I'm about to purchase my first quality bike for fitness/recreational purposes and I want a proven and reliable bike computer.

I am only concerned about the speedometer and odometer information. I don't need anything fancy that costs an arm and a leg.

Could I get some recommendations that have worked for you?

Thanks in advance!

I have a Sigma BC 1009 that is great, but don't know if you will be able to find it any longer in stores. I had a problem during prolonged rain, but when dried , worked wonderfully again. Sigma has another more current model , the BC 5.12 that may work well for you. The BC 5.12 does not have a max speed or average speed function, so if you need that , you won't be happy with it. Sigma is carried by R.E.I. Also any of the Cateye bicycle computers work well, but IMO aren't quite as easy to set up.

One word answer: Cat-Eye (ok, two words). The Cat-Eye Velo 7 or Velo 8 are the simplest, least expensive and, based on my experience, most reliable bike computers you can buy. Installation is easy and set up very straightforward.

Amazon.com : CatEye Velo 7 Bicycle Computer CC-VL520 : Bike Computer : Sports & Outdoors
CatEye Velo 8 Wired Cycle Computer - Cyclocomputers

I use these on 3 bikes.
Sunding Electronic Bicycle Computer/Speedometer - Free Shipping - DealExtreme

I use this. Super basic, large easy to read numbers.

https://ecom1.planetbike.com/8000.html

Another suggestion...

Sigma 509 Cycling Computer Bike Odometer New Cycle Computer Speed Distance | eBay

(I am not affiliated w/eBay nor this seller)

IMO you are wise to stick with a wired computer. We have seen many mysterious problems arise with the wireless ones on this forum.

Just take care with the placement of the pickup magnet(s) such that they are close enough to register correctly and not oriented such that they "double" register with the pickup.

I have an older Cateye Micro Wireless Cylclocomputer Model MC-100W. It's probably 6 or 7 years old and still going strong. Nothing fancy about it. It has Current Speed, Average Speed, Max Speed. Odometer. Trip Distance 1 & 2 ( if you wish to use it on two different bikes ). Elapsed Time. Choice of 12/24hr Clock. Night light. I believe the cost was about $40 new. Similar Cateye computers now will run from $50 tp $65. The batteries, one in the sending unit and one in the receiving unit will last for a couple of years. Both are CR 2032 size flat cell type batteries. It has been a very good accessory over the years with nary a problem. You may be able to find a cheaper unit if these type have more functions than you want, but the units you find a Kmart or Walmart type stores will cost about $15 to $25 these days, and are likely to need replaced after a one or two years. I prefer wireless over wired for the somple reason that wires can be a hassle to route and keep nice looking.

To that I would be careful not to pinch the wires. The wires are super thin and can be pinched/cut if you are not careful.

Any wired Cateye....................... mho

I'd spend a few more dollars and get a wireless computer. I don't like all those wires on my bikes.
Here's a good "inexpensive" one that I used a few years back.
PROTEGÉ 9.0 WIRELESS

I've had good luck with Sigmas and Specialized wired computers.

Here's a tip for wet weather riding. If you think you'll encounter rain, cut a small square of something like Saran wrap, please it over the computer, then place a rubber band over the wrap and around the base of the computer. Works for me.

"To that I would be careful not to pinch the wires. The wires are super thin and can be pinched/cut if you are not careful."

Good point, to that end I would suggest that rather than using zip-ties to hold the wires, which can cut them, electrical tape or self-fusing silicone tape can be used instead.

Another vote for the Planet Bike Protege computers. Mine is the 9.0, wired. The wire is beefy by bike standards, the display is huge and it is very easy to use. The only weakness IMO is that the mount is for handlebars only, can't be mounted on the stem. Not a problem for me, but it would be an issue for some people.

I don't know about now but it the past "Specialized" computers were rebranded Cat-Eyes.

Also to make a Cat-Eye cyclometer rain proof, a dab of silicone grease on the mount and head contacts will do it. I have a Cat-Eye Mity 3 that has been on my "rain bike" for years and gets wet routinely. The silicone grease treatment means it never misses a beat. The Cat-Eye's heads and battery compartments are very well sealed so the Saran Wrap treatment isn't needed. I have had other brand cyclometers in the past that were not weatherproof and I did have to gift wrap them to assure survival.

doctor J : To be more clear, the problem I had with the Sigma BC 1009 , and the only problem happened on tour where I was stuck in a tent for two days with heavy rain . My bike with the Sigma was out in the rain. I've not had a problem on rainy rides of only a few hours. Next time I'll wrap it in plastic as you suggest, or simply bring it in the tent. :-) Thanks.

Thanks for the help, everyone!

I went with the CatEye Velo 7 wired computer.

I'm excited to test it out on the first ride this weekend!!

I'm sure you will be pleased. As noted, using zip-ties to route the wire should be done with some care. Don't tighten them excessively as being too ham-handed could damage the insulation. That said, I've installed wired computers on dozens of bikes using zip-ties for almost all of them and never once hurt the wires.

Any rear wheel wired Cateye with cadence.

I have a Protege 9.0 wireless mounted on a stem- it has a mount that works either way, but since it can't rotate forward/back, it's harder to read the display. I like the temperature reading, but the after a stop, the display doesn't come back on until it is pushed.

Overall, I like the 5.0 wired the best (Also only mounts on handlebar). I think part of the slide-the-whole-unit design is to put the button on the bottom where it is less likely to leak. I've had no water issues after plenty of wet rides.


One more point re wired/ wireless:
While the wire is more of a mess, the pick up sensor is smaller and less likely to get knocked out of position.

CatEye Strada Cadence CC-RD200. Bought extra wiring harnesses, so all my 700c road bikes share the same headunit.

I've had the handlebar mount for Planet Bike Protegé wired computers (two of them) fail after ~5-6K usage. In both cases, the computer didn't read all the mileage of the ride (e.g. the contact link was intermittent), or would not awaken (no contact). It had become "grindy" when the computer was moved in the mount, also. I cleaned the mounts and filed the contacts shiny, but the issue returned right away.

I have a old Cat-Eye Astrale on my winter trainer bike which has a wired rear wheel pickup and cadence sensor. The current "Strada Cadence" (CC-RD200 ) seems to be the current version of the same thing.

Between my wifes bikes and mine, we have 4 of these. The oldest about 10 years old. They have been through rain, snow, heat cold, they just keep working. The bigest down side is that you have two batteries to replace from time to time. We just replace both at the same time, so we don't have to mess around trying to figure out which one is dead\dieing.

I bought a Sunding 548 4 years ago for $5. It kept distance correctly once I adjusted the multiplier: the 'manual' recommended a setting that turned out to be about 2% high compared to the markings on city bike paths, possibly because the manual may not have accounted for slippage. The clock gained about a minute every week - 1 part in 10,000. So I was happy with it. I broke it through careless handling then bought the current version for $3 on eBay in January. It seems to keep time nearly perfectly and the 'manual' setting for the multiplier was closer. The vendor didn't ship a manual; I found a PDF on Sunding's website.

Someone offers it for $108 on eBay: I wonder what's up with that.

I didn't want to worry about batteries in the sensor and haven't minded the wires so I use the wired version.