Any good recommendations for a computer that is durable and offers both cadence and altitude/grade measurement? The bike is a Bianchi, Campagnolo Veloce gruppo, so no Flight Deck for me. Cheaper is better, of course.



Estimated cadence is fine, BTW, and I want the grade measurement just so I can start tracking my rides.

Well, there is the Campa Ergobrain - that works with Veloce, no?

Cheers...Gary

This months Cycle Plus has a review of the 40 top selling (UK) computers, with all their specs etc.

Check out specialized. I got my specialized computer for 20 bucks...it has pretty much everything but cadence...<cadence i realize now is important> but they make a high end one for like 40 or 50 bucks that has everything. The cable is nice and thick too so it wont break easily.

Also, check out Bike Nashbar they've got a few computers on sale now. I know this cause I'm also looking for a comp. to install on my first road bike.

Nashbar Cycle Computers Link

L8ers

Cadence is a nuisance... too many wires. Use the timer and count revs when you need to check it. Otherwise, computers are the one thing Specialized does best.

Personally, I really like having a cadence counter. If I am trying to hold a certain cadence and maybe having to work at it, I'd rather be able to monitor it at a glance than fool with counting revolutions. Just my preference. Surprisingly few computers have cadence, much less altitude. The Specialized Pro has all the usual speed functions plus cadence, altimeter, thermometer and inclinometer for $99.99 list. Check specialized.com.
Regards,
Raymond

Specialized Pro! (unless you want computer download)

i have had 3 different altimeter computers in the last year - 2 bikes plus lost my Specialized Pro on a singletrack descent :-(

Cateye has no cadence and the altimeter is not so accurate - the vertical counter is just not useful b/c of the error - otherwise good and altimeter ok for absolute measurements (ie. map)

Ciclo C414M is great but you have to buy cadence separately - the altimeter is perfect (matches my Sunto climbing altimeter) and the computer download of speed, grade and altitude profiles is awesome! not sure if it's available in US, but about $120 i think plus mabye $20 for cadence add-on

Specialized Pro is awesome - my only complaint is that it fell off the mount on a huge descent. i would have bought another one but they were out of stock in all of Europe and i didn't feel like ordering from the US - mine cost $99 at LBS in Massachusetts. but i think Specialized may have changed their product line-up for 2002... not sure

NathanK,
More bad news, dude. I have been checking in with Specialized every couple of months to see when the '02 model of the SpeedZone Pro will be available. First it was March, then late April/May, then today I got a response saying SEPTEMBER!!
Raymond

What do you guys find to be the most useful features in a computer? I ride mostly off-road in the hills and my last computer just had the basics like current speed, max speed, odometer, and time/stopwatch. How usefule do you find things such as cadence, altimeter, and temperature? Are there any other features I didn't mention that might be useful?