deepakvrao

Using a Cateye Strada Cadence - wired. So are the cadence and speed sensors water proof? Will they withstand light rain? or even a hose down? What about the computer itself?

sch

In general the sensors are fairly bomb proof in wired configuration, being
reed switches hermetically sealed. Computers OTOH have marginal seals
because of the necessity for a replaceable battery so are at risk. The
face plate seal can also fail. Light low pressure water exposure will be
tolerable but spray and high volume long duration exposure may be
problematic. This will be highly individual and time related. Bike computers
are exposed to heat, cold and UV and humidity and will fail at some point.
I have had better results with Cateye, prior computers seemed to last a
year or so and kaput. Cateyes seem to be stouter stuff than say the
Avocets.

HillRider

In my experience, Cateyes are more durable than almost any other make and EVERYTHING is better than Avocets. Early Avocets were pretty good but they've deteriorated to the point of junk.

To the OP: the wheel and cadence sensors and magnets are pretty much bullet proof.

As sch noted, the cyclometer head is more vulnerable due to the battery compartment and face plate seals but Cateyes will withstand a lot with no problems. Obviously, don't hit one directly with a high pressure water spray but, otherwise, they will tolerate almost any amount of rain.

The electrical contacts on the bottom of the head and the mount can get dirty or corroded and I clean them periodically with a pencil eraser. I also put a dab of silicone grease on them as waterproofing and it works well.

JanMM

I've never had a cyclometer stop working because of moisture. That's based on my experience with a variety of brands: a bunch of Cateyes, VDO, Vetta, Performance, and my first, an Avocet 20.

Mr. Fly

+1.

If you look at the way a Cateye computer's battery cover is sealed, you'll have no problem believing that a bit of heavy rain and hosing will be perfectly OK with it.

My personal experience with about a dozen Cateye computers since the early 90's is that I haven't had one failed yet, not through semi-abuse with crashing mountain bikes, the weekly bike washes, nor the heavy tropical downpour I sometimes ride in. I still have my first generation HB-100 and Mity 2.

HillRider

My first Avocet was a model 20 bought back in 1986 when they were about the only decent cyclometer. It worked very well until it was stolen. A couple of later Model 30's and 40's worked ok until the batteries died and then never responded to a new battery. Some had the battery compartment badly corroded from water incursion as the seals were inadequate. At best battery life was rather short. And, yes I know the "trick" of jumpering the battery terminals (with the battery removed) to reactivate the memory. I've resurected other cyclometers by doing it.

As Avocet's reliability went downhill and the prices went up, I switched to Cateyes and never had any reason to regret it.

Panthers007

Another vote for Cateye's. I have the Strada Wireless, and it works like a charm. As long as I remember to replace the batteries once and a while.

sch

My experience with 3 Avocets was 100% failure, for some reason within a yr or at battery
replacement. I have yet
to have a Cateye Mity fail, and in fact the oldest is approaching 6yrs and still on the
OEM battery. Fortunately road bars rarely need to be washed and I don't ride in the
rain much. I had a Trek get fog inside the face plate but it kept on going til failure
at about 5yrs. I have 3 Mity's with the oldest still going at 6yrs on the OEM battery.
Not for nothing 20yrs of techno advancement.

HillRider

Yeah, the battery life of some of my Cateyes has been astounding. I got over 7 years out of the CR2032 in one of my Enduro 2 (same as the Mity but with a heavier gauge wire) and changed it only because I was switching the mount and head to another bike. Five years is about the soonest any of them have needed a new battery.

Also, the CR2032 batteries Cateye uses across the board are both cheap and available everywhere which is a big advantage.

BTW, I believe Careye built the house brand cyclometers for both Trek and Specialized in the past.

Steev

I had a Cateye on my winter commuter. Came used with the bike. It got rained on with depressing regularity. It's my only functional computer at the moment. You may need to clean the contacts in the base, Hillrider's silicon grease is a good suggestion. The display starts to lose contrast at temperatures much below freezing but other than that, it still functions like new.

deepakvrao

Thanks guys - makes me feel a lot better.