Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - My VDO MC 1.0 doesn't like long rides

I have VDO MC 1.0 cycle computer and I like the features, especially the altimeter. But I just learned something about it that has me a bit hacked off. I've done two 600k brevets using this computer, and both times about 300 miles into the ride the computer reset itself. Not a complete reset, but the ride data was suddenly gone. The first time I figured it was just some gremlin in the works but the second time it happened, I got suspicious. So I did some Googling and learned that these computers reset themselves if the ride time exceeds 19:59:59 or if the ride distance exceeds 999.99 km/miles. This isn't a bug, this is just the way it's designed. What the he11... Obviously this thing was not designed with Randonneurs in mind.

So anyway, I'm just wondering if this is typical with other computers? I want to replace it with something that can survive a 600k, 1000k or 1200k ride. I'm not interested in GPS or a lot of fancy features and I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars. I'm just interested in the basics: speed, distance, time, and an altimeter would be nice. Any suggestions?

The Planet Bike Protege 9.0 can't calculate average speed when your mileage tops 199.99 because the trip odo wasn't built to handle anything bigger than a 1 in the hundreds place.

I have the CicloMaster 4.3A (which has now been superseded by the 4.4A), which has all of the functions you list, including altimeter. Unfortunately, the instructions say that it is limited to 999.99 km for trip distance. Trip time is limited to 9:59:59, however I exceeded this twice this year, and it simply started counting the trip time again at zero while all other trip functions (distance, average speed, etc.) continued as they were, so this seems to be a limit on the display, but the time info is still retained in the computer, including the first 10 hours. Whether the same will be true if I exceed 999.99 km in one trip (i.e., it will keep counting correctly, but will not be able to display the extra digit), I don't know because I haven't achieved that yet.

This is a problem with most computers. I don't know of one that will contunue to record for more than 24hrs. The mfgrs don't realize there are people out there who ride more than 24hrs straight. What I do is use the nagavator option on the VDO and reset it between controls. The other option is to get faster and do your 600k's in less than 24hrs! :)

The other option is to get faster and do your 600k's in less than 24hrs! :)
I'd love to do that. Of course, the problem returns on 1000k and 1200k. I thought the Garmin 705 was ok for this?

My Vetta V100A does all that and cadence. No arbitrary resets, either. Worked fine all the way thru the RM1200 last year. And as an added advantage, it tends to be a little optimistic about total elevation gain: on the ORR 300k this past weekend, I came up with 15k ft vert, while two Garmin-equipped riders got a bit over 12k.

SP
Bend, OR

I don't have a Garmin, but I've heard lots of 305 owners complain that after 3, 5, 6 hours the batteries went dead and they lost all their data. I haven't paid attention as to whether 705's suffer from the same problem.

My wife has a simple, wireless, $25 cateye (I think it is a cateye). Does not do elevation. I'm pretty sure is does not reset after 10 or 24 hours because she would have wailed like a banshee about it after her 24hr, 15minute 600k a few months ago.

And I don't think she had any problem with it doing funny things on the just completed Tejas 500 (miles) because, again, she would have wailed like a banshee.

Simple is good.

Simpler is better.

Hmm. Am I to assume you mean 19 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds?

That is really odd, as I'm pretty certain our Fleche was 24 hours and my computer kept running.
On long rides I'll let the 'trip' run from the start of the ride, but I use the 'navigator' function to follow cues - resetting as needed when I get to a control or known point - if things get messed up. This keeps my total climbing intact, total time, average speed, etc.

I don't have a 20 hour+ ride scheduled for quite awhile - I might have to set it in front of the laptop and let it run for 20+ hours to see what happens. (my laptop, and some times the random wireless gremlin in convenience store or gas station will mess with the computer - recording top speeds I can't often hit unless bombing down a mountain...)

I'm running the wireless version of that computer. Love it.



Going to have to remember... pretty sure that I let the trip run on all day and night. Hmmmmm.
But I did get pretty tired. Maybe reset the trip... let the navigator run? Nah, my climbing numbers would have been out of sync...
Hmm...

I'll have to check out the Vetta 100A. I've heard of the Garmin/battery issues as well. People hooking them up to there generator hubs and all sorts of crazy stuff. :) Skiffrun, your wife's computer may not have reset because her actual on bike time was probably less than 24hrs.

Hmm. Am I to assume you mean 19 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds?

That is really odd, as I'm pretty certain our Fleche was 24 hours and my computer kept running.
On long rides I'll let the 'trip' run from the start of the ride, but I use the 'navigator' function to follow cues - resetting as needed when I get to a control or known point - if things get messed up. This keeps my total climbing intact, total time, average speed, etc.

I don't have a 20 hour+ ride scheduled for quite awhile - I might have to set it in front of the laptop and let it run for 20+ hours to see what happens. (my laptop, and some times the random wireless gremlin in convenience store or gas station will mess with the computer - recording top speeds I can't often hit unless bombing down a mountain...)

I'm running the wireless version of that computer. Love it.



Going to have to remember... pretty sure that I let the trip run on all day and night. Hmmmmm.
But I did get pretty tired. Maybe reset the trip... let the navigator run? Nah, my climbing numbers would have been out of sync...
Hmm...
It's the ride time that's limited to 19:59:59. On a 24 hour fleche it's quite possible that your ride time was something less than 20 hours. Trust me, it'll happen. They actually even tell you in the manual (http://www.cycleparts.de/en_media/customer-service/downloadbereich/bedienungsanleitungen/visuals/ba_mc10.pdf) (see page 6 of the english language section).

This is a problem with most computers. I don't know of one that will contunue to record for more than 24hrs. The mfgrs don't realize there are people out there who ride more than 24hrs straight. What I do is use the nagavator option on the VDO and reset it between controls. The other option is to get faster and do your 600k's in less than 24hrs! :)

Working on it. :)

It's the ride time that's limited to 19:59:59. On a 24 hour fleche it's quite possible that your ride time was something less than 20 hours. Trust me, it'll happen. They actually even tell you in the manual (http://www.cycleparts.de/en_media/customer-service/downloadbereich/bedienungsanleitungen/visuals/ba_mc10.pdf) (see page 6 of the english language section).

Correct...

Trek has some new computers coming out soon: wireless with a large display. These aren't cheap ($80-$140( but the prices/features appear competitive with the other higher end computers. The transmitters are sold ($50) separately because there are different ones. One of the transmitters is a dual one that does cadance/speed from the chainstay.

I asked the sales rep about the long ride issues (distance/time) and he looked at me funny! Maybe, they won't have the limitations the other computers do.

==============

It looks like trip time is 99:99 hh:mm and trip distance is 999.9 mi/km

http://media.bontrager.com/owners_manuals/computers/Bontrager_Node_EN.pdf

...I asked the sales rep about the long ride issues (distance/time) and he looked at me funny! Maybe, they won't have the limitations.

Let us know but based on the "funy look from the rep I'd say they are just like the rest of the ones on the market...

Interesting..

Fwiw I don't think the Garmin 705 has a ride limit, beyond it's wimpy 15-hour battery. Still, it's pricey.