Garmin is finally embracing e-bikes, as an update to its Garmin Edge 1040 series of cycle computers brings "full e-bike support," including all-new metrics.
If you own a bike capable of connecting to the Edge 1040 with ANT or ANT+ wireless connectivity, as most of the best electric bikes can, you'll be able to view custom data unique to electric bikes. For example, when you upload a trip to Garmin Connect to view on Edge, the bike computer will not only show you your planned trip route, as it would on a conventional bike, if you're using a bike-connected electric bike, but Edge will also tell you if your bike has enough battery power to keep you going during the ride.
Being able to see how much battery your bike has left means you can plan ahead to get to a charging port, either by shortening the ride before you go or turning around and heading home in the middle of an overly ambitious weekend. It's a really useful tool, marking a great start for Garmin's e-bike integration.
You'll also be able to adjust assist levels with the Edge 1040 computer, rather than manually on your bike.
Other non-e-bike-specific features in the update include (finally!) music controls on the Edge 1040 series, visible intensity minute metering, and updated training status, which will import your pace variability status heart rate and recent exercise history from your best Garmin view and view your training status on the Edge.
The update is completely free for existing Edge 1040 users and you can download it by turning on automatic updates from your device or using Garmin Express, just like the recent watch update.
Analysis: a sign of things to come
It's no secret that TechRadar loves our electric bikes. A combination of an inexpensive and healthy hobby and a powerful electric transportation vehicle, electric bikes allow you to go further, longer and with less effort.
Much of Garmin's fitness technology has taken the form of triathlon-adjacent endurance exercises like running and cycling, but people tend to forget that Garmin GPS is also found in cars and other motorized vehicles. Support for electric bikes, a perfect blend of Garmin's areas of expertise in fitness and transportation, seems long overdue, and we can't help but wonder what's next.
Earlier in the year, we briefly wrote about the Edge 1040 Solar, saying at the time that it wasn't worth shelling out for the computer when the Edge 1030 was so similar from a specs perspective. But, if you're an e-bike user, this is a great opportunity to enhance your e-bike experience and be an early adopter of some of Garmin's new technologies. Although the Edge 1040 is an expensive unit, we highly recommend e-bike fans at least take a look at its new capabilities.
Depending on how Garmin likes to operate, other e-bike features may not be far behind Garmin's flagship bike computer.