Road Cycling - Shimano Flight Deck computer?

I am in the market for a computer for my Trek 2200. Can anyone tell me about this computer? The pros and cons? Price, etc?

Also, how does the computer calculate cadence without a sensor? I heard that it is based on speed and gear selection but if you are travelling downhill and soft pedalling will the computer still have an accurate cadence?

In my last message asking about computers people suggested to get the Astrale 8. Does that computer still stand against this one if price isn't a concern?

Thanks for your help,

Jeff

I am in the market for a computer for my Trek 2200. Can anyone tell me about this computer? The pros and cons? Price, etc?

Also, how does the computer calculate cadence without a sensor? I heard that it is based on speed and gear selection but if you are travelling downhill and soft pedalling will the computer still have an accurate cadence?

In my last message asking about computers people suggested to get the Astrale 8. Does that computer still stand against this one if price isn't a concern?

Thanks for your help,

Jeff

For me, the biggest selling points for the FD were- gear indicators, virtual cadence, and the best of all, shifter-based controls. No other bike computer had any of these features, much less all of them. Oh, and the wireless option works as good as it looks. 3 years w/my 6501 and not one single problem. If it had HR, it would have everything for me (I live in IL and don't need an altimeter).

The cadence only registers correctly when you are powering the bike... its not always perfect..

Couple things I don't like...

1. It doesn't autostart when you begin riding so occasionally I forget to turn it on and start the timer/distance.

2. A couple times I have accidently hit the button on the left shifter while riding, causing everything to stop..


It is a nice computer though, but would I buy it again for the couple of features I really like? Maybe...

The cadence only registers correctly when you are powering the bike... its not always perfect..

Couple things I don't like...

1. It doesn't autostart when you begin riding so occasionally I forget to turn it on and start the timer/distance.

2. A couple times I have accidently hit the button on the left shifter while riding, causing everything to stop..


It is a nice computer though, but would I buy it again for the couple of features I really like? Maybe...

I have had a few problems with mine. I had to have the display deck replaced, and since then it has worked well, but is occasionally cranky. It does auto-start, but I alsop had a problem with hitting the left button. I have overcome that, mostly. It will, on occasion, refuse to restart after a stop, but with some futzing around, it will begin again. Once, when I hit a remarkably bumby section of road, the sensor rotated away from the magnet and I had to stop and reposition it.

Another problem inherrent with wireless computers, the speed does not accurately keep up when you are accelerating. A minor annoyance, but one I can live with.

Sometimes I think given the price of the thing, had I to do over again, I think I would get an wireless Astrale 8. But, then, the gear indicator, the virtual cadence, and the hood mounted buttons make it worth the price.

On my Trek Navigator, I have a Trek Fusion wired computer. It does everything well and hasn't had one problem in over 4,000 miles.

Yes it does auto start but only if you set it to do so . I have the older model with both controls on the righthand shifter and only once have I caused an involentary operation and that was the first day I rode that bike .
re the cadence , which is calculated by speed x gearing , it´s actually very usefull to see what will happen as you slow when not pedalling - makes it easier to select the gear before it´s needed .

6501 doesnt auto start and who cares about cadence unless your pedaling.

6501 doesnt auto start

It does and it doesn't. It doesn't auto-wakeup which is kinda different. If it's already awake then it will auto-start/stop as long as it's been set up to do so. If it's asleep then you do have to manually wake it up first. It's a little annoying but not entirely so since it's very clear from the display if the thing is asleep or not (only clock time will show if it's asleep). I usually only have to wake it up at the beginning of a ride. Most of the time, I'm not taking that long a break for auto-sleep to kick in.