Cycle Computer For Luddite
01-25-20 | 07:05 AM
#51
Tragically Ignorant
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 15,593
Likes: 9,108
From: New England
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
The technical novelties that came with introduction of the bicycle were ball bearings and pneumatic tires.
Ball bearings had existed, they were simply too expensive to use, and designers figured how to get the job done without them. Bikes created the demand for ball bearings. Bikes were the killer app that made ball bearings a thing. After a lot of false starts and dead ends the technique for making balls in bulk was the tech for making marbles. Toy marbles. Just start with small pieces of steel instead of small rocks. It was seventeenth/eighteenth century tech.
Pneumatic tires were completely novel. I want to keep them. All that's needed to make a tire is needle and thread. Oh, and rubber. Which means international trade is needed. Global trade has been a constant since the Bronze Age. It might be nice to try a tire with a casing made from Dacca muslin. From what is known of that fabric it would seem ideal. But the stuff only exists in museums. No one has known how to weave it for about 200 years. Preserving just that sort of knowledge is what Luddism was about.
All the other details that go into current bicycles are just that, details. A derailleur is a series of levers and pivots. Any Luddite mechanic can understand any derailleur. Or at least any mechanical derailleur. Electric derailleurs we won't even think about.
Luddism was always about valuing persons over commerce. Not hostile to nice things. Or more specifically not hostile to nice things made by humans.
Ball bearings had existed, they were simply too expensive to use, and designers figured how to get the job done without them. Bikes created the demand for ball bearings. Bikes were the killer app that made ball bearings a thing. After a lot of false starts and dead ends the technique for making balls in bulk was the tech for making marbles. Toy marbles. Just start with small pieces of steel instead of small rocks. It was seventeenth/eighteenth century tech.
Pneumatic tires were completely novel. I want to keep them. All that's needed to make a tire is needle and thread. Oh, and rubber. Which means international trade is needed. Global trade has been a constant since the Bronze Age. It might be nice to try a tire with a casing made from Dacca muslin. From what is known of that fabric it would seem ideal. But the stuff only exists in museums. No one has known how to weave it for about 200 years. Preserving just that sort of knowledge is what Luddism was about.
All the other details that go into current bicycles are just that, details. A derailleur is a series of levers and pivots. Any Luddite mechanic can understand any derailleur. Or at least any mechanical derailleur. Electric derailleurs we won't even think about.
Luddism was always about valuing persons over commerce. Not hostile to nice things. Or more specifically not hostile to nice things made by humans.
We can argue all day about social movements and how they would have felt about technologies that didn't emerge for several decades after the movements died, but it's a pretty silly enterprise.
01-25-20 | 07:38 AM
#52
Thread Starter
For The Fun of It
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,131
Likes: 2,002
From: Louisissippi Coast
Bikes: Lynskey GR300, Lynskey Backroad, Litespeed T6, Lynskey MT29, Burley Duet
This thread is a shining example. It is clear from the OP in what context the word Luddite was used. Yet, here we are.
I think everything from an abacus to the Hubble telescope computer has been recommended.
01-25-20 | 10:29 AM
#53
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 664
From: Massachusetts
Ya think? Two things are all but guaranteed in forum threads. Argument and drift away, far away, from any parameters the OP sets or ideals he establishes.
This thread is a shining example. It is clear from the OP in what context the word Luddite was used. Yet, here we are.
I think everything from an abacus to the Hubble telescope computer has been recommended.
This thread is a shining example. It is clear from the OP in what context the word Luddite was used. Yet, here we are.
I think everything from an abacus to the Hubble telescope computer has been recommended.
It took you several replies to say what FUNCTIONS you wanted.
What does the "luddite" NOT want?
Is BlueTooth LE a dealbreaker for you? Coincells?
What?
-mr. bill
01-25-20 | 03:34 PM
#54
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 720
Likes: 180
From: /dev/null
Bikes: Soma Double Cross Disc (2017), Surly DT (2023)
https://www.sigmasport.com/en/produkte/fahrrad-computer
I cannot guarantee that it will work for you without problems, I only had a wired bc 16.12 (got it on sale for $30) and a wireless bc 23.16 Sigma computers, no problems with them. Probably sample size is too small.
06-16-20 | 12:56 PM
#55
Thread Starter
For The Fun of It
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,131
Likes: 2,002
From: Louisissippi Coast
Bikes: Lynskey GR300, Lynskey Backroad, Litespeed T6, Lynskey MT29, Burley Duet
I ended up getting the Lezyne Macro Easy GPS. I like it just fine. It does everything I need it to do. It feels like a fairly substantial unit. The size is just right. Set up and operation are simple. It allows add on sensors like heart rate and cadence. My only complaint at this point is that the rubber plug for the micro USB port is awkward.
06-16-20 | 02:03 PM
#56
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,530
Likes: 664
From: Massachusetts
I ended up getting the Lezyne Macro Easy GPS. I like it just fine. It does everything I need it to do. It feels like a fairly substantial unit. The size is just right. Set up and operation are simple. It allows add on sensors like heart rate and cadence. My only complaint at this point is that the rubber plug for the micro USB port is awkward.
As far as the awkward micro USB port cover, yes. ALL micro USB port covers are awkward. Every - single - one. If you don't want an awkard micro USB port cover, you don't want a micro USB port. Something to consider around 2040.
-mr. bill
06-16-20 | 02:15 PM
#57
Tragically Ignorant
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 15,593
Likes: 9,108
From: New England
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Get one of these:
I know, I just pulled the same gag in the other bike computer thread. I just can't believe we need two going at the same time.
I know, I just pulled the same gag in the other bike computer thread. I just can't believe we need two going at the same time.
06-18-20 | 03:45 PM
#58
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 568
Likes: 155
From: Western WI (USA)
Bikes: TNTL (Too numerous to list)
Over the years I've had several wired bike computers. I'm still using a couple of them! The CatEye brand was my favorite. The C20 had all the functions that I needed. Since they were all base on wheel size, it was clumsy to swap them bike even if each bike had its own mounting shoe.
A few years ago I picked up a Garmin eTrex LEGEND hand held GPS device designed for hikers, geocaching and other outdoor activities. I bought a handlebar mount for it and found it to be a great bike computer 😎. No cadence or biometrics but just about anything else one might need. Ya, it's a bit on the large side BUT all of the data is very easy to read 😉! I found 3 more bike mounts on clearance at a Gander Mountain "going out of business" sale.
Clearly not something a Luddite might have but admittedly pretty retro 😉.
A few years ago I picked up a Garmin eTrex LEGEND hand held GPS device designed for hikers, geocaching and other outdoor activities. I bought a handlebar mount for it and found it to be a great bike computer 😎. No cadence or biometrics but just about anything else one might need. Ya, it's a bit on the large side BUT all of the data is very easy to read 😉! I found 3 more bike mounts on clearance at a Gander Mountain "going out of business" sale.
Clearly not something a Luddite might have but admittedly pretty retro 😉.
06-18-20 | 07:25 PM
#60
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 161
Likes: 42
From: upstate NY
Bikes: Jamis renegade, surly big dummy, giant talon 29er
I have a Lezyne Mega XL GPS. Its is a pretty basic GPS. I dont do any sensors or anything. I like to see where I have riden and to check my ascent and descent as well as see my live percent grade. Speed and distance... not much. I also have it set up for my 2 road bike wheel sets and my mountain bike so it's nice I only need one. Probably cheaper than most others but does the job. Also battery life is great, I charge it every 3 or 4 rides.
