Originally Posted by
alan s
For commuting, I've always wanted a stand alone thermometer that would mount on the handlebars similar to a computer. Some computers include a thermometer, but I'd really prefer a separate unit with a large digital readout. Anyone use one? Wouldn't want to spend more than $10-15.
I tried a digital readout, but found the thermal inertia of an electronic probe to be too great to be acceptable. I.e. in the middle of winter, many blocks from the house, the thermometer was still giving a reading that approximated the temperature in the garage. In addition, in the cheaper digital thermometers, the readout depends on the battery voltage. As the battery discharges, its voltage slips and so does the temperature reading - tests done using a reference bath.
In the end, I switched to an industrial bimetal thermometer, like 10 Wheels in the other post. It is precise and reacts very quickly to temperature variations. Its disadvantage is a long stem (not visible in 10 Wheels' photos) that needs to be pointed somewhere out of the way.
Regarding those motorcycle thermometers, there had been many complaints on the net about their thermal inertia. I would read reviews before jumping on any one of those. They seem to be made for looks and tend to be expensive.