Garmin Edge 530 Assessment: A Bike Pc With ALL The Options (Besides Touchscreen)
On this submit I overview the Garmin Edge 530 bike pc. So sit down, preserve you eyes shut and your mouth open.
(Ahem)
This submit is a part of a rising mini collection the perfect bike computer systems within the mid worth vary.
I’ve already accomplished in-depth critiques of the Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt and the Bryton Rider 750, in addition to a head-to-head between the BOLT and the Edge 530.
The Edge 530 is bursting on the seams with options so I’ll attempt to restrict this submit to crucial ones to your common rider and the important thing issues I like and dislike.
As a VERY common rider.
With that, into the submit.
Rapidly, the fundamentals.
Wait, Wanna Watch My Video Assessment Of The Edge 530?
Say no extra Rodders, right here you go:
So What Is The Garmin Edge 530?
It’s a GPS bike pc. It attaches to your handlebars or your stem or within the out-front mount. It communes with satellites.
That is what it seems like. I prefer it. Rounded moderately than angular. The display is flush with the highest of the gadget. Smooth and understated.
And through this handily-placed display, it could show all method of motorbike knowledge:
- How briskly you’re going and how briskly you’ve been – in sure circumstances, how briskly that you must go
- How far you’ve ridden, how far nonetheless to journey
- The place you’ve been, the place you continue to must go
AND. SO. MUCH. MORE.
Knowledge Sensors and Connections
The Edge 530 doesn’t simply choose up indicators from satellites. Oh no.
It will probably pair with… look ahead to it… LET’S GO:
BREATHE
- Good trainers
- Good lights
- Good underpants
- Your smartphone (clearly!)
And ANT+ digital shifters – Shimano Di2 and the like.
Principally, the Edge 530 will hook up with 99% of the issues a smart bicycle owner would need it to connect with.
Experience Knowledge Uploads and Software program Integrations
All of this knowledge is recorded by the gadget as you bi-cycle. While you’ve completed the journey, the Edge 530 will mechanically hook up with t’web, both through your telephone or wifi, and add these important statistics to the ether.
The file goes first to Garmin’s health platform app, Garmin Join, after which, in the event you’ve arrange the connections, to Strava, TrainingPeaks, RideWithGPS and others.
And the connection goes the opposite approach. You may sync route recordsdata from Strava, RideWithGPS and different route planning software program.
Then, while you’re on a journey, the Edge 530 shows turn-by-turn instructions and an in depth map of the route.
Extra on the 530’s route navigation options later within the submit.
The Display screen
We talked about the display.
The Edge 530 has a pleasant color show. It’s fairly large relative to the scale of the gadget. 2.6 inches for the followers of imperial diagonal display measurements.
This large for followers of being proven it in comparison with one thing they know the scale of – an iPhone 7:
It isn’t a touchscreen. I repeat, it’s not a touchscreen. All manipulation of the Edge 530 is through the medium of buttons.
Of which there are 7.
Going again to the display, it has been legible in all of the using circumstances I’ve tried it in.
You may differ the brightness to swimsuit you. It shows clearly all of the totally different display varieties, whether or not thats your customary knowledge grid, with as much as 10 fields, detailed maps or no matter different software program function Garmin has seen match to placed on there.
For completeness, USB charging port on the entrance edge. Behind a giant plastic cowl and an internal rubbery seal. 
Shielded from the, er, ELEMNTs.
Har har har. I thenk yow…. no?
While we’re speaking concerning the gadget externals, eagle-eyed electrode spotters will observe the contacts constructed into the mount, or I assume the bit that matches into the mount (what shall we embrace, the cleat?).
The Edge 530 can be utilized with Garmin’s Cost secondary energy pack.
So, if the usual battery life on the 530 – Garmin says as much as 20 hours – will not be sufficient, attaching the additional battery pack beneath the mount offers an additional 24.
For all of your 44 hour rides.
So Is The Garmin Edge 530 A Good Bike Pc?
Sure the Edge 530 is an efficient bike pc. Nay, it’s a wonderful one.
It’s the fourth era of Garmin’s core 5 collection bike pc. Garmin has been making these items a very long time they usually’re rattling good at it.
This isn’t a comparability video with Garmin’s prime quality fashions. That may come when all this YouTube advert moolah rolls in and I can purchase them for overview.
However. Simplistically. The distinction between the Edge 530 and the costlier 830 is that the latter has a touchscreen.
After which, nonetheless in simpletown, the distinction between the Edge 530 and the flagship
The Edge 530 is a high of the road bike pc, absent these two facets.
(And I can even verify that the Garmin Edge 530 is waterproof.)
The baseline is due to this fact established: this can be a nice bike pc. It is going to do the whole lot you want from a motorbike pc and I doubt you’d remorse shopping for one.
So, moderately than assess each operate – we’d be right here all week, attempt the veal – I’ll point out a couple of issues I actually like concerning the 530, some issues I don’t, and a few issues which might be simply, meh.
BOOMSHACKALACK
INTERLUDE
For those who haven’t been verbally assaulted by me earlier than, I’m Monty and that is Sportive Bike owner, the MAMIL channel.
I write and make movies about highway biking. I’m a fan of the slim tire and the drop handlebar. I put on skintight clothes extra continuously than a 41 yr outdated ought to.
For those who like highway bikes and males in tights then it is best to contemplate subscribing:
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What I Like About The Garmin Edge 530
1. Processing pace
The Edge 530 feels tremendous quick.
Now I’ll be trustworthy, I’m comparatively late to the social gathering with bike computer systems which have onboard navigation.
However.
By all reviews, older Garmin Edges with true on-board mapping, your Edge 800 by 820, the 1000 and even the 1030 have been all fairly sluggish in calculating routes and transferring across the maps.
This isn’t the case with the Edge 530. I’ve been impressed how shortly it calculates a route and re-renders maps as you zoom out and in.
Now transferring across the maps is slowed by the dearth of touchscreen. Re-routing while you’ve gone off track additionally appears sluggish to kick in. However neither of those relate to the dearth of processing grunt.
The Edge 530 will not be iPhone quick, however it’s fairly rattling nippy for a motorbike GPS.
2. The Navigation Options
It’s solely with this era of the Edge 500 collection that true on-board navigation has been added to the gadget (if we conveniently ignore the Edge 520 Plus).
The Edge 510 and 520, each of which I owned, relied on cookie crumbs, GPS waypoints, overlaid onto a fundamental map that will help you comply with a route. For those who went off track, they may not re-route.
All change with the 530. It inherits the complete onboard navigation fandango beforehand restricted to the 800 and 1000 collection units. It is aware of you’re on a road and it is aware of the identify of that road.
And sure it’s slightly quirky. It has a predilection for the ‘do a U flip’ instruction, moderately than a full re-route, maybe deliberately. You may’t path to particular handle – as an alternative you’ve got choose a spot with a set of crosshairs.
However it usually works effectively. Flip instructions are well timed. The maps are clear. I LIKES IT.
3. The Strava Stay Segments Integration
So that is the place you’ve got a starred section in your Strava account – a favorite in the event you like – and the Edge 530 shows real-time knowledge in your efficiency as you journey that section.
There’s a devoted Strava Stay Segments knowledge display. The 530 alerts you as you strategy the section. While using it you’ve got a real-time efficiency comparability, whether or not that’s with your individual PR, that of your quickest Strava buddy and even the section document holder.
It’s a very nice integration, and one which beats the equal function on the
4. It Is Usually Packed With Stuff!
That is each a blessing and a curse.
Primarily a blessing. It’s nice to have numerous thrilling whizzbang options.
However some gentle cursing too. With numerous options come a mess of menus and a raft of rabbit holes.
A number of of the options I actually like:
- I discussed the Strava Stay Segments integration. I received’t point out it once more.
- ClimbPro – if you’re following a route on the 530, the gadget will determine climbs on the course after which show related details about them – size, gradient, distance to subsequent climb and so forth. All with some good color graphics.
- Warnings about harmful bends – this introduced first to me as what regarded like random instructions on a journey the place I wasn’t following a route. Then I realised that the 530 was giving me superior warning that these have been tight bends. Now I trundle alongside at a tempo that makes even the tightest hairpin protected, however it’s good that the Edge 530 is looking for me (even when it’s a bit cautious in what it classifies as harmful).
If I run by all the options, we’d be right here all day.
I haven’t talked about all of the coaching efficiency stuff. Dynamic efficiency monitoring, coaching standing, the power to add exercises. All very helpful in case your focus is enhancing your biking health.
Or the bike alarm. Or the incident detection.
Or ALL THE MOUNTAIN BIKE FANDANGO – the power to document grit, movement, dangle time and a dictionary of different phrases that I don’t faux to grasp.
Briefly, there’s a number of technical whizzbangery constructed into this pc. And, as I discussed, it has the computing horsepower to deal with all of it comfortably.
Nice.
Transferring on to the marginally ‘meh’ bits of the 530.
Issues That Are Okay Concerning the Garmin Edge 530
1. The Garmin Join App
Certain, this isn’t particular to the Edge 530. However maybe that’s a part of the difficulty.
There’s nothing to dislike notably, however the app’s scope is past maximizing the usability of the Edge gadget. It’s additionally a coaching and social platform. It’s constructed for all Garmin health units and wearables.
As a Strava-phile, these options are surplus to necessities.
The app does an affordable job of getting the 530 arrange while you first purchase it.
Nevertheless, maybe as a result of the app already has rather a lot happening, it doesn’t help you change all the settings on the gadget.
And the Edge 530 has rather a lot of settings and options, all accessed and adjusted through a collection of nested menus.
I ponder if an intuitive app, that may absolutely management your Edge settings, would make attending to know the gadget that a lot simpler.
2. Textual content measurement
Sure, we’re speaking about fonts. And in the event you’re not cautious, I’ll go off on one about kerning. Goooogle It.
The Edge 530 undoubtedly has a pleasant large show and I just like the detailed color maps.
However as per a touch upon the 530 vs BOLT video, thanks Straj Kat, the font measurement can solely be elevated a lot, even when there’s in any other case loads of untapped display actual property.
In case you are after a motorbike pc that may show large numbers even when your legs aren’t placing out large numbers, then there are higher alternate options (cough, ELEMNT BOLT).
3. Connecting To Sensors
Now this can be a throusand occasions higher than Garmins of yore. Most knowledge sensors are simply detected by the gadget and are nonetheless there on future rides.
On setup, the Garmin Join app even helps you port throughout current sensor connections.
I do point out it although as I’ve had one connection that dropped off that I couldn’t discover once more – the Garmin Varia truly – the place I needed to make the Edge neglect it after which search and re-pair with it.
It is a ache, notably in the event you’ve set off in your journey and you actually don’t wish to cease for a couple of minutes to get it sorted.
Perhaps it stood out as a result of it jogged my memory of old fashioned Edge pairing woes. Thought I’d point out it.
Transferring on!
Issues I Don’t Like About The Edge 530
1. The Location of the Buttons
Is it simply me? Am I ergonomically unsuitable?
However I do battle with the buttons on the Edge 530.
I can’t work out precisely which finger or thumb is supposed to function those on the entrance. Both possibility appears barely contorting.
The buttons are set inside a recessed space on the entrance aircraft of the gadget. Which implies I don’t all the time hit them, notably with gloves on. Very often I discover myself urgent the sting of the gadget case, moderately than the button, questioning why nothing is occurring.
Those on the edges are much less annoying. However I are likely to undertake a squeeze grip to maintain the GPS regular while I press the buttons. Due to the position of the buttons, typically I inadvertent press the alternative return button, when I’m that means to make use of the up and down buttons on the opposite aspect.
To be clear. I’m not saying that the factor I don’t like concerning the 530 is that it makes use of buttons to do the whole lot. That’s the deal. If you wish to get away from buttons you then want a touchscreen. For those who want a touchscreen, you purchase the 830.
However I simply discover the buttons a bit fiddly, a bit slippery and simply usually a bit more durable to make use of versus, say, the
2. The Studying Curve
Issues that appear to occur mechanically on different bike computer systems – once more we’re speaking about Wahoos – or are intuitive to arrange, appear to be exhausting work on the Edge 530.
Fr’occasion, I’m a fan of the odd mid-ride Strava selfie. Out of the field, my 530 didn’t mechanically pause after I got here to a halt. It took me a shocking quantity of faff to search out the choice to show this on.
I nonetheless can’t get the gadget to immediate me to start out recording when it detects motion. I’m positive I’ve tried all of the vaguely wise choices.
Clearly it will get simpler as soon as you recognize which nested sub-menu does what, however there’s a particular studying curve. For those who can’t be bovvered with this shizzle, then chances are you’ll discover the Edge 530 irritating at occasions.
Worth
Harmful to place these items in writing cos they all the time appear to vary. However hey ho.
Proper now, the Garmin worth for the 530 on a tool solely foundation is £260 / $300.
The sensor bundle, with coronary heart fee strap, pace sensor and cadence sensor, takes the worth as much as £350 or $400.
The mountain bike bundle sits within the center at £320 or $370.
Remaining Ideas & Advice
After I purchased the Edge 510, I used to be underwhelmed. I noticed the high-tech promo video set on car-less roads in early morning Girona. The truth was considerably much less thrilling.
After I purchased the Edge 520 it was a part of a weblog comparability with the
After I purchased the Edge 530, I didn’t actually anticipate to love it that a lot. I used to be fairly dedicated to my ELEMNT BOLT.
I wouldn’t say I’ve been overwhelmed by the Edge 530 however I’ve been very pleasantly stunned at how a lot I’ve loved utilizing it.
Sure, it takes a little bit of time to become familiar with. However as soon as I’ve lastly discovered the choice to activate a function, or tweak a setting, I’ve usually been impressed with how that function has been applied.
I stated it at first of this submit, or possibly half approach by, the Garmin Edge 530 is a VERY GOOD BIKE COMPUTER.
Need Extra Bike Tech Kerfuffle?
This submit is a part of a collection the perfect mid-priced bike computer systems. Different detailed critiques within the collection:
And right here’s a hyperlink to my particular comparability submit on the Garmin Edge 530 vs the Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT.
I’ve been Monty, this has been Sportive Bike owner the MAMIL channel. See you within the subsequent submit.
