Wired computers are NOT more reliable
 

I have had, for a while, a wireless Planet Bike Protege 9.0 that's been awfully reliable. Before that I had a wireless Cateye that broke due to a heavy impact. (Not a crash, just careless tool use and storage.) I recently decided to get a Cateye Strada Cadence.

For about a month it was great. But now, every time I go over rough enough surfaces, the computer quits receiving data. Sometimes it starts again, sometimes it doesn't.

I've QC'd the installation a half a dozen times. I've changed the battery. Near as I can tell, the problem is the contact points between the computer and the wire base. The contact is very light, and bumps can disrupt it.

Funny how my wireless never flinched at rough roads, or had weird wiring issues. I'm going to take this thing back and get a wireless without cadence.

Just food for thought. I've experienced (very rare) signal interference with my wireless, and I've had to change the transmitter batteries...but the wireless was never so delicate a system. This wired computer has given me a host of problems.

The question that I'm certain someone will ask is: If the wireless Protege was so great, why aren't you still using it? I am...just one a different bike. Come to think of it, a bike that sees way more abuse than the nice road bike I put the Strada on...

Finding one wired computer that is a lemon is not a valid basis for saying that all wired computers are not more reliable than wireless ones.

I have three perfectly operating wired computers, one of which is over 5 years old and just got its first new battery this summer (and is now on its third bike) and two of which are Cateye Strada Cadence, one of which is over 2 years old.

Clean your contacts with a pencil eraser, and put a tiny dab of dielectric grease on them, and your problem will probably go away forever.

Been using an Avocet wired model on 1 of my bikes for 20+ years.. Had to replace the battery a handful of times but just keep on going..

I'll try that...but again, something else I didn't have to fuss with when using wireless.

My Cateye wired computer has been on my bike for 2 and a half years, through sun, rain, hail, snow, -15 degree commutes. 13,000 miles so far and still going strong.

Not a single issue with it. ;)

I know what you guys are saying about my one anecdotal experience here...but I did a search here, and on RBR; turns out mine is a common complaint.

Do you mean that one computer has design issues, or that a lot of people have problems with wired computers in general?

I also have a PB Protege 9, and it's going on 20000 miles and 5 years on my bike. I did have to replace the mount last year as I messed up and forgot to re-secure the wire after doing some work, and it got caught in the front wheel and ripped the wire out. Still, just replacing the wire after 4 years wasn't too bad. Cost me about $11.

Banzai, it sounds like your wired computer was not more reliable than your wireless.

My Cateye Vectra has been going strong for 23 years. I have yet to try wireless, but it sounds like a good option.

Wired computers can suffer from contact problems while wireless ones can suffer from interference problems. Neither is perfect. If you do not have cadence on the computer then you might as well go with wired units as tey are cheaper and require less in the way of batteries IMO.

Sounds like a problem with your specific model of computer, not all wired computers in general.