Road Cycling - Computer w/cadence function

Hi,

what is your recommendation for a road bike computer?
must to have functions:
1. Average and current speed + a hint (arrow) to know whether the current speed is above or below the current calculated average speed.
2. cadence feature.
3. distance.

Astrale 8 has all the features you want.

I saw some bad comments of it at www.raodbikereview.com

does it come with a long enough wire for the cadence? do i mount the speed sensor to the front or back wheel (two wires?!)?

Have you looked at the Shimano Flight Deck?

I have it and think its great!

Make sure you get auto start/stop

I like the Sigma Sport BC 1600. It has all the features, but you have to buy the cadence seperate. It has been reliable for me in all types of weather conditions. It is pretty cheap, and the cadence kit costs something like 6 more dollars. It is all wired though.

I have been using the sigma sport bc1600 this fall and so far I am impressed. It is very user friendly and easy to read with all of the functions you are looking for.

the astrale 8 uses front speed, the wire is plenty long enough for cadence, how could it not be? they wouldnt sell it with cadence if the cable wasnt long enough.

Cadence is all i use.I almost never go and look at all the stuff.Speed and cadence works for me.

Performance has the Astrale for $20 right now. About 50% off the price of the Astrale 8 I believe, and it has the speed sensor mounted to the rear wheel in case you use a trainer. Same features as the 8 I think.

I have a trek "fusion C" computer that I actually like alot. My mom bought it for me for my birthday, and I thought at first that I wasn't going to like it, becuase my mom knows nothing about bikes. But it is a pretty good computer, with cadence and all of those features. Plus it goes on the back wheel.

My only problem with it is that it updates speed kinda slow, like there is a half-second lag. you don't notice it when just riding around, but if you stare at it while slowing down, you will notice it. a computer all in all though.

I had an Astrale.... hated it. Wires running everywhere..... sensors all over the place (at lest this is how I felt) Took it off and gave it away after about a thousand miles.

I have the astrale 8 and like it a lot. It has functioned flawlessly, and is easy to use and install. As with all computers, I checked the speed readout with my aviation GPS and it was dead on. The wires can be routed easily and don't bother me at all.

The Specialized Elite computers have wireless speed and wired cadence for around US$60.

I've got two Cateye Astrales -- one with 8,00 miles the other with 11,000. Haven't had problems with either one of them. Oh, once in a while I knock the sensor out of position and have to re-position it. I like the cadence function. I run current sped and cadence on the display. Once in awhile I check my average speed and the clock. At the end of a ride I check the mileage and the distance.

I don't understand the issue with wires. There's just one wire that runs from the handlebar to the drive side chainstay. A second wire splits off just to the rear of the bottom bracket and the sensor mounts just forward of the rear dropout.

SteveE

P.S. I also don't mind having a frame pump mounted below the top-tube. :eek:

I have been using the Shimano Flight Deck for about 3 months and really like several of the features, namely: 1) control buttons located in the brake/STI hoods; 2) vitual cadence; & 3) visual display of current chain ring and cassette. I've read some complaints about it not have an "auto wake up" feature but I don't think it is too big a deal to push a button to wake it up before each ride.

However, I do wish it had a back lighting feature for the night time riding I'm forced to do this time of year.

does the Cateye has Permanent comparison of actual and average speed function? i know the Sigma does.

Astrale 8...for the money it is fine..

FWIW...most professionals use hard wired computers. They are more reliable than the transmitters. Pros want accuracy. Wires are not an issue if you know how to install them properly. The new Astrale 8 has a bigger display and also has better connectors to hook up the sensors to the fork and chain stay.

Am I the only person who likes Vetta? :)
I have the RT77 on both bikes.

http://www.vetta.com/Product_Computer.html

i used to love the older vetta computers, maybe 7 years ago or so. the new designs are UGLY!

Astrale 8 has all the features you want.

Yup, thats what i run. Good units.

mine has a defective mount, if you push forward to say reset it, it falls out. I think i should try and get a new one.

Thank you all for answers. but do someone know if the Cateye has the ability to present the current speed with some annotation (arrow usually) how it is in compare to the current calculated average speed. this is highly needed in order to know if you are loosing time or not.

I saw some bad comments of it at www.raodbikereview.com

does it come with a long enough wire for the cadence? do i mount the speed sensor to the front or back wheel (two wires?!)?

the bad comments are talking about the old astrale... the rain problems are unique to the old astrale's computer mount.

I use the Cateye Astrales, and like it because the speed sensor is on the rear. I use it with the trainer alot this time of year. It's been reliable up to this point.

The Polar 710 is a bit more than you need but it is great. Cordless speed, cadence, power and HR. Up to 99 laps, all downloadable to a PC. Also multiple rides can be stored, handy when on a multi-day event. Plus it doubles as a watch when not riding. It is designed for swimming, so water is never an issue.

CHEERS

Mark