DBrown9383

For anyone else that's new like me, do yourself a favor and get a bike computer! I didn't spend much and I know there are some very advanced (and expensive) computers but just being able to keep track of average speed, mileage and time is awesome. My computer shows me if I am off my average speed and now I find myself pushing harder to improve everywhere. I know this is obvious to most here but it wasn't to me. Cycling is even more enjoyable now that I can track time, pace and progress. These little gadgets weren't available when I was young and I didn't think I'd need or want one now. I was wrong

Doctor Morbius

Yep, nice little gadgets for sure. I'd like to get one with a cadence function, but I'm not willing to spend the "Do-Re-Mi" when my others are still working.

Next you should get a heart rate monitor.

RushFan2112

yep, and once you start adding the advanced (expensive) functions it gets even better -- at least it does if you're a data junkie like me. Current grade, elevation gain, altitude, cadence, etc. It opens up a whole new world of data analysis. Glad to hear you're enjoying your new gadget!

DBrown9383

It's going to be a problem. I AM a data junkie although I'm not trying to win or even enter any races, I can see how a good cycling computer would be very addictive.

doug59

Which brand and model did you get?

DBrown9383

Please don't laugh. It's a Schwinn 20 function unit. My wife bought it for me. Pretty sure I would have opted for a wireless model with more functions if I had picked it out myself but it was less than 20 bucks. I'm impressed with it for that price but I've never had one before

Dave Cutter

The hobby within the hobby. Every hobby and/or activity has little hobbies within. Often times it involves keeping track of numbers/stats/scores/prices/etc.

I kept detailed paper logs of each ride the first 5 years. Now I use the bicycle computer for in-ride information (speed, time, distance) and for the odometer to log the bicycles lifetime miles. I use an app on my smart phone to track individual ride data.

vangoes

I got the Schwinn Wireless 15 function, about $13. I bought one for my wife too. Great little gizmo for the price.

rm -rf

Uh oh. You know there's always more data to track.

I got my Garmin for the navigation maps. It's great, I can follow a complicated route that I've never seen before.

...

But the ride recording data is really interesting, uploaded to various sites or software:

Uploaded to ridewithgps.com, a Blue Ridge Parkway ride with lots of climbing and descending:




Also ridewithgps.com, another Blue Ridge ride near Doughton Park, with a map, elevation vs speed chart, and averages:



...

An Ohio River valley ride. One of the charts from the free My Tourbook software:

bruce19

And a scale to weigh your bike. Then the addiction is full tilt boogie. You'll have N+1 in no time.

Fly2High

If you want cheap, Nashbar has the Tempo (Speed), Dual Tempo(Cadence and Speed) and Triple Tempo (heart rate, speed and cadence) wireless computers for $24.99, $49.99 and $79.99 respectfully.

These are wireless.

Nashbar Tempo Wireless Bike Computer


Nashbar Tempo Double Wireless Cycling Computer


Nashbar Tempo Triple Wireless Computer



I have the double and it works very well. I do not love the o-ring on the double sensor for the batteries but they will send you replacements for no charge. The display is larger than the Cateye units and I always have speed and cadence displayed while many other pieces of data can cycle along the bottom row.

AS cheap, it is as good or better than more expensive models.

Also, Nashbar stands by the product.

If you wait for a percent off day, you could get at least 20% off as well.

obed7

yep, the computers are fun...I do not really use the data for anything "productive", it is just nice to see it.
I have a garmin 200 on my bike at work that I use for lunch time rides...
and the wife and I both have garmin 810's on our bikes at home...

bmthom.gis

I stopped getting computers. I have one on my road bike and one on my mountain bike, I had one on my commuter but took it off. I find it is more enjoyable to ride without one most of the time. I find myself looking at it far too much and watching the miles tick by as opposed to enjoying the scenery.

WizardOfBoz

My son bought me a fancier Garmin unit, but the data readouts above are pretty spiffy. One of my gripes about the Garmin is that I have to log into THEIR website to view MY data. If I had the raw data I could do the histograms in Excel that they don't supply on their site.

Still, the unit (a wrist-based Forerunner 910XT) has running, swimming (open-water, or a weaker lap version) and cycling. Links with my DuoTrap and a heart rate monitor. So I get a map, and correlated with the map are elevation, speed, cadence, and heart rate. If I add power-meter pedals, I'd have power, too. Sheesh.

So, for about $550, I get mostly the functions you guys got for $20.

Still, it was a nice gift, and I've used it for running and swimming, too. For my bike, the compatibility means that I could also switch over to an Edge and get on-line maps.

The sad part is that it shows me just how slow I go on average. The cool part is that it shows that I hit 41.2mph (66.3kph) yesterday!

MRT2

You must have been away a long time. I bought my first bike computer back in the mid 90s.

Phil_gretz

I rarely remember to turn the bike computer on - it has a power saving feature, apparently. I guess that after a number of years of riding, the thrill of numbers wears off.

But when following a cue sheet, it's invaluable to know one's elapsed mileage to recognize and make the turns. That's really the only time that I care to look at the odometer.

As for other gizmos, I'm really too old and indifferent to get very excited. A collection of data about my riding history? Okay, I'll admit that the data shown by @rm_rf was pretty cool - to see what he had ridden. If it were my own data - meh - I'd already personally experienced it, so ...

Anyway, DBrown, glad you're psyched to ride with your new computer. Enjoy it, really. Anything that makes riding fun good, I guess.

robert schlatte

When I was younger I quit using computers because I found that I paid way too much attention to mph. If I didn't average a certain predetermined speed, I wasn't happy with my ride. I took them off my bikes and found I enjoyed riding much more when I wasn't a slave to mph. Years later I have begun to use them again but primarily only to know how far I've travelled. I like to take multi day bike tours and distance travelled is important information. I care about mph but only to help me gauge the time to reach a destination.

FrenchFit 

Best upgrade I've done is to remove all the gadgets from my bikes. Congrats to the OP that you've found something that put some WOW in your rides, but feeling relaxed and happy after a ride is all the data I'm looking for.

DBrown9383

The evil thing about the one I have is a little (+)or(-) sign in the upper right corner. If I am below my average speed I see the (-) so I pedal faster so I see the (+). Of course then average speed keeps increasing! LOL.. I can see the virtues of riding w/o a computer and just enjoying the scenery as I do find myself staring at the computer far too much.

bmthom.gis

You could probably download the .gpx pretty easily, using either Garmins software or download DNRGPS

bmthom.gis

On almost all of my rides I will have Strava running on my phone. That way I can still see what I did, but don't have it to stare at as I go along.

Wolfhaven

I bought one a couple months ago. Started biking again this spring after decades away and I was interested in my efficiency and learning my gears and cadence. I don't want to mash the pedals I want to spin. With the computer I can see speed changes when I change gears. I'm now developing a better feel for when I should be changing gears up or down.

practical

I use an inexpensive bike computer. I like knowing speed and what time it is. I also like that it tracks miles. After I do a ride I haven't done before, I go to Map My Ride and create it.

doug59

[QUOTE=DBrown9383;18113751]Please don't laugh. It's a Schwinn 20 function unit. My wife bought it for me. Pretty sure I would have opted for a wireless model with more functions if I had picked it out myself but it was less than 20 bucks. I'm impressed with it for that price but I've never had one before[/QUOT

Thanks! I'll check it out.

Altair 4

I have a basic wired Sigma bike computer on my hybrid. I'm more interested in distance traveled than MPH. I use it to track my schedule for chain cleaning and other maintenance.