Mountain Biking - Computers with MTB?

How often do ppl use cyclocomputers on their mountain bikes?

I use one. The reason being that I have been in a race and completely bonked. Not knowing how much longer I had to suffer just made it that much worse.

If using one I do recommend going with a wireless computer though. That way you don't have any problems with the wire when the fork compresses.

I've always been a fan of putting numbers on my riding. The odometer also lets me track the wear and tear of the bike vs. kilometers. Wireless units are a good idea if you have a long-travel fork, although they need two different batteries.

My take is that a HRM is a lot more useful on a MT. Bike than a distance/speed computer.

GV27 - I agree completely when it comes to just riding or training. However when racing (to me) it is always nice to know how much longer the race is so that I can kind of gauge how hard I should be riding based on how I feel and how much longer the race is.

On a side note I have completely quit using my heart rate monitor. I just could not use it efficiently so it didn't really do much for me. It actually seemed to hinder me more than it helped me, mentally the strap aound my chest bothered me and seemed to hinder my breathing. I need to learn more about how to use them and try again next season.

I have a simple computer on my mtn. bike. I like to know how many miles I've done at times. saturday I went for a quick ride, I had a goal of 10 miles. It was nice to know when I had done those 10 miles. I also like to see how long a given trail may be.

I don't need any other stuff on mine and they seem to break once a year, so I just go for the cheapies. 15 bucks or so.

I ride with mine everytime (unless I accidentally leave it a home).
I use mine for two main reasons:
1) It has a timer on it so I know exactly how long I've been in the saddle.
2) It tracks Average Speed so I know if I'm goofing off too much.

I quit using mine on my mtn bike.

When I'm in the woods, I escape from all the stresses I put on myself. That includes tracking my time or distance. I like to ride to ride.

However, on my road bike. I use it religiously. Total time, total milage, average speed...etc.

I use a cateye cordless. they are way cheap since coming out with a newer version. very durable in my opinion too

I love my bike computer, I find it fun to track mileage and speed and everything.
I also go in for the very basic units, my current one was 20 dollars US.

Anyone have any experience with the MEC $22 CAD unit? It's a 10-function wireless unit. For $22 CAD it seems like a really good deal.

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=669195&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=748239&bmUID=1119918762321

I use a basic wired computer, and I don't bike without it. I like keeping track of what I did, so I prepared an excel sheet to enter the data from each ride. It's nice to go back and see if I improved or not. It motivates me too :D

I actually want to get a wireless computer with HRM. Polar has a new model, cs200. It has everything that I want from a bike computer. Really nice. I haven't seen it in the bike shops around here yet, they expect it probably in July. :rolleyes:

I like to track how long I've ridden on a given trail ride. Knowing the mileage I've traveled helps me determine if I'm gaining endurance as well.

I use mine religously. Knowing how far you've been, how long it took and how fast you went gives you a marking point for riding the trail again, and trying to better yourself for the next time around. Unless your just goofing off of course. :D But it helps me knowing that I'm seeing improvements as far as how I feel and how much smoother or faster I went than that one other time before.

How often do ppl use cyclocomputers on their mountain bikes?
Two things.
this subject has been covered any number of times and the information for such a general question could have been gleaned from a simple search
http://img245.echo.cx/img245/9869/search7ro.gif
Is it so hard to type out the word "people"? Avoid using AOL'ese here it makes you look like a lazy 12 year old

http://img217.echo.cx/img217/1002/textspeak7oe.jpg
Thank you

I use one. The reason being that I have been in a race and completely bonked. Not knowing how much longer I had to suffer just made it that much worse.

If using one I do recommend going with a wireless computer though. That way you don't have any problems with the wire when the fork compresses.

I did not see this post when I started mine.

LowCel, what wireless computer are you currently using ???
Any recommendations ?

Thanks,

J.

If using one I do recommend going with a wireless computer though. That way you don't have any problems with the wire when the fork compresses.

I haven't had problems with the wires. You just need to make sure they are put on right.

JoeOxfordCT - I use the Cat Eye micro wireless on my mountain bike and the Specialized Speed Zone Pro Classic wireless computer on my roadie.

Totoro - better go knock on some wood. :)

I bought a simple wireless one and it wouldn't work on my front end.

it was a 'Line of site' device, so the transmitter and receiver had to be lined up to see each other. kind of like your TV remote, if something is in the way, you can't change the channel.

I have a super short stem and the way the device mounted, I couldn't get the thing to work. so I took it back and got a cheap one w/ a wire.

That sucks pnj, hopefully the wired one works well for you.

On the cateye I have it mounted directly on my stem, there is no way for it to have line of sight to the sensor. Still works perfect though. Well, except for one race in four inches of snow. I think the sensor actually froze up on the drive to the race. :(

I bought a simple wireless one and it wouldn't work on my front end.

it was a 'Line of site' device, so the transmitter and receiver had to be lined up to see each other. kind of like your TV remote, if something is in the way, you can't change the channel.

I have a super short stem and the way the device mounted, I couldn't get the thing to work. so I took it back and got a cheap one w/ a wire.


Sigmasprt should solve that problem. its digital, needs about 17 cm or shorter to work and does work when not in line of site. it does not hold up to "gully washer" rains though. they can be found at Nashbar,Performance and other places for as little as $25 for the 1600. less for the 1200 with RDS( radio digital signal Ithink is what that stands for, cant really remember the R stands for

How much is a good one? I just want to know how far I've cycled.

I use the Cateye Micro Wireless on my MTB. At my LBS it goes for $54.99 which was more than I wanted to spend. I found it brand new in the box on ebay and paid around $32 to the door for it. It works well and I have no problems with syncing the units. I don't beat the tar out of the bike on trails but I don't exactly take it easy either and it's held up well..

My take is that a HRM is a lot more useful on a MT. Bike than a distance/speed computer.

Personally i like to keep track of my average speed. That way I know if I need to speed up to keep my goals. Everything else is derived.

The odometer is a matter of pride.

I did not see this post when I started mine.

LowCel, what wireless computer are you currently using ???
Any recommendations ?

Thanks,

J.

Cheap and functional. $50 Cateye Micro Wireless. Easy to setup, easy to use. No HRM, but if you're training to a heart rate "target zone" you are in the wrong sport.

My take is that a HRM is a lot more useful on a MT. Bike than a distance/speed computer.

I had a computer for a few months but you really do not look at it if you are doing single track. They are nice for bike paths or road training though. I find HRM to be more practical as they let you know if you are about to have a heart attack.

I like to ride to ride.

That is profound.

:beer:

I've rode all the trails in my area sooooo much, that I know how far I've gone by instinct.... No need for a BC, but I do wear my watch, just to know when my wife "expects" me home and when I actually expect to get off my bike....

Computers= Evil.

I use one. On local trails and lunch time rides I rarely even think about it. If I'm on a long ride especially on an unfamiliar trail, it can be a great navigation aid. Like others, time is typically the best measure of how I'm riding, so I usually just look at my watch. I use the older cateye enduro I got for $17, so I'm not too worried about breaking it.

Computers are not evil. Like many tools and devices, it depends on how you use it or choose not to. I find it interesting that some people who say bike computers take away from the freedom MTBing provides also listen to music on the trails. I personally would never listen to music while riding. Part of the joy of riding is the connection w/ the bike and nature, some of which is audible: the swift click from shifting a well-tuned drivetrain, the crunch of sand/rocks under the tires. etc. Enough already.

Dave