General Cycling Discussion - Only 12.6mph?

Hey guys,

I bought a Felt SR91 2 weeks ago and this past weekend I bought a computer (04 Speed Zone Comp Classic Computer)
http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2004/equip/04ComputerSpeedzoneCompClassic_d.jpg

ok, so i've gotten to ride a couple times since installing the computer and here's what im kinda confused about...

i can be in gear 2-7 and giving it a pretty good effort (sitting down) and it says like 11.8mph... ok, well if i go into like 3-8 and pedal as hard and as fast as i can (110% effort) i can only get it up to 12.6mph... ?

is it because I was standing up pedaling so hard? like the wind resistance? or just that i'm not really strong enough to use the higher gears yet? or what gives? going 8mph is like cake... and i never find myself going slower than 6...

Well,
you could find a big hill with a cop at the bottom and blow by him at about 45mph :D But seriously, find a hill, even coasting you should go faster than that. Try moving the magnet a little closer to the sensor.

Is your computer set for your tire size? If not, you will get wrong readings.

Every computer has a process for setting the tire size.

If you have already done this, I would try to find a marked mile or so and see if the mileage is registering correctly. Our local rec trails mileage markers are surprisingly accurate.

You should be registering a faster speed. I can easily get my mtn bike to 15-20 mph on the level, and my road bike faster.

Make sure that the contactor and the magnet come as close together as possible without touching.

Make sure you have it on speed mode and not "average speed mode"

Have you ever used a cyclocomputer before? Is it possible that you are not a fast rider? For most folks in reasonable condition, though, I would expect you could get above 16 mph even on an old three speed bike. Something probably is not quite right.

Hey guys, thanks for the quick replies...

I bought 2 computers from the bike shop... one for my bike (felt sr91) and one for my girls bike (gary fisher tiburon)... the guy at the bike shop went ahead and programmed the tire sizes and marked each computer so we knew which was setup for each bike...

anyways, i'm new to this whole fancy biking stuff... but, i tried to do a nice clean install... here's pictures on the install on my bike... let me know if it looks good or bad or whatever...

thanks!
-mike

http://pages.sssnet.com/mikey/bike/P2070004.jpg
http://pages.sssnet.com/mikey/bike/P2070006.jpg

I have the same computer setup. It has been my experience that the magnet should be closer to the bottom tip of the pick-up device, and not in the middle as you have it. I've always installed mine that way, I don't ever recall it working correctly the way you have it.

Re-read instructions and re-program correct wheel size.

If it turns out that your computer is right, you might just be out of shape...

Do you have any hills where you live? try going down one, and you should probably be in the 20s at least.

As an editorial statement, I must say that I often wish I had never put computers on my bikes. Really the only function that i enjoy is the odometer. But that is just me.

You might want to read Sheldon Brown's article on cyclocomputer installation (http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cyclecomputer_installation.html).

I have my sensors mounted as close to the hub as he suggests. Not sure if that matters or not but you may give that a try. I doubt very seriously if it is working correctly. It should be pretty east to get going 18 mph on pavement with a tail wind. Keep in mind that wind will slooooooooooooooooow you down big time. Often times my trip is 1/2 or less as fast going into the wind.

As an editorial statement, I must say that I often wish I had never put computers on my bikes. Really the only function that i enjoy is the odometer. But that is just me.

My tour/mtb bike is the only bike that is computerized. I like the simple, uncluttered look on my road and fixed gear bikes. Besides, I'm always riding with people with computers and train on the same roads so I have a good idea of distance and average speed.

George

I have a Bell Speedometer/Computer. I mounted the magnet and sensor lower toward the bottom of the spokes. Also like another poster said you have to set the computer for the tire size. Good Luck and Safe Biking.

Ps
What kind of headlight do you have? Looks cool. :)

i think thats just a reflector...

WOOOHOOO!!!!!!

Thanks for that webpage!

Everything makes sense now! The day I bought the computers, the guy asked me if I wanted him to go ahead and program them... I said "sure, go for it." and he was going about programming it... and then he said "oh, it doesn't have your tire size pre-set in here... i'll check this other book"... well, he grabbed this Sigma cyclocomputer and grabbed the book out of it and looked up the size... and went about programming it... I just figured they were all the same... until I seen that webpage.

I checked the different specifications for those computers and it turns out that Sigma uses the overal circumfrence divided by 1.609 or something... So, I looked up the right size for my tire... which is 700x28... well, it says the overall circumfrence is 2140mm... well, my computer was programmed for 1335... BINGO!

I checked out my girls cyclocomputer as well... hers was set for 13xx and it should have been 2170 (700x35)...

well, we had just got back from a nice long bike ride when I seen this post... and earlier today I hit a max speed of 15mph on the incorrect setting... so, i was pretty pooped already... but, we just had to go out for another ride with the new settings...

so we're cruising out the apartment complex and heading for a couple nice long flat roads... and guess what... I hit a max speed of 25.8mph... YEAH!!! Thats being pretty pooped already too... I know I could hit faster if I wasn't so tired...

25.8MPH! WOOHOOO!!!

YEAH!!! WEEEEE!!!!!

I gotta admit that I was pretty bummed out when I put those computers on last week... cuz I had thought for sure that I was doing 25mph when i was pacing several cars down a 25mph road (but it only said 12.6mph)... well, it turns out that I was... YIPPEE!!! I'm so happy now!!!

http://pages.sssnet.com/mikey/bike/P2070009.jpg

I just wanted to give a big "THANK YOU!" to everyone who helped out!!! =)

I'd have to say that your bike shop screwed that one up pretty bad. If I were programming a computer for someone, and it said to put in anything in the 1300s for a circumference, I'd be immediately suspicious. That's WAY too small for a road or mountain bike. 1335 would actually be a decent setting for this bike: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=sc_ri_3/601-8682853-0292937?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B00005UKWW

Somehow I doubt you're riding a Disney Princess bike with training wheels.

Yahoo for 25.8 miles per hour BUT FIRST...

Don't get too excited unless you saw the 25.8 mph speed when you were riding.

You can create a speed reading by moving the bike backward, then forward quickly, say when you are in the driveway turning your bike around. The sensor only knows when it gets a pulse from the magnet. It doesn't know if the wheel is going forward or backward.

Get it? For example, if you get the magnet in the proximity of the sensor and rock your wheel back and forth quickly so that the magnet flicks past the sensor, you can get a max speed of 60 mph or greater without the bike going anywhere.

It looks cool, though and can be used to impress your mother or spouse. ;)

see......I told you to re-program the wheel setting....

i watched it... go from 11something to 12 something to 13 something... you get the point... all the way up to 25.8 when i had to slam on the brakes cuz i was outta road... ;)


Yahoo for 25.8 miles per hour BUT FIRST...

Don't get too excited unless you saw the 25.8 mph speed when you were riding.

You can create a speed reading by moving the bike backward, then forward quickly, say when you are in the driveway turning your bike around. The sensor only knows when it gets a pulse from the magnet. It doesn't know if the wheel is going forward or backward.

Get it? For example, if you get the magnet in the proximity of the sensor and rock your wheel back and forth quickly so that the magnet flicks past the sensor, you can get a max speed of 60 mph or greater without the bike going anywhere.

It looks cool, though and can be used to impress your mother or spouse. ;)

you were right... thanks ;)


see......I told you to re-program the wheel setting....

WOOOHOOO!!!!!!

so we're cruising out the apartment complex and heading for a couple nice long flat roads... and guess what... I hit a max speed of 25.8mph... YEAH!!! Thats being pretty pooped already too... I know I could hit faster if I wasn't so tired...

25.8MPH! WOOHOOO!!!

http://pages.sssnet.com/mikey/bike/P2070009.jpgYou're a new rider, and you were tired but you went over 25 mph on the flat?

I hate to bring you down, but are you sure the computer is right? It might be set too far the other way. 25mph is pretty fast for a new guy, unless you are young and very strong.

The best way to check you computer is to ride a 10 mile route that you have checked with your car odometer. If you cycle computer reads about the same distance, then you can be proud.

I don't know what kind of shape supadupamikey is in but he looks like he's got some 700c thin tires.
I have 26" smooth mtb tires that are 2" wide and on a flat road I can reach over 25 for a bit, a lot longer with a tail wind.
It listed max speed, not avg, so that's possible.

Well,
you could find a big hill with a cop at the bottom and blow by him at about 45mph :D But seriously, find a hill, even coasting you should go faster than that. Try moving the magnet a little closer to the sensor.

Been there... done that. He pulled me over in front of the Krispy Kreme and let me go with a warning. :D

You can create a speed reading by moving the bike backward, then forward quickly, say when you are in the driveway turning your bike around. The sensor only knows when it gets a pulse from the magnet. It doesn't know if the wheel is going forward or backward.

Also be leery of traffic sensors...
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/visual_tao_of_cycling/FlightyDeck.jpg

Great Zounds, khuon, you've done it! :eek:

Great Zounds, khuon, you've done it! :eek:

:roflmao:

I'm 24 and in pretty good shape... I used to hit the gym a few times a week until I broke my hand at the end of last summer... then I kinda lost motivation because i couldn't even pull off a chinup... i finally got some strength back after a couple months of healing, but, i still had lost motivation because i was back to lifting like 50% of what I was lifting before I broke my hand...

I want to start hitting the gym again, but, I only really do strength-training... so I wanted some form of cardio anyways... and this bike is perfect for that. :)

and like the other guy said... that was MAX speed... aint no way i got the endurance to stay at that speed for more than a few seconds... not yet anyways ;)


You're a new rider, and you were tired but you went over 25 mph on the flat?

I hate to bring you down, but are you sure the computer is right? It might be set too far the other way. 25mph is pretty fast for a new guy, unless you are young and very strong.

The best way to check you computer is to ride a 10 mile route that you have checked with your car odometer. If you cycle computer reads about the same distance, then you can be proud.

my friends call me Fatty Fatty McButter Pants

haha, j/k ;)

the tires are 700x28... my girls hybrid has 700x35


I don't know what kind of shape supadupamikey is in but he looks like he's got some 700c thin tires.
I have 26" smooth mtb tires that are 2" wide and on a flat road I can reach over 25 for a bit, a lot longer with a tail wind.
It listed max speed, not avg, so that's possible.

Swap your tires and give her the thinner ones hehe.
My gf's getting a hybrid with 700x28's while I ride a 26x2. It makes it easier for her to keep up and more fun for both of us.

I am continually impressed by the magic of the internet. There is so much info available that you can solve nearly any problem. Before the internet we had to basically take the word of the local "experts" when they told us something. I have found many times where I go to a store and I know more about the product than the person that sells them every day.

We used to have to rely on the intelligence of one person. Now we have the combined wisdom of millions to form our own opinions. Pretty cool.

heck yeah, I totally agree... I'm a DIY'er and I find some much useful information on the internet... everything from changing the timing belt on my honda to why my cyclocomputer isn't working properly... often times I found myself thinking what would I do/have done if I would have grown up 50 years ago... even 20 years ago... I mean... like my dad is a DIY'er too, but, he had to learn all of this stuff from friends and everything...

I'm the same way as you... I know more about the products I'm interested in than any salesperson I've met... Once I determine my need for something, i start researching on the internet... i read everything the manufacturer has to say and then i start reading reviews and more reviews... and then after I read everything that I want to know... I can base my own sound decision... I love it! All this information at my fingertips... muwahahaha


I am continually impressed by the magic of the internet. There is so much info available that you can solve nearly any problem. Before the internet we had to basically take the word of the local "experts" when they told us something. I have found many times where I go to a store and I know more about the product than the person that sells them every day.

We used to have to rely on the intelligence of one person. Now we have the combined wisdom of millions to form our own opinions. Pretty cool.

A reflector? My bad, my bad. :o

Different tires have different circumferences. The most accurate method of setting your computer is to make a mark on the side of your tire, mark a spot on the sidewalk or similar place when the mark is at the bottom. Roll your bike until the mark has made one revolution and is at the bottom again. Mark that point on the sidewalk. Measure the distance and convert to centimeters or millimeters. Set your comupter for this distance. I started using 700X25 tires today that looked bigger than another rider's 700X28 tires. My tires have a 213 cm roll out.

Hey, just for kicks, I went ahead and tried this...

I came up with 84.25", or 213.995cm or 2139.95mm

Following the chart on the other webpage, it said to use 2140mm... and I came up with 2139.95mm just now... thats a difference of 0.002%... and hey... I'm only human... so, theres room for error...



Different tires have different circumferences. The most accurate method of setting your computer is to make a mark on the side of your tire, mark a spot on the sidewalk or similar place when the mark is at the bottom. Roll your bike until the mark has made one revolution and is at the bottom again. Mark that point on the sidewalk. Measure the distance and convert to centimeters or millimeters. Set your comupter for this distance. I started using 700X25 tires today that looked bigger than another rider's 700X28 tires. My tires have a 213 cm roll out.

I checked my girls bike... she has a GF Tiburon with 700x35 tires and the chart on that webpage said to use 2170mm... well, I came up with 85.625", or 217.4875cm or 2174.875mm

thats a difference of 0.225%...

so, her computer would be reading a tiny bit slower than she would actually be going... if it displayed 25mph, she would actually be going 25.5mph...

i'll take some more accurate measurements and i'll re-program the computers appropriately...



Hey, just for kicks, I went ahead and tried this...

I came up with 84.25", or 213.995cm or 2139.95mm

Following the chart on the other webpage, it said to use 2140mm... and I came up with 2139.95mm just now... thats a difference of 0.002%... and hey... I'm only human... so, theres room for error...

you made a good choice in computers Specialized makes the best in my opinon. but i personaly like the 03 speedzone version (the one that looks like a car speedometer) better than the classic speedzone becuse its screwed on the bike. I always lost my classic ones.

Yeah, the 1.609 is the ratio between miles and km. I just bought a bike with a Sigma computer that I needed to re-calibrate (dead battery), and discovered the same thing via their web site. What I don't get is why they have choices for km/h or mph, but you still have to plug the 1.609 into the formula.

You're a new rider, and you were tired but you went over 25 mph on the flat?

I hate to bring you down, but are you sure the computer is right? It might be set too far the other way. 25mph is pretty fast for a new guy, unless you are young and very strong.

The best way to check you computer is to ride a 10 mile route that you have checked with your car odometer. If you cycle computer reads about the same distance, then you can be proud.

what are you talking about, 25 isnt fast for a new guy. im 14 and i can about thirty (29.8 to be exact) on flat ground.

what are you talking about, 25 isnt fast for a new guy. im 14 and i can about thirty (29.8 to be exact) on flat ground.Good for you! You fit into the "young and strong' catagory that I mentioned.

There's this old guy I've seen who rides 15mph for 6 hours every weekend.
First time I thought well that's easy I passed him at 25mph.. 6 hours later, I was on the bench enjoying my burger while he passed me again on the trail going back the other way.
Makes me feel old and farty.

There's this old guy

Makes me feel old and farty.

I'm curious.

What, to you, is an "old guy?"

Does being an "old guy" also mean that someone is "farty?"

Stereotypically old is probably what I'd consider if all I have to go by is looks. Like the kind of person I'd expect to be walking around with a cane. Except this old looking guy was probably in much better shape than I am.

I would have to plead ignorance on the other question although I would believe that the term came from the fact that older persons statistically have a greater chance of losing control of certain bodily functions that lead to the coined term "old fart". Although if anyone out there knows any better, prove me wrong.

Never underestimate those who are over 70, even if they look the age...

Stereotypically old is probably what I'd consider if all I have to go by is looks. Like the kind of person I'd expect to be walking around with a cane. Except this old looking guy was probably in much better shape than I am.

I would have to plead ignorance on the other question although I would believe that the term came from the fact that older persons statistically have a greater chance of losing control of certain bodily functions that lead to the coined term "old fart". Although if anyone out there knows any better, prove me wrong.

Never underestimate those who are over 70, even if they look the age...

Your statements define who you are very well. You must be proud.

Hey guys,

I bought a Felt SR91 2 weeks ago and this past weekend I bought a computer (04 Speed Zone Comp Classic Computer)
http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2004/equip/04ComputerSpeedzoneCompClassic_d.jpg

ok, so i've gotten to ride a couple times since installing the computer and here's what im kinda confused about...

i can be in gear 2-7 and giving it a pretty good effort (sitting down) and it says like 11.8mph... ok, well if i go into like 3-8 and pedal as hard and as fast as i can (110% effort) i can only get it up to 12.6mph... ?

is it because I was standing up pedaling so hard? like the wind resistance? or just that i'm not really strong enough to use the higher gears yet? or what gives? going 8mph is like cake... and i never find myself going slower than 6...

reset to km , it´s not so depressing .

Also be leery of traffic sensors...
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/visual_tao_of_cycling/FlightyDeck.jpg

:D :D :D is that in mph???

here's mine in km/h..

:D :D :D is that in mph???

Yes.... it's the result of EMP from the embedded traffic sensors in the road. Basically a traffic sensor is a metal detector which sends off some EM pulses and looks for an induced magnetic field in response.


here's mine in km/h..

That's actually believable... Of course it's like 55MPH. I assume you achieved it on a fast descent?

Yes.... it's the result of EMP from the embedded traffic sensors in the road. Basically a traffic sensor is a metal detector which sends off some EM pulses and looks for an induced magnetic field in response.



That's actually believable... Of course it's like 55MPH. I assume you achieved it on a fast descent?


on a fast decent, yes...

Speed just isnt a thing for me and its just not a big deal. I must be missing something because i cant say,gee i did 30 mph today,so. Do you get a ribbon or something for going fast? I ride a hard 100 miles a week{hard for me** and never get up to 20 mph. I might ride 15 or 50 miles and my avg is always 15-16 mph.

Speed just isnt a thing for me and its just not a big deal. I must be missing something because i cant say,gee i did 30 mph today,so. Do you get a ribbon or something for going fast? I ride a hard 100 miles a week{hard for me** and never get up to 20 mph. I might ride 15 or 50 miles and my avg is always 15-16 mph.

I get a certain amount of thrill on those fast descents. I enjoy hillclimbs to a certain extent because I know I'll be rewarded by a nice descent coming down the backside. I agree that in general, especially on the flats I will just let the pace be what it is and enjoy the scenery.