Sigma Rox 4.0 review

The sigma Rox 4.0 is my third GPS cycle computer. I've used a Lezyne Macro GPS for the last four years or so. For one reason and another I decided it was time for another. 

I'm a touring plodder and don't need a super duper computer that's really designed for racing and training. Connections to sensors such as heart rate are useful as a rough gauge of effort though.

I do use navigation on unfamiliar routes though so komoot integration is important to me. I also wanted a slightly bigger screen than the Lezyne, and better quicker syncing and activity uploading with a phone

In the end I settled on a Sigma Rox 4.0. I've used sigma wired and wireless computers before GPS and liked the design aesthetic and the reliability.

It uses a standard Garmin mount so there's plenty of choice for mounts.

The unit has three big buttons surrounding the bottom of the unit. They have a fairly light but positive action. You do have to be careful not to hit them and accidentally pause your ride though.

Depending on the sport chosen there are up to 6 pages where the display can be customised with different sets of data.

The usual speed, distance and elapsed time is bread an butter stuff and works as you would expect.

GPS lock is normally very quick too.

One small first  irritation to me is that the units selection is metric or imperial. I prefer distance etc in miles and temperature in centigrade.

Update 

unit settings for individual metrics such as speed, distance, temperature are changeable in the app when the unit is connected. 

When you are following a route be it from Strava, komoot or by the Sigma app itself, you get an arrow in the circle which also works as a countdown to the turn which is quite useful.

If the unit is synchronised to the phone app then you get the now usual SMS, email, and phone call alerts. 

There is no option to delete a ride on the device itself. You have to synchronise with the phone app and delete it on the phone. It you have auto-upload to Strava and Komot turned on, you have to delete from them too which is another minor irritation.

Synchronisation is the computer's downfall. I've tried with a couple of phones and even though the devices are paired correctly it only connects to the app the first time after a phone restart. When you dig into it it's not an isolated issue. Sigma unhelpfully just say to re-pair, but that doesn't help. I've had a several cheap smartwatches and fitness bands which just connect without issue so it seems to be an app issue rather than a phone incompatibility

Update

I was informed that the connection worked flawlessly on older versions of Android.

I checked this and it did.

Subsequent fiddling showed that there is a sequence that needs to be followed with Android 12

1. Install the Sigma Ride app.

2. Check and grant all permissions to the app.

3. Only then so you pair with the unit.

When I emailed sigma sport, they said just check permissions but not when in the process. 

Setting permissions before pairing the phone and unit seems to be the key to making connection work.

Connection for me is now reliable all the time.

Pros

✅Attractive design 

✅Good large display

✅Good integration with Strava and komoot maps

✅Uses standard Garmin mounts.

✅Ant+ and Bluetooth connection to sensors.

✅ USB C connector for pc connection and charging.

✅ Relatively cheap at £90 in the UK 

Cons

❌Not possible to delete an activity on device

Book Review: Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne

This was a book I wasn't aware of until very recently, although I was aware that David Byrne cycles when on tour as I previously stumbled across his account of riding the banks of the Tyne and though the fab cycle tunnel. You can read that account here here

If you don't know, David was the lead singer and founder of the rock band Talking Heads and has done a lot of other art projects since.

Anyway back to the book. It's basically a series of explorations by bicycle though various cities from Buenos Aires to London and San Francisco to Manila. 

It's much more than a bunch of bike ride stories as David is a person of deep thought and curiosity and he delves deep into the culture and society in the various locations with musings on everything from art to urban planning. This makes for a very interesting and entertaining set of travelogues.

There's a short section at the back with some of David's cycling tips along with some bike stands he designed for New York, but it's not a book about bicycles and cycling. They are just the magic carpet for this zen like journey across the world and David's inner thoughts.