Reading your computer screen in full sun has always meant squinting at washed-out data or cranking brightness so high your battery dies halfway through. The Edge 850 from Garmin addresses both problems with a 1000-nit transmissive LCD borrowed from the flagship Edge 1050, delivering smartphone-like clarity without the usual compromises. This 2.7" display renders maps and metrics in vivid detail whether you're climbing through shadowed forest or hammering across sunbaked pavement. The 420 x 600 pixel resolution keeps text sharp while automatic backlight adjustment handles changing conditions seamlessly.

Garmin packages serious training intelligence into this compact computer. Smart fueling alerts track your current fitness against course demands, heat, and humidity to prompt hydration and nutrition when your body actually needs it. The system accounts for power output, environmental conditions, and elevation profile ahead to calculate when energy stores need replenishment. The adaptive Garmin Cycling Coach adjusts training recommendations based on recovery status and upcoming course demands. Cycling ability metrics show how your strengths and weaknesses stack up against terrain ahead, giving concrete data on fitness gaps. After rides with electronic shifting, gear ratio analysis breaks down which gears saw the most use.

The Edge 850 handles navigation through preloaded maps covering road, gravel, and trail networks across two regions, with additional maps available as free downloads. Real-time weather overlays display wind direction and radar on the map itself, letting you adjust routes before headwinds or storms arrive. The on-device course creator uses the touchscreen to plot routes point-by-point without needing a phone. Multi-band GPS pulls signals from GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellites simultaneously for accurate tracking under tree cover or between buildings. The faster processor keeps map redraw smooth when panning or zooming.... Read More