Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Looking for Bike Computer (not GPS) with PC Download

I've been looking for a reasonably priced bike computer that has PC Download capability.

I am not looking for a GPS unit right now. I'd like a regular wheel magnet based bike computer that can store some basic ride data and give me the option to download the data to my PC (some graphs and reporting would be nice too).

In my searched I found the VDO Z3 PC-Link, which is $330 and I'm not familiar with VDO.

I also saw some posts from this forum come up in my Google search but they were from 2004 plus I did see the post from 11/8/11 but it just got into GPS units.

To me, it looks like there aren't very many of these around except for GPS units.

Does anyone know about any other bike computer (non-gps based) that has download capibilities?

Why is having GPS a disqualifier?

I guess I just want to keep it simple and inexpensive.

I'm also not sure if I want to deal with the GPS battery recharging, the bigger size and unsure if I will always have a good signal.

With that said, I have also looked into GPS units and may spring for one next year, but not right now.

I guess I just want to keep it simple and inexpensive.

I'm also not sure if I want to deal with the GPS battery recharging, the bigger size and unsure if I will always have a good signal.

With that said, I have also looked into GPS units and may spring for one next year, but not right now.

Garmin Edge 500 is about the size of an egg, lasts 12 hours, and is cheaper than that VDO.

I remember reading about something a little bit different a couple of years back. It wasn't a bike specific device, but just this little doodad that you threw in a pocket or bag. At the end of the day, you sync'd it to your PC and it would provide your route taken, time, and distance. I want one, but can't recall what it was called...

Sounds like that doodad has GPS, but it is pretty simple.

I would think that not having a GPS would probably make the unit more expensive.
If you wanted to keep it simple, the Garmin edge 200 is probably enough, the big difference from the 500 is that it doesn't have cadence.

I think anything shy of 100 USD isn't going to net you any sort of computer interfacing.

CycleOps doesn't have gps, but starts at like 300 dollars.
Didn't spot any cateyes with PC interface.
Nor Blackburns.
Polar series have PC hook ups, but start at around 200 dollars.

There are smartphone apps that will do this if you already have a smartphone. They are, of course, gps based.

Thank you all for your helpful replies.

I think I see why this kind of discussion usually gets into GPS units now. It seems like the download option is not all that common on wheel/magnet based bike computers and not really available on inexpensive models.

If I were really hardcore about wanting a wheel/magnet based computer with download capability then I think that the Polar models would be the best but for $200-$300 I would probably just go ahead and get a GPS unit (probably one of the Garmin Edge models).

So, since I have always had wheel/magnet based bike computers and have never had a GPS based unit, are there any big disadvantages with the GPS units?

I am a little concerned about losing a signal and the losing my speed and mileage info.

Sorry, I have never had a GPS myself (bike, car, phone) so I am not real familiar with them.

Thanks again

Thank you all for your helpful replies.

I think I see why this kind of discussion usually gets into GPS units now. It seems like the download option is not all that common on wheel/magnet based bike computers and not really available on inexpensive models.

If I were really hardcore about wanting a wheel/magnet based computer with download capability then I think that the Polar models would be the best but for $200-$300 I would probably just go ahead and get a GPS unit (probably one of the Garmin Edge models).

So, since I have always had wheel/magnet based bike computers and have never had a GPS based unit, are there any big disadvantages with the GPS units?

I am a little concerned about losing a signal and the losing my speed and mileage info.

Sorry, I have never had a GPS myself (bike, car, phone) so I am not real familiar with them.

Thanks again

You might lose signal if you ride in an area with anything above you that can block the signal like tree canopies, skyscrapers, freeways, light rail, etc. But even if you do, the Garmin will immediately pick up where you left off. Unless you need to know every single second of your ride, including the 5 seconds it took to go under the freeway, you won't lose any significant data at all. The Garmins also will give you elevation gain, which I consider a very important metric. Get an Edge 500 which has a bariometric altimeter which is much more accurate than using GPS on your smart phone or Edge 200 to determine your vertical position.

I've been looking for exactly the same thing for some time. The only thing I've found is the Sigma. for example Sigma Docking Station http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-Docking-Station-1009-Center/dp/B003COAE2K/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1M7QSYZVASDOK&colid=2HZLCJKSINKKT presumably works with Sigma BC 509, BC 1009, BC 1609.

I haven't tried it yet because I have questions about the download: a file I can work with, or does it only work with their proprietary software? I haven't found an answer.

I have over 5000 miles on a Garmin 705 and have never lost any ride data due to loss of signal, and that's mainly riding under dense foliage in New England and in cities. I don't think loss of signal is something to be concerned about unless you're riding in tunnels. Even then, the unit will connect the point where the signal was lost to the point where it was regained and plot a straight line between the two.

The Garmin 500, 705, and 800 all can use magnetic wheel sensors to supplement GPS.

Thank you all once again. The Sigma docking station looks like it would do what I was originally looking for and the cost of the docking station and compatible bike computer are pretty reasonable. At Amazon is says that it transfers the data to "Sigma's Data Center training software". I would hope that that would mean that the unit comes with the software but it doesn't say.

As I mentioned eariler though, I am just leaning towards getting a GPS unit for the download information now though after giving this some more though. I have wanted to get a bike gps unit for quite a while anyway but was not ready to fork out the money for it. I see that these units have come way down it price a lot though since I looked at them last year.

The thing is, if I get a bike GPS unit then I would want to go all out and get one that has the cycle computer functions and all of the mapping and other features too so I was considering the Edge 800 or the Edge 705.

Based on the replies here it does not look like losing data would be a problem. I ride on trails under trees a lot but probably not as heavily wooded as in New England.

Powertap Cervo. Can be found for half the price on Ebay. Works with Windows/Mac/Linux.
I do not want to badmouth VDO Z3 PC-Link but I had two units that stopped functioning withing couple of hundred of miles (the buttons got stuck). VDO customer service was good but the third replacement unit went straight to EBay. I am sure they worked out their problems but the computer is grossly overpriced for what it is. You can Get Garmin 500 cheaper than that. Also, the menue system is overly complicated with numerous clicks required to get to certain common functions. The buttons are located on the sides so by pushing them, you are risking unscrewing it from its base, dropping/damaging or losing it alltogether. It also only works with Windows. Just my two cents....

Thank you all once again. The Sigma docking station looks like it would do what I was originally looking for and the cost of the docking station and compatible bike computer are pretty reasonable. At Amazon is says that it transfers the data to "Sigma's Data Center training software". I would hope that that would mean that the unit comes with the software but it doesn't say.

I was looking at getting a Sigma and found that you can buy the Data Centre software from their webshop http://www.sigma-data-center.com/na/en/default/1/0/0/0/index.html It's 9.95 Euro. I went to the LBS and asked them about the software and they were convinced that it would come either with the bike computer or with the docking station, but after going through all the boxes and phoning two different suppliers they concluded that I would have to buy it from the webshop.

I know there was an evaluation version of the software available, but I can't seem to find the download link now. I did download it, but I wasn't too impressed with it. In the end decided I would rather just spend an extra minute after my ride entering the info into an excel spreadsheet than spend the 350 ZAR (about $45) on the docking station and software

Hi, TrailRider2. I'm also in the Chicagoland area, located in the Fox Valley. I've been a Garmin user for about 4 years, 2 with the 305 (now discontinued, along with the 705) and 2 with the Edge 500. Best bike computer I've ever used, bar none. I understand your concerns, but these are now affordable and very functional devices. I particularly like being able to customize each of the screens with as much or as little information as you could ever want. Basic 500 is pretty inexpensive, lists for $250 and can be found for less. Add Cadence/Heart Rate for about $100. As Looigi mentioned above, when the GPS loses signal, the unit refers back to the cadence sensor for speed/cadence and doesn't loose any data while the GPS reacquires the signal. Another great feature is the ability to upload to web-based training tools like Garmin Connect or Strava. I'm mostly a road rider, but do a lot of trail/night riding in the Fall/Winter. Garmin with Google maps allows you to see all your rides and explore new trails you may not be aware of:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/128462939

Several of my riding buddies use 705s and one has the new 800. All great devices. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Excellent info once again. Thank you all again.

I know that I've done a complete 360 from the original title of this thread, since I considered the GPS units and especially with the replies here so I am pretty convinced that that is the way that I will go.

I didn't know that the 705 was discontinued. I know that you can still get them at Amazon but maybe that time is limited. I was glad to hear that you knew someone with the newer Edge 800 and that that works well too.

That is good to know about the VDO. Sounds like I would not want to get on of those.

Thanks for all the info on the Sigma too, tux26. It sounds like you did some major research on that.

Hey Betweenrides, maybe I'll see you out on the Fox River Trail and you can give me an update on your gps unit :-)

Excellent info once again. Thank you all again.

I know that I've done a complete 360 from the original title of this thread, since I considered the GPS units and especially with the replies here so I am pretty convinced that that is the way that I will go.

I didn't know that the 705 was discontinued. I know that you can still get them at Amazon but maybe that time is limited. I was glad to hear that you knew someone with the newer Edge 800 and that that works well too.

That is good to know about the VDO. Sounds like I would not want to get on of those.

Thanks for all the info on the Sigma too, tux26. It sounds like you did some major research on that.

Hey Betweenrides, maybe I'll see you out on the Fox River Trail and you can give me an update on your gps unit :-)

I've had a Garmin Edge 305 for almost 3 years and I love it. If you get it with heart rate and cadence it has a wheel magnet backup for when you are "under cover" and even though it's been discontinued there are some bargains on Ebay and Amazon Even though it doesn't have maps (I've discovered I'm more into where I've been then where I'm going :lol:) you can download routes from ride with GPS and it will tell you when to turn.

VDO is known for auto gauges. all digital senders in either analog or digital faces. I have a set and they are amazing.