If you didn't have a computer, then you'd have a good defense.

Do they roll with radar guns? I imagine that as long as you ride at a reasonable pace, they won't hassle you. Even if you end up doing 12 in a 10.

I'm pretty sure they'd let 12 slide unless I was getting too close to the pedestrians. Still 10 mph is pretty slow and there's a steep hill there where it's easy to do 20+ if you aren't paying attention.

That was Lt. Cmdr. Data, Al. ;)

Former... poor Data... sacrificed himself to save Picard.

Spoilers! :p

Two things this forum is always good for -

An occasional Monty Python reference-fest and apparently some Trekkie talk from time to time, too. :D

I cannot see a computer doing much good, don't most people have a watch for time or a cell phone with a clock?

Even if you don't have a real watch the Timex Ironman has alarms, chrono, timer etc, 35 dollars.

Oooh shiny! Where can I get one of those?

My two cents about my computer...

Buying it:

1. I wanted it to be small so it could fit nicely on my handlebar stem.
2. I wanted it to be a simple one-button function.
3. I wanted it to be wired.
4. I wanted good quality and durable.
5. I wanted it to look good.
6. At the very least, I wanted Speed, ODO, Distance, and Clock/Time.
7. I wanted to be able to mount and unmount easily so I can take it with me after each ride.

I bought a Cateye Strada Cadence.

I will say though, I do like having all the features and they're very easy to click to but I find I normally keep my setting on MPH with Cadence. The MPH isn't so much a big deal but the cadence helps me to be efficient as I'm cycling. I find that I too often pedal on a higher gear at a low cadence which in turn makes my legs work more and wears out my knees without me realizing it. The cadence feature also helps me to double check my pedal strokes to make sure I'm maintaining an average of 90 rpm.

Clock and mileage. That's the only stuff I wish I had on my usual commuter bike, but I still haven't gotten around to putting a computer on it, either.

I don't really need a computer....but I have to admit the nerd/geek/lots of excel spreadsheets with graphs part of me loves it and wouldn't be without it.

for me I have to have speed, trip distance, total distance, avg speed, trip time. I like the max speed and of course a clock is nice.

I do keep track of some of these on spread sheet, as much to record how my fitness is waxing and waning as anything....and because I have to have excel data, pivot tables and graphs :)

Actually, that's perfect - I'd like a dashboard clock for my commuter, I don't see any need for other functions.

http://www.dollarrider.com/detail.cf..._content=13551

Looks like it's intended for motorcyclists, but the 7/8" size should work just fine on normal flatbars. I'm sure that there are bike-specific variants out there that would fit road bars.

+1

Though I cannot argue with this logic, I prefer the cleanliness of not having any more wires than possible, so I go wireless, but I admit, the reason is purely aesthetic.

Form my perspective, this reads like, "what does an octopus need from a trombone?"

Paul

Clock...back in time for dinner.

Speed...fun.

Odometer...bike maintenance.

Cheap $5.44 toy with free shipping works great 4 me. Takes a little tinkering to secure it to the bike, but the hardware/software is bug-free. Used one LR44 battery. Unit is very accurate if properly calibrated. My units shows an error of 0.006 mile for each mile travelled.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.24075

+1
after a little over ten years of commuting, i don't know why i even use one. my bikes all have them on, but on my commute, i just don't know what the point is. i know it's 19.9 miles. i know it's about 85 minutes there and about 70minutes back. when it matters, i also know the temperature before i leave in the morning. i glance down and notice the speed i am going, but that's just because it's there.

the info the computers give you is kinda interesting i guess, but of no real use to me for commuting. i would encourage you to ask what it is you really need a computer at all for? it's useful for figuring out new routes and training rides, but commuting? kind of a mystery to me.

if you ride the same route every day then i can't really think of a great use for a computer specific for commuting, but if you use your bike for other things then it can come in handy.

i just like knowing how far we go on rides and also total miles ridden so far. it is also useful when i just want to motivate to keep a nice steady pace, it's easy to see and do with the MPH right there.

a clock, cadence, and an odometer. that sums up the "needs". they aren't really needs, but really handy to know. you can gauge wear items roughly from an odometer. cadence: good to know. it helps answer that question "why do my knees hurt?" it's not crucial, i suppose.

clock.

c'mon, that's self explanatory :)

I have a GPS and a "regular" bike computer. The GPS eats AA batteries, and a pair lasts a whole day. But of course if I do a lot with it, or used it the day before and haven't changed the batteries ... I'm not going to be able to rely on the thing. On the other hand, the CatEye has something like a watch battery, which I haven't had to mess with since I got it in July.

I like knowing how many miles I've put in my bike ( total, and on a given trip ). I think it's very important to be able to know my current speed, and of course the average for a trip is cool, too. I find this stuff pretty compelling. If you don't see a need to have it, then you probably don't need it. None of this will keep you alive; either you have that compulsion, or you don't.

The GPS is much cooler when you get home. I use it occasionally on very long rides when I get lost in neighboring towns I don't know very well, but it's main use is the data it logs for me. I get charts showing my altitude change, how much climbing I've done, how my heart rate correlates with this and with my speed, etc. And jpeg maps I can email to people who should have come with me. Again, as a confessed geek, I really like having this kind of information. But it doesn't bring about any real changes in my life; I just like having it.

Pass.
I tried that - my review is listed here under "D Hill".
http://www.amazon.com/Timex-T5H731-I...owViewpoints=1

I took the old Cateye Mity 3 off my commuter/tourer last summer, to try out a Garmin Edge 305. I sold the Garmin a few months later and haven't missed the Cateye at all.

I'll probably put a Strada on the new bike for navigating purposes, but I've become pretty happy with not caring how fast I'm going in the meantime.

I also have a Strada Cadence cyclocomputer that i use during my commutes for pretty much the same reasons. I use the cadence option to help keep myself efficient as well. Before i got it i was at too low of a cadence and too high of a gear all the time and was unaware of it. Now i stay at around 85-95rpms. Sometimes it's cool to see what my speed is, but it's not a major concern. I also like the ODO to see how far i go if i take a different route or go somewhere else.

I use the cateye Astrale 8. It is nice to have if you track it over time you, maybe could see where you are improving.

I like the size of the clock on this one. I'm always checking for the time and I have to change views on my current comp.

Temp is nice to know.

I'm looking for a new one because the current one is on it's last legs. I can't even remove it from the bracket because it switches off and I have to plug in the wheel info and time again.

Yeah, I don't use a computer for commuting either and for longer rides I use a GPS. I'd love a small clock though with thermometer for my bike :D

i find my daily commutes to be so completely bland and regular that there's really no need in having a computer. same distance, same speed, dayindayout. only ever really use the clock (though time is usually the same every day) because i have to catch a bus and i'm OCD about schedules.

Nice to have you back on the forums, mr super socks.

I got rid of my computer. I use a garmin etrex for speed and direction now.