Southern California - Computer with altimeter and wirewless cadence

I will soon need to buy a new wireless cyclocomputer, ideally with an altimeter and wireless cadence.
Any of you purchased something of the sort recently?
I read a few previous posts on this, but they date from a few months or years. Things move fast in this field.
I would appreciate your suggestions.
Price should ideally be below 150$.

I will soon need to buy a new wireless cyclocomputer, ideally with an altimeter and wireless cadence.
Any of you purchased something of the sort recently?
I read a few previous posts on this, but they date from a few months or years. Things move fast in this field.
I would appreciate your suggestions.
Price should ideally be below 150$.

I bought a Blackburn Delphi 6.0, which is wireless, but the cadence is wired. It has altimeter and a HRM, and it was around $169. If I was to do it over again, I would probably go with wired, because this has some oddities when in certain areas where frequency interference caused some issues. The computer would register you going at 50 mph, when you are standing still for a few seconds.

I know VDO is very popular, and they do have the combination you are looking for, but not sure what the retail is. Everyone I talk to recommends if you do get VDO, then you should not get wireless, because it is not too reliable.

My $0.02.

I ordered a Sigma BC 2006 a few days ago. It has not yet arrived. It has an altimeter and a heart rate monitor. It is wireless. It does not have cadence. It uses DTS, which is their description for coded digital transmission in order to preclude interference from static emanating from electrical transmission lines, traffic lights, and so on. There may be a Sigma model that includes cadence. I am not sure. I got a very good price from Nashbar through Amazon.com. The list price is $130. I want it mostly for continuous heart rate display, especially in the winter when I cannot easily roll up my sleeve and touch two bare fingers to my MIO heart rate watch, at least not while riding.

Get a Garmin.

GPS units now are much cheaper and more capable then the regular bike computer.

Get a Garmin.

GPS units now are much cheaper and more capable then the regular bike computer.

I agree. I picked up a 305 up at Walmart.com for 269 dollars and then got a 75 dollar rebate from Gatorade or Powerbar (sorry, I didn't really care who sent me the money so I don't remember who it was:rolleyes:) for a grand total of less then 200 dollars. You get all you want and more without any of the usual interference from outside electrical sources. Now that I have it, I would have even paid more for it.

I agree. I picked up a 305 up at Walmart.com for 269 dollars and then got a 75 dollar rebate from Gatorade or Powerbar (sorry, I didn't really care who sent me the money so I don't remember who it was:rolleyes:) for a grand total of less then 200 dollars. You get all you want and more without any of the usual interference from outside electrical sources. Now that I have it, I would have even paid more for it.

I was all set to get a Garmin until I talked to a couple friends who have them. Apparently, the battery life on the garmin blows.

Garmin claims 10hrs, which is pretty weak to begin with, if you're into any kind of endurance riding, and I'm told they're lucky to get 6 hrs. out of a full charge.

I ordered a Sigma BC 2006 a few days ago. It has not yet arrived. It has an altimeter and a heart rate monitor. It is wireless. It does not have cadence. It uses DTS, which is their description for coded digital transmission in order to preclude interference from static emanating from electrical transmission lines, traffic lights, and so on. There may be a Sigma model that includes cadence. I am not sure. I got a very good price from Nashbar through Amazon.com. The list price is $130. I want it mostly for continuous heart rate display, especially in the winter when I cannot easily roll up my sleeve and touch two bare fingers to my MIO heart rate watch, at least not while riding.

None of the Sigmas have altimer, HR and cadence, unfortunately.

I do have the Sigma double wireless unit (1606L) that displays cadence and all the usual functions. However, there are no altimeter or heartrate functions in this model. I had some interference from my LED light, but otherwise it's worked well. I just had to route the power wire away from teh computer head.

I was all set to get a Garmin until I talked to a couple friends who have them. Apparently, the battery life on the garmin blows.

Garmin claims 10hrs, which is pretty weak to begin with, if you're into any kind of endurance riding, and I'm told they're lucky to get 6 hrs. out of a full charge.That's the reason I didn't get a Garmin initially. However, that doesn't seem to be a problem since quite a few are using standard USB chargers with their Garmin to extend the duration.

i can get at least 10 hours out of my garmin using the hr monitor as well as the speed and cadence functions. but maybe im just lucky. i have used a usb charger but that was for rides over 150 miles....

i can get at least 10 hours out of my garmin using the hr monitor as well as the speed and cadence functions. but maybe im just lucky. i have used a usb charger but that was for rides over 150 miles....

+1. I rode the Cool Breeze and the Garmin was on for over 9.5 hours (note that was NOT riding time), and I still had a bar left on the battery. If I was planning to be on the bike for more than 10 hours, I would bring a mini-USB battery pack.

Get a Garmin.

Jim

I was all set to get a Garmin until I talked to a couple friends who have them. Apparently, the battery life on the garmin blows.

Garmin claims 10hrs, which is pretty weak to begin with, if you're into any kind of endurance riding, and I'm told they're lucky to get 6 hrs. out of a full charge.

I ride with two other guys that have them and we all bought them at the same time. They've never run out of juice even for the Slacker Century and if you read about that ride you know it took forever.:), I'm sure ours were on for at least 9 hours. Not only that, but really, how many people on this forum or for that matter anywhere are "endurance riders"? If you're one of those very special people who ride for endurance then the Garmin probably isn't for you.

Thanks for the suggestions.
Does the Garmin include the chest strap for heart rate monitoring as well as the cadence wireless sensor?
And do you know whether if the rechargable battery fails in the long it can be replaced easily?

I was all set to get a Garmin until I talked to a couple friends who have them. Apparently, the battery life on the garmin blows.

Garmin claims 10hrs, which is pretty weak to begin with, if you're into any kind of endurance riding, and I'm told they're lucky to get 6 hrs. out of a full charge.

I get over 10 hours on mine, with HR and cadence sensors.



Thanks for the suggestions.
Does the Garmin include the chest strap for heart rate monitoring as well as the cadence wireless sensor?
And do you know whether if the rechargable battery fails in the long it can be replaced easily?

There are several packages, with HR sensor only, cadence sensor only and both, you can also buy the sensors separately, if you have multiple bikes. You may be able to save a few dollars if you research the different options. I bought mine on amazon who had the best price at the time.

I don't know about battery longevity or ease of replacement.

Just checked and it would cost me about 350$ for the bundle with the heart rate monitor and the speed/cadence sensor. That's a lot more than the price of products like the Sigma, Delphi or VDO... (below 150$).

Just checked and it would cost me about 350$ for the bundle with the heart rate monitor and the speed/cadence sensor. That's a lot more than the price of products like the Sigma, Delphi or VDO... (below 150$).

On this site, it's 269 and you're still eligible for the 75 rebate to bring it under 200. Lots of people have ordered from this site. Still not below 150 though.

http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1&zenid=e013d02b46c7a275d51fbb2ff2b9a757

Just checked and it would cost me about 350$ for the bundle with the heart rate monitor and the speed/cadence sensor. That's a lot more than the price of products like the Sigma, Delphi or VDO... (below 150$).

I tried the VDO CS DS with wireless cadence...no altimeter...didn't matter...it didnt work reliably..back it went...still on wired....

I haven't kept up on this thread ... but can you really get a Garmin, with altimeter, for under $150?

This Garmin deal is tempting me.. does it still shut out when I pass by high energy field (around power lines)?

The reason for the higher price is most likely because of the GPS function. Also keep in mind that new models with color and mapping capabilities are coming out (though with higher $).

I'm not a Garmin Edge user, so I don't have any real usage experience.

I do have a Suunto t6 (no GPS nor cadence; not really recommended) that uses the same wireless transmission as the Garmin (ANT), and I didn't experience any interference for the wireless bike sensor and the HR strap. When the battery gets low, I do get weird speed readings though.

On this site, it's 269 and you're still eligible for the 75 rebate to bring it under 200. Lots of people have ordered from this site. Still not below 150 though.

http://www.geomangear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1&zenid=e013d02b46c7a275d51fbb2ff2b9a757

After rebate it comes out to $194 for the Edge 305 Bundle (HR+CAD) or $162 for the Edge 305 HR OR the Edge 305 CAD...

Thanks for the mention! We appreciate it!

After rebate it comes out to $194 for the Edge 305 Bundle (HR+CAD) or $162 for the Edge 305 HR OR the Edge 305 CAD...

Thanks for the mention! We appreciate it!

We didn't know about you when we went to wal-mart.com and only found out about the rebate because of a friend who happened across the rebate advertisement. Shipping through Walmart was about 3 bucks and we got them a couple of days later.

[edit] If you are going to get the Garmin and go for the rebate, DO NOT throw away the box or the receipt as you will need them to get your money.

We didn't know about you when we went to wal-mart.com and only found out about the rebate because of a friend who happened across the rebate advertisement. Shipping through Walmart was about 3 bucks and we got them a couple of days later.

[edit] If you are going to get the Garmin and go for the rebate, DO NOT throw away the box or the receipt as you will need them to get your money.

You know, the biggest advantage we have when you compare us to the "big boxes" (like Wal-Mart) is service! Anybody can compete on price. Our goal is to astonish our customers with our service.

:D

I have an older 301 unit and got it for about $120 or maybe less. not doubt the best deal to get elev reading and it tracks and able to plot on maps. The new 305 seems much better and at that price..I may be tempted to get a new one. I know the even newer units are out with Nav ability. man...where can i get one so I can surf the web, listen to mp3 and talk to my support vehicle(s)??!!!

I have lots of older computers left, including two Specialized P-Brains, which are almost new, can be for sale if anyone really don't want a GPS unit and wants to have elev. and HR data for say..less than $40.

You know, the biggest advantage we have when you compare us to the "big boxes" (like Wal-Mart) is service! Anybody can compete on price. Our goal is to astonish our customers with our service.

:D

I can attest that Geoman ships SUPERFAST, Louis.

I got my Garmin and Dinotte lights from them, and when my Dinotte had a malfunctioning battery cable they replaced the entire unit faster than I thought possible. Excellent service.

The Garmin Edge 305 is highly tempting, but I am leaning toward the Sigma BC 2006. Has altimeter and heartrate and would cost around 100$. Does not have cadence, but that may not be of that much use. Do any of you really use the cadence function of your Garmin on a regular basis?
Twobikes, did you finally receive yours?

The Garmin Edge 305 is highly tempting, but I am leaning toward the Sigma BC 2006. Has altimeter and heartrate and would cost around 100$. Does not have cadence, but that may not be of that much use. Do any of you really use the cadence function of your Garmin on a regular basis?
Twobikes, did you finally receive yours?

I have an Edge 305 bundle (HR + CAD), and use the cadence function all the time. That's a philosophical position, of course. If you don't train your cadence, then it's not useful. But you should train your cadence. :)

I also had my Edge at the 2007 Cool Breeze. I did start getting a low battery warning, and started turning it off at the rest stops. It automatically marked those as lap points, which I thought was cool. Turning the unit off didn't interrupt the ride time calculation. That is, despite turning the unit off during rest stops, I still had a single ride with a single distance and time calculation.

Cadence is important to me, I use it all the time. I learn more about how effort translated into speed.

It's matter of time, though, before I'll have HR and GPS. However, I just hate adding MORE devices to the bike, so it'll have to be an integrated unit, perhaps with a power meter. Glad to see Garmin and others are realizing this is important to some of us.

Perhaps I should make my question more precise.
Is training with cadence useful to somebody who does not race and whoe does cycling for fun and as a way to generally stay in shape? For me, cycling is one of the primary ways I train and stay in shape, but my training is not race-oriented. Perhaps I should nonetheless monitor cadence to train more effectively. Any good links describing the general strategy?


Cadence is important to me, I use it all the time. I learn more about how effort translated into speed.

It's matter of time, though, before I'll have HR and GPS. However, I just hate adding MORE devices to the bike, so it'll have to be an integrated unit, perhaps with a power meter. Glad to see Garmin and others are realizing this is important to some of us.

Perhaps I should make my question more precise.
Is training with cadence useful to somebody who does not race and whoe does cycling for fun and as a way to generally stay in shape? For me, cycling is one of the primary ways I train and stay in shape, but my training is not race-oriented. Perhaps I should nonetheless monitor cadence to train more effectively. Any good links describing the general strategy?

Yes. I've never raced, and cadence is a critical part of my riding. Maybe not quite as critical as a HR monitor, but still darned important.

I have read with interest posts in various threads regarding cadence, especially how to develop a faster cadence. Somehow I have never been able to develop a much faster cadence than about 75 rpm. Maybe if I weighed 170 pounds rather than 205 my cadence would be faster. I focus on heart rate as a help for burning some fat. I found a formula for figuring cadence if you know your speed and your gear. When I am riding I can memorize those two for a part of the ride where I thought I was doing pretty well and calculate the exact cadence when I get back home. I do not do nearly as well guessing at my heart rate as I do guessing at my cadence.

Did you finally get your Sigma computer?



I have read with interest posts in various threads regarding cadence, especially how to develop a faster cadence. Somehow I have never been able to develop a much faster cadence than about 75 rpm. Maybe if I weighed 170 pounds rather than 205 my cadence would be faster. I focus on heart rate as a help for burning some fat. I found a formula for figuring cadence if you know your speed and your gear. When I am riding I can memorize those two for a part of the ride where I thought I was doing pretty well and calculate the exact cadence when I get back home. I do not do nearly as well guessing at my heart rate as I do guessing at my cadence.

This Garmin deal is tempting me.. does it still shut out when I pass by high energy field (around power lines)?

Nope. Never. Only something which interferes with sattelite reception--a long tunnel, for ex., will do it. But that's rare indeed. Really, most of the complaints about the Garmin are about its lack of maps, and the really expensive ones soon to debut remedy that. But the Edge 305 does so much more than most cycle computers. I'm pleased with mine.

I have read with interest posts in various threads regarding cadence, especially how to develop a faster cadence. Somehow I have never been able to develop a much faster cadence than about 75 rpm. Maybe if I weighed 170 pounds rather than 205 my cadence would be faster.

I'm sure there are those more experienced than I who can describe the "one true way" of increasing cadence, but here's my experience.

The idea of memorizing a speed and gear ratio for later calculation doesn't make sense to me. The immediacy of a cadence monitor integrated into the bike computer is what did it. I got immediate feedback on what my cadence was, and was able to ride just outside my comfort zone by 3-5 rpms until it became my comfort zone. With integrated HR monitor, I was able to get my cadence up without getting outside of my training zone, an indicator that I was trying to push my cadence too high too fast.

So, I increased my cadence slightly and monitored my HR to see if it climbed too high. I let my legs adjust over a period of hours at that cadence, then increased again. Also, I ignored speed during this process. It wasn't about getting in the mileage, it was about increasing the cadence. Trying to do both led to me bonking at the halfway point of a ride at least once.

The Garmin Edge 305 is highly tempting, but I am leaning toward the Sigma BC 2006. Has altimeter and heartrate and would cost around 100$. Does not have cadence, but that may not be of that much use. Do any of you really use the cadence function of your Garmin on a regular basis?
Twobikes, did you finally receive yours?

Thanks for asking. UPS says it will come on Friday, Sept. 28. I will let you know more after I have used it.

I did download the owner's manual from Sigma's web site. It was not available there in English, so I got it in German. Some things will make more sense when I have the unit in my hand and can play with the buttons. I am interested in the BC 2006 because I want to use my heart rate to adjust my riding effort. The MIO Sport watch does a good job now, but winter is coming when I will have difficulty pushing up my sleeve and getting two bare fingers to the MIO's buttons. I had some surprise discretionary money and decided to blow it on the Sigma. I might have bought a Polar for less locally, but want to be able to change transmitter batteries myself.

UPS brought my Sigma BC 2006 a day earlier than expected. I spent some time getting it set up, but have not actually riden the bike with it in place, yet, but I do not expect any problems. Here is what I have learned so far.

The preliminary setup has several steps, requires all of your attention, and takes some time. Information required for setup is not always on the same page as the setup directions. One step even requires getting current information from an Internet site. Notice of that is on a different page in a different part of the manual. By the time you find pages with needed supplementary information, the screen has reset itself to a default display. Then you have to go back to refresh yourself on how to get back to the item you were setting. More practice brings more familiarity.

There are two base blocks that twist onto the back of the unit. One automatically brings up a display for walking and running. The other brings up a different display for cycling.

The heart rate sender strap is comfortable and adjustable. I weigh 205 pounds. Someone around 250 pounds would want an extender. The heart rate monitor is accurate. I wore the strap around the house without moistening the electrical contact areas and the monitor read flawlessly, despite various postures and activity levels from napping to some time on a Nordic Track.

Both the mount for the wheel sensor and for the main unit attach to the bike with "O" rings used like rubber bands. My bike also has a simple cyclometer on it and both it and the Sigma can be used at the same time on the same wheel as long as the magnets are at different distances from the hub. The wheel sensor and the main unit must both be mounted on the left side of the bike.

A display light can be switched on and off at will for use in the dark, but drains the battery faster.

The unit can keep accurate records on two separate bicycles and can be switched from one bike to another at will, even if the bikes have different wheel sizes. A second wheel sensor is necessary and it automatically tells the unit when the other bicycle is in use. The second sensor must be purchased on-line for $25 plus an additional magnet for $8.

The Sigma is wireless and uses digital packets of information to rule out interference from traffic lights and power lines.

The BC 1606 will read cadence, but not heart rate. The cadence sender is an add-on from Sigma's on-line store and costs an additional $30. The cadence unit does not work with the BC 2006.

I picked the Ede305 from Walmat like Ralph said .... and I LOVE IT!

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4407767

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4407767

VDO has three new models, the Z series, which will be available in February. I know that seems like a long way off - but I saw them at Interbike and they look great. The Z1 has altimeter functions, cadence and power. The Z2 also includes heartrate. The Z3 includes everything AND is download-able.

If you can wait, we'll have them available as soon as they are!
:-)

The Z3 includes everything AND is download-able.

These look really sweet - any idea what the price is going to be?

This from CyclingNews reporting after the Vegas bike show...



Blackburn goes wireless with Neuro

Blackburn built on the success of its Delphi

A new wireless option

Blackburn's Delphi line of bicycle computers received a warm welcome for its exceptional ease of use, packed feature set, tidy styling, and reasonable cost. For 2008, Blackburn moves a bit further upscale with the new Neuro line, which builds on the Delphi by adding 2.4GHz wireless transmission across the range.

Naturally, the Neuro's ANT+Sport compatible signal is digitally encoded to prevent interference, and the new speed and cadence transmitters are cleanly integrated into a single unit that mounts on the non-driveside chain stay. A single head can be swapped between two sets of sensors, a feature which by itself is nothing new or spectacular, but the Neuro automatically detects which set of transmitters it is paired to and then adjusts the built-in setting (such as wheel size) accordingly. Now that's cool.

In addition to the new wireless transmission, the Neuro line also caters more specifically to the serious trainer with a five-zone heart rate monitor (Delphi models are three-zone) and a unique 'Race Mode' that displays only critical information.