Road Cycling - Cateye Cordless 2 or Cateye Astrale?

Which one would you choose between the two? While I'd like the best of both worlds with something like the Flite Deck, I've just heard of too many annoyances for what it costs. So, as a newbie, do you think the cadence option is more important than the luxury of being wireless, or visa versa?

Also, how do those of you who have either of the afformentioned computers like them, and what other computers would you recommend?


Thanks a lot!

I have the Astrale w/cadence on 2 of my bikes and it works well. I also have a couple of Sigma's w/cadence, on some of my other bikes, and it works very well also.I addition, I also have some Avocet 45tt's w/cadence on a couple of my bikes, and they too work satisfactorilly. I, obviously, like cadence. I pay more attention to it than I do speed, but there are many riders who feel that speed is all the information they want. It's really an individual thing.

Have never tried wireless, so there will be no opinion forthcoming from this quarter.

I like paying attention to cadence, too. Someday, probably, I'll get myself a cyclometer which produces it for me.

Until then, I have created a cadence table, which tells me my cadence for a given speed and gear. Memorize it, or tape it to your handlebar stem. I have created a set of modifiable Excel tables which aid in the creation of such a table. You may download them at www.uni-bonn.de/~jmlee

Cheers,
Jamie

been using an astrale on my bikes for 3 years have no problems

I've got a Echowell J12 cadence with the wire.Running the wires was kind of a pain but cadence is well worth it.If the RPM is right there in front of you you are more likely to pump out whatever your goal is...KC

i have always bought and loved the astrale. sleek, easy to read, all the functions one could use and is relatively cheap.

I would get cordless. My friend (how many friends do you have fubar5?) has a computer with cadence, and there are wires and zip ties everywhere!!! It made cleaning the bike a royal pain in the bootie.

I've got a Cateye Cordless2 and it is flawless. Set-up was incredibly easy and the wireless function keeps the appearance very clean looking.

Performance is spot on and it's very easy to use.

It all depends on whether on not you want the cadence function. If you do, get the astrale. If it's not so important, you can't go wrong with the Cordless 2.

I'm very happy with mine and would definately recommend it!

L8R:beer:

[i]Running the wires was kind of a pain but cadence is well worth it.If the RPM is right there in front of you you are more likely to pump out whatever your goal is...KC [/B]

I have a Vetta R-77 with cadence which I purchased and installed just recently. I agree that running the wires is a bit of a pain, but once it's set up, you don't have to worry about it. You run the wires along the cables to keep 'em out of the way. It was pretty easy to install. I'm new to cycling and this was the first time I've installed one myself. I used a total of 3 zip-ties and several strips of clear packing tape to secure the wires.

I also considered wireless, but decided that I'd rather spend my $35 (something like that?) and have a cadence function. It does keep me motivated to maintain a good cadence during rides.

I've had an Astrale on my Raleigh for 3 years with no problems.
I didn't go with the cordless cyclocomputer on my "new" road bike (I got a Vetta RT77) because I also use a Sports Instruments (http://www.sportsinstruments.com/products/ecg.html) HRM and didn't know if a cordless cyclocomputer would interfere with it or visa-versa.

Originally posted by fubar5
I would get cordless. My friend (how many friends do you have fubar5?) has a computer with cadence, and there are wires and zip ties everywhere!!! It made cleaning the bike a royal pain in the bootie.

I have an Astrale, and used black electrical tape instead of the zip ties provided, and it looks a lot better. But then, I have a black bike.:)

Hi, looking for advice along this line.

I was looking through my Performance bike shop catalog to order a cyclometer, and I was teetering between an avocet 45tt with cadence and the cat eye astrale. Last night, I was online at nashbar.com, and they seemed to be saying you have to buy separate components. So what I wanted to know is: does everything come with the cyclometer or do you have to buy the parts separately? And if people had a choice of the two, which would they prefer?

Thanks,

Koffee Brown

I dunno about the vetta, but the astrale is Cat Eye's Cadence cylometer, so everything is included with it. I've been running my for a month or so now. Not to long, but no problems. I really find that cadence is great for telling how I'm riding. But it all depends on what you are looking for in a cyclometer. I don't mind the wires and I like the price benefit. And yes, Flight deck is a good idea but executed poorly. It is so rediculously expensive and all it has that my astrale doesn't (that i might actually use) is the controls on the hood. Why would I need to know what gear I'm in as long as I'm riding the best that I can at a beneficial cadence.

I just put a cateye astrale on my road bike, its great, I have used cateye computers for the last 8 years. Installation took almost 30 minutes, the mity3 on my mtn bike took about 5 minutes. :)

I have 3 cateye2 cordless computers on my bikes and have never had trouble with any of them, rain or shine, they have all been in use for over 5 years. So I can recommend this computer. I haven't used the Astrale though.

CHEERS.

Mark