Thanks folks and do me a favor..."Keep It Coming"...I'm liking hearing all the multifaceted sides of this topic as many of you have already touched on a few things I've gleaned since posting this thread this morning such as...

Before I left work to head to the LBS (to look) I took a look at our CNC Machine repairmans TREK which he has all decked out with some unit called a "road2"...he also has a trainer with it he keeps in our store room as this trek is his $4k knock around (his $10K "nice one" stays at home) were he also has software on his laptop that hooks up to his trainer and acts as a ride simulator....so while I was eyeballing his wireless unit w/ wireless cadence another older fitness freak friend of mine asked what I was up to and when I told him?...he said...

"Bill...I've road that bike and that unit also has a chest strap heart monitor and I think it cost him a few hundred....why not just download this...it's like $2.99 for the basic version or about $30 for the V.I.P. version which is what I use and it's fantastic and does everything and more!"

as he then showed me his "MapMyRun" smartphone software...and yep...it appears to be a cool alternative as it does biking and walking as well and for bonus points?...I'd have my phone with me in case something happened and could call somebody...and then?...

I got off at 12 noon today and headed straight for the LBS where they had a plethora of wireless digital units from "specialized" (in the $30-$40 range) and about a dozen catseye units...and the one that caught my eye was the catseye padrone due to it's much larger and easy to read screen...and they only had (1) of those left at $55 but when I asked it turns out this unit does not come with cadence...then again?...neither does my smartphone....then yet again?....is "cadence" something my old hacker butt needs?....probably not anymore than I need a heart rate monitor! LOL!

But at the end of the day?...I was still up in the air with this decision and decided further research was in order hence why I'm appreciating the feedback I'm getting here....but just to pacify my addiction?...I did spend $20 on two things...$10 on some cool Zefal Toe Clips and $10 on a spoke wrench....at least it'll give me something cool to do besides think about smoking on this rain soaked saturday!



Thanks again Folks and Ride Safe! Bill.