Road Cycling - Does a good cyclo-computer exist?

after having 3 computers in the last 5 months and having each not live
up to expectations, i began my search for a new computer this month.
i've read countless reviews and it seems that there isn't a good computer on the market; from mounting issues, to weak wires, to poor wireless connection, every computer seems to have its problems. (mixed in there are of course some good reviews).

the degree to which the reviews vary seems to suggest that there is a major quality control isssue with cyclocomputers. do i need to simply continue buying computers until i get lucky and get one of the good ones in a batch?

can anyone recommend a good computer (wired or wireless) that gives the basic speed functions, auto-stop/start, avg. speed, max speed, odometer, dual bike memory?

i am seriously frustrated.... :mad:

thanks in advance.

I've had a cateye and have a FD and they both worked flawlessly,wireless.

Both my wife and I have the CatEye Astrle (SP?) with rear wheel speed sensor and cadence. Can find them on Nashbar/Performance on sale for around $20.

I have 16 months and 7k miles on mine, no problems. Riding in rain, heat, and cold.

She has 6 months and 2k miles on hers same situation.

Matt

I had my Specialized (very simple and basic) on my Hardrock for 5 years on the same battery, and it worked until I broke the glass last year. My wife has had the same good luck with hers. My Specialized on my Lemond continues after 4 years without a flaw, still on the same battery.

Maybe you are just having a bad run of luck?

PlanetBike 8.0 or the 9.0.

after having 3 computers in the last 5 months and having each not live
up to expectations, i began my search for a new computer this month.
Hmmm......exactly what sort of problems were you having? I've used Avocets, Cateyes, & Vettas over the years (even spliced wires to run two computers on a single pickup on a tandem) and have never encountered any problems. I'm not into computers now but currently one bike is equipped with Cateye's latest wireless with just the basic funtions. Again, works flawlessly...

George

i had a vetta that worked flawlessly....until it didn't. it just died after 3
months of use. i also had a ciclosport that never worked. in both cases,
the manufacturers were happy to take them back.

most recently, i purchases a Polar but it was just a disppointment in terms
of features (the HRM was great, but the cycling functions are lacking).

thanks for the recommendations, folks. you have partially reinstilled my confidence in the computer-makers.

I use a Specialized Classic Comp computer that matches all your criteria and then some. It has one thick wire from the sensor to the mount, not two thin wires that many others use. It seems to be fairly water resistant, as it has worked falwlessly in many a sudden downpour. It has dual tire memory.

Shimano Flightdeck is the way to go. Ive had mine over 10,000 miles. No problems and it has all the functoins you list plus virtual cadence.

Both my wife and I have the CatEye Astrle (SP?) with rear wheel speed sensor and cadence. Can find them on Nashbar/Performance on sale for around $20.

I have 16 months and 7k miles on mine, no problems. Riding in rain, heat, and cold.

She has 6 months and 2k miles on hers same situation.

Matt


Matt, thats ditto for me; been the most reliable for me as well. Had a couple wireless ones that were more trouble than they were worth. Last summer put around 2,500 trouble free miles on mine. And it got soaked three times.

We have 2 Cateye Mighty 2 cyclocomputers. Mine is 3 years old, has recorded some 12000 km, still uses the same battery, and has seen lots of rain, snow, ice... and good weather. My daughter's one has a similar trackrecord but is only a few months old.

Regards,

Sigma BC 1200!!!! Great computer for the money. I too have gone thru Cateye and Specialized and IMO this is by far the best It has all the functions you wanted, stem or bar mount and the new twist lock system. Plus countless pros trust sigma. Give it a try.

yes, planet bike 9.0 is a great computer -- everything displayed in one screen simultaneously. hardly need to touch it during the ride. nice big letters.

SIGMA BC1600.

inexpensive (got mine for $20 on E-Bay)
has all the functions you mentioned
cadence kit is $5 (essential)
relaible - no problems in 2k miles
large display - easy to read
easy installation
simple/easy to use
looks good
used by MANY riders in the pro pelaton

I would definitely buy again.

I have the Cateye Wireless 2 now for 2 years and no trouble, even when it was exposed to a downpour it worked flawlessly. Only problem I ever had with it was the display goes blank when it's below freezing but that probably has more to do with the battery(s) freezing.

I was first a little relunctant to buy a wireless after I heard the bats only lasted 2 to 3 months. But I went ahead and bought the Cateye anyway. The sending unit battery died after 2 months and I thought great there's going to be battery issues. So I replaced the battery and that new one has now lasted 2 years and still going-I must of gotten a bad battery.

I'm using the Cateye cordless2, from muddy terrain mountainbiking to road biking. I live in the tropic and 50% of my ride involve heavy downpour, my cateye survived for the past 1.1/2 years with no problem, and I've never change the batt yet. All in about 2,000 km.

I'm thinking to upgrade my puter to something that has cadence reading and still researching for something as reliable as my cordless2. So if cadence is something you dont care then I would recommend you the cateye cordless2.

The Cateye Astrale 8 with wired cadence and speed on my Bianchi has worked flawlessly. Just put a Vetta V100 with wireless cadence and speed on my Cannondale and so far, so good. I even put the speed sender much further down on the fork than the instructions said (I couldn't stand to have wire ties obscuring the words Slice Carbon!). I have a $6.00 (yes, $6.00) Bell on my MTB and it also has worked perfectly.

Sigma Sport.

I have a new BC1600 - works great.
I have a two year old BC800 - works great.
I have a 7 year old BC400 - works great.

Had a Vetta (can't remember the model) before the others - worked for 1 week.

I have the shimano Flight Deck Computer, ability to view gear ratios is fantastic, simplicity in installion but no roll on start, doesn’t seem to update speed as rapidly as my old specialized computer but I do like this one. Keeper :)

Haven't used it myself, but I think Timex just came out with a training computer system that is based on GPS to calculate speed/distance, etc. Seems like a cool idea..

I have a new BC1600 - works great.

Here's another vote for the Sigma BC1600: has the functions you need and is reliable (also in the rain). My only critique is that the cadence sensor wires do not attach very well to the mount.

so does the sigma sport BC1600 have auto-start/stop?

-ac

so does the sigma sport BC1600 have auto-start/stop?

Yes it does.

Of course there is good ones,just ask and the one everybody owns are the best.

Both my wife and I have the CatEye Astrle (SP?) with rear wheel speed sensor and cadence. Can find them on Nashbar/Performance on sale for around $20.

I have 16 months and 7k miles on mine, no problems. Riding in rain, heat, and cold.

She has 6 months and 2k miles on hers same situation.

MattDITO

I got tired of replacing computers - that was before my CatEye