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TECH NEWS

Team Sky on Garmin for 2014

Bradley Wiggins shows off his new Garmin Edge 810 in Majorca

It hasn't been confirmed officially yet, but photos posted on Team Sky's Facebook page this week clearly shows the team will be using Garmin computers with their Stages Cycling power meters this season. The photo above is Bradley Wiggins' Pinarello equipped with a Stages branded Garmin Edge 810.

Yesterday, Team Sky announced they would be using Stages Cycling power meters for the 2014 season, switching from SRM which they've been using since 2010. Because Stages Cycling do not manufacturer their own head unit, there was quite a bit of speculation about what computer they would use. That photo of Wiggo's bike all but confirms it.

The Stages Cycling power meter works with any compatible ANT+ or Bluetooth computer, like a Garmin, to collect the data from the strain gauges in the non-driveside crank. So Team Sky would obviously need a head unit to partner with the Stages power meter. And it looks like they've opted for Garmin.

And it does look like they're using Garmin computers, based on several photos posted on their Facebook page over the past couple of days, though nothing has been confirmed yet. Here's Edvald Boasson Hagen training in Majorca with what clearly looks like an Edge 500. Other photos lead us to think they're using Bar Fly out-front mounts, which works really nicely with two different sized Edge computers. 

How many Garmin computers does a professional team need? 130, apparently, and they all need to be painted with the Stages logo. Revealingly, photos posted by Paint My Bike, an Australian paint shop, shows a massive collection of Garmin Edge 500 and 810 computers being spray painted, having the Garmin logo on the front replaced with the Stages logo.

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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16 comments

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russyparkin | 10 years ago
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810 are for fat old men doing sportives, at least stick to the 500, they should be racing not looking at the ipad sized screen put in front of them, marginal loses

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karlowen | 10 years ago
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Is that a batch of Garmin 500s rather than 510s?

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David Arthur @d... replied to karlowen | 10 years ago
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karlowen wrote:

Is that a batch of Garmin 500s rather than 510s?

Yes, well I reckon it is, judging from that and other photos I've seen

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s_lim | 10 years ago
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Never mind the Garmin, EBH doesn't look like he's wearing a Kask; have Sky changed hats this season?

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nellybuck@msn.com replied to s_lim | 10 years ago
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s_lim wrote:

Never mind the Garmin, EBH doesn't look like he's wearing a Kask; have Sky changed hats this season?

No, it's the Kask Infinity. I did think for a second it was a Giro, looks very similar from that angle.

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sporran | 10 years ago
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Quite surprised that the team who obsess over marginal gains are putting the massive 810 on the front of their bikes!

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earth | 10 years ago
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Maybe Garmin will start to fix some of the bugs in them now

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therevokid replied to earth | 10 years ago
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earth wrote:

Maybe Garmin will start to fix some of the bugs in them now

and then hell froze over ...  1

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wheelsucker | 10 years ago
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cool Kapz cap too on Brads bike

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wheelsucker | 10 years ago
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cool Kapz cap too on Brads bike

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Mat Brett replied to wheelsucker | 10 years ago
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wheelsucker wrote:

cool Kapz cap too on Brads bike

Yep, these guys, based in Somerset: http://road.cc/content/news/72371-kapz-offer-full-custom-headset-top-caps

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euanlindsay | 10 years ago
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Garmin don't really have a say in the matter, its most likely Stages are supplying them as part of the sponsorship deal. Much like how Quickstep have Edge 500s with a Quarq sticker over them

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Sadly Biggins | 10 years ago
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I wonder what Garmin think of having their logo covered

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Ducci | 10 years ago
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The stem in that first photo may be longer than my top tube....

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Super Domestique | 10 years ago
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Cool.

They followed my example then of a Garmin on a Pina  3

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Sim1 replied to Super Domestique | 10 years ago
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Super Domestique wrote:

Cool.

They followed my example then of a Garmin on a Pina  3

Where Super Domestique leads, top teams follow...  41  1

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