Wreader

I have a simple bike computer that tells me distance, time, split times, etc. Is there a computer that will tell me RPMs or do you just count them and use a watch? I think I am going too slowly with RPMs, but not sure how fast I should be going - I read 80-100 RPMs?

Wake

Almost all of them have models that have "rpms". It will probably be called a "cadence" option. You have to mount an additional sensor, usually on the left chainstay, and a magnet on the inside of the left crank arm. The price, of course, will be higher.

Running and biking should be done at something close to 90/minute. There's lots of research about it. At my age I try to stay above 80.

oldster

+1,and I use 85 to 95 as my range
Bud..

TomD77

If you spring for a Garmin, in addition to cadence, you can monitor (and store in your computer), everything you mentioned plus heart rate, altimeter, GPS location, per cent grade up or down. You can then graph up to 4 of the data sets. Below is a screen shot of a ride I did today with heart rate in red and elevation above seal level in green. Up at the top is a map of the ride and over on the left I can pull up any ride I've done since I got the unit just by clicking on the date.

Then, for the true data junkie, with a single click I can open a map of the ride in Google Earth. Hold your cursor over any point on the map and it will tell you what time you were there plus all of the other data points. I don't think this sort of thing appeals to everyone but if you're the sort to whom it appeals, it appeals a lot! Me, for example but I'm an engineer and we're like that.

pdlamb

70-90 RPMs is about right for me. I do try to keep my cadence over 70 going uphill, and 80 the rest of the time. Any lower and I risk hurting my knees.

Cateye Strada has a model with cadence. That's the low end, around $45-50. It's everything I need, and Cateye seems to understand waterproof better than any other (low-end) bicycle electronics maker. Recommended.

Marauder9

I saw a computer in Tesco yesterday with a cadence option for £15.
I have a normal computer from Tesco which cost £7.50 which does everything I need, speed, avg speed, time, trip time and total distance travelled. Does me but then I am tight

stapfam

Cadence is one of those things you want on a computer and once you get it- You rarely pay attention to it.

Count the Cadence for 15 seconds and multiply X 4. Or for 10 seconds and X6.

Barrettscv 

The CatEye Astrale 8 Bike Computer is a low cost (@ $30) computer with cadence: https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0_10000_202017

This is a good basic unit, I just installed one from Nashbar, perfect so far.

CraigB

I've never found it difficult to count mine against the computer's clock function. I check it once or twice a year, tops.

skinnysanta

I use a Cateye Strada double wireless and it fills what needs I have so far. It would be nice to have heart rate too but it's not necessary for me at the moment.

Wreader

Thanks guys. Well, duh! I was picturing trying to watch my watch and ride at my "normal" rate, when I have a computer on the handlebars already. I just need to set it to "clock" and watch it for 15 seconds..... <sigh> I will try that for a while, and see how I am doing. I think I am well below 90. Thanks for the links. I will go look at what is available.

bigbadwullf

Cheap $10 computer here. I want to know distance and average speed. I let ME tell me how my cadence is.
But I do use my smartphone for other info. But I am riding a bike for pleasure and recreation, not for more information overload.

Allegheny Jet

I use the Cateye Astrale 8 computer with cadence. I have different harnesses on each bike and switch the head between bikes. During rides I usually have the computer in the cadence and time modes. I frequently look at cadence while riding. If I don't monitor cadence the rpms will drop, usually due to having some song in my head dictating cadence since my head always seems to play the blues. It’s never the whole song, just the same parts over and over. After the ride I can look at distance and max speed if wanted.

raymeedc

I'm installing a Sigma 1609 STS wireless computer w/ cadence on my Rans Cruz tomorrow. I have (& have been totally satisfied with) a lower model wired Sigma without cadence on my Stumpjumper. Looking forward to cadence tracking capability. This model also stores data for two separate bikes.

Wake

It's very personal, actually. Beryl Burton, world-class time trialer of years ago was a notable "outlier" because she preferred a cadence of about 60 on her way to world record rides.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_Burton

Laserman

I chalked up the interest in cadence to be of interest mainly to racing type riders and paid little attention to it. I judged my gearing by "feel", if I felt I was mashing too hard I would drop down a gear, if I was moving my feet too fast I would go up a gear. I assumed that my cadence was between 60 and 70.

Another thread recently had me thinking about it and I realized that my cellphone had a countdown timer on it. I set the timer for 20 seconds and counted the rpms until the thing chirped. 3 tests came up at 28 revolutions and one came up 29 so my by feel cadence is between 84 and 87.

Works fine for me.

Philipaparker

If you want a Garmin (I use mine and really like it) try their outlet store https://g.factoryoutletstore.com/?cid=2886&chid=1600 or try Ebay someone's always upgrading to a power meter and selling their Garmin.

Cadence is worth monitoring remember you can lift a 5 pound weight a lot more times than you can lift a 100 pound one, so try to keep you cadence high that is what all your gears are for. If you see racers they are always at a constant cadence uphill they go slower but they are pedaling just as fast in a lower gear and down hill they are coasting and pedaling at the same cadence, on the flats they are going at race speed in a high gear but at the same cadence. Check it out next time you watch a bicycling event. There are exceptions on the really tough pitches where the grade is 17 to 20% you have to stand up and power through but on moderate climbs 7 to 9% you can maintain a high cadence.