I have about 5-6 road bikes I take out regularly

what do you do with the computers?
- separate one for each
- keep one and swap out each time one is used
- share across 2-3 bikes and get additional mounts

I'm not obsessive with total mileages or trends, just like to know what I'm doing and did for the day
My computers are pretty basic, some with cadence but most only on the front wheel

Winterizing most of the road bikes, so taking out the batteries for a few months
So would be a good time to move them around as well

I have a Garmin Edge 1000. I put sensors and mounts on each bike. The Edge automatically finds the correct sensors for the bike you are on once you start pedaling. I think the Garmin 500 series and up can also do this, but not sure.

I have 2 bikes and use a basic Edge 200 to swap between the two.
I to comes with 2 mounts(yey); no cadence though(boo).

Garmin is pretty much interchangeable. You can select different bike profiles, with different weights and specs in each, if you want more accurate calories or something.

I don't spend Garmin type money for my computers, but I do use the same one on a couple of bikes. Some other manufacturers may do it as well, but I know for my CatEye model, I am able to buy a wiring harness separately... so my CatEye model with cadence just gets swapped between bikes. I sometimes use my cell phone to track rides as well with MapMyRide. However, when in a remote area, I don't always like using my cell's battery for that function.

The Edge 500 (at least) requires you to manually switch between bike profiles. I can't remember if the Edge 500 is limited to three bike profiles, or whether you can have more.

Personally ,

I have a computer on my touring bike , & take the battery out when back home, dont put a new one in until i get ready for a new trip..

other bikes dont have any.


basic wired one is pretty cheap you can probably find them for $20 .. and go 1 per bike..

Some wireless types have 2 wheel size settings , have to buy spares, the magnet transmitter on the fork and the bar mount .

The spare parts will be more than a whole wired low cost, computer

Of course, with the Garmin 500, you don't need to put sensors on your bikes at all. Just mount it to the the bike of the day and go. Or leave it in your jersey pocket if all you want is mileage and average speed info when you're home.

Same problem, very different approach. I have no computers on bikes (except my Mooney which is also my trainer bike; to ride a trainer I need electronics for motivation!). Instead I keep a spreadsheet with columns for date, miles, the bike used, elevation, then 3 comment columns for the route, the conditions and how I felt, and bike notes. Spreadsheet sums mileages, number of rides and elevation gained for each bike by the month and year. I start a new tab each year. Makes extracting data really easy. It tracks lifetime mileages for me and each bike.

Thomas Guide, a few contour maps and distance and elevation reference tabs on my spreadsheet all get used. Best part is that I do not lose data when a bike mishap happens. Keeps the bikes simple and the rides pure. I am in no hurry to change. If you gave me the world's best bike computer, I'd probably hand it back to you.

Ben

I have a separate computer for each bike, as I track their mileage separately, and have three different tire diameters. Wired computers are pretty cheap.

Bingo. I've got "expensive" ($35) Cateyes on mine. Each one costs more than a Garmin mount, but less than any per-bike sensor add-ons (e.g., cadence and wheel sensor). A $5 battery lasts about 2 years, so upkeep is minimal, too.

Same here. Cheap cateyes on each one (2 wired, 1 wireless on my main road bike.) I carry my phone to run strava for sharable stats. Cyclocomputer is for watching while I ride (speed, average, time, clock, distance, generally the stuff you need/want to know while actually riding.)

Garmin 500/510/800/810/1000

Same here for my three bikes. I do move the loaded seat pack and expensive headlight between them, however.

Have been using separate VDO wireless digital computers on three bikes for several years. Disadvantage of wireless is that batteries don't last as long as wired and with three computers, seems like they are always dying. Very long wires would be needed for my recumbent bikes - with wireless, only the digital ones have enough range. Sending units on the forks sometimes get knocked askew, too, of course.
Very close to moving to a single very basic Garmin GPS unit to share between the bikes. I track mileage for each bike by entering into a spreadsheet - that shouldn't be a problem with the Garmin. Might even be easier, what with downloading data to a website. If I understand right.

I have a bunch of bikes, I have a few with cateye computers and on the others I use an iPhone with a wahoo speed and cadence sensor. In the future I would use the phone and move the Wahoo sensor between the bikes.

Nashbar wireless 8 computer (no cadence) is about $25, will allow 2 bike settings, and the extra mount kit is about $10.

that's a good observation,
I'll move the wired models on bikes I ride less often

that's a great selling point for the Garmin
seems like if you have one, there's no reason to have the simple Cateyes and Avocets

Same goes for me, not ready to ditch the dozen or so computers I have
I enjoy technology, just not when I ride, a simple computer keeps me honest if I'm feeling sluggish

I use the Magellan Cycle 505 on my two bikes. No issues, works great.