Garmin Edge 1040 Solar bike computer presented – endless battery life thanks to the power of the sun?
Smart functions and long battery life – that’s what the new Garmin Edge 1040 Solar performance bike computer is supposed to deliver. Garmin have equipped the new top model with a solar cell that charges the device while riding. You can find all the information here in our news.
Garmin is integrating solar technology into its high-end bike computer series for the first time and wants to use it to fuel up on the power of the sun: The Edge 1040 Solar features a Power Glass solar charging lens, as known from wearables like the fēnix 7. This should allow for a longer ride time between charges. Garmin promises up to 45 hours in GPS mode with paired sensors and up to 100 hours in battery-saving mode.
Also new is multi-frequency reception (GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO) on both frequency bands, which should allow for more accurate positioning in challenging environments like urban canyons, mountain valleys or dense forests. All info on the brand new Garmin Edge 1040 Solar can be found here in the official Garmin press release:
“Packed with cutting-edge navigation, performance, safety and smart features, the Edge 1040 series has a completely redesigned, modern user interface: quick access to key information, ability to customize the home screen, an improved ride summary – all this and more on a 3.5-inch touch display. No matter where the ride takes you or what bike you’re riding, the Edge 1040 series is ready for any adventure from remote gravel trails to challenging climbs.
New ways to more performance and power
The bike computer was developed by cyclists for cyclists and combines innovative advancements in technology and performance data. In addition to the solar charging function and multi-frequency reception of global satellite systems, these include the new functions cycling ability and route requirements. Using these and in conjunction with compatible sensors, the user’s own strengths and weaknesses become visible and can be compared with the requirements of a route. This makes it easier to assess one’s own performance.
In addition, the power guide helps to find the optimal power input for the route and its elevation profile and to create a suitable performance strategy for it. The Stamina function in turn tracks performance during bike training and shows the personal available residual energy in real time. Energy consumption can thus be optimized to avoid early exhaustion.
Support for an efficient training experience
To provide targeted support for performance improvement, the Edge 1040 series offers extensive metrics from Firstbeat Analytics, such as VO2 max, recovery time, training load or load focus, and thus provides information about how the body reacts to training efforts. Heat and altitude acclimatization as well as fluid balance can also be kept in view. In addition, cycling fans receive daily training suggestions based on their current training load and VO2 max. Whether cycling indoors or outdoors, bike enthusiasts can automatically sync workouts from Garmin Connect or other training apps, including TrainingPeaks, to the Edge 1040 series.
Before steep climbs, the ClimbPro function provides valuable data on incline, distance and elevation to optimally allocate your own forces. Afterwards, the performance on the respective climbs can be viewed in detail directly on the display or in Garmin Connect. Mountain bike metrics, including the number of jumps, jump distance, and hang time, grit, and flow, record the details of fast-paced descents.
Billions of kilometers of route suggestions – nevertheless completely individual
Whether on a road, gravel or mountain bike, through busy cities or remote areas, the Edge 1040 series supports with appropriate navigation tools. High contrast, activity type specific maps use a Trendline Popularity map overlay to show popular routes of the community directly on the device – even without active navigation. With active navigation, Trendline Popularity routing is used to navigate and warn of sharp turns.
At the same time, route guidance and notifications about leaving the route can be paused and the terrain can be explored off the beaten path. Route guidance can be reactivated at any time to return to the original route or starting point. The preloaded Trailforks map provides complementary routes and trail details from more than 80 countries – including Forksight mode, which automatically marks upcoming junctions and position within the trail network.
Connected and safe to the destination
Safety technologies and smart features combined with a compatible smartphone make it possible to stay connected during the tour. Built-in safety and tracking features include automatic accident detection, assistance features, and Live and GroupTrack, which allow loved ones to track position in real time and view the entire planned route. For added safety while riding, the Edge 1040 series is compatible with the Varia product line, including the new Varia RCT715/716 with radar function, camera and rear light. The cycling computer can also connect with inReach devices, allowing cyclists with an active inReach subscription to view and reply to messages, share trip data and trigger an interactive SOS in case of emergency.
In addition to receiving notifications and automatically syncing rides with Garmin Connect, the Edge 1040 series easily pairs with a Tacx indoor trainer for a year-round training experience. Likewise, the current battery status of compatible sensors including battery warnings can be viewed via Garmin Connect. Starting right away without wasting time on configuration after switching on for the first time? No problem. Those switching from a previous model get pre-built custom ride profiles based on previous Edge settings. Garmin newbies automatically get the community’s most popular configurations as presets based on their sensors and set ride types. Once set up, all activity as well as profile settings can be set directly from the smartphone via Garmin Connect and synced to the Edge 1040 in real time.”
Our conclusion on the new Garmin Edge 1040 Solar bike computer
With the use of a solar cell in the Edge 1040 Solar bike computer Garmin brings an absolutely sensible upgrade in the new Edge 1040 series. After all, you can’t afford an empty battery, especially on long rides into the unknown. The company is also consistently developing the smart features for ride and training control as well as navigation. The test will have to prove how long the battery actually lasts and how the functions work in practice. All information about the test will be available soon.
More information can be found at garmin.com.
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Words: Photos: Garmin
