- 4 / 5 Bee's Knees -
Arguably, the greatest area of growth in todays cycling market is technology. Engineering advancements will forever be present, however, tech nerds are poking their heads in the design labs and adding their fifty cents to test the new limits of cycling. Although entirely new products are being introduced to the bike industry, this review exemplifies how the advancement of technology is pushing the price of goods lower and lower into a range where a whole new segment of riders are frothing at the mouth over the gear they’ve been longing for but have never been able to afford.
Included in this list of increasingly affordable accessories are GPS cyclometers. Most are good, some are poor and a handful really give the premium brands a run for their money. Bryton sport is one company edging their way into this market. Though they have an established market in Australia, Europe, Asia and Mexico, the US has not seen so much as a glimpse of their offerings. As of writing, Bryton is in talks with US distributors to change this. With common functions including GPS tracking, Cadence, Speed, Power, Heartrate, Lap and a few extras, the 310t from Bryton takes on entry-level computers from Garmin but with a lower price point…I suspect. At the time of writing, there appears to be no US dealers and therefore no pricing.
Heart Rate Montior
I think the easiest way to review this product is to simply run through the good, the bad and the average characteristics of each component. To begin, there are many options in terms of accessories to be included. The “t” model I am reviewing includes a cadence sensor and a heart rate monitor. Starting with the simple stuff, the ANT+ heart rate monitor (strap) offers above average comfort, generous size adjustability, a cleaning-friendly design with removable transmitter and ample contact to ensure consistent readings. A quick release hook provides a fast and secure means to adorn your HRM. Readings seem accurate and function is typical of a HRM with the displayed rate trailing about 3 seconds behind your actual heart rate.
Cadence Sensor
Cadence readings are a touch more responsive with an estimated 1-2 second delay from actual revolutions…a very usable value. Installation of the ANT+ cadence sensor is easy and secure. While the cadence sensor uses zip-ties and looks appropriate, the use of those same ties for the crankarm magnet looks quite tacky on a high-end bike. That being said, the magnet does stay in place with its foam backing. Initial pairing is also easy, simply press the pairing button on the cadence sensor while the GPS is within range. A dual speed/cadence sensor is also available which improves the accuracy or responsiveness of the displayed current speed.
GPS Mount
A premium head unit mount is included offering a very solid interface with two points to engage the GPS head unit. To protect your stem or bar, Bryton has included silicone straps and a silicone stem pad. This integral component is very well designed and yields no jittering or shifting. Those looking for a bar fly mount can find this style through Bryton as an optional accessory. Truly, this mount is a high point. In an area where other companies would cut corners, Bryton did it right, I’m a fan of the mount even though a barfly would be preferable.
GPS Head Unit Operation & Features
Before diving into all of the features, the operation of the 310T is quite intuitive and only requires a few “nice to know” tidbits before getting started. To begin recording a ride, power up the GPS, let it acquire a signal and press the orange center button to begin. An optional audible beep setting provides a reminder to initiate your ride should you forget to initiate it. Most rides start relatively true to your actual position. It all comes down to GPS reception which occasionally can take a short block or two to acquire. Pressing the left button once will pause a riding session. To end a recording session, you select the left stop/back button twice. For nighttime riding, the backlight feature is helpful. There are several duration settings you can select, but keep in mind the backlight will drain your battery more quickly on longer settings. Bryton claims the following runtimes:
36 Hours: Powersave GPS, No Backlight
28 Hours: Powersave GPS, Constant Backlight
28 Hours: Full Power GPS, No Backlight
23 Hours: Full Power GPS, Constant Backlight
To trigger the backlight while on a momentary setting, depress any button. However, because depressing the left button twice will end the ride, take care to press this only once or (better yet) select the right or center button to trigger the backlight. On more than one occasion I have accidentally double tapped the left button while wearing gloves attempting to initiate the backlight. Again, take care here. Lap and training functions are also packed into the 310. Workouts can be programmed to help you with your training goals to target your heart rate or intervals for example. Information displayed on the head unit correlates to sensors that are successfully connected. For example, with no sensors connected, the head unit displays at minimum 2 large data fields. As sensors are connected, those 2 fields become at most 8 smaller data fields. Organization of these data fields can be set to “auto” providing a handful of preset pages to scroll through. Alternatively you can set the “data page” to manual and program each of the 5 pages to display exactly the data you want and which field you want it to fall into. This is really powerful customization, though a little tough to find in the device and time consuming to set up [settings, exercises, data page...set to manual, then down one to configure]. Display clarity is more than adequate and the anti-glare housing makes for easy viewing at any time of day. As a final gem, Bluetooth connectivity is included but provides only partial features. You can upload a recorded ride from your GPS to a smart phone (with the Bryton App) but only to Bryton’s tracking system, not to popular social ride platforms such as Strava. You’ll need to sync the device to your computer to upload to platforms other than Brytons.
As for straight up specs, the 310 offers:
- IPX7 waterproof rating
- Barometer sensor for true altitude
- 2.4ghz ANT + compatibility (Power, cadence, speed, HRM)
- Bluetooth for additional connectivity (Smart phone upload)
- Strava, Training Peaks, MapMyRide and other social ride support (.fit format)
- 1 second recording interval, or GPS “power save” interval
- 1.8” LED display w/backlight
- Battery runtime (claimed) 36 hours
- USB charging and upload
36 Hours: Powersave GPS, No Backlight
28 Hours: Powersave GPS, Constant Backlight
28 Hours: Full Power GPS, No Backlight
23 Hours: Full Power GPS, Constant Backlight
To trigger the backlight while on a momentary setting, depress any button. However, because depressing the left button twice will end the ride, take care to press this only once or (better yet) select the right or center button to trigger the backlight. On more than one occasion I have accidentally double tapped the left button while wearing gloves attempting to initiate the backlight. Again, take care here. Lap and training functions are also packed into the 310. Workouts can be programmed to help you with your training goals to target your heart rate or intervals for example. Information displayed on the head unit correlates to sensors that are successfully connected. For example, with no sensors connected, the head unit displays at minimum 2 large data fields. As sensors are connected, those 2 fields become at most 8 smaller data fields. Organization of these data fields can be set to “auto” providing a handful of preset pages to scroll through. Alternatively you can set the “data page” to manual and program each of the 5 pages to display exactly the data you want and which field you want it to fall into. This is really powerful customization, though a little tough to find in the device and time consuming to set up [settings, exercises, data page...set to manual, then down one to configure]. Display clarity is more than adequate and the anti-glare housing makes for easy viewing at any time of day. As a final gem, Bluetooth connectivity is included but provides only partial features. You can upload a recorded ride from your GPS to a smart phone (with the Bryton App) but only to Bryton’s tracking system, not to popular social ride platforms such as Strava. You’ll need to sync the device to your computer to upload to platforms other than Brytons.
As for straight up specs, the 310 offers:
- IPX7 waterproof rating
- Barometer sensor for true altitude
- 2.4ghz ANT + compatibility (Power, cadence, speed, HRM)
- Bluetooth for additional connectivity (Smart phone upload)
- Strava, Training Peaks, MapMyRide and other social ride support (.fit format)
- 1 second recording interval, or GPS “power save” interval
- 1.8” LED display w/backlight
- Battery runtime (claimed) 36 hours
- USB charging and upload
My overall opinion of the 310T is as follows. Presuming the price of the 310 is as competitive as I expect it to be, this is a very capable computer. While some cutting edge functionality that competitors offer is lacking, the overall performance of the 310 seems more than adequate for all but the most serious or discriminating riders. Operation is smooth and mostly intuitive. Connectivity with the provided sensors has been nothing but perfect. Displayed data delay/lag is prevalent but within a range that is common of GPS computers at this price point. GPS sensitivity is possibly the source of my only concern with this device. On one ride, I lost GPS tracking in an area where I normally would receive tracking via Strava on an iPhone 6. As a result, the recording self-terminated and I manually started a new ride once I became aware of this. My single ride was therefore chopped into two rides on Strava which could not be joined into a single ride. I suspect this is also the reason the GPS doesn’t initiate rides for a block or two after you start riding. Alongside this text you'll find comparisons of iPhone 6 data (via Strava) versus the 310. Click the pictures to enlarge and scroll through to compare.
Make of this what you will, to me it appears that the GPS track of the phone is smoothed out through an algorithm to provide more accurate data where the 310 appears to be raw data…notice the more jagged edges of the 310’s track. However, the tracking of the 310 almost appears more accurate than the iPhone, at least in reference to the map underlay. Regardless, I provided these illustrations to allow you to make whatever inferences you choose, and record some sort of tangible information. The differences in speed are negligible, but the height or altitude differences are more noticeable. I’ve seen this on multiple GPS units and suspect that the 310 is more accurate than the phone considering Strava discards barometer information from phone sources and replaces it with their own elevation data when recording straight to Strava (to the best of my research). Here is a great article that supports this.
For deep pocketed riders, a Garmin or comparable GPS is likely within their current arsenal of gear and that's fantastic. Bryton sport, however, has developed very solid computers for those riders who wish to have nearly all the functionality of more expensive GPS units but at a great savings. A topic which must be addressed is smart phone capabilities. Users can simply download an app such as Strava and have considerable functionality at absolutely zero cost. Where a GPS like the 310 justifies its use over its free counterpart is through expanded functions, a design that better fits cockpit mounting, and greater accuracy in certain respects. I often wondered if I’d ever truly need a dedicated GPS over a phone for the basic rides or commutes I do so often. After testing a handful of GPS’s, the advantages are real. Save your phone battery, have all your data displayed in front of you and avoid getting texts while on your bike…enjoy your ride for god sake, who cares what Tammy Tweeter eat for lunch...catch my drift? I’m a big fan of the 310T. As a whole, it provides all the features I’d look for in a GPS with a quality build, light package and good ease of use. Because of the occasionally spotty GPS signal, I have to mention this fault but will reassure buyers that this issue is minor enough where most users will likely have little trouble. Happy rides folks!
- UPDATE My contact at Bryton reports: "Both Rider 100/310 will be available in most KHS distributed Bike shops in California by mid November (if no delays), and for other consumers, these will be available on Amazon as well. The MSRP will be $69.95 for the Rider 100 and $99.95 for Rider 310." Please note that these prices reflect the GPS units without any sensors or heart rate monitors. If all this holds true $100 will afford you a solid GPS. This is a new world folks, enjoy!
For deep pocketed riders, a Garmin or comparable GPS is likely within their current arsenal of gear and that's fantastic. Bryton sport, however, has developed very solid computers for those riders who wish to have nearly all the functionality of more expensive GPS units but at a great savings. A topic which must be addressed is smart phone capabilities. Users can simply download an app such as Strava and have considerable functionality at absolutely zero cost. Where a GPS like the 310 justifies its use over its free counterpart is through expanded functions, a design that better fits cockpit mounting, and greater accuracy in certain respects. I often wondered if I’d ever truly need a dedicated GPS over a phone for the basic rides or commutes I do so often. After testing a handful of GPS’s, the advantages are real. Save your phone battery, have all your data displayed in front of you and avoid getting texts while on your bike…enjoy your ride for god sake, who cares what Tammy Tweeter eat for lunch...catch my drift? I’m a big fan of the 310T. As a whole, it provides all the features I’d look for in a GPS with a quality build, light package and good ease of use. Because of the occasionally spotty GPS signal, I have to mention this fault but will reassure buyers that this issue is minor enough where most users will likely have little trouble. Happy rides folks!
- UPDATE My contact at Bryton reports: "Both Rider 100/310 will be available in most KHS distributed Bike shops in California by mid November (if no delays), and for other consumers, these will be available on Amazon as well. The MSRP will be $69.95 for the Rider 100 and $99.95 for Rider 310." Please note that these prices reflect the GPS units without any sensors or heart rate monitors. If all this holds true $100 will afford you a solid GPS. This is a new world folks, enjoy!