Road Cycling - Any one knows of a good wireless cycle computer with cadence?

O.K. Maybe I am whack but I hate wires. I not a data freak either. All I want from a cycle computer is the normal stuff: Speed, Distance, Time, and Cadence. I just don’t want wires. An Altimeter would be nice too. Any Suggestions. If you got a good set up tell me about it and clue me in on the cost benefits to if you don't mind. It would be a big help.

I didn't find a wireless with cadence. Not to say they don't exist, but if they do they're probably expensive.

I have heard, on this forum (try a search), that Cat-Eye is due out (in September?) with an "all-wireless" computer that also has a cadence feature. And, yes, I think that you'll have to shell out for it.

Other than that, I believe all of them are wired, at least the cadence part is. I am very happy with my Ciclosport 414 with the cadence attachment. It's wired, and not the cheapest. But, it has altitude, too. I doubt that you'll find one with altitude that is terribly cheap.

Cheers,
Jamie

I have to add that an altitude feature puts you dangerously close to data freak land.

With the altitude, you can also know the percentage grade (which is the part I really like), and you can calculate your wattage output (to a moderate degree of accuracy at least while climbing). And the Ciclosport does totals, max and min for all these features, plus all the usual stuff. The Cat-Eye should do all that too, so I am told.

By the way, the Ciclosport runs about 100 Euro (about $100), plus 15 Euro for the cadence attachment. I don't know what they cost in the U.S., but I know they are available there (REI used to have them).

Cheers,
Jamie

I wanted the same thing and the closest that I could come up with is made by Specialized. The only wire is cadence. So my road bike has one wire and the Mt. Bike has none (no cadence on MTB). I know that Specialized has a model up or two called the "P-Brain" (I think) and it has an altimeter. The price for an all wireless computer will have to be a few bucks as it will have to be able to collecct separate data from two transmiters. Let us know if you find one.

jmlee is correct, i believe- my LBS told me there's no such thing as a wireless cadence computer. the speedometer/odometer part may be wireless, but a cadence monitor that is wireless is not yet on the market.

Specialized is coming out with a "Pro" model of it's 2002 Speedzone line. It is supposed to be completely wireless, including actual, not virtual, cadence. It will have altimeter and inclinometer features. Retail price $99.

It was supposed to have been available February 2002, but has been pushed back a couple of times due to delays in getting the production equipment in place. The Speedzone Pro used to be listed on the Specialized website. You can still see it's features and the notation "Available Sept. 2002" as follows. Go to specialized.com and select USA or America. Select computers. Click on the Speedzone Elite. Click "Details". Click "Compare Models" and you will see the Pro listed. Note that the "Cadence" box is not checked because there is a separate box for "Wireless Cadence."

I have been waiting for this model since last January!
Regards,
Raymond

I haven't seen a wireless unit that has a wireless cadence feature also.
That would require two transmitters (and two transmitting frequencies), one in the speed sensor and one in the cadence sensor. The display unit would need two receiver units, one for each frequency.
I don't think there is enough demand for such a unit so I doubt if anyone will be producing one in my lifetime.

Since you don't like wires you may have to settle for a wireless unit with optional cadence. The only wire would be from the cadence sensor.

Too bad. :(

Raymond, welcome back from vacation.
Hope you had a great time.

I looked at the Specialized website and they say the cadence feature is "wired". :(

Couldn't you use TWO cheap wireless computers? One setup normally and the other with the transmitter connected to the frame and crank? the cadance one would have to be calibrated to the circumfance of the transmitter position on the crank (i.e.: if the crank was 10cm from the crank center the computer would be set at 629).

Does this make any sense to anyone but me?? OR have I drifted over into my own magic world of @*^%*)(*&_ again?

RetroLung,

My $.02, I have a Cateye Astrale which provides the basics, including cadence. The Cateye has just one wire running from the bars to the chainstays. There is a cadence sensor mounted closer to the front of the bike. The wire splits at that point and there is another sensor further back for odometer/speed/etc.

Frankly, you've already got brake cables and shift cables, so adding a single wire under the downtube shouldn't be a big deal.

Steve

Love my wireless FlightDeck w/virtual cadence!

what is virtual cadence?

Well this has been very informative. At present Guillermo there isn’t one out there unless I want to change my dura ace levers to one that have a cadence sensor and that is way too expensive. FYI: Virtual Cadence is the algebraic calculation of cadence by knowing the gear, speed and wheel circumference.

Yes jmlee & pgreene my search in the forum went in vain. The setup your talking about is $125 US Plus another $25 for a wired cadence option. RainmanP You seem to be right. Specialized is coming out with a wireless model and RonH and I will have to wait until then.

SteveE I starting to accept your reason but what the hell do you do with the excess wire (Drives me nuts on long ride when I roll it up around the tubes or handle bar you know).

Hotrod does that flight deck work pretty good or do you have some mess-ups from time to time with the gear it displays. I have a bike that has campy shifter which work with their Ergobrain version but have been leery because it isn’t wireless and heard that this is an issue.

Finally, You can't repalace experiance. I have an old wireless and I believe you idea will work If I don’t figure out what to do with that excess wire.

When you use the cadence feature for the Ciclosport, it runs just one wire to the rear wheel/crank area. The wire then splits in two for the two sensors.

I mounted it as follows: I wrapped the slightly longer wire for rearwheel sensor once or twice around my chainstay in a spiral. I ran the wires taught (and held down by those plastic ties) over the top of the bottom bracket and then around to the bottom of the downtube. At about that point, the two wires join. I just ran them up the bottom of the down tube to the head set (more ties). Then I wrapped it spiral around the front break cable. Its all pretty tidy.

By the way, the Ciclosport comes "wireless". But, using it "wireless" (with the large transmitter and receiver) has to be slightly heavier than the wired unit (with two smaller sensors, wires, and very small cradle for the computer). so, if one is weight conscious, it might be better to go wired.

Cheers,
Jamie

Retrolung -

On my bike, tie-wraps are used to tie together the computer wires with the cable housing. The wires run underneath the downtube and are held in place with strips of electrical tape running parallel to the downtube. In the past, I used tie-wraps to hold the wires in place. I usually don't have too much extra wire but what's left I usually can loop back and forth a couple of times and hide underneath the downtube.

If I get some time this weekend maybe I can take some digital pix and post them to show you how it's set up.

Oh yeah, I forgot that I put electrical tape over the wires on the downtube, too.

Another solution to the excess wire problem would be to wrap it in a spiral up the downtube.

Cheers,
Jamie

Polar has some HRM:s with wireless cadence and speed sensors (and even power). They're quite expensive though :(