Garmin Ltd., the global leader in satellite navigation, announced today that it has acquired MetriGear, Inc., the creator of an innovative pedal-based power solution for cycling, as a new and exciting component of its growing fitness division.

MetriGear is a Silicon Valley-based company devoted to creating game-changing solutions for improving athletic performance in cycling and other sports.

“Power is becoming the must-have information for cyclists who want to improve their performance,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin’s President and COO. “Adding MetriGear’s talents and technologies to the Garmin family is a natural fit as we share a passion for fitness and are dedicated to making advanced technology affordable and easy to use.”

MetriGear earned “Best of Show” accolades from multiple publications at Interbike 2009 upon the introduction of Vector™, a pedal-based power solution that integrates MetriGear’s custom force and motion sensor platform into the spindles of bicycle pedals to measure a cyclist’s performance. Vector is easy to move between bikes, it accurately measures power, and enables the independent measurement of pedal force for each leg.

“From the start, our vision has been to deliver an easy-to-own cycling power meter with unique capabilities,” said Clark Foy, CEO of MetriGear. “Garmin’s world-class engineering, wireless, manufacturing expertise and their ability to deliver an end-to-end solution from sensors to displays will be instrumental in realizing this vision. We can’t imagine a more capable partner to bring Vector to market, and we are absolutely thrilled to join the Garmin team.”

Garmin recently announced the newest addition to its family of GPS-enabled cycling computers, the feature-packed touchscreen Edge 800, which will be on display this week at Interbike in Las Vegas (Booth 2631). Using information directly from GPS satellites, Edge 800 accurately tracks speed, distance, time, GPS position, elevation, calories burned, climb and descent.

The wireless features of Vector, Edge 800 and many other Garmin fitness devices are enabled by ANT+™ personal area network technology, creating a fully integrated combination of best-in-class products for an affordable solution right out of the box. ANT+ is a leading wireless interface protocol enabling ultra low power applications.

Garmin and MetriGear are dedicated to bring the Vector power solution to market. Product availability and pricing details will be released at a later time. For the latest announcements and updates, or to learn more about Garmin’s products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/garmin.

Comments

[snowghost]

That´s great!
Please get the new system production ready as fast as you can. I´m waiting for it...

[inkeba]

This is very good news. I was excited by the Vector product for Speedplay petals and was looking forward to its intro. Now that it's a Garmin product, it's guaranteed to work with my Edge 500. I hope it comes in at an attractive price point.

[FILIP SPEYBROUCK]

I'm really looking forward to combine my Edge 500 with the perfect power solution!

[Faslskyhi]

I want one!!! Just in time for Christmas 2010??? Work hard. Bike hard. Repeat.

[Darren]

excellent news. Garmin are an excellent company and I've been watching Metrigear to see when they would release their Vector product. This should shake up the power meter market. I hope the price will be affordable for the masses.

[Olternaut]

Awesome news! i want to buy the new Edge 800 and the Vector, in one package. I don't care about the cost just bring it to market SOON!!

[Tim]

How Timely, I've been looking at power meters and was MetriGear's solution would work pretty slick and with my Edge500!!!!

[Atsushi]

Exciting News! We are waiting for the next announcement: PRICEING and AVAILABILITY!

[Raul, a Triathlete from Brazil]

Wow, great news!
The Company I like the most for cycling equipment - Garmin - with the one I expected to debut the most - MetriGear...
Above all, my fears that my Garmin 500 would not work properly with the upcoming MetriGear is going away...
Pls do focus on Look pedals, gotta go mainstream - other pedals are a plus...

Great move, good luck!

[Jon Mack]

Looks like Look/Polar have some competition... I've been waiting for this system to become available for over a year, can't wait to see what you guys do with it!

[Misterlump]

Sweet!

I've been waiting for a white knight to come in and help make the metrigear dream a reality.

As an owner of two PowerTap wheels, I will buy the pedals the moment they are available and get new wheels. Stoked!

IMHO the Look/Polar pedal is now dead in the water... no ANT+? Can you say Betamax?

[eightzero]

This is good news. Hopefully the Garmin implementation of Vector will come with firmware upgrades to existing units like the 605, 705, 500, and 800 to allow capture and display of power data, as well as pedaling efficiencies.

Very, very exciting.