Garmin - in cycling terms, it’s beyond a brand, and near enough an institution. A part of the cycling experience, the routine of clicking your Garmin into place and switching it on to it’s Tamagotchi style sequence of beeps and bleats is one that signifies that it’s time to ride. With the Garmin Edge 1030 the headline unit in this American brand’s stable, we wanted to get to know this unit and size it up against the one it’s replacing.

Unique Edge 1030 Features at a Glance

  • Enhanced ability to add maps
  • Popularity routing
  • 3.5" high-resolution touch display
  • New easy to view My Stats
  • Improved Strava Live Segment integration
  • Pre-loaded Training Peaks app
  • ANT+/BLE/BT/Wifi included
  • Up to 20 hours battery life
  • Audio prompts

Staying Connected

Garmin Edge 1030 GPS Cycling Computer Display Screen

 

So, one of the chief differences between the between the Edge 1000 and Edge 1030 would have to be the social element of the unit. The standout feature of the Edge 1030 is in many ways, the rider to rider messaging platform. Allowing you to message other riders using 1030 head units out on the road, you can easily, simply, and quickly send messages with little more than a tap of a button, giving your ride buddies the hurry up, encouragement, or simply a bit of stick about their 5th puncture of the day.

 

Featuring the same Live Track technology as the Edge 1000, the latest models combination of both this and the Rider to Rider messaging platform make for a top quality tool for meeting up with your friends, riding in a group, and sharing your exploits on the road.

Plugging into Strava Live segments unlike its predecessor and giving you second by second updates on your progress as you tackle your favourite routes, the Edge 1030 can connect with Android and Windows phones to show message notifications on-screen, whilst an update to enable Apple iPhones is on the way. For its sheer technological integration, this cycle computer goes further than anything before to help you stay social whilst out on the bike.

Push the frontier

Garmin Edge 1030 GPS Cycling Computer Waterproofing

 

GPS is above all, though, a functional tool for guiding your riding, and it’s what Garmin have always been best at. The Edge 1030 is no letdown, and, as you would expect, gets a leg up on the Edge 1000 by virtue of the improved Popularity Routing. The algorithm working better than ever to direct you onto the preferred roads of other riders in your position, facing the same forks in the road.

 

Maps preloaded and a Micro SD card slot giving you the space to expand that repertoire upwards, you have a fantastic basis for exploring beyond your usual loops. The capacity to easily upload maps and route files from Strava another winner, there’s no reason with the Edge 1030 why you shouldn’t think about trying out some new roads, and new horizons.

Ride Longer

Garmin Edge 1030 GPS Cycling Computer Battery Pack

 

Listening to your demands, the audax rider, adventurer, and exploring rider will be thrilled to see that perhaps the biggest physical difference between the Edge 1000 and 1030 is battery life. A common bugbear of endurance riders in for the long haul, a claimed battery life of 20 hours makes for a great improvement over the previous model.

 

Further pushing the horizons of battery life above and beyond those of former models, the Edge 1030 is able to seat an external battery pack on its underside, giving you the option to keep adding hours onto your ride without fear of your GPS position dropping out midway through your ride.

In the hand…

Garmin Edge 1030 GPS Cycling Computer Screen Size

 

Now, as a display unit, one of the most important things you need your Garmin to do is to show up all your data. A screen size boosted to 3.5”, and with its touchscreen enhanced for a better response for the rider heading out in the cold or with gloves, this is a responsive and user-friendly interface for the best possible experience out on the road.

 

Improved waterproofing serving for greater versatility, the 1030 makes further advances on the Edge 1000 with a design that is able to tackle more than just standard road riding. Stronger, tougher, the 1030 is ideal for the rider with a thirst for adventure and trying something new.

The upshot of it all?

Garmin Edge 1030 GPS Cycling Computer Handlebar Mounted

 

Well, on the surface, it can’t be denied that the 1030 tackles a great number of the concerns and fears that most riders might come up against. Boosting battery life is undoubtedly a top notch idea, and adding the ability to extend it with an external pack makes this a complete no-brainer for endurance riders.

 

Keeping features like Training Peaks whilst returning to Strava Live Segments, the Edge 1030 doesn’t miss the mark in targeting the performance rider and suiting their needs and ambitions on the road. Power metering, altitude metering and a performance bundle ensuring you of a comprehensive package for setting up and recording your efforts.

Coupling this up with improvements in the Popularity Routing algorithms, the fact that you’re put on better roads and given a far better riding experience is set to be priceless. Setting yourself up to explore further afield and to embrace the full spectrum that the road has to offer. The ability to upload maps from Strava with ease, and turn by turn navigation giving you the security to set out with confidence in your bearings.

Improved practicalities then make the Edge 1030 a solid improvement upon and a worthy replacement of the Edge 1000. Neatly future proofed and fully integrated with your day to day life, the Edge 1030 makes no concessions to ensure that you won't need to.

Available as either a standalone head unit or as part of a performance bundle, you can check out Sigma Sports's full range of Garmin Edge 1030 products by following the link below.