Ride
on.
When
we recently reviewed the car navigation gadget Tom Tom Start 60, we
realised just how easier car drivers have it over their cycling
counterparts. If you commute on your bike, or you just love to burn
some rubber to keep fit, you might have often found yourself getting
lost, especially when pedaling to some place new. Whereas motorists
can just switch on their satnav, cyclists have never enjoyed the same
luxury... until now. We road test the Mio Cyclo 200.
The
Mio Cyclo 200 is a small, hand-held device, not much bigger than a
phone. It clips to your handlebars and, by way of the anti-glare 3.5”
touchscreen, displays information such as navigation, distance
travelled, time, speed, and calories burnt to name but a few.
Consider it a cross between a Tom Tom and an activity tracker.
But
as well as guiding you around all the roads in your locale (or
anywhere in Europe, for that matter), it also contains information on
cycle tracks and routes... you know, the stuff you actually need when
getting around a place on a bike. We were surprised at how effective
it's map knowledge was, and several new routes that had only recently
opened up near our house were listed. Impressed.
Using
the Mio Cyclo 200 was a breeze, and anyone who has used a car satnav
before will find the user interface quite familiar. Instructions were
clear and accurate and we could always make out what was on screen,
even in very bright sunshine. When we arrived at our destination, the
Mio Cyclo 200 could be easily removed from the bike with a quick
twist; negating the need to fiddle about with complicated straps and
ties.
If
you're using your bike for just fun and fitness, you'll really like
the Surprise Me mode the Mio Cyclo 200 offers. Simply enter in what
kind of distance you're looking to cycle, or for how long, and the
Cyclo 200 will present you with three alternate routes to take,
always mixing a good blend of roads and cycle paths. Select the one
that looks interesting and you're off. This was a great way to
explore the city a bit more, as it took us down routes and into areas
we'd never bothered cycling through.
The
Mio Cyclo 200 is also pre-installed with the whereabouts of points of
interest specific to cyclists. Our routes through the city were
highlighted with cafes, bike repair shops, and even hospitals and
healthcare centres. This would be super handy if cruising through an
unknown place and you suddenly needed a wee. Gotta think about these
things.
The
on-board battery will last you for ten hours, and the unit itself is
waterproof. You can't really ask for more than that – certainly
that is a lot better than a Tom Tom!
£149.99