German company Sigma is making waves across the pond with their new ROX 12.0 SPORT. This GPS bike computer raises the bar with its feature-packed, map-based navigation system and detailed training functions backed by some powerful and durable hardware.
The ROX 12.0 lets you plan your ride in a variety of different ways. You can upload a route to your device via WiFi or USB or enter an address, a coordinate, or a “point of interest” you want to cycle to. When choosing a route for the day, you can decide on the type and duration of the ride, or pick between the easiest, recommended, or shortest routes to your chosen destination. And for the more adventurous types, the bike computer offers a “Draw my Route” feature where you simply draw one (or more) lines on the map and the ROX 12.0 will create a suggested route for you.
The ROX 12.0 comes pre-loaded with maps of 20 European countries (or the United States). Additional maps can be directly downloaded free of charge via WiFi.
The GPS bike computer offers four preset sport profiles that can be used to define display, sensor, and route preferences (bike paths, roads, forest trails). You can also create and customize any number of additional profiles on the device or via the Sigma online software — there are a total of 30 different data fields to choose from and each profile can display up to 10 values.
The user interface lets you display Strava Live segments, altitude profile, and even drinking and eating alarms to help you maintain energy during your ride. The ROX 12.0 features ANT+ for sensor connectivity including power meters and is also compatible with electronic shifting systems.
The high-resolution, transflective 3-inch color display is easy to read even in direct sunlight and features a graphical user interface that you control with the simple tap of your finger. A big Home button lets you return to the main menu at any time. Sigma claims 16 hours of battery life before the device needs to be recharged.
The Sigma ROX 12.0 GPS bike computer retails for $475 and is available now.