Originally Posted by
dwing
"Just get a bike computer, it will do distance, time, average speed just like your phone, and it will even do more, like cadence!"
Firstly, computers don't show cadence unless paired with a sensor, true? 2ndly, there are several cell apps that most defnitely display cadence when paired with sensor. The pros & cons have already been listed. Get a computer if you want compactness, better display, less expense if crashed... but don't get a computer thinking it's doing more than the well featured popular cell apps... even without a sensor.
There is no difference for all intents in purposes in the availability or the functionality of the sensors for computers and cell phones. Wahoo Fitness supplies sensor that simultaneously output ANT+ and BT LE so it's possible to run them to two computers/smartphones simultaneously (should you want to). Wahoo Fitness also supplies an accelerometer based crank sensor (no magnets) and I'm positive they are going to shortly come out with a hub version.
There is also a precision sensor available from
Sound of Motion/Velocomputer (available through Amazon) that can be programmed to be either crank or hub and is both BT LE and ANT+. It works well, but has some compatibility issues when used in the presence of Wahoo sensors. Both the Wahoo and Velocomputer sensors use the Nordic Semiconductor part that connects to their respective sensors and provides the BT and ANT+ interface.
You can also use ANT+ on a phone. Some android phones support ANT+ directly. The RFLKT+ from Wahoo fitness can also act as a ANT+ bridge to an iPhone. I use it with a Garmin hub accelerometer based sensor on my rear hub and it works flawlessly.
In either the computer or phone case, you need to have a sensor to measure cadence. Most apps will do speed from the GPS but it's going to have a lag.
As far as waiting for breaks to look at the phone.. I'm not sure I understand.
I'm using Wahoo Fitness paired with DT and have the phone displaying realtime readouts the entire ride. I don't take breaks to look at the phone... a quick glance and I see Cadence, HR, Speed, Distance, Time. I have no problem seeing the display in bright daylight and the Wahoo layout is great.
A quick slide to another screen shows elevation gains, grades, climb.. slide the other way to see the map. There's a lap times page also that grab snapshots with one touch operation if you're doing intervals. The touch buttons are simple (Pause/Resume toggle), large and easy to use.
Personally, I don't touch the screen.. once I start the workout thats it.. I leave it on the primary display and it never turns off. I have audio readouts calling out my last 5 minute averages, and audio on the mile intervals calling out the overall totals and averages.. so I rarely look down other than a glance to check on a reading. To me, the Audio Read-Outs is HUGE. Not sure if the computers have that feature. When the workouts done, touch Share/Strava (or whatever).. bang done.
Cyclemeter by Abvio also has audio alerts. I have mine set to update me every two miles and give me a set of statistics that are user selectable. You can also trigger this audio alert by the cord on the headphone and, I think, you can also program this into a button on the RFLKT+ but I may be wrong on that.
I'm not trying to convince anyone NOT to buy a computer.. I'm correcting a lot of misinformation regarding the features of cell apps paired with sensors. If you don't have a computer yet, but, you have a smartphone.. try the Wahoo app simply using the GPS. You might like what you see until you figure out which computer to buy.
I also have an Edge 1000. It has no audio capabilities other than the tinny little piezoelectric beeper.
Great update. Thanks.
J.