Thought I had an issue with my computer needing a new battery. Went to radio shack and got a new battery. Good to go, right? Anyway, the new battery is giving me the same problem. It's still dim esp. when I take off on those sub 32 degree mornings.

That's not uncommon with LCD liquid crystal displays. The little liquid crystals don't twist quite as good in the cold.

As was mentioned, it could just be the LCD. Having used a variety of electronics at low temperatures, I do know that batteries sometimes don't perform well when it's cold. Chemical reaction rates are altered by temperature changes. Lithium batteries are known to function better at lower temperatures than alkaline. Some devices are just more sensitive than others when it comes to voltage loss or fluctuations.

My cycle computer functions well at low temps, but my rear light doesn't. Also, ironically, I own an outdoor electronic thermometer which is rated for -40f, but it stops performing well around 20f if it has alkaline batteries in it.

If you own a voltmeter ( don't we all? ) check the battery when it's cold and compare to the cycle computer manufacturer's specs.

Mine works, but the screen refreshes much more slowly in the cold. I've also had it quit working temporarily when left in the sun.

Display may get sluggish and/or dim to the point where it's unreadable, but I've never had a bike comp stop logging due to cold. The information is all there and visible, once the computer warms up again.

Weak batteries may cause the computer to stop logging data completely, and as mentioned, some battery types are more prone to freezing than others. This is why I downgraded from wireless back to wired computers at one point. My bike stays out during the winter, so I was constantly changing batteries for the transmitter unit. There's less hassle with wired computers in that regard.

--J

Mine sure did today, with temps about 20 F on my morning commute. I recently replaced the battery, so I don't think it's getting weak. The batteries on my headlights don't last as long either when the temps are really cold.

Yeah, I've noticed my computer tends to read a little dimmer when I've been out in the cold for a few minutes. Nothing so bad that I can't still read it clearly, though, and that's with temps as low high single digits F.

I haven't noticed dimming or sluggish refresh, but the numbers sure get smaller in the cold. Earlier this week it said I averaged only 10.82!

It must be the computer!

LCDs dont like cold. I had a lcd screen on a video camera do some wacky stuff at -30 - just a blur of color when I moved the camera.

Yep, the "refresh rate" of LCD displays gets worse in the cold. One of my computers also loses contrast in the cold. I don't care though. I rarely care about the computer while riding. I use it for tallying up statistics after the ride.