Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 520
Move up to the Garmin Edge 520 and your entering the realms of Garmin’s performance-focused computers, aimed at riders who want as much data as possible at their fingertips.
If you train with not only a heart rate monitor but also a power meter then the Edge 520 will appeal to you. Pair the Edge 520 with the appropriate tech and it will report on VO2 max, recovery time, how much time you’ve spent in your various training zones, functional threshold power, power-to-weight ratio and more, as well as analysing your pedal stroke, including where you put out power, left-right balance and how much time you spend in and out of the saddle, if you use Garmin’s Vector power pedals. More data than you can shake a stick at, basically.
As you’d expect the Edge 520 is ANT+ compatible so it can be paired with all the relevant sensors to record that data, and its Bluetooth connectivity also means it can be paired with a smartphone and works with Strava Live segments, so you can get real-time results, including alerts for a segment start/finish and leaderboard rankings, as you ride. That Bluetooth connectivity also allow live ride tracking, social media sharing and wireless uploads.
Like the Edge 20 and Edge 25, the Edge 520 uses both the GPS and GLONASS satellite systems to achieve a quick and reliable signal (the Edge Touring uses GPS only). The Edge 520 doesn’t have a touchscreen and is instead operated by buttons on either side of the unit.
The Edge 520 can also be used indoors while on a turbo trainer, as long as the trainer is ANT+ compatible, and the computer will let you control the resistance, which means you can then recreate a ride on any route you’ve downloaded or ridden yourself. Connectivity options even extend to displaying your current gear when used with Shimano’s Di2 electronic shifting systems.
While the Edge 520 doesn’t have the full navigation capabilities of the Edge Touring, Edge 1000 or Edge 1000 Explore, it does come pre-installed with very basic mapping to provide a perspective of roughly where you want, though it is possible to download a more detail map and the Edge 520 is capable of following a GPS track. If you want detailed maps pre-installed, or full navigation features like on-computer route planning, then you’ll need to look elsewhere in the Garmin range.
Specification
Price: £239.99
Weight: 60g
Battery life: up to 15 hours
Computer size: 4.9cm x 7.3cm x 2.1cm
Screen size: 3.5cm x 4.7cm
Key features: ANT+ and Bluetooth, detailed real-time data including Strava Live segments
Who’s it for?
Performance-focused riders who want serious data at their fingertips and who don’t need full mapping or navigation.