Cycle GPS is your best Pal on the road
Cyclo Discover has maps, tours and surprises!
Cyclo Discover Pal From €349 See mio.com ★★★★★
Ifind the shorter evenings don’t lend themselves to a long cycle, so I try to get out on my bike early on Saturdays at this time of year. I tend to use my smartphone for cycling navigation and it works fine, whether I’m just going down the coast or on holidays and looking for something more adventurous.
However, dedicated cycling computers with GPS are becoming increasingly popular with off-road and long-distance cyclists.
Mio makes a range of these, starting at around €200, all the way up to the premium, award-winning Cyclo Discover Pal.
The Discover Pal is slimline at just 10cm x 5.8cms. It weighs 133g so its light and slim dimensions mean it won’t get in the way when mounted on your handlebars. A flexible bike mount kit is included in the box, as is a USB cable and
IT’S ALSO IDEAL FOR TREKKING OR TAKING LONG COUNTRY WALKS
lanyard. Before attaching it to my bike, the Discover Pal needed a charge and the USB charge port is located behind a secure flap, which helps protect the Mio (rated IPX7) during wet weather.
The battery life is 17 hours – one of the biggest attractions for me in buying a cycling computer.
Using maps or navigation apps really draws on your smartphone battery, which is a concern if you’re miles from home or in another country.
Once powered up, the Discover Pal’s 2.8” screen comes to life. It has a decent 240 x 400 resolution, and good colours.
It’s also readable in sunlight and the touchscreen is nicely responsive.
Once you’ve gone through the simple set-up the main menu icons are large and easy to see – which is just as well as you can hardly go fumbling for reading glasses while you’re on the road.
At the top of the home screen you pick the sort of bike you’re riding, including mountain or electric versions.
If you have an electric bike powered by Shimano Steps you can even see battery, travel time, and assist mode data on the Mio. It also has a walk option, making it ideal also for trekking or long country walks, and you can create a group for shared activities – which is great for families and Sunday cyclists.
The tours option lets you use routes from Strava and other services to set up a trip at home and save or share it for the next day, while the fitness option tracks distance, time and calories.
On the base of the GPS there’s a location button to save your exact coordinates, which is useful for recording points of interest or favourites.
A fun addition is ‘Surprise Me’. Once pressed it gives you the option of your favourites, places of interest or a specific map point.
The places of interest are then categorised, so you could find a cafe, camp site or even a bike shop.
It also offers a loop option, so, based on where you are, it will plan a route that lets you see the sights but brings you back to where you started.
While the included bike mounting kit is sufficient, I’d prefer something sturdier off-road.
There is an upgraded mount from Mio, at €35, so perhaps a bundle that includes it and a carry case would make sense if offered.
That’s a small complaint though, as this really is one of those pieces of tech that does exactly what it’s designed to do, and more.
Navigation features are great and you can have spoken instructions played through your phone or headphones, while the routing and activity-sharing options make it ideal for family or club use. Whether cycling at the weekend, on a trip away or even out for a walk the Discover Pal is great company.