The Bolt is great—except the screen is too small. I have old eyes and can’t pop on reading glasses when I ride so I like the larger screens on the Garmin 530/830 and the automatic switch to a zoomed in map to show navigation cues. As best I can tell, the Bolt only has text cues and I usually can’t read them!
Bolt2 has map turn by turn but I get the small screen thing. I have a ROAM2 also.
Good to know. I’ll have to search out the setting.
I have the Edge 830 and the zoomed map for turns is nice, but I almost ALWAYS have problems reading ANY notifications with my old eyes. I like the Edge mostly, but am VERY frustrated that it does not allow increasing font sizes, which I THOUGHT was an option on the Wahoo devices? Or maybe only the Wahoo ROAM? I’ve begged Garmin to use larger text AND let us set it so notifications take the whole screen to ALLOW for that larger text. We could then dismiss it after we at least know what it was.
If there is any ONE feature that ALL of these tiny devices need to incorporate, it is an option for LARGER TEXT. Lots of us old guys are buying these things, but as you said, we can’t pull out the reading glasses on the bike!
PS. Didn’t mean to derail the thread topic, so I’ll pipe up that I’m very happy with my 2020 Domane SLR6. Very comfortable with 32mm tubeless. Isospeed certainly plays a part in this (though the 2023 Domane is doing AWAY with the FRONT Isospeed because apparently the 32mm tubeless setup is sufficient for the pros even on cobbles. I don’t regret what I have but would probably be content with weight savings and maintenance with the removal of that front Isospeed. The bike is also stiff for efficient power transfer. And it’s a FANTASTIC descender. I’ve ripped any of my former descent times because this bike is so stable and planted on the road.
I’m totally with you on larger fonts. I can’t even read paper books anymore; I read on my kindle and use ridiculous fonts. Still, I find I can usually make out the key items on 530, although I take my reading glasses along in a back pocket on complicated routes where I might make a wrong turn.
You guys are not selling this old age thing very well.
Age doesn’t have to be sold. It’s an automatic upgrade without an opt-out.
And…I’m not even old yet. My eyes stopped focusing close up in my early 50s. When I get old, I’ll report back on how it’s going.
I take reading glasses in a case, (for seeing mechanical bits if needed) in a small pouch with chapstick, tiny tube of chafe-lube, a REALLY small multitool, and cash. That’s in my center jersey pocket every ride. And most of it doesn’t even get used every year! But I’M PREPARED!
As for selling the old age thing…
NOBODY will buy in on purpose!
But EVERYBODY is racing in that direction faster than they know!
(Cycling is my preferred form of denying reality. Some days, it even feels like it’s working!)
Same.
Didn’t need my reading glasses to scope out the plethora of tech on this gent’s bike last weekend. ‘Dash’ cam front and rear, flashing lights front and rear including some radar thingy that beeped incessantly, plus a seat pouch to house power for all these gadgets…on a group ride!
Minimalist…
A gravel bike will give you the option of riding road and trail but, nowadays I subscribe to the idea of the bike suiting the intended terrain. You’ve mentioned considering an endurance geometry and others have suggested using wider tyres to improve comfort and that will give you the chance to enjoy road riding - quickly if you want. On the issue of weight, you’ll likely pay a hefty price if ‘ultra lightweight’ translates to something like 6.8kg or thereabouts, but you can get builds between say 7.5 and 8.5 kg or so, that will be quick on the flat and also perform well when the road points upwards. I got a deal some years ago on a Cannondale Synapse with lightweight hi modulus frame and carbon wheels and sram red groupset and love it. It’s at the aggressive end of the ‘endurance’ design and I’m now looking to add a longer stem to make it yet more aggressive. Also, when buying my son his first bike I had in mind getting him an entry level Cervelo but, the same money got a better specification on a Cannondale System Six on which he’s had great fun and raced extensively. But, that is traditional road geometry and not the endurance setup that you seek. I think my overriding concern is that if say 90pc of your riding will be on the road then with a gravel bike you might risk hauling around extra weight you don’t need for that type of terrain. But, if you’re less concerned about speed then bike weight will likely be less an issue.
Nothing for nothing, but my CX bike is lighter than my road bike.
I know this is an old post, but I bought a gravel bike for the flexibility. I can and do use it a great deal on the road but I needed a higher stack height and I wanted to be able to do gravel riding on the ‘streets’ around here that are dirt (and mud when it rains). Picked a Pinarello Grevil and am.very happy. Carbon road wheels and alu gravel wheels (not even close to a weight weenie given the weight of the tires alone).
Yes, my CX bike geometry is much friendlier than my road bike. Side bonus.
Nice! We need photos now! I love my gravel bikes, super versatile. I often loan my old one to friends without a gravel bike so they can do gravel rides too, which is heaps of fun. Did exactly this yesterday and the biggest joy I got yesterday was watching my mate change from being mega cautious on the descents to bombing it. She’s hooked now!