The Large Sprint M200 and L200 bike computer systems are new to the market and a collaboration between Large and Levels.
You possibly can measure just about all the pieces utilizing these computer systems and there are good options resembling reminders to eat and drink, whereas the sharp screens are simple to learn. Operation is by way of buttons – there are not any touchscreens right here.
Nonetheless, the Sprint computer systems lack performance resembling rerouting, a climb profile and in-ride connectivity that you just’ll discover on one of the best bike computer systems. The GPS hint could be a bit inaccurate too.
The telephone app and syncing are additionally relatively clunky, all of which makes the Sprint computer systems tough to advocate.
Nonetheless, the team-up is sensible for each Large and Levels. Beforehand, Large didn’t have a GPS-enabled biking pc to its title, whereas Levels can profit from Large’s muscle within the bike market.
Once we revealed our information to WorldTour group bikes and tools for 2022, we had been stunned to see BikeExchange-Jayco had a pc labelled ‘Large’ hooked up to its bikes. It was solely a few months later that the Sprint computer systems had been introduced formally.
Though marketed as Large computer systems, on the underside the units proudly proclaim they’re designed in Boulder, Colorado (the house of Levels) and assembled in Mexico.
Large Sprint specs vs the competitors
The Large Sprint pc is available in two sizes. The Sprint M200 has a 2.2in diagonal display, slightly bigger than the Garmin Edge 130 Plus and the identical dimension because the Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. The Sprint L200’s display is 2.7in diagonal, on a par with the Garmin Edge 530 and the Wahoo Elemnt Roam.
Because the Sprint computer systems accommodate an array of buttons on the underside of the entrance face, case sizes are a bit bigger than Garmin bike computer systems, the place the buttons are on the edges.
The Sprint M200 is 81x51x22mm deep, roughly the identical dimension because the Garmin Edge 530. The Sprint L200 is a bit bigger at 94x60x22mm deep – related in dimension to the Wahoo Elemnt Roam, which additionally makes use of buttons on the lower-front of the pc.
Value-wise, the 2 items straddle the Garmin Edge 530 and Wahoo Elemnt Bolt.
As fairly compact units, they don’t take up an excessive amount of bar area, though the slab-like sides are deeper than both the Edge 530 or the Wahoo Elemnt computer systems, making them seem fairly chunky. You possibly can set them up and mount them in both panorama or portrait format.
In portrait orientation, there’s an on/off button on the best aspect of the case. Each computer systems are operated utilizing 4 buttons on the backside of the system’s entrance face.
Each units are IP57-rated, which for all intents and functions makes them totally waterproof.
Large packages its computer systems with a plastic out-front mount. It’s relatively flimsy and simple to twist when you strive, though in use I didn’t discover that an issue. It makes use of the Garmin quarter-turn engagement mechanism, so the Sprint computer systems are appropriate with loads of different mounts.
Large has all of the connectivity choices lined, with ANT+ and Bluetooth for peripherals, and Bluetooth connectivity for a telephone and WiFi inbuilt.
The primary distinction aside from dimension is the variety of knowledge fields every pc can show. The M200 will be set as much as present as much as 10 fields, whereas the L200’s bigger display will increase that to 14.
Large Sprint M200 & L200 setup
The Large Sprint biking computer systems observe the now more-or-less normal setup course of for biking computer systems. You set your language and get a fast on-device tutorial earlier than a QR code is displayed.
You’re prompted to obtain the Sprint app, create an account together with your private particulars then pair the pc to your telephone. Subsequent, you choose your geographic area and obtain the related basemaps. It’s all very clean and easy.
There’s the choice to arrange on-device and not using a telephone when you choose, though and not using a touchscreen that’s a reasonably fiddly, button-intensive course of.
You possibly can customise parameters within the telephone app, together with orientation and lightweight/darkish color scheme, and arrange a number of profiles with completely different knowledge screens for various kinds of rides.
The default profiles work properly, although, and provide the necessities, together with a map, and on the Sprint L200 a brightly colored speedo show. You can even set reminders to eat and drink at common intervals or based mostly on the Sprint’s estimate of the vitality you’ve expended.
Large Sprint M200 & L200 trip knowledge
The Sprint is sort of sluggish in addition up when switched on, though it begins about as shortly as a Wahoo pc. It is going to additionally immediate you to replace the firmware or basemaps if there’s a brand new replace, which appears to be a reasonably common prevalence and might delay issues. It’s essential to bear in mind to get it going early in your trip preparations.
As soon as operating, the spotlight of each Sprint computer systems is a really clear, high-contrast display with a default colored show on a black background. It’s simple to learn even on the smaller M200, however you’ll be able to change to a white background when you choose.
In shiny daylight, regardless of the shiny display floor, I discovered it quite a bit clearer than many dearer computer systems, together with the Garmin Edge 1040 Photo voltaic. It additionally responds shortly to modifications in ambient gentle, switching on the backlight when heading into shade.
The button interface is straightforward to make use of and putting the buttons on high of the items makes them simpler to search out than Garmin’s aspect buttons. In some conditions, notably if it’s moist, a touchscreen will be much less simple to make use of than a well-placed set of buttons.
The buttons are fairly small although, notably on the M200. Nonetheless, I discovered them simpler to function on the M200 than on the L200, the place they appeared extra recessed and wanted a tougher push. I discovered I might function them satisfactorily sporting a pair of winter biking gloves although.
As with different biking computer systems, you’ll be able to hook the Large Sprint as much as an array of peripheral {hardware} by way of ANT+ and Bluetooth, and arrange the show to indicate knowledge resembling energy and coronary heart fee as you trip.
Each Dashes linked up shortly to a coronary heart fee monitor, and separate velocity and cadence sensors by way of each protocols.
After a little bit of fiddling, I arrange the Sprint computer systems to sync robotically via to the Levels Hyperlink cloud app and by way of that to Strava.
Nonetheless, I needed to manually join the Levels app to the Sprint and request a sync for the trip to indicate up on my telephone post-ride.
Large and Levels have been engaged on this performance and syncing is healthier than after I first used the units, when it was fully guide.
Large Sprint M200 & L200 mapping and navigation
The Large Sprint computer systems allow you to obtain OpenStreetMap base maps to your most well-liked areas. These are zoomable and scrollable, though this requires utilizing the buttons to carry up and management a sub-menu on the map. It’s not too tough to make use of and I discovered it simpler than pinch gestures on a touchscreen.
The basemaps profit from the display’s excessive distinction and embrace particulars resembling practice strains and lakes, in addition to main and minor roads and a few bridleways. At nearer zoom ranges you get avenue names, however there are not any geographic options.
I discovered there was generally important drift from marked roads, each on-device and post-ride on Strava, notably underneath tree cowl. The full distance didn’t appear to be impacted a lot, but it surely’s extra of a niggle when you’re desirous to precisely observe a section.
You possibly can map out a course on the telephone app. The mapping performance follows logical routes between waypoints, though these don’t snap to roads, so until you hit the street precisely while you faucet in a waypoint, you’ll be left with little spurs off into the wilderness.
I discover mapping a route on the bigger display of a pc quite a bit simpler and the performance works higher on the Levels Hyperlink pc app too, with waypoints snapping to roads.
You can even add routes from different apps together with Komoot, Strava and RideWithGPS, and there are hyperlinks out and in to a number of the greatest biking apps resembling TrainingPeaks and At the moment’s Plan, which you should utilize to handle exercises.
Following a route, instructions and turns are signalled prematurely. You get an alert tone and a small pop-up window seems with directions in small kind, which I discovered fairly onerous to learn.
It was apparent from the breadcrumb path when there was a flip, but it surely’s a special strategy from most computer systems, the place you normally get an enormous flip arrow to observe.
There’s not but any rerouting when you go off-course, though Large says that is coming. You simply get a distance and route again to the place you left your route, which is able to improve as you deviate extra.
When you’re again on the right track, you’ll snap again to the route, however there’s no warning must you set off once more within the improper route.
One other omission on the time of overview is an absence of climb-profile performance. Once more, Large says that is deliberate to be added.
It will not be important – I managed to get to the highest of climbs earlier than climb profiles turned a characteristic of biking computer systems. However the majority of computer systems from different manufacturers present one and it’s a characteristic Garmin now builds into its total vary.
The Hammerhead Karoo 2 even provides you the performance on rides that haven’t been pre-planned.
The Dashes additionally lack connectivity for reside monitoring, group monitoring and incident reporting. Once more, it’s one thing most computer systems now supply and that Large and Levels say is on the ‘to do’ record.
Large Sprint M200 & L200 post-ride options
The interface with the Sprint telephone app is barely odd. Relatively than your rides being entrance and centre, you’re offered with a house display on the telephone, with a calendar marked out with dots on the times for which you’ve a trip file.
Faucet on a date and also you get a abstract file of the trip and a second tab with a graphical file of your trip stats.
The opposite two tabs on the house display immediate you to pay for entry to Levels Hyperlink for extra detailed evaluation.
Your biking pc information are buried underneath a Bluetooth tab on the backside of the house display and require you to attach manually to the Sprint M200 or L200 to switch the information to the telephone, or if you wish to change the Sprint’s settings.
The Levels Hyperlink internet app relies on At the moment’s Plan and offers you extra detailed evaluation of your exercises.
It’s essential to set up Levels Sync software program in your pc to make use of it. This stored telling me I wanted to replace it earlier than I might affiliate the Sprint M200 with the app, however didn’t give me any help to take action.
In the long run, I gave up – it’s in all probability simpler to make use of Komoot or RideWithGPS to map out your routes, and Strava or one other third-party app for evaluation.
Large Sprint M200 & L200 battery life
Large claims a battery lifetime of 11+ hours. This appears a bit beneficiant – I used to be draining round 50 per cent of the battery in three hours with an array of peripherals connected, utilizing navigation and scrolling between screens commonly. Round eight hours is nearer to the mark, which must be sufficient for almost all of rides.
Charging is by way of Micro USB and is comparatively fast. I received round a 50 per cent recharge in two hours.
Large Sprint M200 & L200 spec comparability
Large Sprint M200 & L200 backside line
The Large Sprint computer systems have the potential to become helpful items which are dimension and simple to make use of, with high quality shows. It’s a pity they lack a number of the performance the vast majority of biking computer systems embrace, although a lot of it’s within the works when you’re ready to attend.
Most issues work properly, though the button interface is extra fiddly than a touchscreen if you wish to do greater than scroll via screens as you trip.
The smartphone app isn’t class-leading both, with a relatively non-intuitive format. On condition that they’re priced on a par with higher computer systems with extra performance, such because the Garmin Edge 530 and Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, it’s tough to advocate the Sprint units.
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