Bryton Rider 20E GPS Cycle Computer

The Rider 20 is Brtyon's smallest bike-specific unit, and promises much. For less than £100 RRP (as little as £80 online right now) you're getting a basic computer that'll also track you via GPS and allow you to share your rides online through Bryton's portal website. It's let down a bit by a clumsy onboard interface and the web service is a bit rough round the edges too, but both have improved through the testing period and are set to get better still. As an introduction to GPS-based ride-logging it's definitely one to look at, and ANT+ compatibility is a big plus.

Measuring just 39.8 x 60.5 x 16.5 mm, the Rider 20 around the size of a typical cycle computer, only this one doesn't need any magnets, transmitters or wires fitting to the bike. This makes it ideal for use with more than one bike. The bracket, comprising a simple twist-fit plastic bracket held in place on the bars or stem with rubber o-rings, is also easy to swap between bikes.

The unit uses a miniature GPS receiver module originally designed for mobile phones which is what makes it possible to fit such a complex device into such a small package. The use of this miniature receiver also enables ultra-long battery life, with at least 18 hours of continuous use available from its internal re-chargeable battery. This is re-charged from a computer, or via a USB charger. In the box you get a short USB cable to connect the unit to a computer, but this can equally be plugged into any wall charger that is also compliant with the USB standard. Bryton also supply various power adapters as aftermarket accessories.

The Rider 20 is a simple bike computer, with the screen showing 3 data fields at any one time, customisable between 10 basic functions; these being:

When the device is running

Time of Day
Distance
Ride time
Cadence (current, average and maximum)
Speed
Calories used
Total ride time
Heart rate (current, average and maximum)

When the device is not running

Odometer
Total ride time

The heart rate and cadence functions obviously require additional accessories; any ANT+ compatible sensors should be fine and the Rider 20 has worked okay with a Garmin HRM strap and a Bryton HRM and cadence sensor. The unit can also be set to work on two different bikes, recording separate odometer and total ride time statistics for each.

Out of the box, the GPS takes a while to locate the satellites and its position for the first time, however, once this has been done, provided you don't move too far, and by that I mean hundreds of miles, then it locates itself very quickly indeed. Typically less than a minute, which is fast by these standards. However, I did find that the Rider 20 had trouble fixing a GPS signal when actually moving; it's best to make sure you have a fix before you set off if you don't want to lose the first bit of your ride.

To use it, the Rider 20 has just 3 buttons, which toggle various functions depending on what screen you are currently in, and whether you affect a short, or a long press. Straight out of the box, this interface could be described as unwieldy at best, but a software update modified it slightly for the better. While any user would undoubtedly get used to it over time, I did find it a bit irritating. The very basic instruction manual is not particularly illuminating either.

In common with most sports GPS manufacturers, Bryton have set up an on-line community where you can upload your data to a web service for analysis post ride. The Rider 20 has a prodigious memory, able to store 24 hours worth of data on-board for upload later. Bryton's website has come an awful long way since we tested the Rider 50 back in February of last year and the functionality is now comparable to Garmin Connect. I find both of the sites rather slow to be honest, although Garmin's is marginally quicker and a lot slicker in terms of connecting the GPS unit and uploading information. The Bryton Bridge app that you have to download to communicate with the website is unweildy at 101MB, and the connection sometimes doesn't work; Garmin's plugin-based system is a lot slicker.

Once logged in and working, the software does give a good range of analytical functions that would keep even the most assiduous stat junkie happy, and enables the planning of basic training programmes (though without any navigation functionality). It also allows the uploading of activities to TrainingPeaks, another analytical and training planning website for the more serious athlete - and the usual social networking sites for those more interested in sharing than analysing. You can get the track files if you want to import them to Garmin Connect or Strava.

So who's going to want a Rider 20? It's stuck between the two camps, really: an alternative to a non-GPS computer or a cheaper way to get into ANT+ training and logging. You can have more functions (and better usability) from a non-GPS unit but you don't get the capability to upload and store your rides. The obvious comparison to make in GPS terms is with the Garmin Edge 200, but although that's a similar size and slicker in its operation, it doesn't offer ANT+ compatibility. You can follow routes on it, though, at least in a breadcrumb kind of a way. Moving up to the Edge 500 gives you a whole lot more: customisable data screens, ANT+, better routing... but then it's a lot more cash.

My guess is that this computer will appeal more to the folks who would normally be in the market for a non-GPS unit, but the ability to expand the feature set with ANT+ devices is a real draw at this price point. Okay there's some issues with the interface and the web service but we've seen big improvements over the last year on the website and the updates to the device have helped too. If you really got into your stats you'd probably outgrow the Rider 20 in time but it scores big on value and it's a good way to try out GPS logging on your bike. It still feels a bit like a work in progress – that's what we said about the Rider 50 too – but it's certainly one to look at, whether you thought you needed a GPS computer or not.

Verdict

Really compact bike computer that you can swap between bikes. Good value, but could be easier to use and the web service still needs work.