Garmin Edge 540 Solar | + A New LAB71 Cannondale | Cycling Weekly - video Dailymotion

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The Garmin Edge 540 Solar is just around the corner. How do we know this? Well, US based retailer Adorama leaked the new device when the product pages accidentally went live. It wasn't just the 540 Solar that went live but also, an 840 Solar too. So far, all we know is that the computers are likely to have the same solar technology that's currently found on the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar. It's also likely that both units will receive big updates to their software, and thus new riding features will be made available. Think workout prompts, ClimbPro, improved GNSS GPS and much more. Cannondale has also just dropped its latest addition to the LAB71 range. LAB71 is Cannondale's highest echelon of bikes, which aims to be lighter than anything else found in their range. As such, they have now released the new LAB71 Topstone. It's only being sold a frameset, so, if you're a keen gravel racer this could be the foundation of your next ride.

Transcript

00:00 As the title of this video suggests, a new Garmin has been leaked by online US retailer

00:05 Adorama.

00:06 The images that were posted were that of a compact head unit and to my eye, this can

00:11 only be one thing - a new Garmin Edge 540 Solar.

00:16 While an 840 head unit was also posted on the retailer's site, the images that were

00:20 used were the same as those found on the 540 listing and obviously look far too small to

00:26 be an 800 series computer.

00:29 That being said, the technical specifications that were posted on each product page did

00:33 differ, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see an 840 launched at the same time.

00:40 Since a retailer was the one to leak the images, it's fair to assume that the new products

00:44 are right around the corner.

00:46 It's been four years since the 530 and 830 were launched, so it's about time that these

00:51 models did see an update.

00:53 Especially so when you consider that Wahoo updated its Roam and Bolt in the summer of

00:58 last year.

00:59 And Garmin themselves launched the Edge 1040 Solar at around the same time, so you can

01:05 only assume that there's a whole bunch of trickle-down tech ready and waiting for these

01:09 new computers.

01:11 What looks to be the biggest difference is that the 540 will come in a solar version,

01:16 meaning that riders will be able to dramatically elongate the battery life of their devices.

01:22 There is a chance that we could be able to see solar models gain up to 100 hours of extra

01:27 battery life when being supported by direct sunlight.

01:31 After reading all of the specs that were posted online, it's likely that the new devices

01:35 will include on-screen workout prompts, improved connectivity features, stamina insights, multiband

01:41 GNS technology, and a personal favourite of mine, the Garmin Climbing Assist tool, Climb

01:47 Pro.

01:48 A lot of these things can already be found on Garmin units, so it may not feel like anything

01:53 crazy new, but when we first saw the 1040 Solar, of course, the biggest change was that

01:58 new solar technology.

01:59 But most of the other improvements were then software upgrades.

02:04 It would not be a surprise if that's the same case again.

02:07 In terms of cost, the listing for the new Edge 540 showed a price tag of just shy of

02:13 $350, which is around £286, while the Edge 840 was displayed at just shy of $450, which

02:22 in the UK roughly converts to £367.

02:26 The Edge 540 Solar was listed at the same price, with the Edge 840 Solar was then being

02:32 listed at just shy of $550, or about £450.

02:38 Both significantly cheaper than the company's current Edge 1040 Solar, which is available

02:44 online at $750, or £630.

02:50 It is important to note, however, that Garmin is yet to release official information on

02:54 the devices, so the official pricing also remains uncertain.

02:59 Since all of this information was made available due to a leak, we currently do not have an

03:04 official release date from Garmin.

03:06 However, like I said at the start of the video, if retailers do have their product pages ready,

03:11 it's very likely that it's very imminent.

03:17 From one impending release to one which landed just a couple of days ago, Cannondale has

03:22 launched the next bike which sits within its Lab 71 range.

03:26 Rather than a road bike, the new model is a continuation of their ever-popular Topstone

03:31 range.

03:32 Enter the Lab 71 Topstone.

03:35 As with the Lab 71 Super 6 Evo that was launched about a month ago, the bike was built using

03:41 a new carbon lay-up, which Cannondale has named its Series Zero lay-up.

03:46 This new lay-up enabled Cannondale to save 40g over the high mod version of the Super

03:51 6.

03:52 Now, that of course is not a lot of weight, but when you consider that the high mod is

03:56 already pretty light, it does get hard to drop weight from a frame which still enjoys

04:01 the sculpture of a bike designed to work on all parkours.

04:05 But how does this relate to the new Topstone?

04:08 Well, the claimed weight saving here is 160g.

04:13 This is going to be more down to the fact that there is no high mod Topstone, so the

04:18 difference in carbon used between the Lab 71 Topstone and the next in the range is actually

04:24 quite large.

04:25 But regardless, a 160g saving off of the frame is nothing to be sniffed at.

04:31 In total, that brings the frame weight in at 900g, which quite frankly, is very good

04:36 for a road bike, let alone a gravel bike.

04:40 Like the standard model, this iteration of the gravel bike comes with Cannondale's

04:44 Kingpin Mini Rear Suspension coupling that allows the back wheel to flex by 30mm.

04:50 That system itself lost 100g of weight when the bike was given a refresh last year.

04:56 The geometry of the frame is also identical to the current Topstone carbon, which should

05:01 serve to maintain the confidence-inspiring handling that this iteration of the bike has

05:05 been known for.

05:07 You can also fit this frame with a dropper seat post, although the one featured in the

05:11 image is the wireless SRAM AXS option, which requires no cable routing.

05:17 The Lab 71 Topstone is only being sold as a frameset, and Cannondale quite reasonably

05:22 argue that there is so much diversity in gravel setups that anyone buying a high-end bike

05:27 will likely have their own preferences.

05:29 So here in the UK, the frameset will cost £3,000, and over in the US, it will cost

05:35 $4,500.

05:37 The current top-of-the-range Topstone is £8,000 for a complete bike with Shimano GRX, RX,

05:44 825 Di2, and hologram GSL27 carbon wheels.

05:49 That also comes with Cannondale's SmartSense lighting and rear radar system, which adjusts

05:53 its brightness depending on the light conditions.

05:56 The Lab 71 model doesn't come with SmartSense, but is fully compatible with the system should

06:02 you wish to fit it at a later date.

06:04 I'm pretty excited to see the builds that people come up with for this bike, and I sincerely

06:09 hope that some of the professionals from the Cannondale-sponsored teams do get to go wild

06:14 on a build and then race it at Unbound.

06:17 Let me know what you think about that new Cannondale frameset and, of course, the potential

06:22 new Garmin computers.

06:23 If you enjoyed the video, then please do drop it a like, subscribe to the channel for more

06:27 content and I will see you again very soon.

06:29 [MUSIC PLAYING]

Garmin Edge 540 Solar | + A New LAB71 Cannondale | Cycling Weekly

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