Today saw the launch of the new Garmin Edge 1040 and Edge 1040 Solar cycling computers. They are the flagship models in the Garmin cycling computer range, and while nobody expected them to be cheap, they still represent an extremely large investment for most of us. The non-solar model is priced at £519.99 / €599.99 / $599.99 / AU$999.00, which, credit to Garmin is no more expensive than the Edge 1030 Plus it replaces. But the cherry-on-the-cream-on-the-icing-on-the-cake model, the Edge 1040 Solar, is priced at a range-topping £629.99 / €749.99 / $749.99 / AU$1299.00.
At that price, I personally can't afford one, and while I am rather excited about the prospect of immense battery life and Garmin's guidance on how to train for an event - two of its key features - the fact remains that I can get most of the Edge 1040's functions at a much lower price point.
That's especially true given the fact that, among others, the Edge 1030 Plus is currently available with between 23 and 25% off. That's the computer that until today, was the best Garmin had to offer.
Obviously, as with any purchase, there's a balance to strike. What's your budget? What do you need from the purchase? What extra features would you like? As the budget increases, so does the size of the feature list you can have, but how far that budget can go is also in balance with something else: the price a retailer wants to set.
If you can afford the latest, greatest cycling computer from Garmin, then don't let me stop you from buying it - in fact, here, I'll make it easy for you - but if you need a new cycling computer and, like me and many others, you can't quite stretch to this pricepoint, here are the best alternative options currently available online, many of which are discounted.
