In the Market for a Bicycle Computer...
03-20-18, 08:18 AM
#26
Junior Member
Another vote for the Cateye Velo 9 from me. Cheap, sturdy, good display. Accurate. Has wheel size settings. And everything else Mr IGH said a few posts up. Great bang for your buck for basic puter.
03-20-18, 09:19 AM
#27
Senior Member
check your local Aldi supermarket if you have one around. Around this time of year they bring some bike accessories and one of them is a wireless bike computer that is only $10. Had it on my first road bike and it worked great. The brand is Bike Mate and it comes in several colors. Mine was wired but they've gone wireless since.
03-20-18, 09:51 AM
#28
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 10
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do you have a smartphone? You have all you need then. Google maps will track your time and mileage. Of course then you have to transpose some numbers manually to paper or spreadsheet. Or add apps to it, many for free... Strava, Ridewithgps, mapmyride, oryxmaps and a plethora of others. They'll eliminate the pen and paper and give you additional options to add sensor data such as heart rate, cadence, wheel speed and power if you ever decide to spring for cost of them.
Though I still prefer and use my Garmin Edge 500. Old but still works. Newer models with more features available. Lezyne and Wahoo make well respected and cheaper gps cyclometers.
If you don't have a smartphone, I guess I can see spending for 25 dollars of really old tech. But if you have a smart phone, put that 25 bucks toward a HR strap or cadence sensor.
Though I still prefer and use my Garmin Edge 500. Old but still works. Newer models with more features available. Lezyne and Wahoo make well respected and cheaper gps cyclometers.
If you don't have a smartphone, I guess I can see spending for 25 dollars of really old tech. But if you have a smart phone, put that 25 bucks toward a HR strap or cadence sensor.
03-21-18, 09:55 AM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,207
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3640 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
It is gigantic, wouldn't fit on a couple of my setups, and it kills battery quick to leave the screen on bright enough to read in sun the way my LCD computer works. Not to mention it is also not water proof.
03-21-18, 11:17 AM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,794
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1027 Post(s)
Liked 326 Times
in
204 Posts
As for battery, I go through about 20% per hour. Not exactly an issue for the vast majority of people. Also, most phones are water proof these days.
03-21-18, 12:14 PM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,207
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3640 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times
in
51 Posts
I frequently am on a bike longer than five hours in a day, and I often ride bikes after doing other things that eat up my phone battery. When all I care about is really distance and time and the occasional speed while actually on the bike, a simple wired computer can't be beat.
03-21-18, 12:40 PM
#33
Senior Member
The Cateye Velo computers (Velo 5, Velo 7, etc) work well and are decently made and last a long time. I've had a couple of the Bell computers, and still have one on one bike, and they work, but they tend to break. Had a Sigma once and was happy with it, too.
As for rolling the bike in order to measure tire circumference, I've done that. But, then I started comparing the measurements I was getting to the Cateye recommendations in the instructions and realized there was only about 1% difference between what was recommended for 700 X 28mm and what I measured. Probably it's worth going through the exercise just to satisfy the desire for knowing, but if you're lazy and just use the recommended number, you're probably going to be pretty close.
As for rolling the bike in order to measure tire circumference, I've done that. But, then I started comparing the measurements I was getting to the Cateye recommendations in the instructions and realized there was only about 1% difference between what was recommended for 700 X 28mm and what I measured. Probably it's worth going through the exercise just to satisfy the desire for knowing, but if you're lazy and just use the recommended number, you're probably going to be pretty close.
03-21-18, 05:03 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,397
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,980 Times
in
1,921 Posts
Bryton Rider computers look like it can do a lot & not break easily.. affordable prices.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
03-21-18, 11:18 PM
#36
Senior Member
I've always used the Cateye cordless computers. They are simple, light, very well made, and come with only the things you need. Even the older ones did not have problems with radio interference, and battery life is excellent.
For touring I use my phone mounted to the bar, and an app.
For touring I use my phone mounted to the bar, and an app.
03-22-18, 12:22 AM
#37
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Providence
Posts: 732
Bikes: Specialized tarmac sl2 giant tcx zero
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 319 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Nash bar has some on closeout sale , you can use strava even without a data plan and sync at a wifi spot, wont give you rpms but im happy with top speed average speed and distance time
03-26-18, 07:49 AM
#38
bocobiking
Okay, so my Sigma Sport BC 8.12 arrived, and was easy to install. But I could use some tips on programming the thing. I used the calculation method (diameter in inches x 25.4 x 3.14) because the chart was inconclusive. The problem is I'm not sure the readings I'm getting are accurate. For example, a journey that should have taken 7/10 of a mile only took a half mile according to the computer.
When I did the calculation, I used a value of 7.5" because that's the diameter of my tires to the edge of the rubber. I'm wondering now if a value from the chart might be better to use. The trouble is, there are two values given for a 27 X 1 1/4 and no indication of which one to choose.
When I did the calculation, I used a value of 7.5" because that's the diameter of my tires to the edge of the rubber. I'm wondering now if a value from the chart might be better to use. The trouble is, there are two values given for a 27 X 1 1/4 and no indication of which one to choose.
03-26-18, 11:08 PM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 6,489
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1182 Post(s)
Liked 833 Times
in
435 Posts
I'm also in the market for a new computer.
I like the Cateye Strada. However, as the one pictured above shows, they are not very durable
I like the Cateye Strada. However, as the one pictured above shows, they are not very durable
03-28-18, 06:25 AM
#40
Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 58
Bikes: Diamondback Cross Campus (1993), Trek Domane 2.3 (2016), Cannondale Topstone 105 AL (2020)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I've had good luck with the Nashbar Tempo computers.
Get them on sale, the Dual was $39 and Triple was $44.
I wanted them with cadence, and both of these do... the triple has heart rate also.
I prefer to keep things simple.
Get them on sale, the Dual was $39 and Triple was $44.
I wanted them with cadence, and both of these do... the triple has heart rate also.
I prefer to keep things simple.
03-29-18, 10:26 AM
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 4,770
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 630 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 369 Times
in
206 Posts
For that amount of money, I'd recommend a budget android phone (~$40) along with your favorite cycling app. You can also download maps for your area and use a free cell service such as Freedompop which gives you 700 mb of LTE data for free each month.
03-30-18, 08:29 AM
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Houston
Posts: 540
Bikes: Novarra Randonee 2016, Trek Verve 2 2015
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 97 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Last year I spent a week biking in Holland, using my LG-20 smartphone and RideWithGPS. The rides were 4-6 hours and the phone battery lasted for the duration every day but one. For this exigency, I carried a 12000 mAh battery in the handlebar bag. Stopped for a minute, connected the phone, had a drink and continued on.
A mild off-topic, I liked RwGPS because it gave me voice instructions (like Google maps, but I can't specify in Google maps the exact (bike) route I want to take). I am not sure that any bike computer gives voice instructions. The one provided with the (rental) bike gaves us dumb beeps.
A mild off-topic, I liked RwGPS because it gave me voice instructions (like Google maps, but I can't specify in Google maps the exact (bike) route I want to take). I am not sure that any bike computer gives voice instructions. The one provided with the (rental) bike gaves us dumb beeps.
03-30-18, 09:53 AM
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Brighton, Michigan
Posts: 662
Bikes: Optima Baron LR, '14 Nishiki Maricopa,'87 Trek 330 Elance, '89 Miyata 1400, '85 Peugeot PGN10, '04 Fuji Ace, '06 Giant Rincon, '95 Giant Allegre, '83 Trek 620, '86 Schwinn High Sierra
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 225 Post(s)
Liked 163 Times
in
107 Posts
Though I use a Bryton gps to track rides for strava, I ALWAYS use my Velo7 as a seconday. The Velo7 never fails me...ever. It just works. All my bikes have them and I have my full trusts in them.
The brands that have failed me in the past were Bell and Blackburn computers. Bells battery life is lacking. Blackburns work great until the contact point get moisture on them, then quickly corrode into garbage. No more from Blackburn again
The brands that have failed me in the past were Bell and Blackburn computers. Bells battery life is lacking. Blackburns work great until the contact point get moisture on them, then quickly corrode into garbage. No more from Blackburn again
03-31-18, 07:18 AM
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,397
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,980 Times
in
1,921 Posts
I like the nashbar tempo triple except it does not readout the surrounding temperature.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
03-31-18, 09:54 AM
#45
Banned
My favorite is Old, German made in the 80's, Ciclomaster. its simple and 100% waterproof.. a single line LCD.
their wireless version went down on the fork so computer by the wheel magnet.. not on the handlebars..
their wireless version went down on the fork so computer by the wheel magnet.. not on the handlebars..
03-31-18, 02:56 PM
#46
Senior Member
I've bought a couple of SunDings (I broke them, once carelessly, once in a fall) for $3-5. They've worked well to record distance and report the speed and time. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Bic...GSGrmb8_HQyJqA
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jefnvk
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
21
01-25-17 05:14 PM
aracauna
Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets
5
09-02-11 11:50 PM
