Road Cycling - cadence

How can you measure cadence? Is there a bike computer with distance, speed etc....I have never seen one. Thanks

Yes. Many computers come with cadence or it can be added. Sigma, comparatively low cost, is a good one. Cat Eye ASTRALE is another.

Cadence is the rpm (rotation per minute) of your crank arms. If you count how many times your crank arm turns in 15 seconds, then multiply it by four, you have your cadence.

A much easier way is to get a cylce computer with a cadence attachment. You attach a magnet to your crank arm and a detector to the down tube. This sends a signal to your computer and gives you a constant accurate read out.

Almost every cycle computer manufacturer makes a cadence model.

If you have Shimano STI shifter/brake levers, you can get a Shimano Flightdeck computer that calculates a virtual cadence. I have one and like it a bunch. The buttons are integrated into the STI brake/shift levers. It also has a graphic gear position readout. Here's a link and a pic:

Shimano Flightdeck (http://bike.shimano.com/Computer/index.asp)

Still can't get a wireless one,right?

Polar has a wireless cadence counter for its 510 and up series computers.

Important note though: stay away from power lines :)

Originally posted by shokhead
Still can't get a wireless one,right?

The Flightdeck is available wireless. That's the one that I have.

I would go with a flight deck. I have one and love it. There is alot of talk about 'it is only virtual cadence', but you are either coasting or pedaling right? Another good point for it is that it shows on the screen your current gear selection.(no need to look down or back anymore) With the cadence displayed all the time for the current gear selection and speed, you know when to shift to another gear before you even start pedaling. (as after coasting down a hill)

the cateye astrale is available on sale for $19.95 at nashbar and supergo. good reliable computer with cadence. can't beat the value.

I just got the Astrale at Performance for that same $19.95. If you go down there to buy it, print out the ad on their web page or it'll run you $26. I had to print it out then take it down there...

Originally posted by bac
The Flightdeck is available wireless. That's the one that I have.

There might be some confusion about this. I have the wireless harness on my roadbike and the wired one for my MTB. The wireless harness for the MTB shifters is rather limited in compatibility to just the M510 (Deore) group. If you have any other group, you need to go wired. For roadbike groups, there's a much greater range of compatibility with the brifters. The same computer head will work with any of the harnesses be they wired or wireless.

Originally posted by sunsetnkc
I would go with a flight deck. I have one and love it. There is alot of talk about 'it is only virtual cadence', but you are either coasting or pedaling right?

I initially thought that virtual cadence was silly but after a little more thinking, I realised that cadence means very little unless you're loading the pedals so virtual cadence is fine for 99% of what you'd want to know about cadence. If the computer were logging or doing average cadence then virtual cadence would throw off those numbers of course.


Originally posted by sunsetnkc
Another good point for it is that it shows on the screen your current gear selection.(no need to look down or back anymore) With the cadence displayed all the time for the current gear selection and speed, you know when to shift to another gear before you even start pedaling. (as after coasting down a hill)

While I like the digital optical gear display, this isn't a unique feature since MTB shifters have mechanical ones and you can now get inline mechanical displays for roadbike shifters too. I do however like the numerical tooth display on the 6501 (the 6500 showed gear ratio and cog-position numerically) but I would like it if it were to show gear development as well.

I'd ask around before getting a polar 510 or higher. They work great at first, but then have reliablity problems.

I love my Astrale. The cadence is really nice to have(in my opinion). Only problem I have is every time I touch the stupid sensor thingie mounted on the chainstay it moves and I have to readjust it. :(

Originally posted by dragracer
I love my Astrale. The cadence is really nice to have(in my opinion). Only problem I have is every time I touch the stupid sensor thingie mounted on the chainstay it moves and I have to readjust it. :(

Don't you wish frame and fork manufacturers could work together with the biketronics industry to standardise on a set of mounting points and interface locations (like what's been done with other components already) so that you could buy a frame that would come with prepped sensor mount points and interfaces?

I bought a Trek cyclometer. It has cadence.

I really like it, becuase it has triple read-outs. I can see my constant cadence, as well as my speed, then either have the regular time or trp time at the top.

This thing was under $40. It was a good deal. I looked at the flight deck, but would have been nearly $100 becuase you had to get the cyclometer, then all the hook ups for the flight deck.

Here is a link to the one like mine:
http://www.trekbikes.com/accessories/product_detail.jsp?product_id=3363&category_id=8

The only bad thing I have found with the Flight Deck is that is won't record the avg. cadence for the whole ride :-(

Originally posted by djpluv
The only bad thing I have found with the Flight Deck is that is won't record the avg. cadence for the whole ride :-(

Well... because of how it actually calculates cadence (virtual cadence), I think an average cadence measurement would be fairly worthless. Also, I'm curious as to the actual value of average cadence. I suppose it'd be neat to see but I'm not so sure it's all that useful.

I'd like it more or less to make sure I pedaled within a particular range. i can figure it out in my head by looking down at the display every now and then. just something else to have, i guess ;-)

Originally posted by khuon
........... you could buy a frame that would come with prepped sensor mount points and interfaces?

YES!! That would be SWEET!! :)

I have a Polar 710 and agree with OneWheelup because I've been burning up alot of batteries, and when the sensor battery needs replacing , you need to remove it and replace the battery, and reattach, also when the 710 (or 510) needs a battery, you are supposed to send it back. I took the chance and replaced it myself, and it works fine. But this voids the warranty.

If you really want to improve - speed, endurance - cadence is key. There are several good computers - the Specialized Pro was one of the best but it is hard to find now. Ciclosport makes the HAC and the Ciclosport 414 - both have cadence and altitude and gradient and power (Watts). The HAC also doubles as an HRM - the Posties have endorsed it for 2003.

"Ride cadence, speed will come" - advice given to me some time back and its' true. Find the right balance between effort (Watts) and cadence is essential.

Nashbar has the Astrale on sale for $19.99. Although mine has worked just fine for the past three years, I bought one and put it away. Can't beat the price and whatever the new one will cost will be considerably more.