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Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer
Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer

Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer

8
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Fri, Mar 06, 2020 00:12

First Published Mar 5, 2020

2
£109.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Easy-to-use, compact GPS unit that offers loads of data, durability and basic mapping for not a lot of money
Long battery life
Easy to navigate
Decent value for money
Button positions could be better
Weight: 
80g
Contact: 
brytonsport.co.uk
How we test

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The Bryton Rider 420E is a competent and compact GPS computer that packs in a lot of tech for its diminutive size and small price. It has excellent battery life too. My only real criticism is that the underside buttons can be fiddly to use.

With no colour touchscreen, detailed maps or wi-fi, the Bryton might seem a little bit lacking in this day and age. If you want a computer that is simple to set up, use and that works with all of your ancillary devices, though, you won't really be disappointed.

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For starters, the 2.3in mono LCD screen looks a bit old school, but it certainly makes the most of its small size. You can set it up to have eight pieces of data for each of the seven pages, and even with the screen fully packed with numbers it is easy to read while cycling.

For riding in the dark, it is also backlit.

When it comes to data fields there are all the usual culprits (77 in total) like time, speed and altitude with maximums and averages for you to study while on the bike or when you get home. You can set up two different bike profiles too.

Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer

You also get power meter compatibility, which is a bonus at this price, and – thanks to ANT+ and Bluetooth – you never struggle to get a connection to heart rate monitors, cadence sensors and the like.

While I'm on about connections, the 420E incorporates five different satellite systems – GPS, Glonass, BDS, Galileo and QZSS – which means it should pick up a good reception wherever you are in the world.

In the UK I found it connected very quickly to the satellites, often from inside the house, and never dropped it even when riding under thick tree cover.

You control the Rider 420E using four buttons, two at the bottom and two on the underside.

Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer - back 2

Once you've flicked through the settings and various things for a few minutes it's pretty intuitive, with most things being controlled by the two bigger buttons at the bottom, the left to scroll through pages or lists, the other confirming the command.

The two little buttons underneath are for turning the unit on/off, turning on the backlight and for stop, pause and back.

Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer - back

You don't really need to use them much when riding, which is a good thing, because when the computer is mounted they are quite tricky to reach, especially in the winter when you have full-finger gloves on.

Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer - side

Navigation

Apart from recording data, the 420E also comes with the ability to give you turn-by-turn navigation when following pre-defined routes that can be created in the Active app (more about that in a minute), uploaded as .gpx files or auto synced from the likes of Strava, Komoot and Ride.

Bryton_420E_Route_Planning_Screenshot.jpg

There are no maps as such, so it gives you a sort of breadcrumb trail but with a countdown distance to your next turn, and street names too. I found it worked pretty well when heading out on longer routes, even following byways over Salisbury Plain.

You can add in POI (points of interest) to your routes, too, and the Bryton will show the distance remaining until you get there.

Battery life and charging

Battery life is pretty impressive, with a claimed maximum of 35 hours from Bryton, and in real world conditions just using the data recording modes, I was getting very close to that.

Even using the navigation didn't seem to make too much of a dent in it. The battery also holds its charge well, so you don't need to worry about it going flat if you haven't used it for a couple of weeks.

Charging is via Micro USB, plugging into the underside of the unit. It is covered by a secure fitting rubber cover and I had no issues with rain getting in, even when riding in proper storm like conditions.

Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer - USB port

Mounting

Bryton supplies the usual plastic twist mount to sit on your bar or stem, but the sizing of the clamp is very similar to that found on Garmins so I used it with an out-front K-Edge mount. There was no defined click when the unit was in position, but it stayed secure even on the rough stuff.

Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer - stem mount

App

As with everything else in life at the moment, there is an app to run alongside Bryton's computers.

Bryton_420E_Ride_Analysis_Screenshot.jpg

It's called Active and from here you can customise screens, and set up smart notifications to the device for when your phone receives an email, call or text.

You can also upload your rides over Bluetooth to your phone and go through all of the data, something that the app shows in lots of detail.

Bryton_420E_Ride_Summary_Screenshot.jpg

I was using it on a newish Android phone and it worked absolutely fine with no glitches at all. There is also an iOS version.

Value

What about the competition then?

The 420E is competitively priced at £109.99, especially when you consider what you are getting for your money.

The Lezyne Macro Plus GPS computer is a touch cheaper at £100, but Mike really wasn't impressed with the confusing menus, flaky software and the lack of ANT+ to name just a few things.

Garmin offers the Edge 25 for £135 and David was very impressed with it. For the extra money, though, you aren't getting power meter compatibility or any form of navigation.

Conclusion

The Rider 420E is a top-notch unit. It feels well built and is certainly durable – it got dropped a few times just to see how it would cope with a crash and there isn't a single mark on the body or screen.

As far as the software goes, that worked flawlessly too. I haven't had the unit crash on me when out riding, and all the uploads have been taken care of without issue.

Overall, I think the 420E is a great little unit that does many of the tasks found on much more expensive GPS computers.

Verdict

Easy-to-use, compact GPS unit that offers loads of data, durability and basic mapping for not a lot of money

road.cc test report

Make and model: Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer

Size tested: 2.3in screen

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Bryton says, "Engineered with Simplicity and Convenience at its core, in order to create the most enjoyable cycling experience, the Rider 420 is built with 2.3' high quality optically bonded display, producing a crystal-clear view from any angle. Its follow track function with turn-by-turn makes exploring unfamiliar areas worry free, and by incorporating Full Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) support, the Rider 420 enables a faster satellite fix and guarantees more precise positioning and recording. It also provides maximum compatibility by working perfectly with both ANT+ and BLE sensors, making the Rider 420 a simple and precise GPS Cycle computer that is easy as start-and-go!"

The 420E is a competent unit that delivers plenty of data in a fuss-free way.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Bryton lists these features:

Display

Delivering the best viewing experience, the Rider 420E comes with a sharp, black and white, 2.3'' screen. The high-quality display is optically bonded to ensure crystal-clear vision from multiple angles and under various conditions. You can quickly see your real-time cycling performance with the 8 data per display.

Navigation

Explore wider and further with the computer's Follow Track function and unlock further options by pairing the computer to the Bryton Active App. You can use the app to plan and create, import trails (.gpx) from 3-rd party platforms onto Bryton Active, and auto sync trails from Strava, Komoot and Ride. The computer supplies turn by turn navigation and offers location information including road names, distance, and direction.

Precision

The computer provides precision tracking and navigation by incorporating 5 different satellite systems, including: GPS, Glonass (Russia), BDS (China), Galileo (Europe), and QZSS (Japan). This will keep you covered in any situation or location wherever you are in the world.

POI/Peak Info

Stay motivated with the POI and Peak Info systems which allows you to track the distance to your next POI or Peak in Follow Track mode.

ANT+/BLE Sensors

It's easy to connect various sensors to the Rider 420E and this bundle includes a cadence and HRM sensor. This allows you to keep track of your performance in greater detail. When connected to the computer you can easily track, in real-time your heart rate and cadence data.

77+ Functions

The computer comes with 77+ different functions which includes: Time, Speed, Distance, Calorie, Altitude, Power and HR.

Extensive Battery Life

Keep going for longer with the Ride 420E computer is equipped with a powerful battery that lasts up to 35 hours. The computer can then be quickly and easily recharged via the provided USB charging cable.

Smart Notifications

Stay connected on the move with smart notifications. Connect your compatible smartphone to the computer to receive phone call alerts, emails and texts during your ride. This works via a Bluetooth pairing with an Android/iOS smartphone.

Customisable Data Display

Using the Bryton Active App you can customise the data display of the computer. You can tailor data fields/pages to best help with your training goals.

Bryton Active App

Easily sync the Ride 420E to the Bryton Active App via seamless, over-the-air synchronisation using Bluetooth. The pairing unlocks various options and features. You can view your progress and view graphical analysis can be viewed, plus you can share your results to social media. The app also allows you to sync and download planned trips, modify device and grid settings, and calibrate altitude all without WLAN connection. You can also use the app to check the firmware version and GNSS data of the device and notify users that updates are available, ensuring that the most up-to-date firmware is always installed.

Strava, TrainingPeaks and Selfloops

The Rider 420E is compatible with additional 3rd party training sites such as STRAVA, TrainingPeaks and Selfloops. It also supports professional training applications, such as GoldenCheetah, for detailed workout analysis.

Specifications

Dimensions: 49.9mm x 83.9mm x 16.9mm

Weight: 67g

Battery Life: 35 hours

Display: 2.3 inches Mono LCD

GPS: High-sensitivity chipset

Waterproof: IPX7

Alerts: YES

Lap History: 130 laps

Log History: 300 hours

Heart Rate Zones: 7 zones

Operating Temperature: -10C° ~ 50C°

In the Box

Rider 420E

Quick Start Guide

USB Cable

Safety Lanyard

Standard Bike Mount

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

Solid little unit and comes with IPX7 waterproof rating too.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Great at recording data, and the navigation works well too.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Simple to use and loads of data options.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Buttons on the bottom of the unit aren't in the best place for usability.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

The extra tenner sounds like a very worthwhile outlay compared to the Lezyne mentioned in the review, and the Bryton brings a lot more functions to the table for less money than the Garmin Edge 25.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Rider 420E might not be the most cutting edge computer out there but it does what it does very well and hasn't let me down once. The buttons can be a bit of a faff to use, but on the whole there is a lot to like here, such as navigation and power meter compatibility.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer 2020
Bryton Rider 420E GPS computer
Bryton 2020
Bryton
Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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2 comments

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akiatarek | 4 years ago
0 likes

There is one big issue with this device - it doesn't support train and test mode. It is not possible to build a workout with different HR / CAD / Power limits for each interval.
this feature is described in manual but not available in device, latest firmware installed. Bryton doesn't give any date for this feature to be implemented. Beside of that it is quite nice device.

Avatar
huntswheelers | 4 years ago
0 likes

I've a Rider 450.... fab unit...works with all the sensors and also links to Di2/eTap/EPS to display gears etc...plus world maps... Great navigation and I bring in routes from PlotaRoute and add the turn by turn in the app... I've used it all over the UK and in Benelux countries...good battery life etc. The Mega XL Lezyne I used before hasn't a patch on this unit

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