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Comment by WastedCucumber | Hacker News Reader

I'm planning to go cross country sometime soon and still considering whether to get a bike computer or not. Knowing myself, I'll probably just stick to using physical maps. In my experience using them bakcpacking, I feel more immersed in my surroundings because I check them and the map at the same time, wondering when the next mountain will appear, if the river already took the bend I see on the map, etc. It just feels right, and I'm never in a hurry when hiking or riding anyway.

Plus I think I'm scared to crashing while looking down at GPS, and I think usijg maps would always force me to stop.

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I understand your concerns. I had similar concerns. The UIs on bike computers are very glanceable by design. I wouldn't go back. I would be more concerned with physical maps. I know myself and I would be tempted to "cheat" by trying to look at the physical map while moving if I was under time pressure to get to a destination.

Another huge benefit of a bike computer is that you can pair it with a rear facing radar. This has transformed my biking on roads. It absolutely doesn't replace looking over your shoulder, but it increases your awareness. You now know that there are three cars approaching from behind so you know what to expect. There is no way I'd go on a long cross-country ride without a radar.

I find the garmin 840 terrible for navigation as the interface is small, and the map always too zoomed in, or not enough. It’s just so clunky, and reminds me of computers in the early ‘90s.

However, with the Varia radar riding is amazing. I look down before looking back. I only look back of the radar is clear.

When it squawks - check behind.

If you're going to be looking at maps often, the 1040 is just the 840 in a larger form factor.

(I can't recommend the newer x50 series -- they made the screens a lot brighter, at the cost of significant battery life.)

The basic setup is the GPS highlighting the path you're supposed to follow.

You don't have to keep looking at it: a quick glance when you're coming to an intersection, to know if you have to slow down and get ready to turn or just keep going.

As other said, it can also provide additional features like warning you about cars coming from behind or reminders to eat/drink.

And contrary to some other comments, it's not another screen asking for your attention. Setup correctly, it's just a map that refresh itself and follows you. Allowing you to focus only on your sensations, instead of having to think about where you are, where you're going...

Finally, cue sheets are nice, but even if you don't care about being "lost" or having to find your way by yourself, you'll probably end up on bad roads with lots of traffic. Meanwhile, if you're just following precisely a nice route going only on quiet roads/paths, you won't end up in bad situations and you'll find your ride more enjoyable.

Bone conduction headphones would allow for audio directions.

I do like my bike computer, if only to show me my speed. It also beeps when the radar detects a car behind me.

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