Review on Garmin Edge Explore - Advanced Touring Bike Computer with Connected Features, 010-02029-00 by John Koch

Update 3/2021: What used to be a reliable 12 hour battery is now down to 3 or 4. This is not good. Also, it has become a burden to connect to download a route as my laptop doesn't always recognize it depending on which cable I'm using. There must be a better way. When I bought it it was good value for money, I got 3 full seasons. Maybe it's the expiration date, but I was hoping for more. After all, the redirect is the worst thing ever. It doesn't recognize if you're within 10 feet of your course when you miss a block and wants you to go back to the original missed point. Next time I will choose a different computer. This is a first review 2 weeks after purchase. I bought this to replace my phone as the main GPS screen. My phone's battery drains too quickly and is too sensitive to sweat or moisture. This Garmin takes care of both of those things completely. Last week I rode a century (6.5 hours total screen time) and the battery only dropped to 50%. That's more than enough for me. The controls are intuitive enough to set up with a little work. I like that I can easily customize my data screens. The map screen is obviously a lot smaller than my phone, but that's a fair price for a much longer battery life. Loading routes from Strava or MapMyRide for my Garmin requires some effort. I was watching a YouTube video on how to do this and Garmin told me to update the maps (shouldn't they already be updated?) and download a third party app. A bit of research and work overall, but not bad. Once I have this setup, I can easily transfer .gpx files from my laptop to Garmin. The routes are easy to follow. I also have MapMyRide and Strava connected via the Garmin Connect app on my phone and my rides sync automatically. stays on. It was difficult to understand. But like I said, a battery that lasts 6.5 hours at 50% charge is more than enough for me. This is a great computer at a really good price. I think next level Garmin is a lot more expensive with the only added benefit of having Strava live segments and the inclusion of a power meter. If you like it you will have to choose another model but it works great for me. My little CatEye Strada is now being passed on to children. I bought a Garmin front extender because I don't trust wrist straps and I don't like the computer on my stem. And it fits perfectly, keeps it at a good angle and feels very durable when riding on the road. I've called 4 or 5 local bike shops and nobody sells this model anymore so Revain seems like the only place to buy it. long gone. Have fun driving!