11 times YES and 3 times NO - review of the bike navigation Mio Cyclo 215 HC

Accurate navigation, detailed maps, a set of sensors included, and all for less than 1000 PLN. How does the bike navigation Mio Cyclo 215 HC work in practice?

To make it easier, first 11 advantages and then 3 disadvantages:

The first YES: it does not cost a fortune and there is not much competition

Contrary to appearances, the bicycle navigation market - which is not the case with training combines, and therefore does not cost a fortune - is not great. In addition to the tested Mio, this category includes Garmin Edge Explore and ... it would be largely enough.

Mio has one advantage over Garmin - it is cheaper, and noticeably. We will pay less than PLN 800 for the basic set (navigation alone). For a set with heart rate, speed and cadence sensors - approx. PLN 999. Edge Explore costs about 1000-1100 PLN depending on the store, and for this - if we want to have a set for grazing - we have to buy more sensors.

Ultimately, therefore, Edge Explore in a comparable set for the Mio 215 HC would cost at least PLN 1500-1600 (assuming the purchase of accessories from Garmin). A huge difference, although in no case does this mean that the Edge Explore (which I bought recently for myself) has nothing to defend.

Second YES: big screen with nice colors (though it's not perfect)

3.5 inches (at 320x480 resolution) at a time when the compact smartphone has 5 inches, maybe a little fun, but in this case wrongly, 3.5 "is a diagonal, which makes the device remains compact, while allowing us to comfort browsing the map or driving statistics.

Added to this is the fact that the display of maps by Mio 215 is simply pleasing to the eye. From the technical side, everything is clear, regardless of whether it is the map itself and its details, or information about the trip.

The device itself is operated using touch and a single button located on the front. However, it is used only to turn the device off and on, and to go back in the menu. Contrary to what it looks like, it is not a joystick and you can not scroll with it, for example.

It's a pity that there are no physical buttons to scroll through the screens, but it's hard to complain about it - the competitive Edge Explorer also does not have this feature.

Third YES: it's hard as hell.

In theory, the Mio mounting solution is idiot-proof (the bracket is mounted on the tricks, the navigation is fastened to a twist ). In practice, however, I managed to attach the equipment wrong once, resulting in its fall on gravel and close contact with the back wheel of my bike.

The Cyclo 215 did not make the slightest impression. I did not find any clearer scratches on either the housing or the screen. Also, the rubber flap, which protects from flooding the memory card slot and charging, has not been damaged.

A nice surprise, the more that I was convinced that I would have to explain later when I returned the device after testing.

Fourth (large) YES: as the navigation is just very good.

I would like to attach myself to something in this point, but unfortunately all the disadvantages that I managed to discover for a few weeks of testing are trivialities.

Cyclo 215, especially for a cheap device, is surprisingly well-equipped when it comes to mapping functions. Bicycle profiles / users? Are. Detailed route setting preferences? They are, and it is that they need a separate paragraph.

For routing, we can define a few basic profiles (including, interestingly, the run / march), i.e. for example riding a city, road or mountain bike. For each of them we can determine which types of roads we want to avoid, which we prefer and which we allow. You can choose from:

• Main roads
• Bicycle routes
• Nodal network
• Dirt roads
• Paved roads
• Ferries

So, depending on how you want to go, you can choose the right parameters perfectly for yourself. For example, we do not want to ride a road bike on dirt roads - instead, we prefer to stick to main roads, or allow paved roads. And the other way - on a peaceful outing with the family, we prefer to navigate the quiet dirt roads, at the same time accepting the need to enter the road from time to time.

After each set out, we can also check what our route will look like. Starting from its course on the map and ending with the height profile.

Most importantly - it works. And it works really well. For example, setting a ride along a cycling route causes an absolute sticking to such a route. At the same time, it must be remembered that for Cyclo 215 there is no difference whether it is a separate bike path within the city or one of the larger bicycle routes running through the more or less busy inter-urban highways. A bicycle route is a bicycle route. Not always in given maps there is information on the directionality of bicycle paths, so - surprise - you have to think, not just go ahead.

While driving, we are constantly informed about how to go and where. Navigation tips on the screen are displayed very clearly, and before the turn we are always informed by a raging squeal, which absolutely can not be missed. Mio is more likely than Garmin to sign the streets, although the quality of the maps and their content is largely similar.

Of course, when determining the route, we can choose whether we are interested in a specific address or almost any POI. The database is not as complex as it is in Google Maps, but ... I was looking for a lot of different sites while testing, and I always found them in Mio.

It is also nice that among the abbreviations in navigation was a return home (we must define the address in advance), as well as return to the beginning of the route.

Fifth YES: Surprise me

My absolutely favorite feature. You click, choose the distance or time you want to spend on the ride and ... already. Navigation suggests - in accordance with pre-determined preferences - three routes with a length close to the preset.

Simple, fast and convenient, especially when you are absolutely convinced that all the routes in the area have already traveled. And suddenly, surprise - I was not here, I did not see it.

If someone does not like such additions, he can always download his own routes to the device, but unfortunately it is a difficult task because you can not connect Cyclo 215 with your phone in any way. We have to sit down to the computer, pull out the cable and so on.

An additional minus? While Mio does quite well with recalculating the route after driving off it while navigating to a specific point, in the case of driving in the Suprise Me mode is not always doing well. Once I met with a situation where, with a small difference to the original calculation (I went the other side of the road), the entire original plan was changed and it was no longer as attractive as at the start.

In addition, Mio has one drawback compared to Garmin - it does not use the data on the activities on which Edge plans our route. As a result, we can hit somewhere where, theoretically, there is a road or bicycle path, but for specific reasons nobody drives it.

Sixth YES: Mio Cyclo 215 is fast.

When it comes to generating random routes or calculating distances to a given target, the Cyclo 215 eats my Edge Explore for breakfast. For example, the designation of 3 routes with a length of 50 km takes no more than 2 minutes on the Mio. In the case of Edge Explore, it's hard for me to say unequivocally, but by the eye - about two weeks.

The same is true with setting the route to the point. Mio is ready almost immediately and gives the distance after the roads we prefer. On the other hand, Edge Explore shows the distance ... in a straight line. Conversion begins only when you click Go . And I will not hide - before I understood the mechanism, I went twice more than I initially planned. Precisely because the initial distance had nothing to do with the truth.

The difference in speed is blurred while driving. Both equipment at a similar rate calculate a new route in case of a descent from a previously designated one. Mio, on the other hand, wins a little in terms of the smoothness of the manual scrolling of the map during navigation.

Seventh YES: a wealth of configurations

We have a total of 8 (!) Data screens to choose from, of which we can almost freely edit our preferences, while others can be edited to a greater or lesser extent.

The very number of potential information placed in specific data fields (up to 8 fields on the screen) is shocking. Maybe not like in Garmin, but nobody should miss anything - there are even my favorite data fields, such as sunset, estimated time of arrival, distance to the next bend or distance from the next driveway.

A small additional note: unfortunately, we can not assign these settings to individual driving profiles. They are common to all of them.

Eight YES: battery

According to the manufacturer, the battery should last for 10 hours of work. At the same time, it must be remembered that these are data about route registration rather than continuous navigation with constant recalculation. In this situation, you must subtract at least 2 hours (or more - depending on the conditions), but it is not a big problem anyway.

The more that the Cyclo 215 can be charged from the powerbank while driving, so if we want to go somewhere further, we will be able to replenish the energy supply on the road.

Ninth YES: accuracy

Bicycle navigation, which is not accurate, is - to put it mildly - unhelpful. Fortunately, the Mio 215 HC does not have much of a problem with it. I did several test drives with multiple devices simultaneously (and a few solo ones ) and in no case did I see any disturbing results.

In most cases, the record of the route from Mio was at the level of Garmin Edge Explore and often definitely above the quality offered by Galaxy Watch Active and Apple Watch with connected iPhone:

And here is another example from the same driving:

At the same time I must point out that such discrepancies are visible mainly when driving around the city. I prepared a few test sets from extra-urban routes and it is a waste of time to place them here. Boredom - all equipment reported exactly the same, and the whole was illegible by the complete overlap of the line of crossings.

Eleventh YES: service

I confess - I did not even go to the instructions. Everything that can be set in Cyclo 215 is almost always obvious. Added to this is a very comfortable, large menu with clear and easy-click icons.

Tenth YES: ANT + service

Simple - if we have any sensors in the bike, and the older the heart rate sensor, we can let go of the richer set and save those 200 zlotys with a piece.

However, we do not connect a power sensor to Mio. It is worth remembering if we are looking for equipment to monitor training based precisely on this parameter.

First NO: screen

And it's not even that you have to push it quite hard to register our touch. You can get used to it the most.

The problem with this screen is unfortunately the readability in a really strong sun, at least compared to my private Edge Explore.

Yes, Mio displays everything better and nicer. It has nicer colors and a larger screen. But when both devices hit intense rays of the sun, Garmin remains almost unmoved, while Mio definitely weakens. Setting the brightness to the maximum level partly solves this problem, but - just in part.

Second NO: communication with the computer

It's not a good idea to make devices in 2019 that can not be combined with a telephone. Also for practical reasons.

In the case of the Mio Cyclo 215 everything properly requires turning on the computer, removing the cable, connecting, switching to the computer connection mode, launching the application and further clicking on it. For comparison, after finishing the journey with Edge Explore, I just ... wait a few minutes and the driving record automatically appears in the right service. It will not happen in Mio.

The only consolation is that the desktop application Mio (CycloAgent) at least in the version for macOS works decently, allowing not only to synchronize data, but also sending our trips further - including and automatically to Stravy.

Third NO: this is not training equipment (at least not completely)

Of course, we can connect a cadence sensor and a heart rate sensor, but for example a power sensor is not anymore. We can not set any trainings - either from ready-made plans or manually. We will not find any detailed analyzes of our performance, oxygen cap or fitness level in the Mio website. Nothing.

Worth it or not?

If Mio introduced any option to connect the Cyclo 215 with a phone or even WiFi, for more convenient data transfer, while maintaining the price - I would not have any doubts. And so much will depend on what we expect.

If we are looking for training equipment that uses power measurement - 215, of course, fires. If we are looking for something that we can quickly download to a planned route eg on the phone - it also falls out. If we want to be able to see where we were immediately after returning home - it also falls out.

However, if you are looking for a tourist bike navigation, which is to be primarily a navigation, in this role Mio Cyclo 215 will work really well, and at the same time should not strain so much our portfolio. If only the screen was a bit more readable in the harsh sun ... But it would probably negatively affect the price of the set.

11 times YES and 3 times NO - review of the bike navigation Mio Cyclo 215 HC