This makes it possible for friends and acquaintances to view your current location from anywhere in the world. This is sometimes interesting for safety reasons for many bikers who often set off on mountain bike tours alone. However, such functions also open up completely new possibilities for events or expeditions.

Live tracking also benefits the device user themselves. For example, they can obtain real-time weather information for their current location or load GPS tracks directly onto their device while on vacation without having to take their own laptop with them.

With the new Edge 510 and Edge 810 GPS bike computers, Garmin presents the successors to the Edge 500 and Edge 800 models. With a weight of 80 grams (Edge 510) and 98 grams (Edge 810), they are among the lightest GPS devices for mountain bikers. The user interface has been completely redesigned on both models. The simple menu navigation has been retained. Individually configurable activity and bike profiles have been added for quick switching between display, data and device settings depending on the bike and/or activity. settings depending on the bike and/or activity.

The Edge 510 is primarily aimed at ambitious cyclists for whom the precise recording and individual display of all training and competition data is more important than navigation. Compared to its predecessor, the Edge 510 now comes with a color touchscreen display that is 25 percent larger. The presentation of routes and tracks on the display has also been improved, but the 510 deliberately dispenses with a map display.

The Edge 810 is different: not only can it display maps on its brilliant color touchscreen display, it is now also suitable for Garmin's ActiveRouting technology. With the help of suitable digital maps, the device is able to make route suggestions according to a desired activity (e.g. cycling/racing, touring, mountain biking, but also hiking or mountaineering).The most important new feature of both models, however, is the online functions thanks to connectivity with the smartphone via a Bluetooth interface. For the first time, online functions such as real-time weather and even live tracking can be used directly on the device via the smartphone's internet connection. With the help of the new Garmin Connect app (compatible with Android, iPhone and soon also iPad), which will be released at the start of sales, tours can also be searched for online and transferred to the device. Conversely, completed training sessions or race results can be automatically uploaded to Garmin Connect and shared with coaches, teammates, training partners or friends.

The new GPS bike computers will be available from February 2013 in various versions with and without accessories (heart rate and cadence sensors) and maps.

www.garmin.ch