Road Cycling - bike computers, how long do they last?

It seems I only get about 1 year out of my bike computer. I have used cateye and axiom products and I am getting tired of them breaking. I have to ride on a lot of chip asphault, so they deal with a lot of rattle. Has everyone else had this problem? If not, what brands are you using that are more reliable?

Wow. That's not good.

The cateye on my current roadbike has been going just fine on the same battery for around 4 years doing over 30 000 kilometres. It was on my previous roadbike for a number of years before that. I would imagine I've had about 8 or 10 year's use out of it.

The cateye on my MTB has been going even longer on two different MTBs.

Maybe they don't make them as robust these days but I don't think your experience is normal.

Once in awhile I have to take my Cateye off, and wipe the contacts. Then it works fine again.

G'day,

I've had a 'sigma BC 1200' (dunno if they sell them in the states or not), for at least 10 years & 50,000 km. Changed the battery once. The only problem I've had is on extremely rough roads, the magnet on the wheel tends to 'slide' down the spoke...annoying but not 'the end of the world'

cheers,

Hitchy

well iv been through 4 computers in the last three years, but it has nothing to do with a actual product defect, iv just had some really bad luck with my computers
the first two were detachable and one got runover one, and one got washed in the washer, and about the time i opted for a computer that was srewed onto the bike so i would lose it ...............my bike got stolen.

I have had poor luck on my mountain bike as well. My fifth one just died last week.
I hope the one on my road bike does better.

Once in awhile I have to take my Cateye off, and wipe the contacts. Then it works fine again.

Hmmmmm.....maybe that's the secret to longevity.

My Cateys Mity 2 has lasted for many years, and I'm always taking it on and off when I swap
from bike to bike. I have four bikes ("good" ones and crappy commuters),
so I have four Cateye "Model G" wiring kits, one on each bike (obviously), so I
simply slip off the computer and put it on whatever bike I'm riding.

So, maybe letting it stay on the bike permanently corrodes the points.

Changed the battery once. The only problem I've had is on extremely rough roads, the magnet on the wheel tends to 'slide' down the spoke...annoying but not 'the end of the world'. Hitchy

As you may have noticed, I'm obsessed with counting my kms (dunno why), so I change my battery every new years eve, so that I can be assured it won't run out during the year, then I can simply hit "odometer" to see my aggregate for the year to date :)

As with the moving magnets: AAAAAAAAGH, my worst nightmare. I use silastic, or Shoe Goo to help hold the magnet on the spokes, and I make sure I use tacky rubber under the clamp that goes on the fork to make sure it won't slip down.

(Maybe, maybe one day I'll find myself a life)

As you may have noticed, I'm obsessed with counting my kms (dunno why), so I change my battery every new years eve, so that I can be assured it won't run out during the year, then I can simply hit "odometer" to see my aggregate for the year to date



g'day,

not only do you need to get a life...you need to find a better New years Eve party to go to....lol

cheers,

Hitchy

My Cateye Mity 3 is 3-1/2 yrs old and working great even after being through the wash. Changed the battery for the first time this week.

My cadence is not working correctly. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes my cadence is 240-360. Either I am superman or that is wrong. I suspect a problem with the unit or pickup since it will sometimes read such a high cadence. I checked the leads and they look good. The contacts are good too. And my bike stays inside and travels inside a jeep, always away from the elements. I am getting tired of spilling money on these things. Seems it is the luck of the draw.

My cadence is not working correctly. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes my cadence is 240-360. Either I am superman or that is wrong. I suspect a problem with the unit or pickup since it will sometimes read such a high cadence. I checked the leads and they look good. The contacts are good too. And my bike stays inside and travels inside a jeep, always away from the elements. I am getting tired of spilling money on these things. Seems it is the luck of the draw.


G'day,

I don't know your unit...hence my question....hardwired or Wireless?. Wireless can have all sorts of electrical interference causing your issue. If this was the 'culprit', you'd probably find that the 'speedo' is going beserk at the same time. If not, try replacing the battery in the cadence transmitter. If hardwired, ensure you have installed properly & all of the connections are sound. check the 'magnets' aren't moving. Most well known brands are generally pretty reliable, so it should be an easy fix. If all else fails & it's driving you nuts, the trusty LBS to the rescue!,

cheers,

Hitchy

I had trouble with Trek computers, very susceptible to moisture - and I don't think the were too accurate.

Specialized, however, have always been great. Rugged and weather resistant. Although you need to order the older "classic" styles on line.

I had a Cateye Wireless 2 now for about 3 years and about 14,000 miles on it and rode pot holed streets, chip and seal asphalt, gravel, jumped over curbs, railroad tracks etc etc etc and the thing works fine. The sending battery needs to be replaced about every year and half and the computer battery about every 3 years. I had some issues with the unit when the temps dropped below freezing, but that was a problem with the bats freezing and becoming useless.

I've had a Cateye Mity 3 for about 3 1/2 years and I used to have a terrible time with the fork mount sensor / harness so I switched to the rear mount better than a year ago and haven't had a problem with it.

I've had a Cateye Mity 3 for about 3 1/2 years and I used to have a terrible time with the fork mount sensor / harness so I switched to the rear mount better than a year ago and haven't had a problem with it.

They changed to the cable tie version which are crap -- on one of my old crappy steel bikes I ended up using Super Glue to hold it in place. I hunted around and bought up a few of the old screw-on type for the Mity 2 (model G wiring kit). I also modified one of the cable-tie sensors to allow me to put a screw clamp on.

Mine has the wire. I feel like an idiot, but I played around with the cadence magnet again and now it is picking up fine. Just a little finicky at times I guess. The chip asphault here tends to move the magnet.

I have a Sigma Sport BC400, used for MTB. It is seven years old. Still going strong. When I lived in New Zealand I rode in the rain constantly with it. A two year old BC800 - still going. And a six month old BC1600, running fine.

My first computer was a Vetta - it lasted less than two weeks.
Guess what brand I'll buy next?