2. Garmin Connect segments
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The Garmin Edge 1000 has arrived at RoadCyclingUK for review
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The flagship Edge 1000, pictured with the Edge 810, has the biggest screen of all Garmin's computers
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The Edge 1000's increased size means it occupies more real-estate, though an out-front mount is also supplied
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The Edge 1000 is also Garmin's heaviest computer but it's still no heavyweight at 116g
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A maximum of ten screens can each display up to ten data fields
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The Edge 1000 continues to use Garmin's quarter-turn mount
2. Garmin Connect segments
One of the Edge 1000’s key new features is introduction of segments to the online Garmin Connect software and their integration with this computer.
Garmin Connect segments work in much the same way as Strava segments, except those segments are delivered real-time to the unit, enabling the rider to receive alerts as to the segment start and finish, results and leaderboards – providing you have synced the segment with the device from your computer in advance.
The trouble is, Garmin’s segments remain totally independent of Strava’s and given that Strava is by far the dominant player in the ‘online racing’ field, it’s difficult to see many riders switching from Strava to Garmin Connect.
Still, it’s an interesting feature and one which could add a pseudo-competitive element to any ride. We’ll try it over the course of our test but on the face of it we’re not sure Garmin Connect segments will hold any cards over Strava until there’s a more obvious integration between the two.
It’s also worth noting that Garmin opened up their API earlier this year to Strava, MapMyFitness, and Endomondo. That means that if you upload your ride to Garmin Connect, then it’ll sync automatically with Strava. We can imagine that’s particularly useful if you use the Edge 1000’s smartphone-enabled auto-upload feature. That addresses one of our complaints about the Edge 810 (you can read the full review here), whereby auto-upload was only available with Garmin Connect and so the user was required to manually download each ride to Strava.