Mountain Biking - Bike computers?

I'm starting to notice that a lot of people that are into mountain biking use those bike computers... I guess thats what they are called, trip computers maybe. Are they really that useful? Maybe someone could direct me to a good brand.

It's nice to know how far you've gone, particularly if you are trying to fix your location on a map and you don't have a GPS. If you are training, it's nice to have a stopwatch to time yourself.

I'd get a cheap one like the Cateye Micro 8 I use ($30 or so). I managed to gouge mine up pretty good crashing on a trail yesterday. It still works but another hit like that may result in the innerds spilling out so having something cheap to replace makes sense.

I was just looking at the CC-CD300DW from CatEye it has a wireless speed/cadence sensor that mounts on the left side of the chainstay, would that work with a bike that has rear suspension? Would the cadence sensor not properly operate with the movement?

I can't imagine how a cadence sensor would be useful on a mountain bike. When I'm on a trail, I rarely have time to look away from the trail and down at my computer so I wouldn't see my cadence reading anyway. Plus, my cadence varies so much on anything but a flat smooth trail that I just can't see how knowing what it is at a point in time would be useful.

The important thing is that the distance between the sensor and the magnet has to stay within the recommended range for it to work. If your chainstay moves the sensor far enough away from the magnet during suspension compression and/or rebound while the magnet is passing by the sensor, that revolution won't be counted and your cadence would be inaccurate.

Very good point you make Proximo

I'll stick to a basic one that mounts to the fork.

a serious X-country racer may want to know cadence on a mountain bike, especially averages at the end of a race.. or for training...

I fet I didn't need one and got the Cateye micro wireless (no cadence) - it does everything you need... I find it useful for training, to mark out distances to test my times and to know where on the course I am in a race.... I guess also useful to know when to service parts as you will have total distance, that is if you do not keep re-setting like I did at the start..

I was thinking about purchasing a Garmin ForeTrex 201 GPS but I keep thinking how unreliable it would be highly wooded areas. Would be nice though to have the ability to record tracks.

EDIT: I just discovered the Garmin Edge 205 and 305 which are intended for bicycling, they look pretty awesome, and use the new SiRFstarIII chipset which is a lot better in other Garmin devices that I know of for keeping satellite signal locked on.

Blew screw the GPS just too much trouble to deal with, I think I'll pick up a CatEye Micro Wireless, my main interest is to know how many miles I've been putting on the bike and speed I'm going. It looks like a good unit.

Another vote for Cateye. I have one on my road and mountain bike. Both have wires though. Their great if you keep a training log since you don't have to estimate time and mileage then.

Yup, cateyes are great. My Dad is still using the Cateye I bought new like... 15 years ago. I'm currently using my Magellan Explorist 600 on a bike mount, but it has annoyances when used as a bikeputer. It's insanely awesome, but having it plus a cheap cateye would probably the best thing ever.

So that's my recommendation. Get a cheap cateye to keep on there all the time, then get the badass GPS for when you really need to know where you are/are going.

That's what I was thinking about doing, I keep looking at the new Garmin GPSMap 60Cx (http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap60cx/) (wow it's awesome) and also like you said buy a cheap CatEye and I'll be set.

+1 for Cateye Micro Wireless. Very accurate computer if setup right.

+1 for Cateye Micro Wireless. Very accurate computer if setup right.


Is it easy to setup wrong? ;)

I suggest you use the method described to measure your "Roll Out" versus estimating when plugging in your tire size, if you want to be more accurate.

If you don't care too much, then the chart size is sufficient.

Let me explain further:

There is a chart in the set up manual that you plug in a numeric factor based on your wheel diameter. You can measure this distance by marking a line on your tire (valve stem) and put a corresponding mark on the ground. Then you "roll out" your bike and make another mark after one full revolution. Then you measure the distance between the two marks.

That would be the factor you plug into your computer.

Another vote for the Cateye here too.

I have Cateye Enduro 8's on all my bikes. Good basic cyclocomputer, easy to install, tells you speed, time elapsed for trip, time of day, odometry (trip and cumulative), v-max, and timing.

I find the odometer, speedometer and time of day functions most useful for obvious reasons. It's nice to know how fast you are going, how far you have gone, etc. The cumulative odometer also gives me a good idea of how much abuse the bikes have endured. :D

The basic Cateyes like the Enduro 8 are great for those of us who ride MUPs, urban and suburban streets (i.e. you always know where you are). For those of you who ride long distances in the wilderness (such as out at Moab or Colorado or something), then you might want to get a fancy one with GPS.

ditto on the cateye micro wireless. bombproof. I have a Garmin Etrx gps. paid $129, can be found cheaper so I have great computer and great gps unit for under $180. I just hook the gps to my shoulder strap on my Deuter bag and have not lost signal much when riding in the extreme boonies of western Va.

Got a cateye micro wireless myself. Haven't had a bit of trouble with it

How reliable is it to have the speed sensor on the front wheel?

How reliable is it to have the speed sensor on the front wheel?

What percentage of the ride do you do in a wheelie? :)

I think I'll pick up a CatEye Micro Wireless, my main interest is to know how many miles I've been putting on the bike and speed I'm going. It looks like a good unit. I've got the same model. It works great (4500 miles this year), and I crash hard on most rides:mad: .

Planet Bike 8.0 or 9.0