Cycling computer for commuters
10-23-11 | 03:35 PM
#1
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Overdoing projects
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From: Rotterdam, former republic of the Netherlands
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Cycling computer for commuters
I just sent a message to Cateye in response to their Commuter-model. I was wondering what your thoughts are on this.
Just a little background: I live in The Netherlands and commute 5 days a week for 5km to college and to my work. As an allweather rider I might have some different needs than most, but still. Currently I am using a Cateye Enduro, Sigma before that.
What would you suggest to a company that makes cycling computers?
Below is the e-mail I sent.
Just a little background: I live in The Netherlands and commute 5 days a week for 5km to college and to my work. As an allweather rider I might have some different needs than most, but still. Currently I am using a Cateye Enduro, Sigma before that.
What would you suggest to a company that makes cycling computers?
Below is the e-mail I sent.
I was browsing last week for possible replacements for my Enduro I use for commuting. I really liked the idea of the Commuter model, but there are just a few of unnecessary features that I think you could get rid of and make it a more reasonable option for commuters:
First of all, the temperature indicator is something I would love. A lot of commuters ride all year round, and a temperature indicator could help choosing the right clothing. Second, the ETA is nice, but kind of useless if you also use the bike for general shopping. It's too limited. Just the always on clock is more important if I want to know if I'm on time than that.
Carbon offset? Who cares... Most people commute by bike because they find it easier, not because they want to save the environment. Also, because the offset is fixed it is just a general indicator and a meaningless one at that.
Backlight; nice, but not always necessary. Maybe for those on dark roads.
Also, dependability is of paramount importance on a commuter bike. Why wireless? It just makes the unit expensive and more energy-demanding, thus more likely to fail.
Also, the current model is bloody expensive. I'm willing to pay €50 for a high-end model, but not if it is riddled with unnecessary features for €75.
My current enduro has a fingerprint on the inside of the glass. It's invisible, until the temperature drops below freezing. Then it freezes and makes it a bit harder to read the display. Not a big problem, just annoying.
I really like your products and especially the look, but maybe you should hold a questionaire among your users (both U.S. and international) to ask what commuters specifically want.
First of all, the temperature indicator is something I would love. A lot of commuters ride all year round, and a temperature indicator could help choosing the right clothing. Second, the ETA is nice, but kind of useless if you also use the bike for general shopping. It's too limited. Just the always on clock is more important if I want to know if I'm on time than that.
Carbon offset? Who cares... Most people commute by bike because they find it easier, not because they want to save the environment. Also, because the offset is fixed it is just a general indicator and a meaningless one at that.
Backlight; nice, but not always necessary. Maybe for those on dark roads.
Also, dependability is of paramount importance on a commuter bike. Why wireless? It just makes the unit expensive and more energy-demanding, thus more likely to fail.
Also, the current model is bloody expensive. I'm willing to pay €50 for a high-end model, but not if it is riddled with unnecessary features for €75.
My current enduro has a fingerprint on the inside of the glass. It's invisible, until the temperature drops below freezing. Then it freezes and makes it a bit harder to read the display. Not a big problem, just annoying.
I really like your products and especially the look, but maybe you should hold a questionaire among your users (both U.S. and international) to ask what commuters specifically want.
10-23-11 | 03:52 PM
#2
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From: Costa Rica
Bikes: litespeed pisgah single speed, niner rlt-9, yuba sweet curry with family kit
Personally, I prefer it wireless. In one of the pictures on the link you provided, shows the temperature display (so it has temperature readings). I really like the day-yesterday, week-last week, this months-last month lectures it has 
Guess that for me it should be a really nice computer for my needs (currently using the cateye micro wireless)
Guess that for me it should be a really nice computer for my needs (currently using the cateye micro wireless)
10-23-11 | 04:43 PM
#3
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From: PDX
Bikes: Trek 1200, Kona Honky Inc, PX Stealth
ETA and carbon offset are kind of stupid however wireless and backlight is a must for me. I use the SIGMA ROX 8 and 9 tuned to work for all my bikes and like having all the metrics available.
I suppose if I was just commuting then that computer would be fine but Im sure I could find cheaper.
I suppose if I was just commuting then that computer would be fine but Im sure I could find cheaper.
10-23-11 | 07:43 PM
#4
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From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Some bikes. Hell, they're all the same, ain't they?
I'd go wired or GPS-based -- one less battery to worry about, plus less interference. 
A backlight would be great, but it would need to use the same black-on-white as usual. I used to use a Blackburn Neuro on my road bike that was useless in twilight because the black-on-white display changed to white-on-black (well, green-on-black) when I turned on the backlight (that, and it became illegible whenever I was too far off-axis).
A backlight would be great, but it would need to use the same black-on-white as usual. I used to use a Blackburn Neuro on my road bike that was useless in twilight because the black-on-white display changed to white-on-black (well, green-on-black) when I turned on the backlight (that, and it became illegible whenever I was too far off-axis).
10-24-11 | 07:33 AM
#5
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From: Oklahoma City, OK
I use the cheapass Schwinn that I picked up for 13 bucks from Amazon. Aside from the fact that the mount only goes on the bar(as opposed to the stem), it works well. Doesn't have great metric tracking, but it does have an odomete, average speed, temp and a backlight.
10-24-11 | 08:14 AM
#6
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From: Washington, DC
Why do you need a computer in the first place? You ride until you get to work or home, and then stop. It's unlikely there is an enforced speed limit that you get fined for exceeding. If it's too cold you zip up -- too warm and you unzip. You already know how far it is.
Paul
Paul
10-24-11 | 09:10 AM
#7
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From: Minneapolis
I prefer wireless too, - if it works and doesn't have issues with interference. Wires are a pain and can sometimes get snagged and broken.
A backlight that will actually make the display readable from a normal riding position would be good, otherwise you might as well skip it. I've had a couple of computers with backlights that were pretty much useless.
As far as metrics go, temperature is nice but not a must have. I can check it in the house or at work before I leave to decide on clothing. It's not going to change that much during my commute. It might be handier on longer weekend rides, but again it's not really necessary. What would be cool is if it stored the temp info along with any data from the ride it keeps. I have a Polar HR monitor/computer that keeps your heart rate metrics along with ride metrics for the last 14 rides. Adding in temp would be useful and so would altitude changes.
A configurable display would be good too so I can have time and speed if I want or speed and cadence.
To me the only thing that I would consider a "commuter" feature is a backlight since most of my night riding is while commuting.
A backlight that will actually make the display readable from a normal riding position would be good, otherwise you might as well skip it. I've had a couple of computers with backlights that were pretty much useless.
As far as metrics go, temperature is nice but not a must have. I can check it in the house or at work before I leave to decide on clothing. It's not going to change that much during my commute. It might be handier on longer weekend rides, but again it's not really necessary. What would be cool is if it stored the temp info along with any data from the ride it keeps. I have a Polar HR monitor/computer that keeps your heart rate metrics along with ride metrics for the last 14 rides. Adding in temp would be useful and so would altitude changes.
A configurable display would be good too so I can have time and speed if I want or speed and cadence.
To me the only thing that I would consider a "commuter" feature is a backlight since most of my night riding is while commuting.
10-24-11 | 09:15 AM
#8
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From: Minneapolis
Why do you need a computer in the first place? You ride until you get to work or home, and then stop. It's unlikely there is an enforced speed limit that you get fined for exceeding. If it's too cold you zip up -- too warm and you unzip. You already know how far it is.
Paul
Paul
Personally, I often like to know how fast I'm going and arguably more importantly (especially for my knees), that I'm keeping my cadence in a good range
You may not find them valuable in any way, but that doesn't mean others don't have legitimate reasons for using them.
10-24-11 | 09:41 AM
#9
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From: Oklahoma City, OK
Why do you need a computer in the first place? You ride until you get to work or home, and then stop. It's unlikely there is an enforced speed limit that you get fined for exceeding. If it's too cold you zip up -- too warm and you unzip. You already know how far it is.
Paul
Paul
Is it essential? No, but it's nice to have. And it only cost me $13.
10-24-11 | 09:54 AM
#10
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From: PDX
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Why do you need a computer in the first place? You ride until you get to work or home, and then stop. It's unlikely there is an enforced speed limit that you get fined for exceeding. If it's too cold you zip up -- too warm and you unzip. You already know how far it is.
Paul
Paul
10-24-11 | 11:08 AM
#11
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For a commuter computer, the things I really want are temperature, time of day, odometer, trip distance, current speed and average speed. Of course, even from that list temperature and time of day are the only ones really relevant to my commute. When I was first starting out, I used cadence a lot, but now I can judge that pretty well by feel. I've got a Cateye Adventure on one of my bikes, and it strikes me as a much better commuter/geek-out computer than the Cateye Commuter. I love the elevation grade feature, and the wireless works very well.
Bad wireless is worse than no computer at all, in my experience, because at least half the time you get interference distance. Good wireless is very nice but always expensive.
Bad wireless is worse than no computer at all, in my experience, because at least half the time you get interference distance. Good wireless is very nice but always expensive.
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10-24-11 | 01:34 PM
#13
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From: Seattle, WA
I like my Garmin Edge 800.
All you folks who are saying a temperature display will help you choose your clothing and your layering strategy for the day ... do you leave your bike outside overnight?
All you folks who are saying a temperature display will help you choose your clothing and your layering strategy for the day ... do you leave your bike outside overnight?
10-24-11 | 01:39 PM
#14
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From: Oklahoma City, OK
So far, I've used mine to accurately determine my level of suffering in the heat wave. By pinpointing my suffering, I can determine the appropriate level of *****ing about the weather for the day.
10-24-11 | 02:06 PM
#15
Thread Starter
Overdoing projects
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From: Rotterdam, former republic of the Netherlands
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)Especially during winter it's impossible to read the time on my watch when wearing gloves.
Besides, I have to cross a few bridges and a lot of traffic lights to get to work. I want to know if I have to speed up or can just enjoy the scenery.
But okay, it is sort of a gimmick. But a cool one.
10-24-11 | 02:09 PM
#16
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The temperature sensor on my Bontrager Node 2 takes about 5 minutes to stabilize to the ambient temperature after leaving the house which makes it less useful than I had anticipated.
Weather website is still my best bet before leaving in the morning / afternoon.
One thing I'd really like to know is which if any of the computers on my 3 bikes is actually giving me the correct distance.
Weather website is still my best bet before leaving in the morning / afternoon.
One thing I'd really like to know is which if any of the computers on my 3 bikes is actually giving me the correct distance.
10-24-11 | 02:10 PM
#17
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From: Seattle, WA
Bikes: 2002 Surly Cross-Check
I find elapsed time handy. Especially if it is easy to start/stop to account for coffee/bar stops. I'm currently tracking this using my phone, but having it on a bike computer would be handy.
10-24-11 | 02:42 PM
#18
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The Sigma 906 my brother got me a couple years ago does the job -- but then I don't need much apart from speed/odometer. 
- Scott
- Scott
10-24-11 | 03:03 PM
#19
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From: Seattle, WA
I understand that, but if you have a thermometer that you keep indoors all night, how will knowing the temperature in your apartment help you avoid being too hot or too cold while you're riding your bike outdoors?
10-24-11 | 05:33 PM
#20
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From: Westlake Village, CA
I have a dyno hub which supposedly interferes with wireless computers. I would want wired. Another problem with temperture is that most that I've seen aren't rated for below freezing (the Cateye Commuter is 32-104F). When it's really cold is when I am most interested in knowing the temperature so this lack of low end range makes the thing useless.
That said, I don't use a computer on any of my bikes. I just don't find the information very useful. I do usually wear a watch so I can figure out my speed by time between mileposts if I need to.
Paul
That said, I don't use a computer on any of my bikes. I just don't find the information very useful. I do usually wear a watch so I can figure out my speed by time between mileposts if I need to.
Paul
10-24-11 | 10:10 PM
#21
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I hear you. Years ago I used cycle computers, mostly for recreational rides. The ones I had went through batteries pretty quickly -- I'd get about a year our of a new battery. One year I stopped replacing the batteries, and found that I enjoyed my rides more without that darn LCD display telling me exactly how fast I was going, whether my pace was getting faster, etc. By the time I started commuting seriously, I had long abandoned my cyclometers. Sometimes I miss having an odometer, but that's it.
10-25-11 | 10:15 AM
#22
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From: Alexandria, VA
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My Cateye Strada (wired) does everything I want/need (time of day, ride time, speed, max, avg, trip meter, and odo). I wouldn't mind a backlight, but if it's that dark I usually have my lights (incl. my helmet mounted Spok) on, so I can still see the display.
As for thermometer, I don't have one. I check the outdoor temp on radio, tv, or web before leaving home. Once I'm riding, actual temp means nothing. I vary clothing to the extent possible based on wlhow I feel, not what a thermometer reads...
As for thermometer, I don't have one. I check the outdoor temp on radio, tv, or web before leaving home. Once I'm riding, actual temp means nothing. I vary clothing to the extent possible based on wlhow I feel, not what a thermometer reads...
10-25-11 | 12:11 PM
#23
ride for a change
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From: Minneapolis, MN
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Why do you need a computer in the first place? You ride until you get to work or home, and then stop. It's unlikely there is an enforced speed limit that you get fined for exceeding. If it's too cold you zip up -- too warm and you unzip. You already know how far it is.
Paul
Paul
10-25-11 | 12:35 PM
#24
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From: Philadelphia, PA
I'm puzzled that the Cateye is rated to -20 C, but then only 32F. Does it work better in metric environments? Anyway, there's a lot I really like about this (the always on time, the various trip distance options, the backlight, the temperature display (if it, in fact, works down to -20C)). But the "carbon offset" feature is a joke--almost embarrassing. And the wireless setup is a deal killer for me given the issues I'm having with my dynohub and my current wireless computer.
10-25-11 | 02:01 PM
#25
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From: Westlake Village, CA
Paul