[Cycling] Dedicated to navigation features! Garmin GPS cycle computers have evolved this far

Going out by bike to a café that caught your eye on your day off. If you can, you’ll want to ride along scenic roads, and preferably with as few tough hills as possible. Helping you choose those roads are Garmin’s new cycle computers, the “Edge Explore 3” and “Edge Explore 3 Plus.” Spontaneous cycling looks set to become exactly the amazing experience you imagined.

Less uphill, please! You can even choose your running route

Even when heading to the same destination, the enjoyment of cycling changes depending on the roads you take. The new Edge Explore comes with a “Route Options” feature that suggests multiple routes to your destination. You can choose a road that suits your preferences, such as not only the shortest route but also one with fewer climbs. If you want a solid workout today, choose the shortest route. If you want to really go climbing, pick a route with more hills. It lets you switch things up like that.

Source: garmin.

It also uses cycling data accumulated in Garmin Connect to calculate routes that avoid sections prone to traffic light waits and slow riding. It’s reassuring when it can find easy-to-ride roads in an unfamiliar city. It also features “ClimbPro,” which lets you check the gradient and distance of climbs on a graph. Whether you avoid hills or take them on intentionally is up to you.

Head out casually to a café you found on your smartphone

Source: garmin.

A café you spotted on social media, or a sightseeing spot that caught your eye. The new Edge Explore also comes in handy for trips to places like these. On Android, you can send a destination pin from Google Maps; on iPhone, from Apple Maps. The received Edge Explore can then search for a route. We’ve entered an amazing era where places you find on your smartphone can be connected to your bike navigation.

Source: garmin.

The screen is a 3.0-inch color LCD. This 360×640-pixel touchscreen automatically adjusts brightness according to the ambient light. It also includes detailed Japan maps with major cycling roads nationwide. You can search for convenience stores, bike shops, and more. If you find an interesting shop along the way, it’s of course okay to change plans and make a detour. It even includes a function that lets you pause navigation and resume guidance once you return to your original route.

When you want to zoom in on the map, just use your voice

Source: garmin.

The higher-end “Edge Explore 3 Plus” adds a voice control function. Speak to the built-in microphone and it supports more than 70 operations, including searching for destinations, zooming in and out on the map, and recalling riding data. Being able to ride without repeatedly touching the screen is quite appealing.

Source: garmin.

Being able to ride without repeatedly touching the screen is quite appealing. Both models feature navigation voice guidance through a built-in speaker and a bicycle bell function. The Plus model also includes Wi-Fi. You can download overseas cycling maps without using a computer. Riding through unfamiliar cities overseas by bike—these are the kinds of features that make you want to bring it along on that kind of trip.

Use it continuously for up to 2 days

Source: garmin.

As for battery life, both models can last up to about 48 hours in power-saving mode. That’s a reassuring amount of battery not only for long-distance cycling, but also for days when you ride from morning while stopping off here and there. Your riding routes can be recorded and reviewed in Garmin Connect, and with LiveTrack you can share your current location with family and friends. How many kilometers did you ride today? What roads did you take? Looking back at the route you rode after getting home is one of cycling’s pleasures.

Source: garmin.

The new Edge Explore series places more importance on ease of navigation than on training features for riding fast. Find the place you want to go on your smartphone, choose roads with fewer hills, and stop by interesting shops along the way. Where should you ride next weekend? It feels like you might even be thinking about such plans while at work.

Product name / Garmin Edge Explore 3
Price / 66,800 yen
Weight / 118.8 g

Product name / Garmin Edge Explore 3 Plus
Price / 83,800 yen
Weight / 121.5 g
Additional features / Voice control, Wi-Fi

Common size / 53.8 × 104.5 × 18.0 mm
Display / 3.0-inch color LCD touchscreen
Resolution / 360 × 640 pixels
Battery / Up to about 48 hours (power-saving mode)
Water resistance / IPX7
Built-in memory / 32 GB
Map / Shobunsha CityNavigator Plus (with cycling roads)

●Garmin Japan

Search Edge Explore 3 on Amazon