Anybody Ride Without a Speedometer/Computer?
 

Long story short, I have had a cycling computer on bike for as long as I can remember and I may have misplaced the wheel sensor for my current computer. 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 considered just not putting a computer on the Saratoga and forgetting about it. Is there anyone here who rides without a computer on their bike?

ummm... yes? Why is it necessary? (but I'm thinking about getting one)

I have one bike with and two bikes without. It can be a distraction for me at times. Riding with no other input than the ride itself can be liberating. Try it and see if you like it.

Yes. I had been using a computer/speedometer and Strava on my rides. The wheel sensor for the comp. shook free on a city street a year or two ago and was replaced by the Strava app on my phone. My phone has been on the fritz and I haven't used the app in months. Eventually I'll get back to selectively tracking rides - especially if training for an event of particular distance/elevation.

I like the data and visibility of my improvements that the comp/app offers, but it's nice to go for rides without thinking about it.

I have one on the mountain bike, but none of the road bikes.

My bike has no additional wires for speedos or any other such items. It still works quite well.

Seriously though, I ride with my phone in my jersey pocket running Strava to record, but I don't have any real time input during the ride. Would I like to have one? Sure, but it's not something that is at the top of my list.

I took the computers off my bikes when I developed some health problems. Lately I've been running Strava on my phone in my pocket, because I still want to track mileage and my wife wants me to track calories.

I don't know how special your Cateye is, if it had GPS or heart rate or etc. A basic computer from Wal-Mart, that will do speedometer and odometer and average speed, is about $10.

I took them off my bikes years ago. The info is certainly interesting, and useful. But I found it too distracting. My eyes were always returning to the computer. Since removing them, I have not missed them at all. I think its worth pointing out that I do not really ride specifically for fitness (although it is certainly a nice side effect), and so the information is not so valuable to me. If you do ride specifically to increase fitness, I bet you would want them on there.

Jim

I use a computer on my "long distance" bike for cue-sheet rides so I can have some idea of how the distances correspond to the cues and to help me maintain a pre-determined average speed to complete brevets on time. Although it's a fairly basic device that measures speed, distance, etc and not cadence or heart rate.

My racing bike is ridden as close to stripped down as possible.

Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don't. I recently switched to a GPS based computer because I can move it from bike to bike and never have to worry about wheel sensors or anything like that. Just turn it on and it works.

I had a stopwatch once...ruined the bliss of my ride.

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I use a Garmin Foretrex which is supposed to be worn on the wrist for hiking. I seldom ride without it because it logs my total miles. I strap it to the handlebar and have set up the main screen to show trip time, average speed, current speed, and trip distance. Roll it over one more screen and see max speed, time of day (leave my watch at home) and total cumulative miles since first use. I move it between bikes so I only need one, and no special handlebar mount or sensor is needed. The built-in Lithium battery is rechargeable. It's also useful as a speedo worn on the wrist on mopeds and watercraft. And to record top speed when tucked inside radio-controlled race boats and cars.

I took them off many years ago. I get more pleasure from a clean set of bars than data.

I bought a wireless Cat Eye Few years ago and wondered how I'd lived without it. Then one day I decided it "cluttered" my handlebars. Given the fact that I ride for pleasure and not training, I don't need to know all those stats, so removed it. Now I don't give it a second thought. Also I would be so busy geeking out and wondering about my pace, time, etc. that I would forget to be mindful and actually be in the moment.

No computer on my Merckx. I find that I actually finish routes faster sometimes when I don't focus on anything but the road and no ups and downs of what I should be doing or why i'm going slower right now.. probably that and the joy I get from riding the Merckx as compared to a 2013 Felt. lol

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...ridiculous question. It simply cannot be done. There were no rides prior to Strava either. #harumph

The only time I use a computer is on tour, to help me navigate and know how far I have ridden in a day and on the whole trip. At home I kind of know the routes and the mileage. I find that knowing how fast I am going does not effect how fast I am wanting to go at the moment.

Strava on my phone in my jersey pocket.

09box, Only my primary touring bike has a cyclo computer as it can be important to keep track of mileage. I used to have one on all of my road bikes and crunched numbers for all of my rides. Removing them restored the simple enjoyment of riding a bike. ;)

Brad

Yes.

I don't- I sometimes use my phone and the free Map My Ride app. Sometimes. I like to know the distance I've ridden, aside from that... no need.

Yes and no depending on the bike. I like the quirkiness of vintage computers too. Then I tried the GPS / phone apps but always had some hiccup with signal, batt. drains and gave it up.

This has been fun lately while on the bike and could be removed for primitive navigating in the woods. Still after a vintage 28" mechanical cyclometer.
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I am a numbers guy, so 2 out of my 3 bikes have cyclometers.

My third bike I deliberately did not put a cyclometer on. I wanted it really simple and just enjoy. I really don't need to know how many miles i went on errands.

I do use mapmyride sometimes with that bike....it gives me distance and avg speed, but i am not watching the speed as I bike. i find that relaxing and that I ride (especially on commutes) as my body feels. (and what the map my ride showed was I steadily increased by commute speed)

Got rid of my bicycle computers some time ago. That said, I just might put one on my Cyclops, but in no big hurry to do so.

I ride with Strava on my phone...but it is either in my jersey pocket or one of the bags on my bike(s). My goal is to ride and enjoy...and I know the approximate distance...simply do not care too much about the speed...sometimes, I want to go faster...so I do...other times, I want to ride slowly and enjoy it...so I do...and it is a great way of riding...at least for me.

Used to ride with the computer/GPS/etc...and try to beat my times each time out...to me...a lousy way to enjoy cycling!