Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - anyone use a computer?

hey everyone
i was thinking about putting a computer on my bike (no not a personal computer so don't try to get funny and post a picture of apple II and don't try to be funny NOW and post one just because i told you not to...god this thread is doomed)

anyways i want to put a computer on my bike so i could track my miles this year, anyone suggest a good computer, cheaper in price but still reliable and not easy to steal...?

No bike computers are NjS approved.

why would that matter?
and why aren't they?

iBooks are pretty durable and you could get a refurbished one for cheap

I use a Cateye Strada Wireless on all my bikes. Works pretty well. It can be had for $59.99 - $69.99 but Performance has it for $30 every now and then. Cateyes have a quick detach clip in type deal. You don't want it stolen, you take it off and put it in your pocket.

I used to, they come in handy a lot.

Okay, change your avatar homes...

did somebody say apple II? here's one of me and my apple IIc

http://achewood.com/rsrc/img/main.jpg

Topeak comp 130. Has all the features you need, and doesn't look too bad. Has a "distance day" feature which tells you how far you've ridden that day - handy when you forget to reset or when you want to reset for various segments and still know how far you rode.

hey everyone
i was thinking about putting a computer on my bike (no not a personal computer so don't try to get funny and post a picture of apple II and don't try to be funny NOW and post one just because i told you not to...god this thread is doomed)

anyways i want to put a computer on my bike so i could track my miles this year, anyone suggest a good computer, cheaper in price but still reliable and not easy to steal...?

I had a simple one on my MTB, and I rode the damn thing so hard trying to top my last high speed, or time interval, I refuse to put one on the fixed gear bikes, as I really like the simplicity, and they way I ride more leisurely without one.

and yes, this thread is doomed unless someone puts up a photoshop hack of a tandy, or an altair, or a commodore 64 on a surly steamroller RIGHT NOW! :D

I use one on my road bike (obv) and I miss it bad on my fixed.

I think I might look for something clearance.

To the OP - I use a cateye Astrale 8. Works good. I dont know of any computer that isn't easy to steal tho.

Most of them clip out of the cradle... but the cradle and stuff can still be lifted. I didn't know milwaukee rolled like that. Too cold to be stealin yo

I've been real happy with my sigma 1606l which I got primarily for the cadence feature, I haven't had any problems with the wireless yet and like the feature group. Not the cheapest but I've seen the same model without cadence go for 40ish on ebay new.

I got one for free. Want it? Trade me something. Something cool. Like stickers.

I have a Cateye Strada Cadence. Easy to set up, pick up is made for use on the back tire, good if you use a trainer. The mount itself doesn't stand out much and the computer and easily be popped off and put in your pocket. Its about half the size of a zippo lighter so you wont notice it in your pocket.

Cateye did a lot to make their strada cool. it's small, simple and has a bunch of different configurations.
If you can afford $60, go wireless. It'll look a lot better and be easier to take off when your street cred is in danger.
I doubt that having cadence is really necessary since your cadence is directly linked to your speed. go to sheldon's site and print out a cadence chart based on speed. Memorize it or tape it to your tt.

Another cool thing about wireless computers is that if you find yourself looking at it too much, you can take it off and keep it in your pocket. you'll still get ride info, but without the distraction. I know people who mount their sensor on the back wheel and put the head unit on their seatpost to do the same thing with a wired system.

To add... I've also had a Sigma 1600 series wireless in the past and it was way more gooder than the cateye.

My WiRED cateye interferes with my coded HRM
But my WIRELESS sigma never interfered.

Go figure?


Legalize It (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=99843)[/B]] I got one for free. Want it? Trade me something. Something cool. Like stickers.

What if I don't have anything cool?

If you're worried about theft, but a wireless one like the Cateye Micro, one that you can pop off and take with you when you lock up.

Cateye makes several low-end models that can suit your needs. the computer can easily unclip from the mount and go in your pocket. They sell wiring and mounts separately too, just in case those get stolen
off your bike.

**Important about the Cateye Strada Cadence** I recently bought this model just to get something
cheap with cadence and found that the only buttons are on the bottom of the computer. If you want
to change what data you are viewing, you have to remove the computer from the mount, press the
button, then put it back on the mount.

I've been real happy with my sigma 1606l which I got primarily for the cadence feature, I haven't had any problems with the wireless yet and like the feature group. Not the cheapest but I've seen the same model without cadence go for 40ish on ebay new.

I picked up this with wireless and cadence for just over $60U.S. and couldn't be happier.
As for theft, quick release is about your only choice there.

wireless echowell 7 here. Cheap and reliable, and 7 functions!

I use a Garmin Forerunner. It's more expensive than a computer but you don't have to mount it on your bike and you can track elevation and other cool stuff. It will show you maps of where you've ridden and you can track your speed based on your route and other neat stuff.

http://www.virginmedia.com/microsites/technology/slideshow/vm-tech-gallery/retropc/img_2.jpg

I have several Apple IIs. So sweet. They work, too!


On the bike: I think they are a distraction. I noticed I was peeking to see my speed, a bit too often.
1) I started to enjoy the ride itself less than before the cyclecomp.
2) I was doing foolish/dangerous sh*t because of looking at the cyclecomp.

I bought a Garmin Edge 205 about five minutes ago... It should be fun.

Have a look at Walmart. They sell cheap stuff there. I've seen the same comp. as a Sigma and a Topeak that were re-branded as Schwinn and Bell there. They're not the newest with all the wizbang gizmos, but they should only cost $10 or so.

**Important about the Cateye Strada Cadence** I recently bought this model just to get something
cheap with cadence and found that the only buttons are on the bottom of the computer. If you want
to change what data you are viewing, you have to remove the computer from the mount, press the
button, then put it back on the mount.

You do know that you can just push the body down while in the mount to change the view right? It's only a single button so it's not full function, but I've never wanted to re-program my computer while I'm riding.

**Important about the Cateye Strada Cadence** I recently bought this model just to get something
cheap with cadence and found that the only buttons are on the bottom of the computer. If you want
to change what data you are viewing, you have to remove the computer from the mount, press the
button, then put it back on the mount.

Read your owner's manual. That button bumps into a boss on the mount that changes the data when you press the bottom of the computer. Try that, I bet it works.

I'm typing this on an Abacus.

Anyone know of any computers that only compute total mileage? I'm not interested in speed on my fixed, but would still like to compute mileage. Wired is fine but I would probably mount it under the saddle as to not see it until I've finished my ride.

Have a look at Walmart. They sell cheap stuff there. I've seen the same comp. as a Sigma and a Topeak that were re-branded as Schwinn and Bell there. They're not the newest with all the wizbang gizmos, but they should only cost $10 or so.

For $10, I suppose that would probably do more than enough for my mileage requirement. I'll check it out today.

I wouldn't go straight to the cheap shiz, Old Dirt Hill. I've had a Cateye that was ****ty despite costing me $50. It drained batteries like no one's business. Those quarter sized cells aren't cheap.

The Cateye Strada does so much more stuff that you'll probably just learn to love. It has great battery life and wireless as well.

I love having one, I love to know how fast I'm going, how far/long it took me (though these are often relative to traffic/time of day with inner-city rides) I don't have one on my fixed gear yet, but do on my road and MTB bikes - one is a Schwinn rebadge I got at Canadian Tire and another is a Filzer dB4L from MEC ($15) - I'd recommend the Filzer no problems - both are wired, but you can get it wireless - though I've heard the wireless gets messed up in the city. For a cheapo solution it's great, and I always take the thing with me when I lock. I'll likely be getting another Filzer for my new build, I wanted cadence for my road bike, so maybe I'll do a little switcheroo and look out for the Strada on sale.

Cateye Mity 8. It's very basic: speed, distance, avg., max., elapsed time. I don't really need cadence, especially on the fixed gear because at a given speed, you'll always have the same cadence. All you need to do is used Sheldon's gear calculator and choose the display option for a given cadence (say 100 rpm) and it'll tell you how fast that is.

Anyone know of any computers that only compute total mileage? I'm not interested in speed on my fixed, but would still like to compute mileage. Wired is fine but I would probably mount it under the saddle as to not see it until I've finished my ride.

Just get a cheap wireless computer, set it to count up your mileage for the day and throw it in your jersey pocket, seat bag etc. It works just as well there as mounted on your bars. I have done this in the past. Mine doesn't remember top speed, cadence or anything like that... at the end of the day I just have a total mileage figure and pleasant ignorance of how fast I was going at any particular time.

I know people who mount their sensor on the back wheel and put the head unit on their seatpost to do the same thing with a wired system.[/QUOTE]



Yeah, you have to find a cool place to put it. One, so it doesn't get stolen by a nasty person. And, two, so you can send a picture of it.

Where to put it? Under the seat? On the top tube? End of the handlebars?

I would just get a cheap cateye. The nice part about a fixed gear is that it is really easy to work your cadence from your speed (or average speed), so I wouldn't bother with the cadence function. The Mity 8 works well and is cheap. Just take the head off when you get off the bike if you are concerned about theft.

I got one for free. Want it? Trade me something. Something cool. Like stickers.

i have a whole bunch of stickers!

iBooks are pretty durable and you could get a refurbished one for cheap

get with the times
ibooks are SOOOOO 2 years ago
wah wah wah.

I use (and love) a Garmin 305. Money very well spent.

Computers never seem to work for me in the winter, LCDs refuse to work at a certain temp.

If I am curious on how far I rode, I use this super handy tool (it even allows you to save maps):


http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

Example of a map:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1679953

plus it gives you elevation!

i had a cheap on i got from jensonUSA, can't remember the brand, but got it for about 30 bucks.

worked fine on my SS commuter until it got wet.

I seem to have a talent for destroying computers. I've considered the GPS computer thing - maybe when they get cheaper.

I find a computer useful for following a cue sheet and for pacing myself on long rides, but for most of my daily riding it doesn't really matter so I don't use one.

I bought the cheapest one I could find, a new $13 Mavic.
It lasted about 3 months, I guess you get what you pay for.
I want to get a wireless cateye with heart rate monitor for training next, but itll only go on my roadie. The fixed will probably never have a computer again.

i have a cateye micro wireless and love it. $30 on teh nets.

http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/281

Computers never seem to work for me in the winter, LCDs refuse to work at a certain temp.

If I am curious on how far I rode, I use this super handy tool (it even allows you to save maps):


http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

Example of a map:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1679953

plus it gives you elevation!

I've had very good luck with the three VDO computers I've had; they all worked in temps down to -25c, although the LCD does get a bit sluggish.

i have a cateye micro wireless and love it. $30 on teh nets.

http://www.cateye.com/en/product_detail/281

I have that one on my roadie. I like it a lot but sometimes it won't register when my light is on. It's a halogen and I'm guessing it throws up just enough electronic noise to block the signal. It's no big deal, I just moved the light head to the other side of the bar, but it's worth noting.