Road Cycling - Does the Astrale 8 also have major problems with rain?

hey -

I'm looking for a cheap cyclecomputer with cadence, to improve my efficiency with...

I was checking out the cateye Astrale 8, and it seems perfect (except for the part, that you have to route the wire all the way to the back tire) - but I have read in several places, that it's predecessor, the cateye astral, would cease to function completely if it rained.
If the Astrale 8 behaves that way too, it would be pretty useless to me, as it rains like 20% of the time here in Denmark :)

Any opinions?

i have not heard of the astrale failing because of the rain... Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think someone even put a cateye in a washing machine with his cloths.. search the forums.. I think it was chrisL... :)

Anyway, I have a friend who has one.. he has no compliants yet.. Planning to get one too.. But the O/S2 is better looking. ;). I think I'll get that one...... OK, haven't decided yet...

o/52? could you give me a link, can't find it :)

here are some quotes, from an astral (original) review page:
" The lack of waterproofing results in an incorrect speed reading in poor weather,"
"Great functions when it works. Forget it when it gets wet."
"lousy in rain, mine died regularly. "
"Astrales and they have worked flawlessly, except for rainy days(see above)."
"HOWEVER, in addition to somewhat tedious set-up(which isn't too big a deal, it just takes a bit more time), mine died in the rain."

and these are all from different persons!

sorry i typo.. I meant OS1.1. its in the cateye site..

http://www.cateye.com/products/cycle_computers/index.html

My Astrale has been dumped on severely a half dozen times without any problems.

55/Rad

I notice the OS 1.1 doesn't have cadence tho...

indeed it does not.. the only reason I want a cyclocomputer, is because of cadence.. don't really care how fast I'm going, only if I am efficient or not :)

I was looking at the shimano flight deck computer, but my gear levers don't say anything about "flight deck compatible" (I have a 24 speed bike with shimano nexus gears).

Shimano Flight Deck only gives "virtual" cadence, if I am not mistaken. I think it gives you cadence based on speed and gears. You still get a reading if you're coasting. I don't have one myself, but that's my understanding of how it works. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Mine died in the rain, the speed works but no cadence.

Argh.. I was almost confident that the obvious flaw in the original astrale had been remedied :D
Is it completely dead, djbowen? Or is it just dead while it's wet :(

no rain has not hurt mine. but the unit looses contact with the contacts sometimes.

My friend has an Astrale 8, which so far has held up very well in the rain...

I use a Sigma BC1600 and it did not let me down either.

I have the original Astrale, and yes, it does have problems when it rains. The computer head appears to be okay...it's the contacts that get wet. I've taken to carrying one of those elasticized Saran Wrap covers in the small size with me in my bag. If it starts to rain, I can whip it out and put it over the computer. Works like a charm! :)

I didn't know that the Cateyes are so much of a hassle... My sigmasport Targa has never failed me....

I have the astrale and I'm going to buy another one today for my new bike, I love it. I do have problems in a complete downpour and the sensors won't register til it stops raining. After that it's right back to it's normal self.

Argh.. I was almost confident that the obvious flaw in the original astrale had been remedied :D
Is it completely dead, djbowen? Or is it just dead while it's wet :(

Dead completely, i just got a new bike and i think i may try the mavic or the new cateye

I've ridden w/my Astrale 8 in the rain several times...no problems at all.

i too have ridden through some really bad rain with my astrale 8 and its still ticking. ive raced with it where peoples spray has been hitting it directly and even then it didnt fail on me (my eyes did though:D)

mines survived many'a'thunderstorms

no rain has not hurt mine. but the unit looses contact with the contacts sometimes.This is what happens to mine. If I dry off the contacts it works fine.