By Rick Schultz
Rating: 
Hot
- Can change settings during the ride without turning off and starting the recording over
- Both ANT+ and Bluetooth BLE sensor connectivity
- Set up your display screens easily via smart phone app
- Contains all functionality that most cyclists will want.
Not
- Does not include Di2 connectivity, but you need Di2 for this feature to work anyway.
- Comes with only a basic mount that attaches with elastic bands and not a mount that holds it out in front of the bike.
https://www.brytonsport.com/#/products
MSRP: Around $130 (depending on which model, E, H, T you purchase – see below)
Source: Some local bike shops and online
Summary: Same price and functionality as its predecessor (Rider 410) but now with Follow Track/Guidance (but no maps).
What comes in the box?
After unpacking from the box, I plugged in my new Bryton Rider 420 so it could charge overnight. When I opened the Bryton app on my Samsung Galaxy S8 the next morning, I was surprised to see that the 420 was already connected.
In the app, I next went over to the settings and defined three pages of data so that it would display just like my existing Rider 530 was set up.
First was to define the data fields in the first page. I chose seven fields and easily defined them as (1) Current-PB-LR (current left and right pedal power balance), (2) Current-Pwr (current power), (3) %FTP (percentage of your functional threshold power), (4) CAD (cadence), (5) Ride-Time, (6) IF (intensity factor) (7) TSS (training stress score).
I defined the second screen as more of a daily riding screen and the third screen as a climbing screen. I then went in and defined a lap screen for interval efforts with a TIMER, PWR (current power in watts), %FTP (percentage of your functional threshold power), CAD (cadence).
That’s really all you need for actual training, in my opinion. The analysis can be done off the bike after you finish the ride using software like WKO, Training Peaks or Golden Cheetah.
Pictured in the photo above is my regular training head unit – the Bryton Rider 530, which I find to be comparable to the Garmin 810 at around half the cost. This unit has over 20,000 miles on it and has lasted over 4 years. And for the record, Bryton sent me one for each bike, so between them, they have around 40,000 miles. They have been rock solid, without a glitch or hiccup.
After programming the screens, I then paired the Rider 420 unit to my dual-power meters and to my cadence sensor. I am using the new Assioma Favero dual power meter pedals, another rock-solid product, the Bryton wireless cadence sensor attached to the non-drive crank arm and the unit’s GPS to measure speed.
In less than two minutes after I brought up the settings in the app, everything was paired and running! This was by far the easiest unit to pair of all units I have tested to date. Granted, I already had the app on my phone from setting it up previously with my other Bryton computer.
On the first ride, the unit woke immediately, and I saw everything was zeroed out. As I started pedaling, all functions came right up on the screen as I had set them up.
My Cervélo R5ca has Di2 electronic shifting, and the Rider 530 has a Di2 function which picks up data from the Shimano D-Fly (EWW01) transmitter. I use this function to check the Di2 battery level as well as can see what gears I am in.
I have my Di2 programmed so all I need to do is click the button located at the top of the right shifter to page through the different screens of the Rider 530. I hit the button a couple times, and nothing happened…. That’s when I remembered that Di2 is a feature that is not included in this Rider 420 unit. It’s just as easy to click the lower left button of the Rider 420 to change the display. The newest Rider 860 model supports Shimano Di2, SRAM eTap and Campy EPS.
The device is limited to nine data pages with a maximum of eight fields per page. With its smaller screen (compared to the Rider 530 or Rider 860), any additional fields would be a lot harder to see and probably cause information overload as the cyclist would end up squinting at the screen instead of looking at the road. I feel that eight fields are more than enough on this size unit to give you all of the information you need. If you need to display more than eight fields, then just split these in half and use two data pages and go back and forth.
The Rider 420 comes with a mount that attaches to your stem with elastic bands. Since I already had the out-front mount installed, I just used that. So the mount shown in the photo above is not included with the unit, but is available as an accessory.
Even though the Rider 530 is a larger unit that I am used to, the Rider 420 did not seem too small. All data fields were crystal clear and easy to read.
The Rider 420 supports 77+ functions under the main headings of Speed, Time, Lap, Power, Distance, Cadence, altitude, heading, Heart Rate, Temperature and Calories. Battery life is claimed to be 35 hours, and so far after a half dozen two hour rides, the battery indicator is starting to move.
For around $130, you get a rock solid bike computer with all of the functions you would use on your average ride. If you want even more features, you might then consider the Rider 450 ($200-$280), Aero 60 ($230-$280) or the new fully featured Rider 860 ($350+).
In a previous tread about problems with Garmin computers and you recommended Bryton.
I purchased a Rider 530 and was happy with it easy connectivity including my Vetor Power pedals.
However after about 3 months the connectivity with the Vector pedals began to deteriorate and eventually lost all power connectivity. And yes even after upgrading the pedals and replacing the batteries. You also mentioned how good their customer support was. Well that is not what I have exkperienced. I have been trying to talk to someone in customer support a Bryton Sports for over two weeks. No one ever answers the phone. All you get is a recording to leave your name and number and they will get back shortly. NOT SO! I have recieved on call back 8 hrs after I left the message. Iwasn’t able to answer immediately but called them right back and got the same recording to leave a message. TOTALLY DISSATISFIED. I thought you might like to know haw bad their customer support is.
Thanks for your feedback. Have you tried connecting those Vector pedals to a Garmin computer or any other computer to see if it’s the pedals that are the source of the problem vs the computer? If you have a friend with a different brand of computer, you could try that, for example. I’ve seen people talking about connection issues for those pedals in general. https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/b71bs7/issues_with_brand_new_garmin_vector_3_pedals/
I have had a Bryton Rider10 for 18 months now and nothing but trouble with the cadence and HRM sensors. They are fine for a few months and then just stop transmitting even when re-paired with fresh batteries. I’m in Australia and Bryton support is non existent. I’ve been waiting 8 weeks for a replacement HRM sensor and have followed this up six times with the shop. Now Bryton changed their local agent so the shop is sending me another brand HRM sensor and belt and returning mine to Bryton for a credit. That was a week ago and still waiting. The products might be ok overall but unless there is support then you are stiffed. I won’t buy them again.
Here in the US, I bought a Bryton Rider 100 with HRM (and cadence) two or three years ago, taking a chance as I’d never heard of this brand and it was only available on Amazon == but it was actually affordable (about $110 with the chest transmitter) and half the price of anything comparable. It has worked great ever since, in all conditions, and the Bryton software provides all of the data I want.
I just received mine in the mail yesterday after ordering it from Amazon. I had a Rider 330 previously. I also have a HRM, cadence, and speed sensors, all from Bryton as well. My new Rider 420 saw them when scanned and added them with no issues. Since it is still winter here in Michigan and I was on rollers, I changed my speed source to my speed sensor, and started. riding. My Rider 420 had no issues communicating to my sensors and my ride last night went without a hitch, minus me learning how to use the buttons The Bryton app is very useful in programming the screens, and it quite easy.
My unit is larger than my Rider 330, and most of my bar mounted GPS mounts are set up for my previous smaller unit. So I might have to invest in sport mounts (out-front) for each of my road bikes. It looks like Garmin and Bryton share the same mount. My LBS has a few, so I might buy one and test it out.
Hy,
I also have Bryton 330 and im in doubt should I go for 420? Can you name any difference especially the ride data uploading speed, is it same or improved?
Thanks.
Hello,
how is Bryton Roder 420 in comparisson with Sigma Rox 11?
What do you reccomend.
Thanks and regards
There is one big issue with this device – it doesn’t support train and test mode. It is not possible to build a workout with different HR / CAD / Power limits for each interval.
this feature is described in manual but not available in device, latest firmware installed. Bryton doesn’t give any date for this feature to be implemented. Beside of that it is quite nice device.
Hello,
Thanks for your review. As you have both the 420 and 530 how do you rate them to each other? I’m particularly interested in the navigation feature of each when following a downloaded route from perhaps Strava?
Thank you, Ben.
Thanks for the review , I have a major problem trying to pair cadence sensor , it simply won’t happen . My rider 530 is paired , but this one won’t do it (420) , any ideas ?
I am seeing a di2 pairing option in the menus. Not for operating the device with buttons, but just to see the battery life, gearing etc. when I try to pair my di2 to the unit, it tells me I need to “wake up sensor to pair”. How do I “wake up” the sensor? There is also an option below the di2 “E-shifting” similar response. I did do a firmware update as well. Thank you
I bought a 420 about 2 months ago, using it for my 6 mile commute to work (4 days a week), and I like everything about it. I’m using their cadence sensor, and the GPS for speed, and it works well. However, I do have to charge it about every two weeks, riding 12 miles a day. That’s ok, it’s about a charge every 100 miles. But since my ride is only about 1 hour a day, I’m only getting about 8-10 hours on the battery, not 35! I haven’t use used the backlight much, and I don’t mind charging it every two weeks, but I’m wondering why the battery life is so different that what other folks are getting.