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TECH NEWS

Giant NeosTrack GPS computer - First Look

£150 GPS computer with 33 hour battery life and 2.6in screen now available

The GPS computer market is largely dominated by Garmin but there are a few companies vying to tempt customers away, the likes of Wahoo, Bryton, and Lezyne are increasingly popular alternatives, and now you can add Giant Bicycles to that list - we’ve just received the company’s new £149.99 NeosTrack GPS computer for review, so here’s a quick first look.

- 10 of the best cycling GPS units — ride data and bike satnav from as little as £35

Giant Neostrack GPS Computer - boxed.jpg

Yes, that’s right, the world’s biggest bicycle brand is getting into the GPS game. To help accelerate Giant’s entry into the GPS market, it has used Bryton technology to develop the NeosTrack, working with the company to adapt the underlying tech with a whole host of changes brought about by development with Team Sunweb this season. It's now appearing in shops but it’s likely a product that has snuck under your radar, there’s certainly been little fanfare around its launch.

The NeosTrack doesn’t have a touchscreen like the new Garmin Edge 1030, instead, there are five buttons. The bottom button turns the unit on and off and activates a backlight. The top left button is back and stop, the lower left button is OK and lap and the right-hand side buttons scroll up and down, with the lower right button also taking you into the menu.

Giant Neostrack GPS Computer -  screen.jpg

The LCD screen measures 2.6in and the unit is 92.9 x 57 x 20.3mm and weighs 78g. It’s water resistance to an IPX7 rating and the rechargeable lithium-ion battery is good for a claimed 33 hours - that’s longer than many rival GPS computers.

There’s both Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ connectivity, making it compatible with heart rate and cadence sensors and power meters. If you have a dual-sided power meter it’ll display left and right power values.

Giant Neostrack GPS Computer - bottom button.jpg

It’s laden with features. It offers navigation functionality, with the routes created in the companion smartphone app or website downloadable to the NeosTrack computer where you can then follow turn-by-turn instructions and receive route and elevation details. It’s breadcrumb navigation though, there’s no base map like with an Edge 820 or 1030.

Giant Neostrack GPS Computer - mount.jpg

There’s Di2 compatibility so you can see real-time info on the state of the Di2 battery level and what gear you’re in. Giant is planning to add SRAM eTap and FSA WE compatibility later this year as well.

TrainSmart is a function that tracks your fitness and customises workouts to achieve certain goals. You can easily select workouts base don FTP or heart rate values and create interval sessions.

Giant Neostrack GPS Computer - back.jpg

After your ride or interval session, you can automatically upload the activity to popular training websites like Strava and TrainingPeak, as well as the dedicated NeosTrack smartphone app.

- 9 of the best cheap GPS cycling computers

Those are the key details on the new Giant NeosTrack, as I said at the top of the article we’ve got one in for review and there’ll be a full review on the website in a couple of weeks. More info at www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/giant-neostrack-gps-computer

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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7 comments

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bauchlebastart | 6 years ago
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In the market for a new computer and I welcome more choice to break Garmin's monopoly. Giving up on my edge 510...piece of shit. Just had it shut down and lose data for the third time in row during a ride. Apparently all due to a software update. Garmin deny any problem. Will never buy from them again. If you have 510 that works, DO NOT UPDATE IT.

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2x Clavicle Smasher | 6 years ago
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All my Giant bikes have been rock solid, however I have been through 2 Ride Sense sensors in a very short space of time. I hope they have got on top of their fragility in the electronic arena.

 

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musicalmarc | 6 years ago
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it's IPX7 waterproof.  My Lezyne unit can't be used in the rain, the buttons stop working.

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Kelly's Eye replied to musicalmarc | 6 years ago
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musicalmarc wrote:

it's IPX7 waterproof.  My Lezyne unit can't be used in the rain, the buttons stop working.

Seems you must have a dodgy unit.......Don't have a problem with mine in the rain. This is from Lezyne's website....

Are the GPS devices waterproof?
They are water resistant as long as the power plug is properly inserted. All the GPS devices are tested to the IPX7 standard for waterproofness so they can handle extremely wet days on the bike. We test the units by holding them under 1m of water for 30 minutes.
 

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HLaB | 6 years ago
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Do you know if its compatible with a K'Edge TT mount designed for a Garmin? It looks a similar mehanism but is it the same size?

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Welsh boy replied to HLaB | 6 years ago
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HLaB wrote:

Do you know if its compatible with a K'Edge TT mount designed for a Garmin? It looks a similar mehanism but is it the same size?

Going by what Disfunctional-T says, it almost certainly a Bryton fitting so is not compatible.  Have a look at something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bike-Cycling-Computer-Stem-Extension-Mount-Ho...

I bought one (without the GoPro and light fitting) which i mount on the lower stem clamp bolt position, you can change the fitting between Garmin and Bryton and there are other units on ebay very similar but without the option to mount a GoPro or light under the unit.

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TypeVertigo | 6 years ago
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Hoping this does well. More quality options is always great. Unfortunately Giant-branded stuff that isn't bicycles or frames tends to carry a "just an own brand" stigma. The fact that they launched this with very minimal fanfare seems to continue that. Maybe they could take a page from Trek/Bontrager.

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