vorticity

Has anyone figured out a good wireless option for both the Captain and Stoker computers?

Ritterview

• First, get an Edge 305 when they had just came out.
• Then, when the 705 is introduced, get one of those. Now you've got both, and they share cadence.
• The captain and stoker tussle over who gets the 705.

vorticity

I recently bought a Garmin Oregon 550 for hiking and had to return it because I could not see the screen well enough. How is the screen view on the 705?

Ritterview

The readability of the screen on the 705 is IMO its most underrated feature. The 305 is very difficult to read, especially if you like a lot of fields. Its battery like is limited, so you can't use its feeble backlight.

With the 705 the numbers are quite large and distinct, and the battery life is good enough so you can crank the backlight to very bright, so the numbers are very distinct and at a glance. I ride at night with commuting, and the 705 is perfect for this.

rdtompki

+1 on the 705/305. I use the 705 up front generally with the backlight. My wife is fine with the 305, but she is only interested in speed and cadence. With the 705 be sure to tilt the unit so as to eliminate reflections from bright jerseys.

TandemGeek

I wonder how many casual lurkers are shaking their heads as they see folks here riding around with over $1k just tied up in cycling computer/GPS/HRMs... No, no... we're just as bad and probably worse. It's not like the Garmin Units we're using now are the only high-end computers we've had on our tandems.

My 705 Edge replaced a Sigma Sports HAC4 which replaced a Sigma Sports CM414 Alti (both of which are sitting in a box somewhere with various accessories), Debbie's 305 Edge replaced a Polar S720i after we discovered it didn't play nice with our composite frame (that one was sold for a sweet price on Fleabay) and I think I still have 2 or 3 SigmaSports BC1200's sitting around, noting that we gifted a pair to someone from the Hobbes list on a whim for the stokids a few years back. I'd guess there are probably 4 or 5 other miscellaneous computers, some wireless some not, sitting around that are mounted to mountain bikes or that came on second hand bikes bought on Ebay and Craigslist primarily for the frames that are also sitting in the 'computer cemetery'.

In restrospect, they've been acquired over a decade of tandem cycling but it's still suggests that we've done more than our part to 'stimulate' the computer-wing of the bicycle industry.

apage4u

Cateye V3 will work with 2 head units and one send unit. V2 if you do not want heart rate.

Open Lateral

The 305 and 705 share the same speed/cadence sensor correct? So the sensor has not changed between them? This sounds like a good option.

zonatandem

Stoker Kay has no interest in having a computer.
Our tandem riding goes back to the 70s when we had a Lucas Cyclometer . . . remember those: clic/clic/clic ?
Currently using a hard wired Planet Bike Protege 9.0.

Ritterview

Garmin recently added the Edge 500, which is a step up from the 305, especially in terms of having a readable screen. It uses the same speed/cadence sensor.



A good place to get these items is with BF'er GeoMan, at GeoManGear who is as famous for the alacrity of his service as much for his great prices. Maybe GeoMan can come up with a BF Tandem Bundle, with a 705, 500 and cadence sensor.

artnshel

No one else responded, I was surprised. I have flight deck which I like for the gear indicator. Stoker said she didn't want anything, but a speed computer will probably happen someday.

brad3104

No need for the stoker to have one. I run a $25 cateye velo 5 up front. We like the simple stuff.

Steve S

My wife always prefers to find out AFTER the ride how fast we took that canyon...

mkane77g

I use my cateye to moniter tire life, make sure the century gets done in 5hrs. or less, the double in less than 11, and keep track of March madness

Carbonfiberboy 

Captain has a flight deck and a Polar 725, stoker a different coded HRM and wired Cateye so she'll know when we're over 40 so she can close her eyes . . .

But I'm guessing that the OP wants wireless because they have a coupled bike. On ours, all the captain's wiring is forward of the cockpit and stoker could have a wireless Cateye or similar. I don't think stoker needs cadence and the flight deck avoids the hassle of a cadence magnet and transmitter.

WheresWaldo

We are using a combination of Garmin 705 (Captain) and 305 (Stoker) as well as a Cadence/Speed sensor.

Machka 

I have a similar question, except that I'd be interested in a wired computer because wireless doesn't work well around me.

I am a stoker who wants to know: what time it is (I don't wear a watch and don't plan to start for times I ride the tandem), what distance we've covered, and what speed we are going. That's all I need to know ... all the rest of the stuff computers offer is unimportant to me on the tandem, and on my single bicycle.

Geocyclist

Just reverse with my team. Stoker has the 705 Garmin, Captain has an Polar HRM with a cadence sensor. Captain controls the cadence and stoker tells us where to go! Who cares about speed? If your HRM isn't red lined you need to grab another gear!

Homeyba

What's the battery life on the Garmins? Somewhere I remember it being something like 8hrs? I use the VDO 1.0+ and like it a lot. You can use two confusers with one sending unit.

zoste

I've had my Garmin 705 last 12 hours and still had a charge left. The Garmin website says 15 hours is "typical".

rdtompki

I'm sure my 705 would last 12 hours without the backlight. It lasts at least 7 hours with the backlight on about 1/2 way.

Homeyba

That's what I though. Unfortunately, that's too short for me. Even if you do shorter rides, you still would have to remember to charge it each time you get off the bike.

professorbob

Cateye Mity 8. The only additional things I'd like are climbing feet and elevation. I can get elevation from a map and climbing feet is only for bragging to your friends.

Ritterview

The Garmin Edge is arguably the optimum computer for the captain (the new Edge 800 especially so), however, if the captain has a Garmin, a Garmin for the stoker is redundant, expensive, heavy, difficult to read (the 305) and requires recharging between rides. In addition, Garmin's are often shared amongst different bikes, which makes it uncertain how many miles are on the tandem's odometer.

As I mentioned above, my stoker used my old 305, but could barely read it. Inspired by a similar thread, I searched around for a computer that would read the Garmin's ANT+ cadence/speed sensor. There are two, Specialized sorta sells one, but not in the US. The other is the Bontrager's $75 Node 1 and $140 full-featured Node 2, reviewed here

I purchased a Node 2 at my LBS for $129. In addition to the Node 1's usual speed/cadence function, it has an altimeter and heart rate monitor. Essentially it has everything a Garmin has, save GPS (with the addition of temperature, which is handy).

I purchased the Node 2 unsure of whether it would pick up the Garmin speed/cadence, but happily, it does. Mrs. Ritterview likes the Node 2, she finds it much more readable, and she doesn't miss having to plug in the Edge after every ride.



Detail


Stoker's view


Garmin ANT+ Cadence/Speed Sensor.........Side view

Red Rider

I'm with your stoker.

We had a wired CatEye for me that showed speed and miles but I really didn't care that much. When it quit working I was glad to have it gone.

Cgallagh uses a Garmin 305 or something...I just want the miles ridden, avg. speed and amount of climbing. And I can wait until the end of the ride for that info.