"El cheepo" Backup cycling computer.

[Dicky DQ]

On 12/23/2025 at 9:47 AM, Jaco Steyn said:

Thanks for all the guidance and pointers.

It's actually amazing how this sorted itself out. I bumped into an ex-colleague and chatted with him a bit. He also is a keen cyclist, but he mostly does MTB whilst I do road cycling. I asked his opinion on an emergency backup cycling GPS, and he told me that he recently upgraded to a Garmin Edge 540. He then gifted me his old Edge 500 which he told me still works perfectly. Obviously, I gladly accepted it.

As you can see, it still looks good considering its age. He said he used it for more than 10 years.

Now that is bullet proof and does more than enough and has great battery life, 16 to 20hrs settings dependent. And if the battery dies it is an easy replacement.

[Shebeen]

On 12/22/2025 at 3:47 PM, guidodg said:

that does look cool. what radar is it twinned with?

[Shebeen]

On 12/22/2025 at 10:04 AM, Jaco Steyn said:

I am looking at getting an inexpensive backup cycling computer to have on hand for just in case my Garmin Edge 130 Plus gives up on me unexpectedly. I see there are a few options in the classifieds section available. Below are examples of some listings.

IGPSport BSC100S Cycling Computer  - R500

Xoss G+ Smart GPS Cycling Computer - R850

Blackbird Cycling GPS - R600

Which one would be the better option? There are a few Garmins (which I am very familiar with) also available, but not at a price I am willing to spend for an emergency backup.

To be honest, I really thought this is what you meant by el cheepo.....

 

[michaelbiker]

6 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

that does look cool. what radar is it twinned with?

It supports any radar. I have the same device and use a Magene radar, but I think guidodg uses a Garmin Varia.

[guidodg]

8 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

that does look cool. what radar is it twinned with?

Varia… had a Magene but got dozens of false positives every ride, drove me mad…Varia is solid

[Danger Dassie]

43 minutes ago, michaelbiker said:

It supports any radar. I have the same device and use a Magene radar, but I think guidodg uses a Garmin Varia.

Ditto, Magene radar paired with a Garmin 530. Never had a false positive, works a charm and easily setups with the app. 

[Jaco Steyn]

16 hours ago, Shebeen said:

To be honest, I really thought this is what you meant by el cheepo.....

 

 

But, but, but Strava....?😉

[Gerlach]

Installed the unit today on my mtb and did a quick ride down the road. To add the cadence and heart sensor was really easy and what i like about the sensors was, you can check all there info via the app to see the sensor info and signal strength and battery info. Allot info on the screen to. Will check how it perform tomorrow.

You can even control your insta360 with this unit. 

[Gerlach]

On 2/13/2026 at 2:02 PM, Dexter-morgan said:

If it wasn't for Stupid vitality, I would have been onto this.

Do they need the gxp info or the strava info? 

[Martin Albrecht]

Has anyone tried the IGPSport 200 or 300 units? 
 

looking for some input on those, and also if there is a supplier other than Temu to buy them.

There are some resellers on Takealot, but none have stock, but I have a business trip to Europe next month, so considering ordering on bikeinn and having delivered to the hotel. 

[Dexter-morgan]

On 2/14/2026 at 8:36 PM, Gerlach said:

Do they need the gxp info or the strava info? 

They are quite specific, the activity needs to be recorded with a Garmin device, I know there is a work around with fitfiletools but that is even more of a schlep.

[Gerlach]

11 minutes ago, Dexter-morgan said:

They are quite specific, the activity needs to be recorded with a Garmin device, I know there is a work around with fitfiletools but that is even more of a schlep.

Ishhhhhhh Time to move over to a different devil then, if you know what I mean 😉

[NC_lurker]

On 12/26/2025 at 11:53 AM, guidodg said:

weird, everyone I open on Aliexpress gives me free shipping to SA

@guidodg didn't you get hit quite hard with customs/duties when you brought this in? I seem to remember someone posting about a bike computer via AliExpress incurring costs almost equivalent to the purchase price..

Looking for a cheap option that will connect to a Garmin varia for my GF to use while cycling with me. She uses a Polar watch as her primary and really doesn't need navigation functionality. 

[guidodg]

I paid about R450 fees if I remember correctly for the Geoid600....so cost me around R1300 in total...if someone is interested I can let it go for R900 since I use an iPhone mini 12 now as a cycling computer

Edited February 17 by guidodg

[Gerlach]

6 hours ago, NC_lurker said:

@guidodg didn't you get hit quite hard with customs/duties when you brought this in? I seem to remember someone posting about a bike computer via AliExpress incurring costs almost equivalent to the purchase price..

Looking for a cheap option that will connect to a Garmin varia for my GF to use while cycling with me. She uses a Polar watch as her primary and really doesn't need navigation functionality. 

I paid R1545.77 for my Geoid CC700 pro and customs was R519.11 with Imele courier, but i still need mail them for my tax invoice and was busy drafting a mail because they are k@k skelm with there customs cost. Allot of people are complaining about the courier. Will get the link post about it. 

Friend of mine mention that if he order something from AliExpress, then he drops a note for the seller to ask that they don't send it with Imele, or he will request a refund. 

[Gerlach]

Here is the link 

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/business/628709-one-courier-so-bad-that-many-south-africans-prefer-the-post-office-for-parcel-deliveries.html

 

I just order a bunch of cycling stuff from Temu, was arround R2000 and just paid R335.15 customs, so that was not bad.