Ridden and Reviewed: Bryton Aero 60 and Rider 15 GPS Cycling Computers

 

If one were to take a poll out of all cyclists in North America to see how many have heard of the company Bryton, you’d likely see a very small group who have heard of the company. You’re likely to have an even smaller, but dedicated group who have either seen or used a Bryton cycling computer in real life. Add us into that small but dedicated group, with the introduction of the Bryton Aero 60 and the Bryton Rider 15 GPS cycling computers. Bryton Aero 60 The Bryton Aero 60 GPS computer is Bryton’s flagship model, and it is meant to compete with the best that Wahoo and Garmin have to offer. The Aero 60, as the name suggests, is an aerodynamically-designed head unit that has a dimpled plastic casing and sleek out-front mount that’s different than what their standard computers use. For us, what’s important is the key features it has to offer: customizable data fields, built-in mapping without the need for an additional phone app, and an exceptional 32 hours of battery life at just $229. Data field customization is the name of the game with the Aero 60. The 2.3” black and white screen offers page upon page of settings like that of Garmin, as well as a companion smartphone app that provides access to those same settings pages. You can have between one to five pages, each between two and ten data fields per page. Other features like 32 hours of battery life separate this from the competition. The mapping goes deeper, as the companion app lets you import .gpx profiles to your computer via Bluetooth, and uses Open Street Maps (like Garmin) preloaded to the computer to give turn-by-turn navigation, and breadcrumb trails on singletrack. Bryton is working to add mapping from trail mapping platforms like Trailforks and MTB Project to help riders better follow existing trails, which we hope to see down the line. The computer uses five different satellite networks (GPS, Glonass, Galileo, QZSS, and BDS) for a reliable satellite network anywhere. It's compatible with ANT+ heart rate monitors, speed sensors, cadence sensors, and power meters, and displays Shimano/SRAM/Campagnolo electronic shifting information like gear ratio, gear combo, and battery life. Ride activities can be automatically uploaded to Strava and Komoot. Bryton Rider 15 This might be the model we’re most excited about. The Bryton Rider 15 with a cadence sensor comes in at just $99, and is a reliable GPS computer with tons of battery life. Not much to it really. The small device has an exceptionally long 16-hour battery life compared to most GPS computers, mostly due to the basic screen and lack of any mapping function while riding. That said, the computer has an auto shut down feature when it isn’t working, and it automatically starts and stops recording based on your ride. What’s most impressive is the number of features Bryton fits into the computer. It’ll do speed, time, and distance like the competition, but it also adds altitude measurement, heart rate, cadence, and auto syncing to Strava and Training Peaks through the Bryton Active smartphone app. Bryton Active Smartphone App Bryton offers a companion app for both the Rider 15 and Aero 60 that is more or less the key to unlocking these computers. As mentioned before, these two computers offer auto syncing to Strava and Training Peaks, but all Bryton Active-enabled computers offer for data field customization (not unlike the Wahoo ELEMNT app) through the app. Obviously, there are more restrictions to the amount of data the Rider 15 can have on one screen, but it can show you exactly what you want, more or less where you want it. Aero 60 adds a lot more options, many of which are accessible from the computer itself but are more easily accessed through the app. In Action With the Bryton Aero 60 Setting up the Bryton Aero 60 initial startup doesn’t require a smartphone, though I recommend using the companion app as it is a bit more user-friendly than the endless menus at your disposal. There’s no touchscreen interface, though the button layout is easy enough to understand after a bit of time with it. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Aero 60 is the remarkable battery life. This computer surely doesn’t suck down power like a Garmin 1030, but it has no need for an extended-range battery pack. Bryton quotes a 32-hour battery life, but my app reported 20% battery remaining after around 30 hours of riding time with GPS mapping the entire time, paired to my phone via Bluetooth. A big reason why battery life is so good is the non-touch monochromatic display. The display is easy to read under myriad lighting conditions, with text sizing dependent on the number of fields you select in the companion app. Regardless of the time of day, the computer found GPS satellites quickly and reliably. Navigation is less detailed than what you’d find from Wahoo or Garmin, though the breadcrumb trail mapping is still detailed enough to get where one wanted on the trail. I would go as far as to say that it is easier to read at first glance than a monochrome Wahoo display. Routes must be uploaded to the Bryton Active companion app manually, or you can add routes to your Strava profile, and the app will push those routes to the companion app. It is important to note that routes imported from Strava are currently breadcrumb-only and that importing a .gpx file from RideWithGPS or creating a route on the app gives you true turn-by-turn directions. Pairing the computer to a power meter or heart rate monitor is relatively easy, and information relays quickly to the computer. Data fields for Shimano Di2, SRAM eTap, or Campagnolo EPS drivetrains works really well, though we only mated it to a Di2 drivetrain. In Action With the Bryton Rider 15 The Rider 15 requires a bit of reading before setup if only to understand what each symbol means. It’ll have you go through a few options, but once completed the computer is fairly straightforward. Unlike other computers at this price point, data field customization is surprisingly customizable. It allows you to have between one to five pages, each with the choice of showing speed, distance, cadence, heart rate, and a few other settings. Bryton’s Rider 15 has the same quick GPS satellite connectivity, and through the companion app, rides can be uploaded for analysis to Strava, Komoot, or the like. Its the same app as the Aero 60, though there aren’t many options available on the app outside of data field customization. And like the Aero 60, the computer exceeded its 16-hour battery life quote from Bryton. Conclusion If you’re deeply embedded into the Garmin ecosystem, or if you use a Wahoo smart trainer in conjunction with your computer, then it is unlikely that the Bryton Aero 60 will do anything for you. But if you’re looking for pure data collection, easy-to-use mapping, and exceptional battery life, the Aero 60 is a worthwhile choice. The Rider 15 has a lot to offer at its price point. It might not have the same level of features as high-end computers, but it does the basics really well. That might be the overarching theme of these two computers: they cover the basics well without being a jack-of-all-trades. Not everyone needs the features or complexity of some of the top cycling computer brands, which makes the Bryton offers easy to recommend.

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Have any questions about Bryton cycling computers? Give us a call during business hours, or send us an email any time to info@contenderbicycles.com.