Recumbent - Cateye Bike Computer

Hi, Everyone:

I just got my first recombent. Actually, it's a semi-recumbent - a Day 6 Bicycle at Day6Bicycles.com. It's the Journey 7 Speed. It is so cool and I love it. I'm trying to find a Cateye computer with basic functions (odometer, trip mileage, speed, trip time) that will fit on this.

I want to mount the computer on the horizontal crossbar which would place it closest to my face for easy reading. Problem is, I measured the distance from the crossbar to the fork where the sensor would be and it's like 33-36 inches (for play). The Cateye models I looked at (Micro, Vectra, Enduro 8) whether wired or wireless are like 27 inches maximum wire length or wireless sensing effectiveness.

Anyone have any experience with the Cateyes and finding a model that has this reach effectiveness of say around 36 inches?

I noticed another thread on this but it was closed, or I would have posted this there. So sorry Admins...this is my first post, don't mean to break any rules.

Thanks again for any help!

Interesting, is going wireless that important to you? If not then go with a wired computer for reliability.

For the length issue, I would buy the computer that has the functions that you prefer THEN see how well it measures up on your bike. If it turns out to be too short, then lengthening the leads on the senser shouldn't be that difficult buy using a soldering iron and some shrink wrap tubing.

A problem I have had with some wireless computers is they interfere with my heart rate monitor sometimes. I think a wired unit is much less hassle in the long run.

Probably better that it messed with your heart rate monitor, instead of your pace maker.

Sorry, bad joke (thinking out loud)

I use wired units, also. The wireless unit sound great, but introduce there own problems. There were never any problems with the cruise control or the power windows on a Model T. Keeping it simple has its merits.

I use the Astral 8. It's got speed, cadence, distance, etc. All the basic stuff to let me know how slow I'm going. It came with leads plenty long enough to reach the front tire (speed) and pedals (cadence) on my Giro 20.

For the length issue, I would buy the computer that has the functions that you prefer THEN see how well it measures up on your bike. If it turns out to be too short, then lengthening the leads on the senser shouldn't be that difficult buy using a soldering iron and some shrink wrap tubing.



Thanks for the input. I decided to go with wired and ordered the Bike Planet Protege 5.0. I see now that it comes with a 32 inch sensor cable and I just measured the distance from 2 inches above the fork where it suggests to mount it to the crossbar on my handlebars and it measures about 36 inches.

I assume now that if I want to mount it where I want, I will have to resort to lengthening the cable. Having never used a soldering iron and shrink wrap as you suggest, can you be explicit about:

1. What kind of cable I should get?
2. Where do I cut the cable - near the sensor or at the other end where it attaches to the computer?
3. I assume I need to practice this soldering shrink wrap method before doing it on the actual cable...any simple to follow illustrated instructions?

Sorry to bother you with this follow up but you got me into it.

:)

You might want to check with the manufacturer and see if they have a longer cable or extension.

+1 to contact the mfg. Most makes have a tandem kit available, with longer-than-standard wires.

Christmas tree light wire is just the right diameter for adding length to your sensor cable. What you need to hope is that your computer has two side-by-side wires instead of a center wire and a second one surrounding the inside wire. After I soldered the ends of the wires together, I put a dab of JB Weld epoxy on the joint to insulate it and to add strength. Then you don't need heat-shrink plastic. Did this on a trike so that I could run the sensor from the rear wheel and it lasted for thousands of miles with no problems.

Probably better that it messed with your heart rate monitor, instead of your pace maker.

Sorry, bad joke (thinking out loud)



I had a Polar HRM years ago that had a beep every time it would count your pulse when your rate was not in the target zone. The monitor had an intermittent issue, where all of a sudden it would stop beeping. I would be standing there talking to people on a bike ride break , and they would hear it beeping and then suddenly stop. At that point, everyone would turn to look at me to see if I was going to keel over or not. :lol:

Cateye sells a sensor kit for tandems that's longer.