Best Garmin Bike Accessories in 2023

1. Garmin Edge 1030 Plus

A bike computer is one of the best investments you can make as a cyclist. It may be slightly on the pricey side, but you won’t regret the investment.

The Garmin Edge 1030 Plus is a slight upgrade on the Edge, and is one of the brand’s most popular devices. It’s received an increase in internal storage (up to 32GB onboard memory), although there’s no space for a Micro SD card, which may disappoint some users.

A sensitive touchscreen makes it easy to operate on the go. The battery life has improved from the last version, with the Edge 1030 Pro. Garmin claims 24 hours in regular mode and twice that in battery saving mode.

You’ll need Garmin Connect on your phone to sync up with this bike computer. A nice feature is auto set-up. If you had a Garmin computer before buying this one, your data will be automatically synced with your new computer when you connect to the app.

It also copies your previous activity profiles, which is handy. There’s virtually no need to set anything up on this computer, unless it’s your first-ever Garmin.

In that case, you will need to spend a bit of time setting up profiles for your different activities, as well as customized data screens to display as you ride. This is easy, though.

You can set up as many different sports profiles as you want, or use one profile for everything. The computer will provide you with smart workout suggestions based on your training load. Customizing your data screens is also simple, using the profile editor.

Take note that some settings may be difficult to find. Some are under “settings”, while others are under “Profile”. You’ll need to mess around with it a bit to find what you need, but it’s not a long-term problem.

You can set reminders for nutrition and hydration, alerts for tight corners ahead, and a variety of others. The device also comes preloaded with both North American and European maps. If you’re in another country, you can download more maps free of charge or create your own in your chosen routing app.

The biggest downfall? Garmin’s continued lack of a Qwerty keyboard, which may infuriate some users. However, it’s something that most of us can live with.

2. Garmin Rally RS200

A power meter is a super piece of equipment for triathletes or cyclists. If you want to up your data game and use your stats to your advantage when training, then the Garmin Rally RS200 is what you need.

It’s an easy-to-install pedal design that replaces the current pedals on your bike. It’s compatible with SHIMANO SPD-SL cleats. If you have other cleats, you may need to replace your cleats before you can use these.

They’re dual-sensing, meaning they record information on both legs simultaneously and independently of one another. This gives better accuracy when it comes to things like cadence and power, but it also means you can measure left/right balance and pick up on imbalances.

They’re slim, easy to mount, and simple to move between bikes if necessary. Advanced Cycling Dynamics provide excellent performance tracking and analysis, with an accuracy of +/-1%.

The battery life can last up to 120 hours, and the battery is easily replaceable. You can use either CR1/3N or LR44/SR44 batteries, whichever is easier to get.

The device is easy to integrate with the Garmin system, as well as apps like Strava, TrainingPeaks, and others.

The biggest gripe that users have is the lack of temperature compensation. You may find that the accuracy diminished in cold weather and you need to stop to recalibrate the device a few times.

3. Garmin Varia UT800

Don’t think a headlight is a simple, little tool that you don’t really need. If you’re likely to be riding in the dark, at twilight or dusk, or on trails that are overgrown or have tunnels, a guiding light is essential.

The Garmin Varia UT800 is our choice. It’s a little light, but it’s powerful and effective. You can get a good 1.5 hours out of it on a solid, 800-lumen light mode, which is more than enough for most rides that may begin or end in darkness.

Although the 800-lumen setting provides a bright, wide beam that lights your way very effectively, you don’t have to keep it on that setting. If you don’t need such a bright light, you can set it to 400 lumens and get 3 hours of use out of it.

On 200 lumens, you should get 6 hours. 100 to 300 lumens night mode, which uses pulsing light, can last you up to 6 hours. In daylight mode, which is 700 lumens of flashing light, you can ride for 25 hours before needing to recharge.

One of the great things about this little headlight is that it adjusts automatically to the light conditions around you. This helps to extend the battery life so you get as much out of it as possible.

If you have a compatible Garmin Edge bike computer, you can link the two to adjust modes and brightness on the go.

Not only does it illuminate your path, but it also allows you to be seen from up to a mile away. Safety first!

You can attach it to your handlebars or your helmet. Either way, it weighs just 5 ounces so it won’t be a burden or affect your performance at all. It also has a waterproof rating of IPX7, which is excellent for all conditions.

4. Garmin Varia RTL515

A radar can be extremely useful, especially if you tend to ride in places that have plenty of traffic. This handy device warns you when vehicles are approaching from behind, so you’re aware of what’s going on around you at all times.

The Varia RTL515 rearview radar offers both visual and audible alerts when a vehicle gets within 460 feet of the back of your bike. Having a dual-alert system is an excellent feature because you may miss audio alerts if you’re listening to music or if the area is just noisy.

You’ll download the Varia app, which indicates the position and the speed of cars approaching and allows you to set your alerts. The radar also syncs up seamlessly with Edge bike computers, Garmin wearables, third-party apps, and most smartphones.

As well as alerting you to the presence of cars, it alerts drivers to your presence too. The rear-facing red light is visible up to a mile away, warning drivers to be vigilant. It also has a Peloton mode, which is designed for those riding in a group and goes easy on the eyes.

This handy gadget has a waterproof rating of IPX7, so you don’t need to worry about it being damaged by rain. It mounts easily to almost any seat post and offers 6 hours of battery life in solid light mode and up to 16 in flashing mode.

5. Garmin Varia Remote

This handy little gadget allows you to control your Varia products without moving your hands away from the handlebar.

It’s ideal for wet, rough, or tricky conditions where you need full control of your bike but still need to adjust or change settings on your devices.

The 3-button remote control allows you to control the settings of Varia lights, including brightness, light pattern, and intensity. You can also control turn signals, but you’ll need to buy two Varia tail lights.

It’s super lightweight, little, and easy to use. A mount is included in your purchase, and it also has a status LED light so you know how the battery is doing at any time.

6. Garmin Charge Power Pack

A power bank or power pack is extremely handy. Having one of these in your stash of equipment is a fantastic idea. As long as it’s charged, you’ll never have to deal with a flat bike computer battery or be stuck without GPS again.

You can plug it directly into your Edge bike computer, and it extends the battery life for up to a full 24 hours. It also charges any device that has a compatible cable, including watches, lights, and other wearables.

The pack has a battery capacity of 1300mAh. It weighs just 4.6 ounces, so it’ll hardly be noticed on your handlebars or in your bento box. It’s also IPX7 waterproof, so it can withstand harsh conditions.

The downside is that this is a pretty high price to pay for the capacity. Essentially, you’re paying for the brand, rather than the battery capacity, but it’s still a decent product.

7. Garmin HRM-Tri Heart Rate Monitor

Sometimes, your watch’s HRM just doesn’t quite cut it. An external heart rate monitor is an excellent idea if you train hard, and especially if you use heart rate zones to boost your training.

The HRM-Tri Heart Rate Monitor is designed for triathletes. It can be worn while running, riding, and open-water swimming, which is convenient and easy. It’s also Garmin’s smallest and lightest HRM, weighing just 2.1 ounces.

Despite its small size, it can hold up to 20 hours of data, which is easily transferred to your Garmin Connect device once it’s in range. It also sends real-time heart rate data to your watch, if you’re not in the water at the time.

The strap is soft and easy to adjust to fit you. It’s also a non-slip design, so you won’t have to constantly be stopping to readjust.

Take note that the tracking device is integrated into the strap, which means if the strap breaks or wears out, you’ll need to replace the entire device, not just the strap.

Talking about replacing stuff, the HRM takes a CR2032 battery, which can last up to 10 months, depending on how often you use it.

The strap provides advanced running dynamics, including analysis of running form, cadence, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, and your normal things like speed, distance, and time.

Swimming data includes pace, strokes, SWOLF, and HR graphs. It’s water-resistant up to 5ATM, so it’s perfectly safe for both pool and open-water swims, although the water force of the wall push-off in the pool can cause it to move uncomfortably.