The team here at Cyclingnews is a group of dedicated cyclists. We spend most of our time riding bikes and we are constantly testing new gear. We spend time racing, training, and exploring both on paved roads, and on roads that are a bit rougher and where navigation is at its trickiest. We go out before dawn and after sunset. We test during the summer, the winter, and the rain, and we put things to the test in whatever way we think will be best for the specific product.
For this collection of the best cycling computers, the team has put them through their paces as well as pulled from their collective 20 years' worth of experience. There are brands here that make multiple appearances because they offer a wide range of options. We've spent time with this stuff and we are presenting what we think are the best options out there for a wide range of different riders.
Each unit has gone through the same rigorous testing process. We weigh each device and set it up to ascertain how intuitive the page customisation process is versus the competition - this should never be too complicated. Once that is sorted, we look at the metric tracking performance in detail, and test how each device interacts with its native app as well as third-party apps such as TrainingPeaks and Strava.
An important part of the testing procedure is navigational performance, and this is conducted on a standardised test route taking in both urban roads and off-road paths. This allows us to benchmark each device against one another thanks to the repeatable nature of the test route. While performance testing is often done with multiple cycling computers affixed to our handlebars at the same time, navigational testing is carried out back-to-back in isolation.