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Cheap basic road computer

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Old 09-03-24 | 06:08 PM
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Cheap basic road computer

Hey all! My Bontrager Ridetime crapped out. It was never very good. I'm looking for a basic computer that can tell me my speeds, distances traveled, and the current time. Nothing fancy really. I don't need or want maps or crazy apps, or bluetooth capability. Any suggestions for something that will be reliable? I just want something that's going to work. Thanks!
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Old 09-03-24 | 06:09 PM
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Cateye Enduro. Simple wired and robust.
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Old 09-03-24 | 06:10 PM
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Originally Posted by veganbikes
Cateye Enduro. Simple wired and robust.
So fast! Thank you! You must be blazing in the saddle!
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Old 09-03-24 | 06:43 PM
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A wristwatch and google maps should suffice
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Old 09-03-24 | 10:15 PM
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Just get on amazon and search for "bike gps". There are a poop load these days for $30-60 that will do pretty much everything other than navigation.
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Old 09-04-24 | 08:32 AM
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Coospo on Amazon. $40, wireless, with GPS. You say you don't want BT, but why? This thing supports both BT and ANT+ and will connect with anything you throw at it. Do not get a wired unit, the wires break, the sensors use magnets and are not accurate unless you have an exact tire measurement. The GPS in the wireless units calibrate the wheel sensor if you have one automatically so you get accurate speed and distance, or you can just use the GPS speed and distance.

I'll ask this question. Would you buy a 20 year old home computer that didn't have wifi? That's what buying a wired bike computer is like.
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Old 09-04-24 | 08:51 AM
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I'd expect cheap bike computers or cyclometers to crap out in a year or so. Maybe sooner. If you don't want a GPS, then Cateye is likely a better choice than any other out there. If you want a gps enabled Cyclometer, then Garmin, even their inexpensive Edge 130plus will probably last you 10 or more years. The cost will work out to 2 dollars for each of those 10 years.
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Old 09-04-24 | 10:26 AM
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CatEye Velo Wireless user here. No problems for years, even with lots of exposure to wet weather.
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Old 09-04-24 | 12:48 PM
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As one of the resident luddites around here. I've got a Cateye Astrale (wired with cadence) on the right side of my handlebars. It even moved there from my previous bike over 10 years ago. Its super reliable and only needs a new battery ever 2-3 years or so.
The left side has seen several Garrmin and Wahoo models that all got replaced for a variety of reasons but mostly because they weren't operationally reliable.

If all you really want is the basic data for your ride and don't give a rat's posterior about where you are or going and all the other highfalutin training data points that these newfangled internet connected models offer, I seriously suggest:

https://cateye.com/intl/products/computers/CC-VL520/ And its only $25.
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Old 09-04-24 | 09:36 PM
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I bought the basic Coospo. Let's see how that works. I'll go with the Cateye Velo if it's not working correctly. Thanks all!
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Old 09-05-24 | 04:02 AM
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Originally Posted by coupster

If all you really want is the basic data for your ride and don't give a rat's posterior about where you are or going and all the other highfalutin training data points that these newfangled internet connected models offer, I seriously suggest:

https://cateye.com/intl/products/computers/CC-VL520/ And its only $25.
+1. That’s what I have, only wireless. Exact same functions. Gets me through multi-week tours.
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Old 09-05-24 | 05:43 AM
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A basic Cateye computer is your go to IMO. They've been around for as long as I can remember.
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Old 09-05-24 | 05:58 AM
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Old 09-05-24 | 06:22 AM
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Phone mount and the computer you already own I bet.
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Old 09-05-24 | 06:29 AM
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Cateye Velo 9 on my Trek Domane and Motobecane gravel bike. I have to use wired computers since I ride before dawn with Niterider lights. The headlight jams wireless computers.

I found some cheap Chinese wireless and wired computers ($20) on Amazon that work well for my Trek 1.1 (wired) and Trek X-Caliber (wireless).
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Old 09-05-24 | 06:35 AM
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I've been using Cateye since they came on the market. A few decades ago. Never had a reason to change.
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Old 09-05-24 | 06:41 AM
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Cheap Chinese bike computers......

Wired
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1XZ3W65...sin_title&th=1
Wireless
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HL0B5AU...fed_asin_title
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Old 09-05-24 | 06:54 AM
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Originally Posted by ArgoMan
I bought the basic Coospo. Let's see how that works. I'll go with the Cateye Velo if it's not working correctly. Thanks all!
Report back on this. I'd be surprised if it doesn't work correctly. I wouldn't be surprised though if the setup is fussy with the translated English.
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Old 09-05-24 | 06:56 AM
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I stopped using a bike computer once I got a GPS Garmin watch.
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Old 09-05-24 | 07:07 AM
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I commute with 6 different bikes year round 5F to 100F. The odometer that has held up best for me with the features I like is the Planet Bike Protege 9. One of the three displays will simultaneously show current speed, ride time, ride distance, clock and temp. I can press to see average speed, total miles and other stuff, but I like that one screen. I now have two wired and one wireless which works okay, but the transmitter battery life seems less than the head unit.

I also have have two of the cheaper, basic Schwinn/Bell odometers. They cycle through speed, ride time and trip distance but not time or temp, which have to be clicked for way too many times. On those bikes I just ask Google for time and temp on my earpiece.

I went through a bunch of very cheap web-special odometers and they usually failed within a year.


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Old 09-05-24 | 07:07 AM
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Originally Posted by RB1-luvr
I stopped using a bike computer once I got a GPS Garmin watch.
I use the bike computer for backup for my smart phone with MapMyRide app. Also, the bike computer keeps track of Odometer stats for a particular bike.... something apps and GPS devices don't do.
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Old 09-05-24 | 07:25 AM
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Originally Posted by DomaneS5
I use the bike computer for backup for my smart phone with MapMyRide app. Also, the bike computer keeps track of Odometer stats for a particular bike.... something apps and GPS devices don't do.
Strava does all that and more.
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Old 09-05-24 | 08:41 AM
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That little cheapo COOSPO is going to be collecting a lot of data about you. Make sure you are willing to trust them with your data.
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Old 09-05-24 | 11:22 AM
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Originally Posted by crazyravr
Strava does all that and more.
Informative.

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Old 09-05-24 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by DomaneS5
Those are actually quite nice.
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