ive tried the wahoo element bolt and still prefer harmons to other GPS units. The 520 is perfect sized and isnt an ipad at the front of your bike. 520 also got rid of the 510 stupid touch screen ! 520 is a great unit and it hasnt slipped a beat for me!
This is the third Garmin I have owned since 2007. Each new Edge has been a significant improvement over the previous one. The Edge 520 is no exception. It is significantly better than my Edge 500 in almost every way. The GPS locks in very quickly, the display is much larger, and the setup options are extensive. I also love the Bluetooth integration with my phone. This is a great bike computer.
Having said that, there are a few things I would change if I could. The display is large and can be configured in a seemingly infinite number of ways. While it is much larger and the numbers are bolder, without the backlight on, it can seem fairly dim when the light is at low angles. Better contrast control on the display would be nice. On the other hand, turning on the backlight pretty much takes care of the issue and doesn't seem to be a huge drain on the battery. The default maps are quite coarse, but downloading Open Street Maps (OSM) for my area took care of that. I was surprised at how little memory the device has - 105 MB. And no expansion slots for microSD, so only a limited number of OSM maps can be put on the device at one time. There are a few other nits I could pick, but overall this is a very nice bike computer and I would highly recommend the Edge 520 to any rider.
Great product. The 520 provides way more information than I will ever require - but I bought it anyway. The customizable screens help to sort out what you want and need. Accuracy appears very good, as with most other Garmin products I have owned. Works good on the indoor trainer too, if you get the speed and cadence sensors.
I love all the information that the Garmin 520 provides and how easy it is to set-up the screen just the way you want it. I do mostly Time Trials and I used to use a Joule GPS and the Garmin screen is much easier to see especially when your sweating so much in your aero helmet .
Perfect size and all the functionality I need. Would purchase again - no issues.
I want to like this computer so much but its turned out to be a huge disappointment. Upgraded from the 810 mainly for the smart notifications feature but must return it because the touch screen has a mind of its own. Not had the issue of it scrolling on its own like so many others on the garmin forum. Just cant swipe 50% of the time for no rhyme or reason.
It works great. It is nice to see the speed, miles traveled etc...It is very easy put on and off the bike.
I had been using the Garmin 500 for at least the last 7 years. When some issues developed with my second 500 I decided to upgrade to the 520. My concern was that it may be too complex for my needs and also it would not be as easy to see as the 500. Neither was an issue. The visibility is much better on the 520 and the setup and use of the 520 is easy. The startstop button is a bit awkward. In a few rides I have inadvertently pressed that button and caused the ride data to end. I can see the 520 much easier even though the numbers are not quite as large as the 500. The background lighting makes it much easier to read. I have not been able to bring the Strava live segments up during a ride to show start and finish points in real time as it says you can do. Maybe I will figure that one out someday. I am really pleased with the 520 and think it is a definite improvement over the 500.
used for cycling
As with most high tech gear, this has way more features than you'll ever actually use. I record my rides for Strava, and track HR and cadence for training. Occasionally use it for nav, which I haven't tried yet, but it was relatively simple to DL a route into the machine. Compared to the Edge 500, it tracks satellites far quicker and is easier to set up for your bike. Auto-upload through bluetooth is great, but don't forget to plug it in to charge it every 3 rides or so.
I got a new power meter and I wanted to upgrade my recording device. I can get all the metrics on the 500 but the added Bluetooth upload feature along with Garmin ConnectIQ apps convinced my to upgrade to the 520.
The color display is a big improvement over the old monochrome display. I can display more fields and I can add app displays from the Garmin ConnectIQ store. I wanted to keep the same form factor so I decided to not upgrade to the larger units. Overall I give it 5 stars.
It is my bicycle computer for all my rides. I have yet to use all the features of the 520. i like the location of the start stop button. I also like the map function and the pacer feature.
Use the 520 Garmin on a Cervelo Road Bike. It easily syncs with smart phone. Downloads activities immediately after the ride. Accurate ride data.
Great computer, accurate, quick sync, good battery life. Very pleased.
I've had several GPS computers including a Garmin 810. During 3 trail rides and one road ride, this GPS has failed to accurately log my speed and distance. I updated the firmware to the latest 2 months ago. Will check for another firmware update, and if the issue is fixed I will update. As it is now, it is an expensive and embarrassing waste of stem space.
Use always on frequent recreational bike rides. Great versatility and features along with connection to Strava. Difficult to learn how to use all functionality.
Used for both training and logging training information
When I first got it it worked ok. I have a 500 and this was a definite upgrade. However I've had a number of problems with it. I had all sorts of problems syncing it with WKO4. However the worst was trying to install the last upgrade. It would go through the validation and it would just stop and drop the sync with Garmin. It just wouldn't work correctly from that point on. I tried the device reset with no luck. I finally gave up and got rid of it. Maybe I got one made on Monday morning. All the other reviews look good. I just a lemon. Went back to my trusty 800.
Only use this for my triathlon biking usage and normally that is 3 times per week. One of those being a longer ride that I use a .fit file map. Not satisfied with the battery life as it only powers for about 6 12 hours. This to me is completely a mistake by Garmin and useless for an avid rider. If I would have known this was the case I would have considered other products. What good is a GPS when I does not last more than 6.5 hours on a bike or anywhere to be honest.
Daily road cycling. Easy to customize and easy to use. LOTS of features, most of which I don't use, but might be handy just the same. Like if you have a power meter...
