Garmin has today announced a raft of updates for its Edge 520, 820 and 1000 cycle computers, chief of which is the ability to control certain ANT+ lights by pressing the button on the top of a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 hood. 

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garmin updates (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

We’ve long wondered what the hidden button in the top of the Di2 hood could be used for, and now Garmin has come up with a use for it. Using a compatible Edge, you can control an ANT+ light, turning it on and off and switching modes. 

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At the moment only Garmin’s own Varia smart lights and Bontrager’s Transmitr range are supported, but we’d imagine this list will grow with time. With the Bontrager lights, you can set them to turn on automatically with the Edge computer or use the ambient light sensor on the Edge 820 and 1000 to set the light output for the time of day. 

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Another update of interest is the support for Strava’s recently introduced Beacon safety feature, showing even further integration with the social training app. Beacon is a safety feature only available to premium members that can notify up to three people of your location if you stop for longer than expected or are back later than planned. 

The LiveTrack feature that lets family and friends follow your ride now has an auto start option so there’s no need to dig out your smartphone at the beginning of every ride to start it.