Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

Is the Time on Your Cycle Computer Correct?

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.
View Poll Results: Is the Time on Your Cycle Computer Correct?
Yes, to the minute
39
52.00%
A little ahead, but I like it that way
6
8.00%
A little behind… it must run slow
6
8.00%
One hour off, thanks to daylight savings time
8
10.67%
Not even close
10
13.33%
Beats me!
6
8.00%
Voters: 75. You may not vote on this poll

Is the Time on Your Cycle Computer Correct?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-27-11 | 10:48 AM
  #1  
AlmostTrick's Avatar
Thread Starter
Tortoise Wins by a Hare!
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 945
From: Looney Tunes, IL

Bikes: Wabi Special FG, Raleigh Roper, Nashbar AL-1, Miyata One Hundred, '70 Schwinn Lemonator and More!!

Is the Time on Your Cycle Computer Correct?

If your bike has a cycle computer with a clock function, is it set to the correct time?

How often do you refer to it?
AlmostTrick is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 10:50 AM
  #2  
jdgesus's Avatar
sɹɐʇsɟoןןnɟsʇıbɟɯo
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 0
From: seattle, too many links

Bikes: fixed gear recumbent trike

garmin GPS, it better be right, and i look at it all the time
__________________
Originally Posted by yummygooey
crabon/campy/rapha/roadie-bro.

next step is recumbent.




my bikes | bike blog | beer blog | work 1 | work 2
jdgesus is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 11:17 AM
  #3  
caloso's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,116
From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Garmin 500. Updated from space. I refer to it pretty much every ride.
caloso is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 11:43 AM
  #4  
jr59's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,287
Likes: 15
From: the 904, Jax fl
Yes it is!

Except when it's not!
Like daylight savings time!
jr59 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 11:56 AM
  #5  
bigbenaugust's Avatar
always rides with luggage
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,109
Likes: 20
From: KIGX

Bikes: 2007 Trek SU100, 2009 Fantom CX, 2012 Fantom Cross Uno, Bakfiets

I have a watch strapped to my headlight. It is slightly fast.
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
bigbenaugust is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 12:19 PM
  #6  
snowman40's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, CA

Bikes: Fuji

It is like 40 seconds fast depending on what I compare it to.

I use it to gauge when I'll get to work in the morning and if I can safely extend the ride and still arrive on time.
snowman40 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 12:20 PM
  #7  
waynesworld's Avatar
Papaya King
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,640
Likes: 2
From: Columbus, Ohio (Grandview area)

Bikes: 2009 Felt X City D, 1985 (?) Trek 400, 1995 (?) Specialized Rockhopper, 1995 Trek 850

Mine seems accurate so far. I'm more concerned that my speed is accurate. I measured my wheel twice, using the drop-of-oil-on-the-tire method, so it should be.
waynesworld is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 12:23 PM
  #8  
Ninny
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,295
Likes: 1
From: The Gunks
Funny question. My cycle computer time of day on one bike is about 10 minutes off. I rarely look at it but when I do, I can never remember which direction it is off. I need to download the manual to figure out how to set the time right without clearing the other settings, but I never remember to do that.
globecanvas is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 12:38 PM
  #9  
ItsJustMe's Avatar
Señior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan

Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)

I set it on DST changes, maybe once or twice apart from that because it runs a bit slow. If it gets more than 5 minutes or so off and I'm feeling less lazy than I usually am, I'll take the 30 seconds to correct it.

I don't look at it a ton. Once or twice a week maybe. I don't need to refer to it for anything as I lead a fairly unscheduled life.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
ItsJustMe is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 12:54 PM
  #10  
jdswitters's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 848
Likes: 21
From: Fort Collins CO

Bikes: Kona Dew, Kona Ute, Salsa Timberjack, Salsa Fargo, New belgium brewery cruisers-2014 and 2009 and 2007

stem captain, as long as I have a watch and a map the computer is in my head.
jdswitters is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 01:32 PM
  #11  
Consularrider's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Frankfurt am Main, Germany/Arlington, VA

Bikes: Surly Pugsley, Jamis Renegade, Kona Rove, Salsa Pistola, Raleigh M60, Raleigh Sport Touring Team USA

The Garmin is spot on, the one I can set myself tends to lose a couple minutes a month, so when I reset it a couple minutes ahead and leave it alone until it starts to irritate me.
Consularrider is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 01:49 PM
  #12  
Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Greenbelt, MD
Dream answer: A little behind... it must be relativity.
ronwalf is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 03:14 PM
  #13  
JanMM's Avatar
rebmeM roineS
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,231
Likes: 366
From: Metro Indy, IN

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Three out of three are in agreement with my watch to the minute. My watch agrees with my PC, too.
I look at the time on the bike computers occasionally. Its always visible on my VDO models.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
JanMM is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 03:22 PM
  #14  
thenomad's Avatar
Riding like its 1990
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,785
Likes: 11
From: IE, SoCal
I start out with it a little ahead but when I arrive its usually behind.
thenomad is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 03:46 PM
  #15  
no motor?'s Avatar
Unlisted member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 435
From: Chicagoland

Bikes: Specialized Hardrock

I ride too fast for mine to keep up with time.
no motor? is offline  
Reply
Old 06-27-11 | 04:17 PM
  #16  
mikeybikes's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 0
From: Edgewater, CO

Bikes: Tons

It is all relative.
mikeybikes is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-11 | 12:11 AM
  #17  
HappyStuffing's Avatar
6 miles per taco, w00t!
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 255
Likes: 0
My time is correct only when I leave home. Strangely, it seems to be a little fast when I get to my destinations . .
HappyStuffing is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-11 | 01:20 AM
  #18  
Drew Eckhardt's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 326
From: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA

Bikes: 97 Litespeed, 50-39-30x13-26 10 cogs, Campagnolo Ultrashift, retroreflective rims on SON28/PowerTap hubs

Originally Posted by AlmostTrick
If your bike has a cycle computer with a clock function, is it set to the correct time?
Absolutely. It's synchronized to the GPS system's atomic clocks.
Drew Eckhardt is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-11 | 04:12 AM
  #19  
Igo
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Henderson/Las Vegas NV

Bikes: Giant Defy 2

Gps
Igo is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-11 | 05:29 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Northern Colorado

Bikes: Rampar R-One

Right now it's 5 minutes off, and in a few weeks, it'll be six. I should probably change the battery, but I just don't care enough.
L.L. Zamenhof is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-11 | 05:33 AM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 925
Likes: 11
From: Rochester MN

Bikes: Raleigh Port Townsend, Raleigh Tourist

Mine has the correct tie. It's all the other clocks that are wrong.
steve0257 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-11 | 06:49 AM
  #22  
vtjim's Avatar
Belt drive!
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,614
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, Vermont

Bikes: 2011 Trek Soho DLX

Mine seems to lose time over time, as it were. I reset it when we go back & forth for DST. I don't pay much attention to it. I'm more interested in the ride time display.
vtjim is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-11 | 07:55 AM
  #23  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 291
From: Along the Rivers of Pittsburgh

Bikes: 2011 Novara Forza Hybrid, 2005 Trek 820, 1989 Cannondale SR500 Black Lightning, 1975 Mundo Cycles Caloi Racer

Sigma 1009. Accurate to the minute.
Altair 4 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-11 | 07:59 AM
  #24  
dynodonn's Avatar
On the lam
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,470
Likes: 97
From: The Village
I actually had to check it after seeing this thread, and it is a couple of minutes fast.

I don't really bother looking at the time on the morning commutes since I have a set routine, but if I'm doing after work errands and activities, then I'll look at it every so often. I basically use the clock feature for generalization of time, as long as it's somewhat close, that's all I care about.
__________________
Prisoner No. 979




dynodonn is offline  
Reply
Old 06-28-11 | 09:26 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 785
Likes: 1
From: NW Arkansas

Bikes: Too many to count

We have sixty three clocks in the house, eleven chimers, I can't stand it if one is a second off!
It drives guests crazy on the hour.

I hate the time changes!

My site:

https://woodwonderboatworks.yolasite.com/
BHOFM is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.