China Cycle 2026: New GPS Computers, Power Meters and Smart Trainers

China Cycle 2026 in Shanghai brought a wave of new cycling electronics from Chinese brands pushing hard into territory long owned by Garmin, Wahoo, and Favero. GPS computers, radar lights, power meters, and smart trainers were all on show, with several products targeting the sub-300 USD price range where the competition is getting fierce.

On the GPS computer front, brands are closing the gap on the Garmin Edge 540 and Wahoo Elemnt Bolt. Mapping quality and route recalculation were key talking points, and a few units showed touchscreen interfaces with sub-2-second response times. Battery life claims hovered around 20 to 30 hours, which puts them in the same conversation as the Edge 840 Solar.

Power meters got a lot of floor space. Dual-sided pedal-based units from at least two brands are targeting the Favero Assioma Duo's stronghold, with accuracy claims of plus or minus 1%. If those numbers hold up in real-world conditions, that's a serious threat to the Italian brand's dominance in the under-400 USD pedal power meter segment.

Smart trainers and radar lights rounded out the show. Direct-drive trainers with ERG mode and Zwift compatibility were present, aiming below the Wahoo Kickr Core's 900 USD price point. Radar lights continue to evolve fast, with integrated brake detection appearing on multiple units, something Garmin's Varia still doesn't offer at its current price.

The details behind the specs are still thin, and lab claims rarely survive first contact with a real training block. Worth watching, not buying yet.