BRYTON S500
Proves bike computers don’t need to be complex
Whether it’s on a computer, phone or watch, nearly everyone is tracking rides. But where’s the fine line between being a slave to the stats and using them for the tool that they are? Most computers offer the same lengthy list of features, but having used many, what really differentiates them is the ease of setup, consistency of connectivity with other apps, (by which we mean it works first time, every time) and access to the data that’s relevant to us.
The Bryton S500 is a mid-sized computer designed to be versatile for road, mountain biking and everything in between. It features a 2.4” colour touchscreen with ambient-light sensitivity, 24-hour battery life and optional pairing with its own app.
We used the app and would recommend it. It’s straightforward to use and makes it easy to customise the screen information. If, like us, you prefer a minimal dashboard, it takes a matter of moments to configure. This doesn’t mean you’re dumbing down the data, though: it’s all still there in the app for you if you want it.
There’s also the option to create different profiles, making it versatile to switch between, for example road, gravel and mountain-bike screens. When we did this, we added the SRAM AXS gears to the screen for the gravel-bike profile and the ebike connection for our MTB.
There are four buttons plus the touchscreen for operation. It’s been winter and, because of riding in gloves, we’ve mostly used the buttons, but if you have touchscreen fingertips, the swipe is responsive and quick. Compared to similar popular models, we found the S500 intuitive to navigate and use. There’s a lower level of frustration than with many of these devices, and that extends to connecting with apps such as Strava and Komoot, but we’ve yet to experience any connectivity issues on the S500 and the auto-save to Strava is especially efficient. The downsides? The standard Open Source Maps (OSM) work for road riding, but less so once you head off the beaten track, where Ordnance Survey (OS) in the UK really is the standard. And, of course, the mount, which looks like it’s Garmin-compatible, but isn’t (although an adapter is included). Neither are deal breakers, though, as the usability of this model means it’s still on our wishlist.