For me, final yr of embracing new challenges—and diving headfirst into a few of the longest and hardest ones but. After stepping away from racing 5 years in the past, I used to be desperate to push my limits once more, this time via some epic off-road adventures just like the 400-mile Rapha Yomp Rally and the gruelling 350-mile Unbound XL gravel race.
These sleep-depriving, self-supported occasions examined not solely my health and tenacity but in addition my gear. With no course markings, navigation was important—and so was my GPS laptop. Enter the Garmin Edge 540 Photo voltaic. Its long-awaited launch couldn’t have come at a greater time. With photo voltaic charging extending an already spectacular battery life, it turned my go-to software for navigating distant, unpredictable terrain the place precision and reliability are every little thing.
It’s greater than earned its spot on my handlebars, and with this yr’s Black Friday reductions, it stands out as one of many best-value, do-it-all biking computer systems in the marketplace.
At simply 85 grams, the Edge 540 Photo voltaic is actually a tiny however mighty bundle. It’s filled with extra options, coaching knowledge and analyses than I actually know what to do with. You may learn the total particulars of what it will possibly and may’t do within the product launch announcement and our in-depth overview, however listed here are a few of my favorite options:
– Battery: With as much as 32 hours of battery life in demanding use and as much as 60 hours in battery-saver mode, it’ll final everything of the Unbound XL and requires little charging, even on multi-day adventures.
– Navigation and offline maps: The turn-by-turn navigation is superb, offering road and even path names and loads of wayfinding particulars. It’ll even provide you with a warning to potholes or different need-to-know highway circumstances. And the offline maps and rerouting are clutch while you’re deep in no reception land. You may even use the navigation software to search for and get instructions to close by water stops or bike outlets.
– The ClimbPro function: all of the climb’s particulars (gradients, distance left, and many others.) seem on the display while you begin climbing, even with out pre-loading a route. No extra ‘questioning how for much longer’
– Actual-Time Stamina: this software displays your stamina, potential and estimated distance remaining primarily based in your present efficiency. It is a nifty software till it says that you simply’ll run out of stamina in 50 miles, but you continue to have 125 miles to go. 😅 In all seriousness, these are good reminders to take some diet on board and sluggish the tempo.
– Lightning fast uploads: Your completed exercise is loaded to Strava or your most well-liked third-party app earlier than you’ve even eliminated your biking footwear.
– Sturdy coaching options: Coaching and not using a coach? No downside. This sequence of computer systems comes outfitted with Day by day Exercises primarily based on an occasion or race you’re working towards. It’ll even modify your plan if you happen to fall ailing or your journey schedule interferes along with your sleep.
Garmin’s Day by day Prompt Exercise
(Picture credit score: Garmin)
For long-distance riders who worth reliability, correct navigation, and the comfort of photo voltaic charging, the Garmin Edge 540 Photo voltaic is a worthwhile funding—made even higher at these Black Friday costs.
