanced analysis features. The result – Edge 520, the GPS bike computer that‰Ûªs right-sized for competitive cyclists and packed with the features you crave.
  • Prove Your Edge: Edge 520 is the first bike computer that‰Ûªs compatible with Strava live segments and includes a 60 Day trial of Strava Premium. With this membership, your starred Strava segments automatically sync with the 520 for live feedback during your ride. You‰Ûªll also get alerts for segment start and finish and leaderboard rankings once you complete the segment.
  • Train on the Edge: Need some motivation to get through those lonely miles on the indoor trainer? Edge 520 delivers with a suite of training capabilities when paired with compatible ANT+ indoor trainers. Let‰Ûªs say you want to train at an average power of 240 watts. Just set the target on Edge 520, start pedalling and the trainer will automatically adjust to keep you at your target while the 520 shows your stats. You can also follow a course that you or another rider created and literally race the recorded stats, with the trainer adjusting resistance to match the elevation profile. Pair it with a power meter and Edge 520 offers an additional set of features, like FTP and watts/kg tracking, so you can compare yourself to others, as well as cycling dynamics. A built-in FTP test helps you establish your baseline either on the trainer or on the road. Add heart rate and the 520 can derive your VO2 max estimate and post-ride recovery time, which indicates how long before you should attempt another hard effort.
  • Optimised Display: Edge 520 compromises nothing when it comes to display – 2.3 inches of high resolution colour. We maximised the display so you get the most live area in relation to the compact size of the 520. You‰Ûªll also appreciate the screen clarity in all lighting conditions. 
  • The Connected Bike: Edge 520 is compatible with ANT+ sensors, including Varia‰ã¢ bike radar and lights4, speed, cadence, heart rate, Edge and VIRBå¨ remotes and compatible weight scales. It also integrates with Shimano Di2 electronic shifting systems to display your current gear on the screen. Edge 520 is also compatible with ANT+ power meters, including the Vector series.
  • Smartphone Connectivity: When paired with your compatible phone and the Garmin Connect‰ã¢ Mobile app, Edge 520 offers live tracking, smartphone alerts, social media sharing, weather and wireless uploads. Once your ride is complete, the data can be automatically sent to Garmin Connect‰ã¢, our online community where you can save, plan and share your rides.
  • Off the Beaten Path: The compact, rugged form factor and up to 15 hour battery life of Edge 520 make it ideal for off-road adventures. It‰Ûªs also compatible with GPS and GLONASS satellites, so you benefit from more signal options, wherever your ride takes you.

• • Physical Dimensions: 4.9 x 7.3 x 2.1cm
  • Display size, WxH: 3.5 x 4.7cm
  • Display resolution, WxH: 200 x 265 pixels
  • Colour display
  • Weight: 60g
  • Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion
  • Battery Life: Up to 15 hours
  • Water Rating: IPX7
  • GPS-enabled
  • GLONASS
  • High-sensitivity receiver
  • Barometric altimeter
  • Smart notifications (displays email, text and other alerts when paired with your compatible phone)

• Waypoints/favourites/locations: 200
• Routes: 0
• History: Up to 180 hours