Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Cycle Computer without Sensors

Are there any computers that are wireless but without any kind of sensors that have to be attached to the front fork, or the chain stay, or the crank arm?

I asked Power Tap and they said all their electronics is in the hub so there's nothing to attach, no sensors. But that's like 1 grand for a wireless, no sensor alternative.

Is there anything else out there?

GPS is all I can think of. I have the Garmin 705 and it does everything my cycle computer does EXCEPT it doesn't include an odometer (trip odometer yes, but cumulative odometer no). I've had it for nearly a year and never bothered to hook up the cadence/wheelspeed sensor, so my setup is fully wireless. The GPS speed readout is very very accurate, better than my Cateye computer -- when I get around to it one of these days, I plan to reduce the Cateye wheel size setting by about 5% to "calibrate" it to the GPS speed readout.

The main downsides (besides no odometer) is 1) that you can't leave it on the bike all the time (you need to recharge it about once a day, plus there may be a theft concern depending on where you park your bike), and 2) flakey 705 operation (read any of the multiple 605/705 discussions and you're bound to find multiple detailed complaints).

On the plus-side with the 705, you get a bonus heartrate monitor.

Like I said, I ride with both the Cateye and the GPS. But maybe the GPS alone would be good enough for you if you can live without the odometer.

The computer has to get it's data from somewhere ... Either the wheels or GPS. Take your pick.

I think you'd have to get GPS.
or some really neat system that has the sensors inside the hubs

Trek makes bikes with pockets in the front fork to hold the sensor. Sensor is still there, just hidden from sight. Still have to mount a magnet to a spoke though. Their system is called Speedtrap and is available on road bikes from the 1.5 up.

The sensor is $25 and details are:
2.4 GHz digital wireless speed sensor
For use with Trek and Bontrager forks featuring SpeedTrap technology
Works with ACH Digital, Alpine and Link digital wireless computers

Shimano makes a computer called "flight deck" that works without wheel sensors. I never used it but i think it works with sensors on STI levers figuring how much distance do you make doing the numbers: chainring, wheel size, etc... I think it even gives you the cadence.

Coque.

Are there any computers that are wireless but without any kind of sensors that have to be attached to the front fork, or the chain stay, or the crank arm?

Yes, mount to seatstay. :D

Otherwise GPS.

Are there any computers that are wireless but without any kind of sensors that have to be attached to the front fork, or the chain stay, or the crank arm?

I asked Power Tap and they said all their electronics is in the hub so there's nothing to attach, no sensors. But that's like 1 grand for a wireless, no sensor alternative.

Is there anything else out there?

Last I checked you bolt the hub onto the fork.

However, there is ONE type of cyclo-computer that does not require any wheel sensor. Buy a Garmin GPS oriented unit. As long as you're not in a tunnel, it will work fine. And for those times when you are in a tunnel, you can ad an optional wheel sensor.

iPhone. works great as bike computer. there are several app's that work with GPS in iPhone. Obviously this alone does not capture cadence, power data but it does work nicely for distance, speed, GPS position. With a couple add on's you can capture the rest but they will require a sensor somewhere. SMHeartlink has come out with a very clever device that works with iPhone as wireless bridge. I am not related in anyway to SMHeartlink. I am purchasing one. I will use it with Garmin GSC10 cadence/speed sensors and a Garmin heart rate monitor as well. All of which are wireless and I capture the whole kit and kaboodle. Not cheap but for the geek factor this is very slick. There was one product out there that calculates Power without a hub sensor. iBikeSports http://www.ibikesports.com/products.html uses computer to calculate power from the system. Also very clever.

Shimano makes a computer called "flight deck" that works without wheel sensors. I never used it but i think it works with sensors on STI levers figuring how much distance do you make doing the numbers: chainring, wheel size, etc... I think it even gives you the cadence.

Coque.

Flight deck requires a harness and sensors. It just uses a harness that places buttons in the shifters so you can control computer functions from teh shifter hoods. It does compute cadence without a crank sensor based on gear combination I believe.

http://bike.shimano.com/catalog/cycle/products/componentlanding.jsp?JSESSIONID=J07JtrKr9PdZr6hHqysfM51KfZhYnjQfXcbL0NjnQrCKjSt5yYPk!473197028&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302053566&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181785&bmUID=1232370633479

You would think that it would be possible to have a camera-based cycle computer like an optical mouse.

You would think that it would be possible to have a camera-based cycle computer like an optical mouse.

too easy to foul up with precipitation and dirt.

Heck, where I live there are cameras in major intersections, just ready to catch drivers going thru red lights.

How about new technology, or old stuff to solve an old problem? How about a laser beam instead of a camera? Can you get a laser beam to detect several spots on the front wheel? The laser beam would be part of the mounting of the computer itself.

I would like a computer with zero sensors that need to be zip tied to the bike. Even Garmin has sensors, if you want cadence.