Best Bike Computers?
 

I am looking at purchasing a bike computer. What bike computer do you recommend? I simply want it as a speedometer, odometer, calorie counter, etc. I have a Samsung S4 so I am wondering if I can just download some apps or if a dedicated bike computer is a better idea.

Do you want to be able to view all of that while riding? I would suggest Strava personally. I have had a few different computers, and honestly, Strava works just as well if not better.

I use Android Strava to record ride data which I upload later for analysis, but I also use a simple wireless Cateye Strada ($50ish) to monitor instant & average speed, distance, total time and clock during the ride.

Keith

I found that I like all bike computers. I've used many brands and was equally satisfied with all of them, even the cheap Chinese made ones.

I have too many bikes, so I switched to using a Garmin GPS-based computer. It tracks my routes and speeds and all kinds of things I didn't ask for. It's fun, and it's moderately economical, compared with buying a cheap computer for each bike.

A smart phone has a lot of things going for it as a bike computer but it's not for everyone. For starters it's not water proof. If you want to see your speed and other things while you ride, you need a way to mount it on your handlebars or stem. GPS drains phone batteries quickly, so this won't work for something like doing the STP in a day. But you might want to experiment with this because if it works for you it'll be the cheapest option to get a lot of features.

Google My Tracks is free, it will give you data like distance, moving time, and average (but not current) speed. And it will show you a map of where you've been, you can display it in Google Earth. Lots of other phone apps will do this sort of thing, Strava is popular, and you have Google Maps if you want bike directions.

Dedicated bike computers are nice because the battery lasts forever and doesn't affect your phone. Some of them have great features. Mine tells me how much each ride I do affects my cardiovascular fitness and how long I need to rest to fully recover.

Note: the calories on any bike computer are a guess. If you don't wear a chest strap to monitor your heart rate, it's a very wild guess and not very trustworthy.

Seattle Forrest, what kind of bike computer do you have?

Hi, Pugwinkle;

I'm using a Garmin Edge 800 bike computer. I got it almost 5 years ago. Back then I had a really awful smart phone that wasn't able to be a good bike computer. Plus it rains a lot here so I needed something waterproof. I have a smart phone now (and sometimes I use Google My Tracks as a backup or to compare the data) but I already bought the Edge and it works very well for me so I'm continuing to use it.

I also just got a Garmin Fenix 3 watch. It has a lot of bike computer functions, and I'm using it to record and upload my data but not to look at while I ride.

I like the Edge very much but if I had it to do over again I'd try to make the smart phone work.

I have a Garmin 705 and it was ok. At the present time it will not load a route and the battery life is going.

I use a 6 plus as a smart phone and thing about getting this battery pack Order iPhone 6 juice pack plus - Free Shipping | mophie

and a mount and ending my use of a dedicated bike gps. Suggestions on a mount would be appreciated. I don't normally ride in rain.

$120 for 3300 mAh is horrendous, if you want something that small get Anker's "lipstick" battery for $13 at amazon.

Quadlockcase is IMHO by far the best iPhone bike mount/case. There is also a rain poncho.

I use cateye wired bike computers, I have an old strada 200 that measures cadence as well as odo/speedo functions. I bought a newer velo 7, no cadence but big fonts. I used mapmyride all last year but I find it a PITA to use, sucks battery life and the calorie counter is very optimistic. I can't see any speedo, odo info on my cellphone in the sun so its just an appliance for after-ride infomation.

If you discount calories because calorie count on a bike computer is basically worthless anyway, I just get either a $3 Chinese comp or a Planet Bike Protege 5.0 which is about $24. They both work, the Planet Bike is more likely to last 10 years (my Protege 9.0 finally packed in at about 11 years, the switch gave out).

I tried a Cateye last year but I immediately returned it because there was no way to set the odometer. I checked with the LBS owner and also several online forums and their base models do not allow the odometer to be set. This makes them 100% useless to me. It's weird because even $3 Chinese computers have this function.

Even though, I like most of the rest of the cyclists carry a smartphone with me every time I ride, it is safely away in a saddle bag or back pocket. For a short while I was taking my still functional Sony Ericsson T68A with prepaid SIM in my bag (over 100 hours of standby time). I still use a bike computer on the bars. While it has mostly been Garmin units, for inexpensive I like the Sigma models both wired and wireless. Well designed, easy to read and great battery life. My phone could and has recorded ride data while in the bag. Now my intended used is live tracking for my family to make sure they know where I am without calling me.

As previously mentioned, dedicated bike computers are usually smaller, waterproof, shockproof, and generally easier to read on the bike while riding than phones. If you are looking at inexpensive bike computers I would look at these, likely in this order: Sigma, Cateye, Lezyne.

I have a good friend who hiked 110 miles of PCT last year for her 50th birthday. She bought two Anker battery packs (to replace a solar panel). She said the first one was a dud, but the second worked like a champ. Said it was worked much better than solar, was obviously cheaper and also lighter for the amount of power, and stood up well to a week and a half on the trail. Based on her recommendation I'm getting one to power my GPS watch on long hikes.

It's become awful lately. Not for the reasons you mention; it's been bought by Under Armor and they're trying to squeeze every penny out of it with popup-like ads on the free version and basic features hidden away behind a pay wall.

+1, I started out with some simple computers from Sigma Sport and eventually replaced them all with a Garmin Edge. I'm not sure about being less costly but it sure is more convenient and fun now that I've gotten more serious about cycling and tracking progress online just adds a whole other level of fun.

Tried using my iPhone for a bit but it would drain too quickly and didn't really find a decent way to mount it. A device like Garmin just looks so much cleaner and saves your phone battery.

I agree with you regarding battery. I ordered a Anker battery pack. I also ordered a [h=1]Delta Smartphone Caddy with includes a protective bag for water and dirt.[/h]
I will provide a update in a few weeks.