Both are sold at Walmart for <$20. I'm just wondering if they are any good.
Anyone?
Both are sold at Walmart for <$20. I'm just wondering if they are any good.
Anyone?
They are effective products for the price. I have one on my Langster that has been in use for over two years. My preference is for the model without the backlight and temperature features, however. YMMV
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I use the Schwinn,it works well for my purposes
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Thanks folks!
Which one do I get, the wired or wireless model?
Last edited by DVC45; 06-17-07 at 06:32 PM.
They offer a wireless version?! How much was that?
I bought the wired version for less than 10 bucks.
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I have the Bell one. It works good except for having only one button I forget which setting it needs to be in to clear the current info and tend to reset the whole computer.
yup, its made by Bell ($20). I got it last night. It works great.Originally Posted by patrick07
Is yours the wireless kind?
I have two of the Schwinn computers (wired). I want to know my speed and distance. The average speed feature is nice, but not necessary. And, I like the clock. Sometimes duration of the ride is good to know. One is a year old. The other is six months old. Neither have needed a new battery yet. If I knew my cadence in real time I would only get depressed.
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I have a Shwinn wireless from Canadian Tire. Works well if you give it some space between your lights to avoid interference especially on the Bell Xeon/LED light when changing from high-low settings you'll add some phantom mileage.
I like the Swhinn model (I'll have to get the model number later) I have because you can manually adjust your KM/Miles odometer should you have to change a battery later. I always log my stats nightly so incase the bike computer is in my pocket while shopping and the buttons set pushed (happened to me before and it reset) and hold into place resetting the bike computer I can manually input my odometer mileage again for my own stats.
Edit: It has auto start/stop and power save which is very handy on saving power. However the auto start/stop only works IF you already have the unit on. Pressing any buttons turns the unit on.
Zero_Enigma
UPDATE: I rode 24mi yeterday and the thing just quit working.
The magnet didn't move out of its position. The computer turns on and all buttons seems to work but it quit doing what its supposed to be doing. I'm returning it and try the wired one. If that turns out a POS also, Cateye Astral 8 it will be.
I have a wireless that I bought before I went with the cable set up. The wireless does have limitations like the distance of the sensor to the unit and I worry also of the interference that are caused by other devices out there such as garage door opener signals, etc. I have more confidence with the wired model and in fact I need to add another computer just to see if the one I have now is accurate. I found out the other day when I have the computer and GPS mounted side by side, they did not agree on the total mileage I rode. GPS odometer showed 50 miles whereas the cycle computer showed I did 66 miles. Electrical interferance caused the disparity? Your thoughts please.
If you use wireless and wave your GPS over it watch the phantom mileage roll FAST. Like 0-97 kph in 2 secs.
Zero_Enigma
Now why would a GPS which is a passive device and emits no electronic signal cause a wireless computer to count. I have had a Garmin mounted next to my VDO wireless in the past and I mean right next to each other with no interference from one to the other.
Now if you ride a rail trail and have a low price computer, there is some possibility that if you ride under or near high tension towers that the low price computer may show an erroneous speed.
torgrot
You got it wrong. I am currently using the the wired computer and never really got a chance to install the wireless due to it's limitations on signal strength, (no more than 24" from the unit). I ride a folding bicycle and the distance from the handle bar to the fork where the sensor is mounted exceed the 24" limitation of the device. Instead of exchanging the wireless, I bought a wired computer for the folding bicycle and intend to use the wireless on my other bike. I am trying to find the disparity between the GPS and computer since I recorded 51 MPH as my top speed while the computer top speed was 25.9 and in addition to total miles recorded. I also ride the bike path parallel along power lines but any interference could not have caused the difference since the computer is wired. My other concern was that the GPS was probably not receiving signals when I go through streets that are lined with trees on each side. The total activity hours was the only area of measurement the GPS and computer agreed. And the GPS I have
is the Garmin Legend C which was actually for the boat that I thought I should compare by mounting on the bike to determine if the the unit correspond with their measurements or calibratred.
I am not familiar with the Garmin Legend, I use the Edge 305. I have found with the Edge it is necessary to wait for a satellite lock before taking off. It has given me some quite odd readings as position can change significantly between while waiting for the lock. My Edge has always given me excellent reception under heavy forest canopy. I don't know how accurate or reliable a GPS built for use on a boat would be. There are some very different design principles between a bike GPS and a boat GPS. Trees being one of them.
As for the 24" limit on most wireless computers that is why I always recommend the newer VDO computers. They have a range of about 2 meters or 80". The batteries are cheap and both are the sender and reciever are the same.
torgrot
I have two "cheap" computers, a Schwinn and a Back Trails (Target brand). Both are identical and will work on either mount.
Bikes use brakes to stop.
If your bike has breaks, don't ride it.
I just bought the Schwinn version at Walmart a week or two ago- first one I've used. Works okay so far. The coil has to be adjusted to be the right distance from the magnet, which can take a try or two (adjustable by sliding up and down the fork/spoke).
The Schwinn cyclometer is identical to an Ascent cyclometer. You can search the Internet and find a download site for the Ascent manual in PDF. I did that so I can find the manual more easily when I want to check something. Also, the numbers in the tables for setting the computer to your wheel size are simply the circumference of your wheel in millimeters. For more accuracy and less confusion, mark your tire and mark the sidewalk. Have someone watch while you roll the bike bearing your full weight and measure the length of sidewalk covered by one rotation of your tire. You may not get the same exact figure in the tables, but it will be an accurate setting for your wheels.
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I'm using that $20 Bell wireless from Wal-mart. It works decently well, but seems pretty laggy when you accelerate or decelerate. I don't really like the round shape though, seems bulky. It's also pretty susceptible to interference (as with most wireless computers), for example when I'm stopped at a stop light, the computer usually goes crazy saying I'm going 40MPH because of the interference from the stop light sensors in the ground. Overall though, it's pretty decent if you're looking for a basic, cheap wireless computer. Oh and it has temperature too which is kinda nice.
I'm really happy with my Schwinn wired version that I bought two more for my other bikes.
I might try the wireless cyclo computer versions again in 10 years. Hopefully by then, the glitches will be all ironed out.
I've used the wired versions of both the Schwinn and Bell computers from Walmart. Both worked acceptably well over several thousand miles of riding, and the Bell served me well during my brevet series last summer.
I don't want wireless on my bikes... too many chances for them to get messed up. Like the guy I was riding with who leaned his bike up against the outside of the convenience store where one of our checkpoints was located. He came out to get ready to leave and his wireless comp was showing 97 mph.
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Why bother with them when you can get the MEC DB4L for much cheaper. Larger and more lines displayed.
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This is true and the Ascent is more than 2X the price of the 12 function Schwinn wired model. For $9.32 at Walmart how can you go wrong? If it fails after a year or 2 just toss it and buy another one. I realize that there are some who require advanced features but when the dust clears I think most riders only need a basic unit like the Schwinn. It just amazes me how much some of you gentleman are willing to spend on a cyclocomputer when they all do pretty much the same thing except for cadence. Then again I am a recreational rider and for my needs a basic unit like the Schwinn suffices. Who really cares if your computer measures distance in .001 mile increments in real world use?
Last edited by hy_tek; 10-01-07 at 01:56 PM.
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