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Wireless odometers?

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Old 08-05-22 | 10:39 PM
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Wireless odometers?

I've seen these wireless odometer's that tell you your distance, average speed and one or two other things. I have seen prices vary from $10.00 to $60.00. Those of you using these can you please give me some feedback ? Thanks !
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Old 08-05-22 | 11:03 PM
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Honestly, you can find a GPS unit for close to those prices that is far more effective and simple to use. No need for a separate sensor.
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Old 08-06-22 | 05:30 AM
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They had the same life cycle as wired telephones. Today, Garmen and Wahoo own that market space along with apps on phones. Of course, there are other options.
[MENTION=21724]cyccommute[/MENTION] has it right. Not worth the money anymore if you have a smart phone. Use Ride with GPS or Strava to get those numbers or more.

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Old 08-06-22 | 06:06 AM
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I bought a Garmin Edge 200 when they were closing them out to introduce the Edge 20. It is no bigger than a regular bike computer and has the same basic functions. The navigation function is limited to remembering a bread crumb trail so you can repeat your route or retrace it back to the starting point. The best thing, apart from its compact size, is being able to move it from one bike to another without having to recalibrate it for every tire size. Garmin Connect keeps track of all your rides and you can assign which bike you rode. If you don't like the look of a bike computer on a vintage bike, you can put it in your pocket and it still works. I wish they still made a similar model, but the closest thing looks to be one of the watches. I have seen a few people attach a watch to their handlebars. You can use a piece of pipe insulation or buy the rubber adapter from Garmin.

My son and I used to have the same model wireless computer. One time, we were sprinting the last mile home from a ride and the computers claimed we reached 52 mph in a flat road! They had picked up each other's signal in addition to their own.

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Old 08-06-22 | 06:07 AM
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I've got one of the cheap Amazon $15 wireless Odo's that I got with a bike. Works ok, if you don't want to carry a phone and use an app.
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Old 08-06-22 | 06:20 AM
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I have about 5 of these, and at least one of the similar "Padrone" models, plus a pink one for my wife's bike. Like you, I only want the basics and these work great. I keep one on each bike so that I don't have to change the tire circumference.

CAT EYE Strada Wireless Bike Computer
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Old 08-06-22 | 06:33 AM
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IME, any of the Cateye models work well, both wired and wireless. The Strada and Padrone models are quite nice. The Cateye Velo Wireless is a lower cost option. They are a bit smaller and come in different colors. I am not into the whole GPS unit and app thing. Plus, where I live, wireless phone reception is quite spotty.
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Old 08-06-22 | 07:53 AM
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Mavic made a nice one.
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Old 08-06-22 | 08:01 AM
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$10 to $60 wireless:

There are a lot, and in a world where you give up 2 cups of coffee house product to have a wireless cyclo, pretty cool.

A couple-three of my C&V’s just scream “No!” with any mounts, period.

I take a lot of cyclo’s off of used bikes, some work, some don’t. Older Sigmas are excellent, best I’ve seen.

As earlier mentioned, older GPS models work great and go from bike to bike. I picked up a used Edge 500 for $25 and a used Edge 25 for $10. I bought a used bike with wired functioning Flight Deck (which is a blast).

Currently, I’m a tweener, using Edge 1000 and various lights, radar at times. I’d prefer less, but my partner likes data.

Many of my riding friends are going the full Monty, with Cliq computers, front & rear lights, front and rear cameras. The whole setup looks right at home on their 2022 high-tech bikes, and integrates with their electronic shifting. They are not C&V in any way, shape or form, but it’s nifty.

speedevil suggested I try an old cell phone, sans Simm card, using Ride With GPS. It was free, an older Samsung. The app works great, battery life is 14 hours, and I can load routes, save routes, etc. I can’t call anyone, and they can’t call me, but that’s exactly why I ride. In effect, it is a very cheap, very capable cyclo, for non bio data. It just looks like a cell phone.
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Old 08-06-22 | 08:05 AM
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I use wireless odometers (the cheaper ones). They're prone to interference. Every now and then my top speed would read over 75MPH. Once, while setting one up, I was watching TV and when I hit the TV remote, it said I was doing about 25MPH on my sofa. Also, I bought battery operated heated gloves for the winter. If I put them on low or medium, it throws off the readings on my odometer. The high setting is fine. These quirks vary from manufacturer. I've probably used 10-12 different brands/models over the years.
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Old 08-06-22 | 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by gearbasher
it said I was doing about 25MPH on my sofa.


Finally, a way to qualify mushrooms.

Last edited by bamboobike4; 08-06-22 at 07:22 PM.
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Old 08-06-22 | 08:24 AM
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I can recommend any of the Cateye wireless models, for speed and distance they work great and are easy to install and setup. With the included handlebar mount they don't look to out of place on a CV bike IMO. Get the out front mount and you might get a second look or two.

The latest Cateye I picked up I can recommend only with caution. The Padrone Digital wireless that can track distance, speed and cadence. Why do I recommend it with caution? Because it is a pain in the butt to get connected, the instructions leave out information and could use some helpful tips and hints. I had to call Cateye customer service and they talked me through it. To me it was well worth it for the cadence feature.
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Old 08-06-22 | 05:30 PM
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Like others have already said, Cateye has made good bike computers since the beginning of time (but still well after your SS was made). You pick a model based on the size of the unit and the features you want.

I've gone back to using Cateye computers again after having several Garmin models. I didn't want to be bothered making sure they were charged up ready to go anytime I wanted to go for a ride.

When I did a tour of Vermont on my Super Sport with my cousin on his Super Sport in 1966, we kept track of our miles on a little odometer located on the fork near the hub on the front wheel. It worked by having a little spoke like thing attached to the bike wheel that rotated a star shaped wheel on the odometer. It went click, click, click making that gentle sound with each wheel revolution. Does anybody have a picture of one of these things? Or remember how made them?

Also period correct to your SS is a cable speedometer and odometer that had an attachment on the wheel that turned the cable inside the housing going to the speedometer. I think I had one of those on my 10 speed that predated my '65 SS. .
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Old 08-06-22 | 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Doug Fattic

When I did a tour of Vermont on my Super Sport with my cousin on his Super Sport in 1966, we kept track of our miles on a little odometer located on the fork near the hub on the front wheel. It worked by having a little spoke like thing attached to the bike wheel that rotated a star shaped wheel on the odometer. It went click, click, click making that gentle sound with each wheel revolution. Does anybody have a picture of one of these things? Or remember how made them?
Perhaps a Joseph Lucas Mileometer or a similar one?

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Old 08-06-22 | 06:59 PM
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I have used basic CatEye wireless computers for years. The one in use now is 17 years old. As per the above post, stray electronic signals will affect the maximum speed recorded. My best speed was 80+ mph! Traffic signals will interfere with mine, as well as invisible dog fences. Bill
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Old 08-06-22 | 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by stevel610
Perhaps a Joseph Lucas Mileometer or a similar one?

Yes, that Lucas one in the bottom picture is the one I installed on my 1965 Super Sport before we went on our Vermont trip in 1966. Thank you for posting that picture!
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Old 08-06-22 | 07:56 PM
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For cost of shipping you can have one of the Cateye Padrone Wireless Computers I have that I no longer use.


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Old 08-06-22 | 08:28 PM
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I used to have a little black axle mounted Schwinn Approved one on my Super Sport. Problem after many thousands of miles was that one of the five little plastic fingers finally broke rendering it unusable. I was bummed. Years later I was excited to buy a NOS one. The plastic must have also deteriorated from age and it broke fairly quickly. I wish they still had those.
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Old 08-06-22 | 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by stevel610
Perhaps a Joseph Lucas Mileometer or a similar one?

Finally a response that belongs in this forum. All the rest of these responses would get you banned for life if I was king o' the world!

Huret Multito would also qualify. Bulkier than the venerable Lucas, and plastic (ugh) but it has a resettable trip odo, and it's quiet. Belt drive!



The only spoke I can recall breaking on a front wheel had the striker of a Lucas screwed to it. Coincidence? Coulda been a one-in-a-million fluke I guess. The spoke didn't break where the striker was attached, it broke at the first thread where it went into the nipple. I think it was fatigue from all the tick-tick-tick. It was on that spoke for at least 10,000 miles before the spoke broke. Has anyone else ever heard of that?

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Old 08-06-22 | 08:51 PM
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I have the digital version of that Huret. Fork-mounted. Wireless.

Originally Posted by bulgie


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Old 08-06-22 | 09:19 PM
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Originally Posted by bulgie
Finally a response that belongs in this forum. All the rest of these responses would get you banned for life if I was king o' the world!

Huret Multito would also qualify. Bulkier than the venerable Lucas, and plastic (ugh) but it has a resettable trip odo, and it's quiet. Belt drive!



The only spoke I can recall breaking on a front wheel had the striker of a Lucas screwed to it. Coincidence? Coulda been a one-in-a-million fluke I guess. The spoke didn't break where the striker was attached, it broke at the first thread where it went into the nipple. I think it was fatigue from all the tick-tick-tick. It was on that spoke for at least 10,000 miles before the spoke broke. Has anyone else ever heard of that?

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I had that same belt driven Huret, Worked well back in the day. Ah, Lucas, aka Prince of Darkness - ask anyone who has owned a Leyland car from the 70's.
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Old 08-08-22 | 07:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Trueblood
I had that same belt driven Huret, Worked well back in the day. Ah, Lucas, aka Prince of Darkness - ask anyone who has owned a Leyland car from the 70's.
or a 70’s Triumph m/c
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Old 08-09-22 | 11:42 AM
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Not to hijack the thread with Lucas jokes but....

Question: Does anyone know why the English drink warm beer?

Answer: Lucas makes refrigerators too.
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Old 08-09-22 | 01:22 PM
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I'm a big believer in the Garmin Edge 530. I use one computer for all my bikes. And I upload my data to Strava. It's awesome. BUT it's between 2-300 dollars. Well worth it IMHO.
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