Need Recommendation for a Basic Bike Computer
 

Not looking for anything fancy.. I just want to be able to record my speed; distance covered and AVG MPH.
Don't need cadence, bluetooth, phone, time of day etc, power rating etc. I would like it to be light if possible.
I have two road bikes and would like something easy to switch

This is nog a $ issue but rather one of practicality

Need Recommendation for a Basic Bike Computer
 

Not looking for anything fancy.. I just want to be able to record my speed; distance covered and AVG MPH.
Don't need cadence, bluetooth, phone, time of day etc, power rating etc. I would like it to be light if possible.
I have two road bikes and would like something easy to switch

This is not a $ issue but rather one of practicality

Wireless and light

I've had good luck with SunDings, bought on eBay for $3-$5, a few dollars more for wireless (meaning no cable running from the sensor to the 'computer'). They do nothing but keep time and count revolutions, and what they can compute from that data (speed, distance, distance since last reset...) They've only failed because I broke them (say by turning the bicycle upside down without removing them). At that price, I was careless. Bizarrely, though most vendors sell them cheaply, 1 listed them at $108 once.

I like the Cateye Velos. Couple different models so you can choose the level of features you need. Basic model is under $30, IIRC. Didn't mention which you wanted, but they have both wireless and wired. Very simple easy to read interface, only one button.

I like the Cateye Strada wireless. The lightest, cheapest and most portable would be Strava on your phone.

If you use lights get a wired computer like the Cateye Velo 9. If you don't use lights, get a Cateye Strada Wireless as recommended above.

agree with shelby the Cateye Strada wireless

Using the same Computer on two bikes may require a re-calibration for the two wheel diameters.
Using a GPS, either on a phone app, or dedicated bike computer, does not rely on wheel diameter calibrations for distance and speed.

Barry

Do you actually need a bike computer? When I really just want to enjoy the ride and not have a cycle computer telling me I'm not going fast enough (which it always does!), I just start the Strava app on my phone before I start my ride then check my stats when my ride is done. It covers all the data you're looking for w/o cluttering-up your bike and doesn't matter which bike you're on!

There are any number of phone apps. Frankly, I didn't find the Strava phone app at all compelling. From what you say you want, two of the cheap wired units from China seem to me to be your best bet. I tried only one cheap wireless unit. It frequently locked up, and even when it didn't, it dropped some mileage.

Merged duplicate threads.

Cateye Velo 9 Wireless. Low $20, easy to set up and use, durable, battery lasts a long time.

INBIKE IC-321 WIRELESS

I was one of the first in North America to purchase and install this INBIKE IC-321 when it was first released.

I have installed over 45 of these units. I fabricated my own design attachment that allows the SENSOR to attach to ancient SCHWINNS with blade forks.
These INBIKE IC-321 WIRELESS Speedometers need no modifications for installation on modern bikes with broomstick like forks.
On ancient SCHWINNS and almost every American manufacturered bicycle made before about 1977 will have thin blade forks or will have thin tubular forks which you will find are extremely difficult if not impossible to secure the SENSOR to the fork without it moving or jiggling around. For this reason, I designed my own attachment for the SENSOR that instead of using the fork, in my design for use on ancient SCHWINNS, I have the SENSOR hanging via a custom designed mount which hangs off of the left axle, just beneath the left axle nut. You can make something crudely with a Large BINDER CLIP placed over the SENSOR and JB WELDED or E-POXIED to the SENSOR, then use one of the chrome wire ears of the binder clip to mount under the left axle nut.............wrap black sewing thread around this chrome wire ear at where it squeezes the SENSOR............saturate this black thread with EPOXY, and this chrome wire binder clip handle becomes a RIGID chrome wire hanging mount arm....
...YOU OBVIOUSLY REMOVED THE OTHER Chrome Wire Binder Clip Handle..... Choose the Large BINDER CLIP size that most closely matches the size of the Sensor when you are sourcing your BINDER CLIP to build such a contraption that will allow you to mount these on ANCIENT SCHWINNS and other ancient antique bicycles. My installations were engineered and look factory engineered, but it was my neighbor who came up with the use of the BINDER CLIP method.......no 3D printer required, or custom stamped bracket...................just down and dirty MacGyvered (Richard Dean Anderson version of MacGyver...) part to make it work.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Waterproof-...rkparms=aid%3D

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-LC...parms=aid%3D1:





Full Disclosure: I have never dealt with either of the two ebay sources linked above. They have good ratings and are USA based. Those are just two random examples of suppliers of the INBIKE IC-321 WIRELESS speedometer-odometer thing-a-majib. You may find other non-USA suppliers that have these for less but you'd be looking for a three week time lag for delivery from Shen Zhen or Hong Kong during the best of times. As I mentioned earlier, I have installed these on at least 45 bicycles. Initially I sourced them from the sole China maker and distributor as there wasn't a designated model number at that time. They have a NICE LARGE DISPLAY and they do come with the two necessary CR____ button batteries. These INBIKE IC-321 WIRELESS thingies are essentially LOW TECH like 1982 era bicycle computers, but it is a really good "Dumb" old-timey bike computer. The reason that I like it so much is the DISPLAY face is LARGE and it displays Time of Day at Top Left and it displays ODOMETER at Top Right---------------------CURRENT SPEED (your choice of MPH or Kilometers Per Hour).........you also have other stopwatch and trip odometer functions but I really like the SPEEDO(current speed) display that is Large and centered, and I like the Clock at Top Left and total ODOMETER mileage at Top Right more than anything.
You do not get any advance notice that the Battery is dying or dead, other than the Display Unit will be extremely dim before it does not display at all. INSTALL a New Battery and the Display again becomes alive, vibrant and bright. You will have to REPROGRAM and RE-SET ALL OF THE SETTINGS and Re-Enter the TOTAL ODOMETER Reading Each and Every Time that You REMOVE and REPLACE The BATTERY.
The Battery in the SENSOR seems to last longer than the battery in the Head Unit(DISPLAY). My experience has been that the original battery in the Head Unit will last approximately between 13 months and 20 months. All of the INBIKE IC-321 wireless speedos that I have installed are still working.
Now, you do get a brief crazy unrealistic speedo display for maybe one second or a second and a half when starting from a complete stop..........what happens is that the display doesn't stabilize on the accurate speed UNTIL the bike is going 5 MPH.......... That is something that all of these INBIKE IC-321 WIRELESS speedos do.
My suggestion to anyone who is doing the initital programming of the Time of Day, Miles or Kilometers, and the Tire Circumference Measurement in Milimeters of their Front Tire........................I suggest that if you need to re-enter and change or zero out the entire data and start over............JUST REMOVE THE Button Battery and Re-Insert it..........then begin again from scratch as you'd begin with the new speedo just out of the package...........The directions are almost decent considering that someone whose native language is Chinese, did the English translation. It is extremely simple to figure it out.
The Great Large centered SPEEDO display with the total ODOMETER mileage (or kilometers if you select it to read KM instead of miles per hour) is what really makes the INBIKE IC-321 such a great speedometer/odometer. It is extremely accurate (other than the display when going 0 to 4 mph..). You can set it for whatever four digit MILLIMETER total measurement or calculation of your Front Tire's Circumference. There are a few suggested mm figures for certain wheel and tire sizes BUT YOU CAN INSERT WHATEVER CALCULATION or MEASUREMENT THAT YOU COME UP WITH FOR GREATER ACCURACY........ Roll the wheel one precisely measured revolution on your hardwood floor of your dining room...........or just use that old 8th grade, " TWO PIE R "

Take a look at the Cateye Strada Slim or the Cateye Padrone.both are basic and have setting for 2 bikes (or 2 sets of wheels). The Padrone is the larger and has larger fonts, but I have the Strada Slim and bought it for the larger fonts, since my prescription sunglasses are not progressives, so no reading mode. The Strada slim is smaller than the Padrone and has a sensor that fits inside the front fork blade and is not noticeable or protruding to get knocked. There is also the Padrone+ with a backlight if you ride at night. They are very, very light and both are wireless, reliable, and well under $100. I dropped mine in a puddle when packing the bike and it survived.

Strada Slim: https://www.cateye.com/intl/products...ers/CC-RD310W/

Padrone: https://www.cateye.com/intl/products...ers/CC-PA100W/

I have found that if you mount the light on the opposite side of the stem from your fork blade's wireless wheel magnet sensor/transmitter that it does not interfere with the data transfer to the computer display/receiver unit.
Things do go whacky if the light is mounted on the same side, and in between the transmitter and receiver, especially if using a blinking light setting.

+1. I keep my light and computer on opposite ends of the bar.

Go to Ebay. I bought two no-name wireless computers with those features for about five bucks each. They have been very reliable and do not care about getting wet.

Thanks for that piece of info. I was not aware of that issue. At least now if I ever have that issue I will check location of the light first, before assuming the computer died. I wonder what else the lights may effect.

As an extra option how about a second hand Garmin? I bought a Garmin Edge 200 off eBay at the end of last year for Audax rides, and (until Covid stopped play) it has been ideal.

Good battery life (more than sufficient for 100k rides), basic and very easy controls, no sensors to set up on the bike, clear and easy to read screen, easy to transfer between bikes, and the option of basic routing if needed.

Total cost including postage was less than £30 - I'm very pleased with it.

^Not necessarily. The CatEye products allow you to select bike #1 and bike #2 , and when setting up allow you to calibrate the wheel diameter for each bike. This feature is common on many of the bike computers that I've set up for others.

I tried that and it didn't work. Was using a Cateye Micro Wireless. Had to go with the Velo 9 so I could use bike computer with lights. I use Niterider lights, so maybe they interfere more with wireless signal than other lights.

phil,
The “nothing fancy” cheap Cateyes don’t have that feature.
I own a couple myself. They use the same LCD display as those that do, but its not enabled in the firmware.

Barry

I love my SIGMA wired ones that work 100% of the time, unlike finicky wireless. My $35 or so 16.12 has about 12 functions. Great display, 2 bikes, trip, total, temp, time, countdown, memory keep, total miles, miles/ km, total hours and 2 averages. Very simple to program and set up. It uses O rings that can be taken off and adjusted, as opposed to some with fricking zip ties. My biggest peeve is all of them don't have an angled shape for the fork magnet part. The battery lasts a year usually. You could order a second wire set at the same time. Just make sure the wire has zero flexing at the top end. I tape the wire to the stem neck. It has 4 buttons. WTH is good about having only ONE??
I prefer having a comp on each bike to separate performance and wear parameters.

10 years ago I goofed and bought a Bontrager comp at the local LBS, that only showed 1/ 10ths of a mile like cars. How stupid was that?? Used once and junked.

I don't generally care how fast I'm going. I do, however, like to know exactly how far I've gone, especially if I am doing an out and back.

Only bike I ride that doesn't have one is my fat bike, because varying the pressures in that make the wheel change way too much to make it useful.

lezyne enhanced micro color c love it for cyclocross , but a better option would be to just use a smart phone and get a nice mount, even on a rainy day i throw my phone in a snak sized ziplock bag and its been the best computer i have had , it can run my music , navigation and fitness tracker , even the wahoos cant do that !!!!!!!