Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Knog NERD

What are everyone's experiences w/ these? Getting a computer, and these are the most aesthetically pleasing. I don't need some crazy gps stuff and cadencing. I just want to keep track of distance, speed, etc longer rides.

Durability issues?

I realize the price is about 10-20$ more than most wireless computers, but i like the simplicity of it.

If you don't suggest the NERD, any other simple wireless computers you would suggest?

Thanks

I got mine from TreeFortBikes. I love it! Water proof, simple, easy to read and install. I just can't figure out how to use the light! =/

Press and hold the button for 10 seconds, and it'll come on. 5 second press reset your trip.

As for the computer itself... Lemme go find something I posted before.

I have one, and really, it's all looks. It's not particularly fancy, no fancy settings (I have the 12-mode one), after a while, it starts to look ugly instead of growing on you (for me anyhow). For the price, I wish I'd bought something else. But, it is easy to move around (which is convenient for me since I have too many bicycles) and it's waterproof with a light. It get's the job done, but maybe not for it's price.

I think the aesthetics of it are not kind to me because it's plain bulky, not sleek at all. But I have nothing else to compare to other than wired ones, so that's just me.

Yeah it's really not much of a looker, but as with all knogs you're getting the best mounting system in the business. Buy a couple extra spoke magnets and switching computers between bikes is a 10 second deal (as opposed to maybe 20 seconds for a different mount).

Wired computer > wire-less.

Wired computer > wire-less.

wat?

Yeah that doesn't make much sense.

The size savings of a wired computer don't really make up for the hassle of setting it up if you want to swap rides.

right on, id probably be taking it on and off a lot as well....too easy to steal on a campus

You can do that with a wired comuter. The harness is what stays on the bike. Most computers twist right off.

Use batteries at a slower rate
More reliable
less to go wrong
easier to set up IMHO. Plus I love doing a real clean wire wrap around the front brake cable.

You can do that with a wired comuter. The harness is what stays on the bike. Most computers twist right off.

Use batteries at a slower rate
More reliable
less to go wrong
easier to set up IMHO. Plus I love doing a real clean wire wrap around the front brake cable.

any suggestions for a simple clean looking wired one?

I have one too, not a fan of the looks but love the mounting...

I have been using my nerd since like January, and I have few complaints. I got the wrong color, that's my main issue with it lol

One thing that was a must to me was being able to mount on the stem, cause my handle bars are all for holding, and it mounts like a champ. Anytime I'm in a sketch area, I can just pop it off and throw it in my bag.

I think I payed $48 for mine off amazon, not too pricy at all. I just have the 9 function model, which doesn't have the backlight. Sorta miss that a bit, although I wear a headlamp so I can see it if I'm intentional.

And as far as battery life, like I said, since January and have had no issues yet

Yeah battery life should not be a big worry, it'll probably last you a couple years before you have to buy a replacement.

Expanding on what stryper said about the stem mounting, it's cool how the Knog can pop right out of its casing and do a 90 degree rotation for things like that... stem/top tube/downtube/wherever mounting, while still maintaining perspective.


As for the reasons for choosing a wired computer over a wireless one... none of them have any factual basis at all. "Less to go wrong"? I bet he's still got a land line, too.

You can do that with a wired comuter. The harness is what stays on the bike. Most computers twist right off.

Use batteries at a slower rate haha
More reliable lol
less to go wrong what
easier to set up IMHO how in the i dont even

Plus I love doing a real clean wire wrap around the front brake cable ok I'll admit they do look pretty baller

I've had 3 different wireless computers and they all averaged about 4 years of life, and all of them the senders went bad, the computers were still good. The senders went through about a battery every 8 months, which I didn'd really care since the bats are cheap but it was a bit of a hassle to make sure you had a bat in stock so I kept one in my seat bag. My wired job before those lasted 13 years, so remembering the good old days I went back to a wired computer and got a Sigma BC1609, but I've only had it a month so no long term report can be made, but it's a nice computer with backlight that my other computers never had.

Yeah it was poor wording on my part lumping the battery life thing in with the other tidbits that had "no factual basis"... obviously wireless transmission requires more power than wired. That's just physics.

I have been using my nerd since like January, and I have few complaints. I got the wrong color, that's my main issue with it lol

One thing that was a must to me was being able to mount on the stem, cause my handle bars are all for holding, and it mounts like a champ. Anytime I'm in a sketch area, I can just pop it off and throw it in my bag.

I think I payed $48 for mine off amazon, not too pricy at all. I just have the 9 function model, which doesn't have the backlight. Sorta miss that a bit, although I wear a headlamp so I can see it if I'm intentional.

And as far as battery life, like I said, since January and have had no issues yet

awesome, thats the answer i was looking for, thanks.
people who complain about battery life are cheapskates. unless it lasts for some ridiculous unreasonable amount of time, i could care less. If i have to replace it every 4 months, oh well, i can spend 5$ a few times a year.

I've had one about a year- the two-bike version. I think this function combined with the quick and easy mounting and removal is what makes these make sense. You store two calibrations in the computer, buy an extra magnet, and swap it back and forth. It is also cool that you can mount it on the stem or the bar, though I only use it on the bar.

I have had an issue where if the thing doesn't get used for a while, it'll have a hard time communicating with the sender at first. It's not a reception thing; holding the head unit down by the sender doesn't change anything. Last time it did this it came back when I was tapping the sender while riding (dumb idea, wouldn't do it again). However, it always has come back after a mile or so, so it hasn't really been a problem, just an oddity.

any suggestions for a simple clean looking wired one?

Im not real huge on computers, but any basic one from a known supplier should do. The ones we sell at the shop the most are the sigma sport bc1106. Affordable and get the job done. Nothing fancy.

my NERD to me is a terrible computer compared to the cateye micro wireless that i used to have because of the way the functions are set and how it makes no sense how the NERD nonlogically cycles through the menu (makes no sense x4)

if the NERD looking 9000+ cooler wasnt the main reason i got it~ i would definitely go back to the cateye micro wireless.

battery is not a problem though

Two of my three wireless computers were Cateye's, a Micro and a Wireless 2, both lasted an average of 4 years, both the sending units failed. Cateye had wonderful customer service for the Wireless 2, they sent me another sending unit for free a year AFTER the warranty expired, but two years later the replacement failed. But due to their outstanding customer service I thought I would try them again and got the Micro, that one lasted 3 years and the sending unit died last month. I gave up on Cateye computers and any wireless now, I went with the Sigma BC1609 wired.

Just got a Nerd and personally I love the thing. Super easy to see my speed and it is just a simple device. I have the backlight on mine and it mounts on my stem. It's really nice to see my speed because I ride for fitness as well as commuting. The scrolling odometer looks killer.

I am averaging around 20-24 mph out there and can hit 30Mph...which I guess is good..who knows..the main thing is figuring out my RPMs from this information, and I still do not quite know how to pull that one off.

http://software.bareknucklebrigade.com/rabbit.applet.html


You can use this to get a rough estimate of RPM.

Yeah been using the Knog Nerd for like 17 months now and it's been great the whole time. My only complaint is what looks like electric blue on amazon is baby blue in person, so I have a baby blue computer :|

I have a Cateye Strada Wireless that I have never used because the mounting bracket "quick release" is so difficult to use. It felt like I was going to break something when I took the computer off, the only time. I am a student and ride my bike all over the place and as such can't leave a $60 computer sitting on a locked bike. May have to revisit the Knog, despite how ugly it is.

Yeah been using the Knog Nerd for like 17 months now and it's been great the whole time. My only complaint is what looks like electric blue on amazon is baby blue in person, so I have a baby blue computer :|

Mine is Baby Blue as well. I don't mind the color since I have white seats/rims and tape, but the cool thing is that if I cracked one day, I could order a new casing for it in a different color and just pop it in.

Love that I can remove it when I need to. The mechanic has a Cateye as well, but he loves the Nerd and is saying he likes it way more. Not sure how the Cateye scrolls, but the Nerd's MPH display is awesome.

I think Knog makes killer gear. Their Frogs are also extremely cool.

Eric, Im going to try that link out when I get home..thanks..work computer won't let me install it.

I think Knog makes killer gear. Their Frogs are also extremely cool.



Great stuff? Are you kidding me? Their lights are so dim their only good for being seen and not to see with and their cheap plastic. The locks...those aren't locks those are little kiddie locks made of cheap plastic. Their tools are over priced, you can get a lot more tools in a mini tool from Park for the same price. Their computers, a 9 function computer for almost $60...really? You can get a number of other top brand computers with more functions for less...a lot less. Your getting suckered into buying the looks and not how good they are.

I got my nerd for $60 and it is 12 features..the lights work for me because they stay fastened to my bike and don't spin around and fall off like my prior ones have. They are also just as bright. 2 guys with Cateyes have seen my Nerd and now want it over theirs, so obviously this is subjective.

I don't use their locks, just the computer and the lights and I love both. Sorry if you don't..we are all allowed to like different things.

after everyride when i realized i had forgetten to wake my nerd and it didnt record anything, i wish i had a cateye with the auto-detect on feature.
also my rubber strap is snapping after 10 months.
also the speed up/slow down animation feature does nothing. nobody stares at their computer to watch an animation when riding, that's just dangerous.
and some people think it's a tooth.

=(

I'm pretty happy with the computer. Has anyone tried doing a bit of DIY with the receiver portion though? I know you can open it up, and it would be great to just use the interior and some ties instead of the giant shell it has. I'm always afraid of hitting a bump and the thing spinning inward and going bat**** on my spokes; Partly because it fits weird on the carbon fork.

I was considering the Nerd because you can rotate the screen 90 degrees. However I think the "scrolling" odometer would drive me nuts. Anyone have experience with hating the display?

My other option is one of the wireless Cateyes, as recommended by my mechanic. But someone mentioned that it's a b**** to switch between bikes, and I'm not sure if it would be versatile enough to go on my bars and stem.

after everyride when i realized i had forgetten to wake my nerd and it didnt record anything, i wish i had a cateye with the auto-detect on feature.
also my rubber strap is snapping after 10 months.
also the speed up/slow down animation feature does nothing. nobody stares at their computer to watch an animation when riding, that's just dangerous.
and some people think it's a tooth.

=(

If yours does snap can I have your computer?

Mines keeps on resetting itself randomly mid ride and the backlight is dead; swapped fresh batteries twice but to no avail.

It's only 2 months old! xD

=( x2

I love the scrolling odometer..it is so easy to read.also, all you have to do is press the screen once for the thing to start, so honestly if that is a problem..dont get it..lol.

I really think the computer is incredible, and so has everyone that has seen it in action, but I like the knog products more than others it appears.

I was considering the Nerd because you can rotate the screen 90 degrees. However I think the "scrolling" odometer would drive me nuts. Anyone have experience with hating the display?

My other option is one of the wireless Cateyes, as recommended by my mechanic. But someone mentioned that it's a b**** to switch between bikes, and I'm not sure if it would be versatile enough to go on my bars and stem.

I never had a problem switching a Cateye from one to the other, but it cost more with a wireless set up because you need two battery powered sending unit sensors and a magnet. The Sigma wired computer is by far the simplest and cheapest to switch; you simply need to buy the handle bar mount, and the non-battery powered wired sensor along with the magnet, then the computer simply twists about a 1/4 of a turn to come off one mount and 1/4 of a turn to be put on the other mount. The Cateye had a tab you depressed to get it to come off, but if your not careful the tab has been known to break as mine did after about a year, so I had to tape mine to keep the computer from falling out when riding! I put the cellophane tape on the small rails that slides onto the mount which acted like friction rather then wrapping tape around the whole thing and look like a homer.

after everyride when i realized i had forgetten to wake my nerd and it didnt record anything, i wish i had a cateye with the auto-detect on feature.
also my rubber strap is snapping after 10 months.
also the speed up/slow down animation feature does nothing. nobody stares at their computer to watch an animation when riding, that's just dangerous.
and some people think it's a tooth.

=(

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6030/6000360505_be2caa035b_o.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6127/6000909462_5559bcb8e6_o.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/6000909868_48f7dbaa66_o.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/6000910348_69ee1ca905_o.jpg

alright i know i bagged knog for the straps ripping but i hit them up and mr sean from knog got back to me right away and i already got replacement straps all the way mailed from australia at no charge
so no harm, no foul. pretty solid customer service. happy again.
also thx for the decal bomb =)

Which email did you use to reach them by? How long was the turn around (from australia)?

emailed the warrenty page's email, it said to email: shop@knog.com.au
emailed them 7/24
they confirmed what i needed by 7/25
today is 7/31+1 so that sounds like 7 days.

emailed the warrenty page's email, it said to email: shop@knog.com.au
emailed them 7/24
they confirmed what i needed by 7/25
today is 7/31+1 so that sounds like 7 days.

Thanks; just shot them an email; hopefully they have my back :)

what happened to yours?

what happened to yours?

At first the backlight was very dim to begin with; but I let it slide considering how if it was too bright, it would take away from your night time vision (think the cave effect; when you're in a dark place for a long time your eyes adjust); and then it began resetting itself randomly mid ride and after stopping... changed the batteries 4 times just to eliminate the factors and hard resets are to of no avail.

I have almost 1900 miles on mine, over a year old, and the only issue I've had is that I can't seem to reset the time so it's correct. Tried a few times following the instructions exactly to no avail. Other than that it's been great. I can very easily pop it off in 5 seconds if I'm locking up somewhere that seems sketch and pop it back on just as quick.

I bought a 12 function on ebay for less than 40 dollars in march, so far so good. I like how its easy to unhook the sensor and computer when the bike is locked.

The scrolling speedo is not too bad I actually like it.

My only complaint is that the device must be mounted to my stem to pickup (no top tube option for me). In the day time its not bad, but at night when I want to see I have to adjust a little. With a different stem angle and seat height this can be corrected. I do not have any other computers to compare to but I like this one.

UPDATE:

Knog totally came through for me; we need more company's who are as confident in their product as knog. Process was easy as pie over email. Look what I found at my doorstep today:

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/8246/sam0243small.jpg

Faulty one on the left. Replacement on the right; right next to the cake of free knog stickers.

Will definitely not think twice of buying another knog product.

Fortunately for us cyclists most companies have really good customer service. I had a Cateye Wireless II computer sensor die a year AFTER the warranty, I e-mailed them to buy another and gave them my bank info and address...2 days later I had the new part and no charge for either the part or postage!

I bought a SKS Puro pump that on first attempt would not get above 65psi, on 2nd attempt it failed to go above 45 and blew a seal. I called them and the they sent me for free a SKS RaceDay Carbon pump instead of a Puro replacement, the RaceDay is a far better pump then most mini's, and I got it in 3 days.

Cycle related industry knows we frequent forums and they know we'll either praise them or bad mouth them and their business can take a toll from negatives or be successful on positives. And Knog, like other companies, knows what this means for their business. I know there are a lot of company reps that frequent these forums as well, they read what we're saying about them.

UPDATE:

Knog totally came through for me; we need more company's who are as confident in their product as knog. Process was easy as pie over email. Look what I found at my doorstep today:



Faulty one on the left. Replacement on the right; right next to the cake of free knog stickers.

Will definitely not think twice of buying another knog product.

we're now australian envelop buddies. high five O/
that was freaking quick

Yeah I really guess bicycling community consumer feedback is very important for bicycling companies, considering how word and recommendations go around so quickly. If I recall correctly I was the first one to recommend lizardskins tape over here and just look at how popular it is now. And just the other day I noticed leader lurking our pages at 2 AM.


we're now australian envelop buddies. high five O/
that was freaking quick

Yeah they spent around $18 AU airmailing it to me.

Yeah I really guess bicycling community consumer feedback is very important for bicycling companies, considering how word and recommendations go around so quickly. If I recall correctly I was the first one to recommend lizardskins tape over here and just look at how popular it is now. And just the other day I noticed leader lurking our pages at 2 AM.


I've been using their bike protection stuff for years. I first used their stretchy (lycra?) velcro attached chain stay protector on a mtb and now have that on a touring bike for at least 15 years, and later bought their clear version for other bikes over the last 7 years or so; I also use their headset protector made like the old stretchy chain stay protector I have.

Great stuff? Are you kidding me? Their lights are so dim their only good for being seen and not to see with and their cheap plastic. The locks...those aren't locks those are little kiddie locks made of cheap plastic. Their tools are over priced, you can get a lot more tools in a mini tool from Park for the same price. Their computers, a 9 function computer for almost $60...really? You can get a number of other top brand computers with more functions for less...a lot less. Your getting suckered into buying the looks and not how good they are.
Maybe if you're buying the $10 beetles or something. my knog taillight and boomer are bright as ****. I also have a PB light that I attach to my backpack if I'm riding alone and it's a tad brighter, but it's also not a 5 second install on and off my bike. You can also get the (9 or 12)computers (http://www.amazon.com/Knog-Nerd-Function-Bicycle-Computer/dp/B0028XZYQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313065368&sr=8-1) for $35 on amazon, so simmah down.

I've been using their bike protection stuff for years. I first used their stretchy (lycra?) velcro attached chain stay protector on a mtb and now have that on a touring bike for at least 15 years, and later bought their clear version for other bikes over the last 7 years or so; I also use their headset protector made like the old stretchy chain stay protector I have.

Likewise for MTB's, originally their primary cycling oriented market; I was being specific to their DSP road handlebar tape.

& I totally agree with hamfoh; you get what you pay for. Shocking as it is, I've never owned a knog frog or beetle... I went for the skink and later boomer. Nonetheless, CREE combat flashlights have currently won me over.

Maybe if you're buying the $10 beetles or something. my knog taillight and boomer are bright as ****. I also have a PB light that I attach to my backpack if I'm riding alone and it's a tad brighter, but it's also not a 5 second install on and off my bike. You can also get the (9 or 12)computers (http://www.amazon.com/Knog-Nerd-Function-Bicycle-Computer/dp/B0028XZYQM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313065368&sr=8-1) for $35 on amazon, so simmah down.

You need to compare a $35 knog with a $35 Cateye and you will notice a huge difference. But regardless I wouldn't have either because their strictly lights to be seen and not see with, so why waste the money when for another $50 you can get a light you can actually see with? Eventually you will learn this and have to go out and buy a light you can see with then you wasted $35!

Knog computers are overpriced, they give you minimum features for $30 to $35 and you could get a far better computer from Sigma or Cateye for that.

With Knog your paying for style points.

You need to compare a $35 knog with a $35 Cateye and you will notice a huge difference. But regardless I wouldn't have either because their strictly lights to be seen and not see with, so why waste the money when for another $50 you can get a light you can actually see with? Eventually you will learn this and have to go out and buy a light you can see with then you wasted $35!

Knog computers are overpriced, they give you minimum features for $30 to $35 and you could get a far better computer from Sigma or Cateye for that.

With Knog your paying for style points.

I don't think Knogs look good at all really. I like them for their convenience.

I can see with my $20 light just fine btw. And my rear light was $12 (b/c it's pink) and bright and comes off easy, if I'm really concerned with being seen I will wear my second light (as mentioned), and I'm still under $35 -- $50 more? You have an $85 light on your bike?

You seem really angry at Knog/Knog users.