![]() |
Not me.
|
I have them on 3 bikes - the rest don't have them. For my regular rides I know the distances so it's no big deal. For new routes I will often take one of the three bikes so I know how far I've gone. I used to rely on them all the time - don't really care anymore.
|
Originally Posted by 09box
(Post 17161165)
... Upon further research, it appears that you can't just buy a replacement wheel sensor for an older computer. It is a Cateye wireless that is probably 5-6 years old.
I have a couple of the Cateye CC-CL100 computer. They are ~25 years old. The modern RD300W sensor works with them. -- Ragnar |
No computer here. I don't even utilize my I-phone, which is always with me.
I do, however, estimate my mileage and keep it in a calendar with notes like "new chain", "$60 service", etc... The estimation per day is easy because I use the same route for commuting. When I take a new route or weekend ride, I use gmap pedometer to calculate the distance. It might sound laborious or time-intensive, but it's not. I just use down time at work where I'm sitting in front of the computer anyways. I find it also gives me a different perspective (maps tend to do that) and it helps me plan future exploratory rides. I time my commute but I don't keep track of those numbers. Jeez, maybe I should get a computer. |
I keep track of my time and assume my average pace is 25 mph. I put about 10,000 miles a year in.
|
1 Attachment(s)
I started riding when this http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=408473 was the state of the art.
Either that or a big clunky Stewart Warner speedometer. After using one of these for a few tours, it got pinged off into the woods one day. I decided I was tired of the tick, tick tick... anyway and gave up. I gauge distance by time and instinct, and don't miss the computer. I've tried some, but don't care enough to bother. One thing I don't like about computers is that when I have one, every ride becomes sort of a training ride. |
Originally Posted by John E
(Post 17161301)
I have one on the mountain bike, but none of the road bikes.
-1 'cause just to other side of the chart. None on my mountain bike, but road bike always. I would feel sooo insecure w/o tech on the road. Now on the mountain bike, too busy avoiding rocks, trees, and just hanging on to care. |
Originally Posted by FBinNY
(Post 17163539)
I started riding when this http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=408473 was the state of the art.
|
I've never had a computer or cadence meter or any kind of speedometer on any of my bikes in over 35 years. And I do keep a fast cadence. I'd just get dropped by riding partners if I didn't so I just got into the spinning habit.
Carry fold up maps in plastic baggies for directions (read off the bike of course) and estimate mileage off those. If I'm off 5 miles out of 50 I don't care.....close enough. I have a divers watch if I want to get all interval froggy or check my progress on a route. I did finally get a little cell phone though and carry it in the seat pack. |
I have MotionX GPS on my phone; maps, speedometer, elevation profiles, etc. But usually I forget to turn it on; or having turned it on, I forget to turn it off.
Then later that night, while trying to check the baseball scores, I wonder why my iPhone's battery is nearly dead :) |
I use a Cateye Velo 5 on my fair weather commuter that I found in a bag of bike swap parts. It needed a sensor spoke magnet, one of which I had from another bag of parts, and some zip ties. After taking a pencil eraser to the contacts it woke up and started functioning. I don't fixate on it. It's interesting to see how fast I'm going and handy to have the time of day displayed.
|
Of course I have computers on the bikes - I'm an engineer and data is a genetic need. One was salvaged from a Miyata left at the transfer station. Another was a gift from the daughter. The third came with the CAAD3 and the 4th was bought at T-Town for $8.
I also mostly just pay attention to the trip distance and the time. Sometimes the speed. I rode the Schuylkill River Trail a couple of days ago (33 miles Oaks to Shamont Ave and back) and did find the speed difference interesting. Serious wind coming in right off the Atlantic so I was, at times, cranking out 14mph going east, head down, grumbling mightily. Did the U turn and headed back. In many spots I was doing 17mph in calm conditions (not really, it was the 17mph tail wind). I was also impressed that after 30 miles I was doing 21mph in the home stretch. It wont happen again - it was all tail wind. On my daily aerobic run I keep changing the route but target a 10 mile minimum so the trip meter is quite useful. Ah yes, engineer: I did roll the properly inflated tires along a tape to measure actual diameter then calibrate the computers. It's in my genetic code. Dad was an EE too. |
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 17161770)
Not me.
Originally Posted by FBinNY
(Post 17163539)
I started riding when this http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=408473 was the state of the art.
I do like knowing distance. Don't usually care about speed though. The first "modern" computer I installed was a wireless Cateye on the Raleigh. It works nicely except that something around here makes it go wonkers so it often reports a max speed of 80+mph, sometimes much higher. (I really do go that fast. Honest.) Some of my other bikes have low-end Cateye computers. Neither of my two super-bikes (Masi, Motobecane) has one, never will. I'll carry a GPS unit sometimes and let it record distance. Or I'll wait till I get home and work up the route in DeLorme Street Atlas to see the distance. Or I won't. |
@jimmuller - one of those days where I was being direct in the response.
There is only one of my very limited number of bikes that does not have a computer on them. Ooops two. I started with a Specialized Speedzone Comp, which I learned to work with. I dropped it a couple of months ago and sadly the upper part of the display is gone. It is no longer in use. I have tried the free apps on both Android and Windows smart phones. They are not reliable enough with goofy UI (user interface), meaning I have to dig for the information I want. The SW deveopers had different ideas about what I wanted to see first. Of course they didn't ask! I tried a cheap wireless that would show 75 mph when I took the head to the computer to record the data. It sits in a box somewhere. The people I worked with at a company I worked as a contractor for four years gave me a $50 gift certificate to Performance where I bought a Cat Eye Wirless II on sale. That is the one on my Colnago and I like it a lot. So much so that when I found one on CL for $30, I bought it too. It may go on the Pinarello. I have commuted over 1000 miles this years and have logged all the rides. I have experienced all the "phases" expressed in this thread, like watching the display, pushing myself, monitoring just the average, etc. It is all good and I have now gotten to the state where I believe I have "normalized." Meaning that I am aware of what I am doing and can freely decide to follow through or change my approach. There are a number of factors not captured, wind direction and speed, temperature with humidity, what I ate, that impacts my "performance." Its all goodness to me as I am riding my bike for a whole host of reasons and I don't get bored! I like knowing I am getting stronger. I know from how I feel, but being an engineer, I would like some data to support the emotional observation. I have it. Here it is for this years commuting: loss of 22 lbs (a whole bike!), 1001 miles, average speed per month from 12.5 to 16.4 with a maximum of 18.2 on one ride with the suspension fork and 22 lb truck bag. I am anxious to know how fast I am on one of the light bikes. Might find out tomorrow. jimmuller, aren't you glad you asked! :) |
I don't ride with one. I'm riding for pleasure and I'm not very fast. If I had a computer, I'd obsess over speed and fear I'd cease to enjoy the riding as much.
|
None on any of bikes I ride.
|
I used one through the summer while I was training for a specific long charity ride. Toward the end of that 120 mile charity ride as I was climbing the last mountain pass I was exhausted and I became fed up with looking at the computer so I turned it upside down on my handlebars so I couldn't see it. The funny thing is I accidently pushed the reset button while I was turning it upside down so I don't really even know my stats from that ride. Which is fine, because I finished it and that is good enough. I haven't used a computer since that day, a couple months ago. My attitude toward riding has been more about enjoying the ride lately than trying to break some time or distance barrier. Either way I'm getting good exercise. That said, I'm sure I'll get back in the mood to mount a computer and fire up Strava again one of these days.
|
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 17161770)
Not me.
It would ruin the mood. :( |
Sunday-Friday, no.
Saturday, yes. Saturday can be a competitive ride. Depending on the wind and the route, I like the accurate timer a computer provides. Otherwise I just look at the microwave clock as I am coming and going. Its harder to keep track of a pr with the microwave. |
I did for years, especially when racing and riding in Taiwan (with altitude: very useful when climbing to 10,000 feet often enough). But not since the last VDO MC1.0 died a couple of years ago.
and I prefer not having the numbers now. I can tell how fast I'm going by the wind noise in my helmet anyway. |
If you ride for fitness/health reasons, tracking mileage is useful, kind of like using a bathroom scale if you are on a diet. I use a Garmin Edge 200. In a similar vein, my wife picked up a nice watch pedometer, and it has really helped encourage more walking.
As you get older, watching what mobility, or the lack of mobility, means to the quality of life is encouragement to walk more, ride more, or whatever. |
Haven't bothered to put them back on any of my bikes after recent builds and have been enjoying my rides much more.
Might get a garmin one of these days for navigation on remote country roads with no cell service... but then again there's these crazy things called maps and compasses. One of the few useful skills I learned in the army. Plus it might show my wife (probably not) that the giant collection of maps I've collected over the years serves a useful purpose and I'm not just some curmudgeon who doesn't trust technology (even though I am.) |
I've never ridden a bike with a speedometer or computer. I have a "dumb phone" that doesn't have GPS or Strava. It does have a clock, however, which means I don't have to wear a watch.
Simple is good. |
Originally Posted by SJX426
(Post 17163923)
jimmuller, aren't you glad you asked! :)
FWIW, I are a engineer too and I appreciates numbers, but I'm not interested in measuring my "training". I don't ride for "training", I ride for the riding experience. It looks like a fair number of other people here do to. |
Originally Posted by jimmuller
(Post 17164812)
FWIW, I are a engineer too and I appreciates numbers, but I'm not interested in measuring my "training". I don't ride for "training", I ride for the riding experience. It looks like a fair number of other people here do to.
I have found my "guesstimates" are always way off and having a reference helps me be more realistic. Did I mention I have OCD tendencies? :) And for those who are not engineers, see we are not all the same! |
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:47 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.