Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Computer indecision

Help if you can. I'm looking to join the 21st century and FINALLY get a computer on my bike. Following is a "finalist" list, with my concerns with them. If anyone has relevant experience, I'd really like to hear your opinion.

Cateye V2C: As long as I can stay under $100, which I currently can on Ebay. I'm concerned about the signal being erratic, which I've heard happens with wireless. However, I've also heard the 2.4Ghz is pretty rock solid. Does the stronger signal drain batteries pretty fast? What kind of battery life could I expect?

Cateye Micro: Same concern, only I don't think battery drain will be such an issue...unless it is. No cadence, but you get what you pay for.

Cateye Strada Cadence: This would function like the V2C, only I'll have messy wires all over the place, running from the rear of the bike all the way to the front. Aesthetically, I don't like that. Good wire routing pics could help with this choice.

Planet Bike 9.0 Protege wired or wireless: No cadence option with either of these. The obvious wired versus wireless debate. I can't find a lot of info on this computer. The temperature feature is kinda neat, though it may not be all that accurate.

Thank you for your help.

Cheers!

Help is appreciated.

Get a Schwinn from Walmart. $9.55
What else would you need?

What else would you need?

Ostensibly, everything I listed above.

I would go with the Cateye Strada Cadence if you want an inexpensive basic computer with cadence. IMHO the wires are only in the way when you clean your bike. Routing them under the down tube and chainstays keeps them out of sight and a liberal use of ties keeps them intact. Be sure to leave plenty of slack so the handlebars can turn freely. I have the Cateye Astrale 8 and it has worked flawlessly for over 2 years and 9,000 miles on the same battery.

Here are some reviews on the Cateye V3.
http://www.roadbikereview.com/mfr/cat-eye/computers/PRD_412433_1624crx.aspx

My buddy has a Blackburn Nero 6.0 and likes it well. Here are a couple of reviews. I did not like the comment that the HR monitor does not relink after you get to far away from the bike like you would on a century.
http://www.roadbikereview.com/mfr/cat-eye/computers/PRD_412433_1624crx.aspx

I am considering making the link to wireless with the Sigma Sport Rox 9.0 Here are a couple of reviews.
http://www.roadbikereview.com/mfr/sigma-sport/computers/PRD_428787_1624crx.aspx

I hope this helps. I have hesitated because of the unreliability of wireless and the flawless performance of my Cateye.

Thanks dekindy. I have some concerns about wireless...but this will actually be my first computer, so I have nothing to compare to.

Maybe some good electric tape would help hide those wires under the top tube as well? My bike is black, after all.

I just recently installed a Cateye Strada Cadence, my first bicycle computer also. I particularly wanted a wired computer because I have concerns about wireless interference from lights and other things but have no experience to back up my concern. I just didn't want to take the chance of interference problems.

Running the wires as per the manufacturer's intructions and "dekindy's" response above looks OK and the wires are not in any way a problem. I hardly notice them. You certainly won't have "wires all over the place", just one line under the bottom bracket and up the underside of the down tube.

I mounted the computer on the stem rather than on the handelbar due to space availablilty and I quite prefer the center position in any case. The mounting bracket is plently big enough to allow either handlebar or stem mounting. The one place I varied from the manufacturer's instructions is they say to wrap the wire around the front brake cable but I found that coming up from the rear going to the stem I was nowhere near the front brake cable. I found it easy to improvise to provide a solid anchor for the wiring at the top end and adequate cable slack for steering since the only parts moving with the handlebar because of the rear sensor mount is the computer itself and it's bracket.

I've got a Cateye Strada Wireless (not cadence). Great computer.

Been using it for 12 months. Wireless operation has been flawless.

I heartily recommend Cateye computers. This is my first, but I'm now a convert.

Love my Protege. A lot of information for the amount of real estate it takes up (5 data fields on each screen, large digits). Thermometer is useful at lower temperatures, less so above 90 deg. I don't use cadence, so no issue there, but heart rate would be a big plus.

I've got a Cateye Strada Wireless (not cadence). Great computer.

Been using it for 12 months. Wireless operation has been flawless.

I heartily recommend Cateye computers. This is my first, but I'm now a convert.

yep, they're pretty good. i've had 3 different models of cateye wireless since 1998 - 2 still work, on the third the button quit working - electronics still good but useless without button.....

i never used cadence or HR much when i had it

these guys r great sellers, bought from them

http://cgi.ebay.com/CATEYE-BIKE-BICYCLE-STRADA-WIRELESS-COMPUTER-NEW_W0QQitemZ390019563130QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item390019563130&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4|65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

I had a Cateye Astrale 8 for two years. Toward the end of the 2nd year, it started behaving erratically. The indicated speed would be all over the place. For instance, going downhill, it showed 35 mph, then instantly went to 4 mph, then 0, then 15, and just kept jumping around. Same thing on the flats. Tried changing the battery, no difference. Checked the sensors to be sure they were close enough to the magnets, that made no difference. Finally gave up and got a Sima BC 1606L with cadence. Wireless. Personally, I did have an issue with the wires. Didn't like the look. Also, they tended to get hung up when putting the bike on the rack. The Sigma was a very easy install, and aesteically looks good. Haven't had a chance to use it yet due to some ice and snow up here in New England, but I'm looking forward to seeing how it performs.

+1 what dekindy said. I have the Strada Cadence also and the wires aren't a dealbreaker. The Astrale 8 uses the same wiring harness.

I've thought about it since posting this...I think I'm just going to go with a basic wireless, front fork mounted, no cadence. I do a good job with my cadence, generally averaging 80-100, or just what I need to spin at. I don't want to start looking at that number as well.

So, likely the Micro or the Strada wireless. A buddy says that everytime he turns on his front LED light next to his older wireless Cateye, it goes wonky. Others say they've had no issues. I figure it's worth a try...I'll be sure to do a ride early with the front light on, just to see if I need to return it or not.

I've thought about it since posting this...I think I'm just going to go with a basic wireless, front fork mounted, no cadence. I do a good job with my cadence, generally averaging 80-100, or just what I need to spin at. I don't want to start looking at that number as well.

So, likely the Micro or the Strada wireless. A buddy says that everytime he turns on his front LED light next to his older wireless Cateye, it goes wonky. Others say they've had no issues. I figure it's worth a try...I'll be sure to do a ride early with the front light on, just to see if I need to return it or not.

In that case I would seriously consider the Planetbike Protege 9.0 wireless. I think the display is larger than the Cateye and has one more line of information. Indicates a lifetime warranty.

Specialized also makes some good wireless computers.

In that case I would seriously consider the Planetbike Protege 9.0 wireless. I think the display is larger than the Cateye and has one more line of information. Indicates a lifetime warranty.


Couldn't they have made a stem mount for that computer? What makes the Protege so good. I've read things stating that there are difficulties mounting to a bladed fork. Mine isn't aggressively bladed (Cannondale Slice Ultra that came stock on a Six13) but it's still kind of bladed.

A stem mount would be nice. I think. This is my first computer, so maybe it wouldn't be.

Couldn't they have made a stem mount for that computer? What makes the Protege so good. I've read things stating that there are difficulties mounting to a bladed fork. Mine isn't aggressively bladed (Cannondale Slice Ultra that came stock on a Six13) but it's still kind of bladed.

A stem mount would be nice. I think. This is my first computer, so maybe it wouldn't be.

The Protege sensor mount has a curve to it, but I can't imagine it wouldn't stay put with a couple of secure cable ties. The wire and magnet are heavier-duty than other computers, so even if you bump it out of position slightly it still tracks well.

One other thing I like about it: no buttons. Sliding the whole unit forward slightly cycles through the screens, so it seems to be more water-resistant than Cateyes I've used in the past.

One I'm considering buying for the HR and altimeter is
http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/training/computers/sigma-sport/PRD_419285_1624crx.aspx

except there aren't any reviews. Heard anything about it?

I have a Protege computer without the temperature readout. The big screen and no button features are nice, especially for cold weather riding with thick gloves. My only complaint is the battery life. I get about six months regardless of how much I use it, while I can get 1-2 years on other computers.

A friend has the 9.0. The temperature sensor works pretty well unless it's sitting still in the hot sun. I think at that point the computer gets hotter than air temperature due to radiative heating and it spits out weird values.

If you can do without cadence: Cateye Enduro 8 -- simple yet useful functions, such as second ride distance, 2 wheels sizes, reprogrammable odo., robust wire.

Don't bother with the cheap, junk computers. You get what you pay for.

If you can do without cadence: Cateye Enduro 8 -- simple yet useful functions, such as second ride distance, 2 wheels sizes, reprogrammable odo., robust wire.

Don't bother with the cheap, junk computers. You get what you pay for.

Are the Enduro 8 and Mity 8 still available? Good choices if they are. I believe they are exactly the same except the Enduro has a heavier duty cable. I have a Mity 8 on my backup bike and it has worked flawlessly also.

I got the Mity 8 first and remember the frustration of trying to program the ODO on the Astrale 8 thinking it would work the same way. Wrong!

After this discussion, I decided to go out on a limb and order a PB Protege 9.0 wireless. It was that or a Cateye Micro, but I found the Protege for $30...it's something "different", and it's not a very expensive gamble to take.