dfarinwi

I've been hemming and hawing for what seems forever on which bike computer to buy.

Are there any resources out there that helped you figure out what is reliable, useful, and a reasonable value in bike computers?

Which features do you value most, and which could you do without?

If the one you purchased was a piece of junk, how was the warranty service from your brand? Did they send you a junk for junk exchange? Did you find them helpful and courteous, or did they seem to want to make it difficult so you would give up?

Finally, which brands and models do you have that you could recommend?

Unknown Cyclist

If you like unreliability and changing batteries, or finding part way through a ride that the computer hasn't started then go for any wireless computer.

For good reliability buy a basic Sigma computer, unless you want cadence then buy a higher spec Sigma.

AEO

I use a cateye astrale 8. I don't particularly care for wireless sensors that are easily disrupted by blinking lights.

my wireless HR monitor is prone to this problem.

Bolo Grubb

This is a great little computer. I used one for years, until I bought an edge 305.

tntyz

People love to hate it, but I'll stick with my Garmin 305 until it gives up the final ghost. It works for me, but does have its limitations.

bicycleflyer

I have had good luck with cateye computers, sigma-sports computers, and I have a garmin forerunner 101 that I also use as a bike computer. any of those would serve you well. Sigma is probably the best value in my opinion and their website has a demo that is worth looking at before you decide on which model. Before you invest, go to the manufacturer's website and download a user manual. This will give you a good idea of how easy or hard the computer will be to install and use.

cyccommute 

Most useful features: Speed, average speed, odometer and trip odometer, auto start/stop.

Least useful features: Max speed, cadence, heart rate

Most usless feature: Clock. The clock on every bicycle computer I've used is like the clock on a 68 Impala...it might be right twice a day...but probably not

Cateye Enduro 8 or Mity 8 are both very good. Their only weakness is the clip on the handlebar mount. It tends to break when removing the computer.

Unknown Cyclist

The clocks on my Sigma computers have always been accurate

Ok, max speed might not be overly useful, but can be of interest and heartrate much the same.

I guess it depends on why you are cycling.

I really have to disagree about cadence though, I think useless is a bit harsh - average cadence is good feedback about how you are using the gears and knowing your real cadence can be helpful or even an eye opener.

AEO

average cadence isn't so useful.

all you have to do is just look down at your computer and glance at your current cadence while on a straight, slight climb and slight decline. you'll quickly find out it's more or less the same between the three if you haven't run out of gears and are giving them the same amount of effort.

mijome07

Buy one of these. I used to own one and it was a great computer. Never had any problems, even when I used LEDs. And the clock was pretty darn accurate. Cat Eye computers are like LHT bikes. Everyone and their moms seem to have one.

Unknown Cyclist

The non-wireless version is cheaper and better

dougmc

If you're on a budget, this one has all of the functions you need, and a lot you don't, for only $10 --

https://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-SW654-.../dp/B000DZD3FQ

The downsides are that it's relatively big, it says Schwinn (but a sharpie can fix that), and the sensor isn't very sensitive so you have to mount it very close to where the magnet whizzes by. And contrary to what people have claimed, the clock is reasonably accurate -- within 10 seconds per day or so anyways.

Unknown Cyclist

If you really want to cut corners, there is this one:



Electronic Bicycle Speedometer

The price includes delivery.

mijome07

That's what I linked to. The BC 1606L DTS wireless.

Unknown Cyclist

??

The non-wireless version is better, I've got it and several 'vintage' Sigma computers.

chefxian

Whatever you do don't buy a Specialized Sport Wireless. They are garbage. Cateye is always a great brand.

mijome07

Oops.

Gyro

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...ocomputer.aspx

Have three set-up on three different bikes. Two have been running for a year. Serfas SI-2 Cyclocomputer 10 bucks.

cyccommute 

I didn't say useless. I said that cadence was one of the least useful parts of the computer. Only the clocks are useless (I wear a watch all the time.).

Cadence can have some uses but it just doesn't rank that high on my priorities. After all the years I've been riding, I doubt that my cadence would change much even if I had cadence on my computer.

Unknown Cyclist

But it could be useful to other people ?

jack002

I've had three different computers, all wired, all had cadence. Anyone who says its not useful is, well, can you say they need to learn more?

Wireless, are they that bad? I know one guy who had one and had problems with it. They all seem to be a little more problematic, huh?

Unknown Cyclist

Yes, you can say that

I find cadence a very useful feature and I'd always opt for it when buying a computer.



I use a Sigma wired with cadence (1606L I think)

My mate uses the same computer but wireless.

Guess who regularly stops while cycling to press buttons on senders and receivers ?

2_i 

Niterider Rebel 1.0 is wired, for practical purposes waterproof and is equipped with back illumination. Its weakness is mount which can be improved upon.

PaulRivers

Ha! On my commute to work, I set my speedometer to show the clock because it's the *only* thing I care about. Distance doesn't change, speed doesn't matter - all that matters is whether I'm walking into the office on time in the morning. (I don't wear a watch, that's why... :-))

PaulRivers

THANK YOU! I've searching for a non-wireless speedometer with a backlight for like the last year, seriously. I could not find one for the life of me - awesome.

...I need the backlight so I can see what time it is at night, haha.

P.S. I guess Sigma makes one, to...