The 1030 plus screen size is easy to read, a plus for older eyes. The touch screen works great in all weather. I was able to switch screen with winter riding gloves without an issue. Wet weather did not appear to impact performance.
Indoors the 1030 plus paired with my trainer without issues.
Outdoors the map features are a pleasure to use.
Pairing with sensors and phone is simple.
Using the workout suggestions both indoors and out is a great feature. The graphic screen is great when doing zone training.
I would recommend this unit to anyone looking for a new bike computer.
The screen is nice and large so I am able to see all my custom layout of fields with no problems. I am able to monitor the computer battery percentage, Di2 battery percentage, temperature, speed, and distance all on one screen. I was able to get six 30 to 35 mile rides in on one charge.
Get this guy and be the talk among your friends.
This unit has a mountain of features and can help you assess your strengths and weaknesses, if you let it.
The monstrous sized screen is actually not that big (incredible what you get used to, just like cell phones you'll wonder what you did before this) and holds what's really the perfect amount of data.
Among the features you will really appreciate is Garmin allowing you to import devices from your old bike computer, it will let you pair this way, no more new device let's pair all my accessories back in one at a time. I also love the bully in coaching/training features. Garmin will take a look at what you've been up to, and suggest a workout of the day (it's almost like Santa, it knows if you've been naughty or nice with your training). I've used this with my Tacx 2T to control it and no issues.
Battery life, I own a 520+ which lives on my secondary bike and wow, the giant screen, improved GPS and multitude of features almost mean nothing to lifespan. I ride a reasonable amount (600-750 miles per month) and if I feel like pushing lifespan I have gone weeks without charging, 520+ needs at least weekly.
Why wouldn't I buy it? 520+ to this was a huge jump in price and features, if I already had a top end computer, improvements would be too marginal and hate to justify. Do you use features? The worst things to buy are things you don't use.
If you have the money and are serious about cycling you should consider this device, it rocks but cost a cool mountain of cash.
I bought this at a sale price, and I have no regrets. My view is certainly atypical, so I need to give some background.
I am not a hard core rider and I will never use a power meter or cadence.
I had an Edge Explore that was suggested by a Garmin rep. It had all the features I needed, but it was slow, worked erratically, and the battery life was horrible.
So... sale price for the 1030 +. I finally gave in and bought it. The screen is much, much brighter, faster, and clearer. The battery is wonderful for me and my uses. The map is pretty good and updates naturally. I can change settings and choose my preferences fairly easily. The only curiosity (to me) is that the % grade updates slowly. That is, it's always behind. The numbers seem fairly accurate, but I'm a ways down the hill when the 1030 thinks I'm still going up. 4 stars just because I had to pay for lots of features I won't use to get good quality and a large screen.
This is my 4th Garmin bike computer all the way from an Edge 800 to now the Edge 1030 Plus.
I really appreciate the new user interface and the speed with which the device responds to user input.
The screen is highly visible and the battery life is phenomenal.
The only hiccup was during setup, for some reason I was unable to set up the device on my computer and had to use my phone to set up. It took a while but got through it.
Also note it shows up as two devices on bluetooth. No idea why.
I am a long time user of Garmin's GPS computers and accessories. Garmin's 1030 plus lives up to expectations. The battery life is easily 24 hours with a HRM, power meter, Di2, and iPhone connected. New feature added is respiration rate. Easy to connect to both Garmin and third party accessories. GPS is as good as its ever been - I've never had any dead spots. Also like the black color over the white of the previous 1030. When your phone is connected you will receive alerts conveyed from the phone to the Garmin (weather, texts, emails). Thanks to BikeTiresDirect.com for excellent pricing and delivery!
I bought this computer for the bigger screen (aging eyes) and the fantastic map capability. This was an upgrade from my old Edge 500. I found the set up and general use a bit daunting to begin with as many aspects do not seem intuitive to me. Garmin support was extremely helpful and I am slowly figuring out many of the functions though there are so many that I will probably never use...it's a bit overwhelming. I'm now to the point that I'm having fun with it and rather enjoy the challenge of figuring it out. The one thing I don't like so far is how slow it is to calculate grade. It's fairly good on long, sustained climbs but on short rollers, it's very poor. My old Edge 500 was much better...you'd think a computer of this caliber and price would offer lightening fast data regarding grade.
The Garmin Edge 1030 was problematic transferring data from my previous Edge 1000, but once that I accepted that only the very basic info could transfer directly and accepted that most would need to be manual it's been good. The model is more reliable than the previous version, operates more consistently. I still need to figure out how to handle the "off course" options as they are not intuitively named and don't allow more than seconds for a decision. But overall it does what it is suppose to do. The slightly larger size makes the data more readable when attempting to finding it quickly on the move. The on/off button is much better designed for durability than the 1000 was, so hopefully it will last longer. I didn't expect to be impressed with the new ClimbPro feature but it does come in handy when climbing new terrain and knowing where you are when the climb is a slog. Unfortunately, it doesn't actually make the climbs easier. It is a pricey product so that could be a factor. Customer support is much improved over years ago, so they are responding to the presence of more competition.
This computer has all the bells and whistles. Large screen allows you to have a lot of data at a glance. Maps and navigation are great. Do I need all the options? No Do I even look at the detailed training analysis? No. Basically I spent a ton of money on the large very readable screen and maps. Is it worth it? Depend on your needs. So I mentioned that there is one feature that really bugs me, the gradient data is so slow to respond that I begin a climb and my grade still registers at zero. I finish a climb and begin to go downhill but the gradient is still increasing because it is trying to catch up. Very annoying. I live in a hilly area and like to know what my power output is on a 8 percent gradient but it is not accurate because of its slowness to respond in real time. Almost returned it but decided to hold on and see if Garmin has a fixed for their top of the line computer.
I don't know what's happening. But I've 2 Garmin 1000's in the past year where the battery I assume has swollen pushing the screen out of the unit. I'm assuming the heat or cold has blown up the battery for lack of a technical explanation.
My newest replacement that I received in April. The backlight upon setting up was blinking while in use. Then the unit started to shut down during use.
Never used to have problems with these computers years ago.
I upgraded to the Edge 1030 Plus from an Edge 520 Plus. I was immediately amazed how good and fast the 1030 Plus is and how deficient the 520 Plus was. The battery life is amazing - I can go on several rides and don't have to even think about charging - while on longer rides on the 520 Plus I had to take a battery pack and cable with me and ran into issues with the Micro USB connector. The 1030 is solid - has an acceptable display and very useful functions/features that I am still discovering. The firmware seems to be solid and stable.
A feature that I thought that I would not use frequently is the navigation. I create routes in Strava and started to discover new routes or to become more adventurous. The navigation is really helpful as you don't have to wonder when to turn or stop to look at your phone. Very useful in cities - you can concentrate on the traffic. Re-routing is also ok and sufficiently fast. The touchscreen works well - so far used only in winter only with gloves - no problem. Can't wait for spring. It has a lot of options for configuration - have not tried everything. I love the climb feature and Strava routes and other pleasant surprises and can't wait to use the unit for mountain biking.
Although I got it at BTD at a great deal I was initially hesitant if I should spent this much money on a bike computer - especially since I already had the (slow) 520 Plus. I can say that it was worth to upgrade and I am surprised how much more useful functionality and features the 1030 Plus offers combined with good integration with the GarminConnect App. Considering the frustration and the hassle with external battery packs on my old computer the 1030 Plus seems to be the best solution for all-day riding. Highly recommended.
I have been riding with this computer for a month now. It was easy to set up and linked to my other Garmin components including power pedals without and problem. Most importantly, the 1030 plus gives the rider a lot of useful data on one screen. I highly recommend this computer.
I'm the map/route guy for my group. I got this primarily for the larger screen size compared to my old Edge 800. Unlike the 1030, this one WILL work with long fingered gloves which is critical in Portland, OR!
I can't say there are a few bugs to be worked out but overall I'm glad I bought it.
Garmin tech support is actively helping me with an issue now and seem to be genuinely interested in finding a solution.
Took this on a recent tour.
Everything about it is fantastic - customization, legibility, use, battery life, information, etc., except for one thing, the routing.
The mapping and routing is horrendous. There were some roads, perfectly suitable for riding, that the computer simply refused to use. Even if I established the route on a pc and loaded it, if I varied from that in the slightest, it rerouted, coming up with the worst routing possible. It would try to take me down dead ends, loops, or even off road, all to paternalistically avoid a road I was on. Sometimes the waypoints it established didn't match the physical road, so it's jagged zigzaggy route was telling me to turn every 200 yards, in long winding stretches of road with no intersections anywhere. Google Maps on my phone is a thousand times better.
So, if you are not counting on it for routing, it's great. But, for the money there is no excuse for the routing to be so bad.
Garmin edge 1030 plus has tons of data fields and you can get all the information you need in one screen. If you are training with data and want to.improve your performance, look no further than the 1030 plus.
This unit replaced an Edge 1000 that was slowly dying. Display and fields are slightly larger and easier to read, and the battery life is astounding in comparison. Paired easily with all of my sensors, including power meter, and even tracks my fitness and VO2 Max. Very happy with my purchase.
Paired so easily with sensors (power meter, cadence sensor, Fenix 5 watch/heart rate monitor).
Super easy to switch between screens.
Big display so my old eyes can read the items I am trying to read (heart rate, speed, cadence, and power).
Longer Lasting Battery and nicer features make the Garmin Edge 1030 Plus a very good buy. It is a bit expensive but well worth the price. I am still learning how to use it and getting used to the differences between 1030 Plus and 1000
