What type of computer should I get to start, it doesn't need to have crazy stuff, but anything necessary or useful is appreciated.

Oh btw, the lower the price, the better!

This one. Just over $20

https://www.cateye.com/en/products/vi...d=6&subCatId=0

Cool thanks.

May I recommend the Astrale 8 from cat eye (maybe $5-10 more) as it has cadence which may not make too much sense when starting out but is really handy later on getting a better handle on your pedaling preferences and such.

That's the one I have too. Thought about upgrading to the Astrale but after all these years of riding the stationary bikes at gyms if I don't know what 80-90 rpm's feels like shame on me. More parts = more chance for failure.

On a collective six bikes (wife + me), we have five Mity 8's and one Astrale. Whenever I ride the Astrale-equipped bike, I invariably have to mess with the cadence sensor ever so slightly to get it to wake back up.

I agree with the premise that it's a good thing to learn one's cadence, but . . .

If I were an anal-retentive butt-head (I'm close. Damned close), I'd cut a teeny-tiny strip out of an inner tube, then re-attach the cadence sensor, wrapping the zip tie around the teeny-tiny rubber strip. I'm sure that'd keep it from moving that 0.05mm that buggers me up....

Planet Bike Protege 9.0

Should be about $35 anywhere you find it. Nice hefty cable, large easy to read display, all the needed features (current speed, max speed, ride time, average speed, total miles, ride miles, total miles per bike, support for 2 different bikes, clock, thermometer)

It's got a sweet buttonless design, basically the whole thing is a button and you slide it in the mount to change modes. Current speed, ride time, and ride miles are always displayed.

EDIT: it doesn't do cadence, but who cares, just keep pedaling and keep your heart rate up. You can figure cadence out easily on your own. One complete turn every second is 60rpm, so to get your target cadence just go from there. 90 = 1.5 turns per second, 120 = 2 turns per second, 180 = 3 turns per second, etc. Spend a minute or two really concentrating on getting your cadence right, then learn how the correct cadence feels. Now just stay there.

Go for the Astrale 8. I think cadence is an excellent tool for a newbie, since most new riders ride in too high a gear at too low a cadence. If you can locate a cable tie tool that tightens them up really well, you probably won't have problems with slippage. I only had a problem with mine when I had put them on by hand. Wire yours up by hand, then go to the LBS and ask nicely if you can use their cable tie tool.

One of the best pieces of advice I've gotten so far is "It is better to go for a lower gear because you can always pedal faster". I use my cadence function all the time. It's especially good when I'm climbing because if I drop below 75 or so, I know I better downshift soon or I'll be in trouble.

I use the Astrale 8 on two of my bikes. I have had no problems with the cadence sensor over about 3000 miles.

Spend the extra money now. I started out with a Vetta 55 which was fine, but I soon wanted to know my cadence. It will be an invaluable tool but will only cost ~$5.

I agree. I got the other one first and then got interested in cadence. My husband doesn't ride as much so he has the other CatEye and I got the Astrale 8.

Sigma BC1600.

I like the display better than the Cateye Enduro 8 that I have on my hybrid.

Got it on eBay w/ the cadence kit (a very useful feature) for less than $25 shipped.

What do you all use the cadence feature for? It's so insanely easy to figure out your own cadence as you are riding. I'm not sure why this is such a popular feature. Now if it keeps track of average cadence over the ride, I can see where that might be useful. But just displaying current cadence is an absolute waste.


PS: If you conciously try to maintain the the same cadence "feel", then it will become your average cadence over time. A computer will not help with this.

Go for the Huret Multitio:



I saw one on eBay for about 9 bucks. I don't know about a cadence sensor though.

(also search multitio)

haha. if you could mount that sensor your crankset you'd have a nice analog tachometer for your bike! Instead of on the handlebars, you could mount the gauge on a helmet mirror and be just like the kids in thier rice burner cars!!!

I'm going to go out on a limb and say computers are evil?

Looking at them too much will cause you to judge every ride against the previous one.

It's like going to gym and expecting to make gains every single time I go. Gains come in waves.

That's why I like my protege. I always just leave it in the mode that displays the time and temperature. I'll look at the average speed after the ride. I need the current speed so I don't exceed the speed limit like I did today (40 in a 35!! woo hoo!!) I also need the ride time so I can gauge when I need to turn around and head home because i usually ride after work and don't have lights, so i need to make it home before dark.

I don't always need to see distance for the ride though, and that's the one that always has me comparing to previous rides. If the protege 10 made that metric a separate mode, it would be the perfect computer.

My wife has come to really like her Cateye Astrale 8. It has both sensors on the rear wheel, and she likes the cadence feature too. They can be had for $30 on sale.

If you want a computer for dirt...the dept stores have some for about $10.

Just be warned that they are very finnicy to setup.

I used one for some time...the only thing it had problems with was fast accelration...it would report incorrect speed for some reason until you held the speed for a few seconds, but that's not a really big problem for most of us. It also read a bit fast, but that was my fault for using their "generic" circumference settings and not measuring out my actual wheel/tire combo.

I know nashbar sells a $20 wireless delta something that is basically a wireless version of those $10 dept store ones.


In general the better computers will be more accurate, and have less quirks about how they get their numbers.

yup astrale 8 is great for a newb like me

this basic wireless computer (no cadence) works well for this newbie for <$30: Performance Wireless Computer

can you get that in early 1970s refrigerator avocado green?

second that... got mine for 30 odd bucks..

wow 1234 miles, man those guys are good!

Sigma Sport BC 1200. $30 at my lbs, but i'm sure you can find it cheaper online

My lbs guy talked me out of the 1600, arguing cadence was just another distraction to keep tabs on. He's right.

I'm a bit confused---How do you know your LBS guy is right if you didn't get the one with the cadence?

Until the last couple of months, I used a comp w/o cadence feature. I've now found cadence to be a useful feature and I set my display to show it and MPH. At this stage in my riding (started w/ shorter distances a year ago on a hybrid, now on the road bike doing 20-50 mile club rides), it helps as a reminder to spin in the range that works best for me given the conditions. Kinda like having a tachometer when you're driving a car w/ manual transmission.