Ditching my Garmin Edge 1030: And Why I’ll Never Buy a Garmin Cycle Computer Again!

[@georgeskinner2474]

Good reminder to always use the safety strap on my 840 Solar!

[@normwachholz7221]

Iˋve never trusted the Garmin mount which is why I use the short elastic cord that came with the unit to further secure it to the handlebar this way if it falls off, it will at least stay near the handlebar. My Edge 1000 froze again today. This has been happening since I got the unit. It was replaced once by Garmin, same problem on the replacement. I agree, this is the last Garmin bike computer for me.

[@jensmeggers926]

that explains why Garmin went to a metal mount with the 1040

[@bikesbymike]

Thanks for that. I didn't notice that they have now gone to a metal mount. I guess that's not something they would want to market too aggressively.

[@salsalawyer]

New 1040 has metal. You can get a metal piece to expoxy Dog Ears mount on the unit. It's easy put on the replacement

[@frasersmith3651]

Raced MTB stage races and never broken my 1030 mount. But then I’m using a garmin handle at mount not some aftermarket 3D printed mount. I’ve just bought a spare as the 1030 is the last one with the micro SD slot. Please Garmin if you are reading this bring this option back as I want decent maps for mountain biking.

[@bikesbymike]

If you want/need a replacement cover for the 1030, I have one I got from AliExpress but never used.

[@gorgosvk12]

the same thing happened on my wahoo roam - good luck with hammerhead

[@bikesbymike]

Turns out I never ended up buying a Hammerhead. Garmin agreed to replace my 1030 with a 1040.

[@SpeedGio]

Same happened to my on my last triathlon, 10k on the bike, some road vibration… it cracked on the back and went off the mount. Now i found a lot of videos showing that the back of the Garmin Edge computers, is a problem for everyone all over the world.

[@bikesbymike]

Thanks for sharing.

[@AndrewTSq]

The exteneded arm mount that I got with my 1030+.. my first thought was that this mount will break the ears of the unit so I went with the plastic mounth instead. no problem so far.

[@bikesbymike]

That’s a good idea. I’ve got the 1040 now (despite what I said in the video 😜) and happy to see it now comes with metal ears. Much more robust construction.

[@AndrewTSq]

@@bikesbymike Ah nice. I was going for the 1040 first, but then they sold the 1030+ for $200 on flashsale here, while the 1040 was like $550, so I felt that the extra $350 could not be justified, even if its a better product :) I used the Edge 800 since 10 years or so before, and its still working, but my eyes needed a bigger display lol :)

[@ronaldhart6362]

My Sigma Rox 12 did the same and the unit was 2 years 11 months old..warranty was for two years...they had No interest in helping.. No repair service...Do I hacked off the broken mount and fitted a replacement purchased of Amazon...Thanks for the Video.

[@bikesbymike]

A friend also mentioned AliExpress as a good source for after market fixes. Here's another option for the Garmin 1030, but other cycling computer options are available: www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001994847009.html?&_t=pvid:18c8aab0-f21e-4ad7-9463-a7f01881e47b&spm=a2g0o.ppclist.product.mainProduct

[@bikesbymike]

For anyone in need of a placement mount/body for a broken 1030, check out my Community Tab. Glad to give away my replacement mount to someone who needs it.

[@cmuralhas]

I had exactly the same problem with my 1030 during the warranty period. They didn’t want to honor the warranty because as they said “it was user’s mal practice that broke it”. Their bad luck was that I had by that time several thousands of euros on garmin products bought from the same garmin store and I took them all to the store to leave them because Garmin was dead for me. I was a garmin user for years before the 1030, never had this problem but everyone of my previous quarter mount devices (gps and lights and radars) were black strong plastic. The first one with that cheap soft white plastic was the 1030 that broke. Obviously a material flaw and that was garmin choice not the user. Eventually the store managed that garmin solved the issue under warranty. It was my last garmin ever and I now use a wahoo gps.

[@bikesbymike]

Glad to hear I'm not the only one. And the fact that Garmin has now gone to a metal mount on the 1040 (like several have already mentioned in this comment section) speaks volumes. I'm not a plastics or synthetic polymers expert by any stretch, but like you, I have enough experience having used a variety devices and mounts to know that all plastics are NOT created equal. There are cheap, brittle plastics you commonly see used in kids toys, but then I've used some nylon plastic mounts that functionally seem as strong as metal. Heck, plastics are used under the hood of cars, so there have to be strong ones out there. As an example, I have had two Cycliq Fly12 bike cam mounts break within a month of one another. The plastic was noticeably brittle and Cycliq almost admitted as much. Their new mount was identically designed, but clearly made of a stronger material. I suspect some type of high grade nylon as it appears indestructible. I can't believe some companies can't get something this simple right.

[@401SNelson]

I have MTB and cyclocross raced with a 1030 and never broke a quarter turn mount.

[@bikesbymike]

I’ll be providing an update on this issue in a future episode where I review the Garmin 1040. In short, I spoke with a Garmin representative who confirmed there have been a few-not many-failures with the 1030 quarter-turn mount. Garmin tests the various polymers used in their quarter-turn mounts for strength and durability in their in-house lab, but sometimes they come out of the factory not demonstrating the same properties. The new 1040 has an aluminum quarter-turn mount which was adopted to address this issue. So far, they have not had any failures with this new design. The 840 and 540 still use a polymer blend, but the mount is now replaceable (two screw setup).

[@keshmo12]

That is kinda crazy. I thought they were screwed in. I'm looking at cycling computers now and I have Garmin stuff but I've been looking at igpsport 630 ($200). Mainly because I can't justify $400+ for a color Garmin edge. And it won't be used but every other month at most. I'll be putting a strap on mine. Good video I'll have to check out the hammerhead gps too.

[@bikesbymike]

Interesting. I never hear of the brand iGPSport until you mentioned it. It seems like a good budget option, but without all the functionality as some of the top-tier cycle computers. The super long battery life is impressive, though.

[@screwb1882]

It seems to me it would be trivial to make this part user replaceable.

[@MosheSCohen]

The 1040 has a metal mount.

[@bikesbymike]

Thanks for clarify that. Good to know.