General Cycling Discussion - bike computer

some one gave me a bike computer.... barnett bd-80 I have no freaking clue on how to use it...

does anyone know of any good bike computers... ?

specialized makes a good bike computer.

Cateye, Vetta, ...

any computer is a major leap forward from no computer

Any computer you get at a bike shop will work for you. And they'll install it if you don't know how.

I find no listing whatever for "barnett" under bike computers... Most of 'em work pretty much the same, a couple of function buttons... One to switch function, the other to make changes. Usually pressing both together will clear the thing for new inputs.
You have to input your wheel diameter for accurate speed readings.

specialized makes a good bike computer.

i like my specialized computer too...

but i guess a lot will depend on what features one wants...

Even the Walmart Schwinn/Bell computers aren't that bad.

cateye enduro 8 , I've had very good luck with mine.

I have this computer. Programming it is very simple.

1) after you put a fresh battery in it, it will automatically go into pgoramming mode.

2) if you need it to go into programming mode without removing the battery first, you can force it by holding down both buttons at the same time until the display flashes.

3) You will see it displaying a number: 2125. You need to change this to match your wheel circumference. The wheel you need to measure is the one the magnet is attached to. Circumference is in mm. I used a tape measure similar to ones used by seamstresses. Alternatively, you can use a carpenter's tape measure. Put a mark on the tread of the tire so you know when you have done one complete revolution. Lay a tape measure on the floor, stretched out, and roll the wheel along it measuring the distance one complete revolution takes. Convert inches to mm if necessary. You can use Google: For example, if you measure 78 3/4", then just google "78 3/4in to mm". It will be around 2000 mm If you are a few mm off, it won't really matter.


The BD-80 will cause one of the digits to flash. You use one button to change the number. Once you get the number you want, you press the other button to enter it, and the computer will cause the next number to the left to flash.

4) Once you reach the left most number and enter it, the comptuer will ask if you want km or m (kilometers per hour, or Miles per hour). Once you choose one, this means everything on the comptuer will be set to metric or to Imperial (English).

Once you enter this, the computer will switch to normal operating mode.

5) once in normal mode, you can change the time by holding down one of the buttons for a long time, until the display flashes. I think its the right button.

6) the BD-80 has several display modes. You can set it to display odometer all the time, max speed all the time, and so on, or you can set it to automatically cycle through all displays. It shows you each display for a few seconds and automatically cycles to the next display, and it keeps going until you set it to display only one thing.

that's pretty much it. Its a VERY basic computer.

If you have an iPhone/Smart phone there are apps you can dowload for free that will work nicely.

Just run to walmart or something and get the cheapest, WIRED, one you can find. They're all accurate, they're all reliable, and they'll all last a long time. Unless you're picky about one more cable leading down the front tube, get a wired one. Less batteries and they're smaller because of it (sensor).

Cadence is great if you want it, but you can simply look at the second ticker and count the pedal strokes mentally, and simply imply where you're at.

Check out Sigma. They have both wired and wireless with plenty of features. Good German engineering and very reliable.

I would highly suggest also making sure the computer is water resistant or water proof. It has been twice that I've been riding and have been caught out in the rain, only 2 miles from home.

And don't just look for the wording, check the actual deglazing of the computer for gaps between buttons and what type of connections are made for the signaling.

I'll probably catch hell for this but I bought this one because I had time to wait on it, and I needed something really cheap at the time.http://www.ebay.com/itm/LCD-Bicycle-Bike-Computer-Odometer-Speedometer-558A-/330767184650?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0342b30a

Problem is, now that I'm using it I really like it. I'm afraid I'm going to wind up keeping it instead of upgrading like I had planned. I like it because it gives me the info I like to have all on one screen without scrolling or having to use a button to change screens.

I switched from a cateye enduro 8 to a Sigma BC 1009 and prefer it to the cateye but for one problem. I did leave it out in the rain for 2 days during a tour and it simply stopped working properly until it dried out, which took a couple of weeks. I have accidentaly sent my cateye through the clothes washer once and it continued to work well. Now that the sigma is back working I prefer it, as it is so easy to read and set up.

I like my Sigma 1609 STS digital wireless. You can get it with or without cadence. You can add cadence later, if.

I like the Knog Nerd. It's simple and straightforward, plus I like the design and the ease of installation.