Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Bike computer

OK, so I'm starting to wonder how fast I routinely pedal and I'm sick of mapmyride to figure out distance.

Can someone point me to a basic, cheap, accurate bike computer that's not terribly difficult to install?

All I really need is mph and an odometer.

Any of the basic wired Cateye models will do. They will also give you average MPH on all the models that I am aware of. For not too much more you can get one with cadence, which is a nice feature too.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10400636

Scored a Serfas Si-2 @ BassPro on clearance for less than $10. It is the predecessor of this model (http://www.serfas.com/product_details.asp?ID=592). A picture is below.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3390/3605203893_8d83c2e4f6.jpg

Considering what I paid, I guess it's foolish to complain. But it doesn't have an on/off switch, so if you want to conserve the battery-- it uses a coin cell #2032-- you have to remove the battery and reconfigure the various settings every time you use it.

Before I got this, I was using one of these (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=6404) to track mileage. Even though it is a pain to reinstall the battery & reconfigure the Serfas cyclocomputer, I prefer to use it over the GPS. I had a few problems with the GPS, like sometimes forgetting to turn it on at the start of a ride.

BTW, a LBS guy told me they stopped carrying the Serfas computers because so many of them had problems. The magnets used with the Serfas computer seem to be fairly weak, so the sensors need to be placed within 4mm of the magnet path in order to pick up. You get what you pay for...

I use the bell one referred to in the wal-mart link. A child can install it, and it is great. The temperature on it is usually off, but the MPH, odometer, clock, and even gives an average for you as well. It even lights up at night, but is a bit difficult to read. Oh, best thing is that its like 20$ or less

I would stay away from cheap wireless computers as they pretty much all have issues (like showing your speed as 75MPH sitting outside a grocery store). I have a cheap Schwinn branded one from Walmart on my commuter ($10) and it works fine. I went with a Cateye Strada w/ cadence for my road bike ($35 at Performance) and it is great. The Cateye is small, mounts to the stem or handlebars (stem mounting looks much cleaner IMHO) and the speed and cadence pickups are on one wire going to the chainstay.

I just bought a Cateye Enduro. Reviews are outstanding.

The most useful information I get from the Serfas Si-2 is cadence, followed by the total distance.

The Serfas Si-2 needs two wires: one down the front fork for the speed/odometer functions, and one on the left chainstay for cadence.

I received the computer today. I went with a wired Cateye model. I'm debating installing it on my current ride or waiting to install it on my bike that I'll be using for non-utilitarian riding. (not yet bought, but will be soon.) My guess is if I stick it on my current bike, I'll end up wanting to buy another for the other bike, so I should probably just wait.

Cateye Strada. Once setup, stupid easy to use. Only need to change the clock twice a year.

Cateye Strada. Once setup, stupid easy to use. Only need to change the clock twice a year.
Like the rest of my cyclocomputers, I just remember it is an hour off half the year.

My Cateye Mity 2 is still going after 18 or so years. I have been following the average speed to judge how good I'm doing, BUT am also realizing that there can be factors that throw this off... like strong headwinds.

Even so, I took up biking after a decade long absence because I want to get in better shape, so my primary reason is exercise. The fact I averaged 10, then 11, then 12, 13 and have now hit 14 the last two times provides amazing incentive to keep going. Even though I think I may have hit the plateau...

I received the computer today. I went with a wired Cateye model. I'm debating installing it on my current ride or waiting to install it on my bike that I'll be using for non-utilitarian riding. (not yet bought, but will be soon.) My guess is if I stick it on my current bike, I'll end up wanting to buy another for the other bike, so I should probably just wait.

I have two Cateye computers have been quite happy with them both. I am sure you will like yours as well. If you want to run computer on both bikes, you should be able to buy the computer mounting kit and wheel magnet fairly cheaply. The only issue is if the bikes have different size tire, you would need to set up the computer for the second tire size.

Nowhere near the 'cheap' category, but the easiest to install is something like the Garmin 305. It is considerably cheaper than the newer Garmin, and you can find them for under $200 pretty easily. They have no wires, and get their speed from GPS coordinates. It also always has an accurate clock, and gives you elevation changes during your ride. If you want cadence you have to install the wireless cadence sensor, and it also has an optional wireless heart rate monitor.

It is quite a bit more than you were asking about, but it is also the type of thing that once you have it you don't find yourself wishing you had more. The only thing it won't do is GPS mapping (you need the 705 for that).