Bryton Rider 310T Cycling Computer

Bryton Rider 310T

Sensor: ANT+ sensor technology

Compatibility: Bluetooth

Screen Size: 1.8”

Stated Battery Life: 36 hours

Display Resolution: 128 x 160 pixels

Stated Weight: 56 grams

Manufacturer List of Features

• Compatible with Strava, TrainingPeaks, FitTrack, and other ride sites
• Includes speed/cadence sensor and heart rate sensor
• Power meter compatible
• Advanced workouts and interval training included
• HR-based calorie computation
• Time/distance alert
• Text and incoming call
• Holds 300 hours of rides
• 1 second recording
• Auto pause/start/stop
• Auto lap and auto scroll
• Waterproof
• GPS enabled

MSRP

$99.95 (base model)

$159.99 (“T” model tested)

Test Duration: 1.5 months

Intro

Everyone loves to hate Strava, but it’s a rare rider that hasn’t at least thought about chasing a KOM or QOM. But you’ll need a GPS to log the ride, and riding with a phone has downsides—not the least of which is the potential for crashing and breaking your expensive i-gadget. Furthermore, it’s sometimes nice to have that ride data right there in front of you rather than having to dig through your pockets or pack.

Bike-oriented GPS units can range in price from $100 to $600, so we’ve taken a look at the Bryton 310T, which offers a lot of features at a price that’s lower than most of the competition.

Bryton is Taiwanese company that specializes in manufacturing GPS for automobiles. Seeing a market for GPS systems in cycling computers and wristwatches, Bryton decided to expand their offerings to the two-wheeled market, including the Bryton Rider 310 Cycling GPS Computer.

The Rider’s main selling point is its price: $99.95 for the base model. The model I tested, the 310T, is $159.99 MSRP, but it can be found for a bit less.

The 310T has some pretty advanced features: GPS, cadence sensor, altimeter, heart rate monitor (including band), temperature sensor, and calorie computations.
The base model doesn’t come with a heart rate monitor or cadence sensor, but the primary unit is the same.

Installation

Installing the Rider is similar to installing any other wireless cycling computer: zip ties, aligning sensors, and a test of patience. (As a bonus, the cadence sensor lights up once the sensors are aligned!)

Setting up the handlebar mount and the heart rate belt is straightforward. But the directions that come with the Rider 310 model are the same directions used by all other Bryton models, which is confusing—e.g., the Rider doesn’t come with a wheel speed sensor or spoke magnet, so that part of the directions doesn’t apply. (Also worth noting: this means you won’t be able to use the Rider with a trainer, unless you purchase an ANT+ compatible speed sensor.)

It’s a good idea to have some extra zip ties handy for installation. The computer comes with the minimum needed, and I ended up having to adjust my tie placement after I’d cranked them down.

The computer is paired with its heart rate and cadence sensors from the factory, so it will display this information without any additional setup. You will have to complete a brief profile for your first ride, but the device prompts you through the questions, and once your profile is complete, you are good to go.

Once you have the Rider 310 installed on your bike, I’d recommend playing around with the computer to explore its different features. Some of the in-depth setup videos on the website don’t play, and the online and paper instructions only cover a few features. But the computer is easy to use—as long as you’re somewhat good with technology—with the perfect balance of enough, but not too many, buttons.

Features

The Rider 310 has some impressive features for its price, and both models are a good value. The base model has a GPS, temperature gauge, and altimeter. The “T” model I used has all of these features plus a heart rate monitor and cadence sensor.

All Rider 310 models are power meter compatible, but I don’t have a power meter so I didn’t get to use this. Although the Rider is Bluetooth compatible, I couldn’t get my computer to work with Strava to upload rides wirelessly.

At one point, I thought the heart rate monitor had stopped working, but I logged back into Bryton’s website, re-installed the Rider’s workout software, and the heart rate information reappeared back on the computer.

The Rider 310 allows you to create your own workout or use a predetermined workout test, such as max heart rate, lactate threshold, or maximum aerobic power. You can’t download other workouts from the website with this model, but the workout tests are directly on the device. These tests take a few attempts to master. I didn’t try every test, but I appreciate that the workouts are there for when my motivation catches up with my ambitions.

Durability

I used the Rider 310 in temperatures as low as 35 degrees, and I used the computer in rain and mud. The computer still runs well and wasn’t affected by inclement weather. The only issue I had was that the plastic cover for the USB plug fell off after about a month.

The Rider 310 uses a rechargeable battery. I never had problems with battery life—which is 36 hours, according to Bryton—but I did charge the computer regularly after I uploaded the rides on my computer.

NEXT: Bryton’s Website, Comparisons, Etc.