Ever since Brian Vernor first told me about Omata and consequently, seeing their Kickstarter begin last year, I was intrigued by their unique cycling computer. I, like many people, still wear a wrist watch, in an era when we are constantly glued to our phones or laptops. Let’s be honest, a classic watch is a luxury item. We don’t need it to function in today’s world, yet many people still use them, even when there are loads of “tech” watches on the market, there’s something comforting about an analog face. Personally, I’m not against GPS watches like my Suunto, yet I would never wear an Apple Watch, or any other square and super tech-looking watches. Perhaps that’s what drew me to the Omata.

Its design aesthetic and m.o. appealed to me. The data is presented in an analog, almost static interface, with the most notable visible change being the speedometer hand. All other functions move so slowly on the face that you really spend more time looking at the road and less at the computer, another gripe I have with instantaneous cycling GPS devices – there’s just too much information being displayed, or flashing simultaneously – they’re distracting. My read on the Omata One, after a few rides, is that it is as luxurious as a wrist watch, yet completes the aesthetic of a bike, rather than competes with it. Expect a full review once I log more miles with this device, I was just so intrigued by it that I had to post something in the interim. If you’re interested in pre-ordering, or just reading more about the One, head to Omata.