Cheap basic road computer
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member


Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 231
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!
#2
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,205
Likes: 6,606
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Cateye Enduro. Simple wired and robust.
#6
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,162
Likes: 647
From: Brooklyn NY
Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others
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.
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.
#7
Facts just confuse people




Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19,268
Likes: 7,024
From: Mississippi
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
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.
#9
Full Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 478
Likes: 53
From: Flat Rock, NC
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.
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.
#11
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.
#13
Rider. Wanderer. Creator.



Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,923
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From: New Jersey
Bikes: Bike Friday All-Packa, Zizzo Liberte, Ozark Trail G.1 Explorer
I track my rides on my Fitbit.
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#15
Fredly Fredster

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 740
Likes: 60
Bikes: Trek Domane S5, Trek 1.1c, Motobecane Omni Strada Comp, Trek X-Caliber 6
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).
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).
#17
Fredly Fredster

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 740
Likes: 60
Bikes: Trek Domane S5, Trek 1.1c, Motobecane Omni Strada Comp, Trek X-Caliber 6
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
Wired
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1XZ3W65...sin_title&th=1
Wireless
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HL0B5AU...fed_asin_title
#18
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,162
Likes: 647
From: Brooklyn NY
Bikes: Kuota Kredo/Chorus, Trek 7000 commuter, Trek 8000 MTB and a few others
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.
#19
I don't know.

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,370
Likes: 1,233
From: South Meriden, CT
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
I stopped using a bike computer once I got a GPS Garmin watch.
#20
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,632
Likes: 2,357
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
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.

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.

#21
Fredly Fredster

Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 740
Likes: 60
Bikes: Trek Domane S5, Trek 1.1c, Motobecane Omni Strada Comp, Trek X-Caliber 6
#22
Full Member

Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 460
Likes: 92
From: Mississauga ON
Bikes: #1 Colnago #2 Factor #3 Yoeleo
#25
Gruppetto Bob




Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 11,418
Likes: 11,644
From: Seattle-ish
Bikes: Orbea Orca, Bianchi Infinito & Campione de Mundo
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
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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