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Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Strava killed the bike computer

In 1979 Buggles told the world that video had killed the radio star. In fact, they were wrong as they'd failed to consider the fact that it wasn't then, and still isn't now, possible to drive a car and watch telly at the same time. So the radio survives to this day mainly in cars and kitchens.
Technological advancement is not lost on the average cyclist of course: the excitement when you first switched to clipless pedals the game-changing STI gearing and LED lights. Huge steps forward that many riders can't now do without.
It seems to me that bike computers will soon go the same way as the pre-hyperglide pressed steel sprockets and be sacrificed at the alter of advancement by the most powerful cycling superhero: Strava.
Just consider this: if you had the option of spending £500+ on a GPS for your bike today, would you bother? Or would you just think: well, my phone does that so I'll do without and buy those wheels instead.
I think we know the answer.
Yes, I used to have one of those on my bike in 2010

I've been searching online for some details of the sales figures for GPS systems but cant find much data out there. Last year Bryton were predicting strong growth on Bike Biz but there's been little follow up.
While the cheaper end of bike speedos might survive, I reckon the expensive end has been sewn up by the Stravas of this world. How they change the free users into paid for subscribers is another matter for another time.

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