I avoid thermometers, the only reason I want to know the temp is if it feels too hot/cold and validating that with a number just makes me more depressed. Better to be in denial and pretend it's not as bad as you think it is, haha

On the left is my industrial bimetal.

The temp gauge in the Garmin is not super accurate. I would prefer to use a barometer, so I can figure out when storms are coming.

I found a cheap digital thermometer at Brookstone for $10. Screwed it to a taillight mount from the parts bin. The accuracy is pretty good compared to several sources, including my car thermometer, Weather Channel and NWS readings in DC on the Potomac river, which I ride very close to. Within 1 degree or less. Mounting was easy and the unit is very light.

The digital display is easy to read, and even if not absolutely accurate, it shows the temperature change during the ride. For example, two nights ago, I started out at 37 F, and ended at 29 F. This is typical for my evening commute, which starts down the river where it is warmer, and ends up where cold air gets trapped in the river valley 15 miles north. This morning, it went from 31 F to 36 F.

The manual says it's "splash proof," which means it probably should not be used during wet weather, but it is an outdoor thermometer, so a little moisture shouldn't affect it too much. The only mod, other than adding the mount, was to tape the top part to the bottom with clear packing tape so it doesn't come apart.

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/...61B632034F.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/...8AEA3F604B.jpg

nah , never really that impressively hot on the PNW coast.

Sometimes a snarky thought just has to come out...

No, when my bike's sick it doesn't run a fever.

Why? Just curious.

For my part it's enough to feel cold or not. I do whatever it takes to prepare for outdoor temps before I leave home. Once I'm out the actual temp is moot. I can't even use it to predict ice, since there's a disconnect between air and road surface temps.

I guess, I'm old fashioned here, but my brain is already so cluttered with info, that any new stuff is added strictly on a need to know basis.

Get a big one; easy to read.

When the gatorade is slushy, it's cold out. When it has frozen solid, very cold out. I have a thermometer om the front porch and go by 2 banks on the commute, so no.

No idea why it appeals to me. I'm kind of a weather bug as it is, so maybe that's why I like seeing the temperature. My commute temperatures vary quite a bit from start to finish, usually around +/-10 degrees by my estimation, so it's nice to see. If it was more than $10, I'd pass. Pretty much useless information. Kind of like a bike computer or watch...doesn't matter how fast, far or what time it is during a commute, you'll get there when you get there.

EDIT: Ignore this. Didn't see the OP answered on the 2nd page...

Any particular reason you need a thermometer for your bike? just out of curiosity? By the time you look at the temp. on there, it's too late to do anything about it, if you ask me. And, what do you do with the knowledge that it was x degrees outside? Just bragging rights?

I like having the temp display on my bike computer, just because I'm a data/numbers junkie.

In the 6 months I've been commuting, I've seen the temp get as high as 107° and as low as 24°. It was quite interesting one time to see it start in the 90's when I left the office one afternoon, then it started showering for most of the commute home, and by the time I was home the temp was in the 70's.

Not intending to be "that guy" who gets caught up on every inaccurate thing anyone might ever say, but I do think it's worth acknowledging that there are a number of uses and benefits to having a bike computer, whereas at least I (before this thread, anyway) didn't see the need/use for a thermometer. I'm starting to see why you'd want one, though :)

You could use an aquarium thermometer. There are some that are about the size of a bike computer and have a sensor on a wire. Probably less that $5.

I don't believe aquarium thermometers are calibrated to low enough temps, since most people keep tropical fish.

Hahahah, an aquarium below freezing? What about that whole water thing? Nice outside-the-box thinking @Pauschi, though

Could be a salt water aquarium, and maybe someone keeps arctic fish. Not saying this is popular, but there must be someone.


Actually the best item (for winter) might be those small zipper tag thermometers that cross country skiers use. As I remember they're dirt cheap, and calibrated for temps below 50F.

Got one, hangs on the seat pouch (hard to read while riding there!). What with smart phone weather apps, weather channel, and 'net, most of its use is for touring rather than commuting. E.g., the water in the bottles wasn't frozen when we got up that morning, but the temperature was almost there at 33F; or it was 5 degrees cooler at the top of the gap than down at the bottom of the climb.

I got one of those zipper pull thermometers. I didn't like it. It was so small that I could barely read it, and it didn't seem accurate.

There's a cheap no-name bike computer that displays temperature. I haven't tried it myself.