Im looking to buy a new cyclometer. If possible less than $50. Here are the features I would like it to have: speed (mph)
trip distance
total distance
time
backlight

I was thinking about wireless, but Ive never had one so im not too sure how well they work. Is there any good brands I should look for? Should I go wireless?

Look for Cateye and Vetta. Both will have most of those functions well under $50. You probably won't find one with a backlight, but there are clip on lamps to shine on them if you really need it.

https://wheelworld.com/itemdetails.cf...gId=39&id=4374
or
https://wheelworld.com/itemdetails.cf...gId=39&id=3584

Both are well under your budget The wireless has a backlight, but the Mity does not. Both have a second trip distance which I like to keep track of how far I have ridden in a week or month.

i like my wireless cateye strada, it was about $50 retail. wired my save you $10 or so..

no backlight but if i really want to find out my speed/dist at night i'll just wait for the next street-light.

Wow, people from the other coast shop at Wheel World? I worked there when it was just getting its mail order program off the ground (mid 90's).

Anyway, one with a backlight! If only I didn't already have a nice computer, that would come in handy on my early morning commutes.

if I get a new computer I'd get the cateye strada cadence. If you want wireless, u can get the cateye strada wireless.

sigma.

+1

The Blackburn Delphi and Neuro 4.0-6.0 series have backlighting + everything else you want. They're pretty cheap (<$50) if you look around.

Is there any disadvantages to having wireless?

Battery life in wheel sensor
Cross talk with other cyclist using the same brand (only happends in very close proximities)
Interference from powerful lights. (HID)

Cateye strada.

Sometimes you can get interferance which can make it freak out. Batteries in the sensor. Weight (a few grams). Most won't reach your back wheel if you want to use it on a trainer.

I had on Vetta that failed after about two weeks. I have had Sigma Sport ever since. I have never used CatEye, but they seem to be the most popular here.

do you remember how much you paid for your sigma sport? Which model do you have?

It doesn't have a backlight, but I really like my Sigma bc500.

Do any of these prices look reasonable?
Sigma Sport
model 906 for $35.00, model 1106 for
$45.00 and model 1600 for $55.00.

Sigma makes fabulous computers. I have 3 different models. Thay have a very intuitive interface and flawless performance.

It is a BC 1600 with cadance and rear wheel sensor.

I think it was around $30 for the computer, $10 or $15 for the rear sensor, and $10 for the cadance sensor.

It does not have a backlight. But, the 1606L does.
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...Cyclocomputers

I got a screwed up Sigma computer. The screen would fad out and it would stop recording if the temperature dropped below ~45°. I got it taken care of and a whole new computer but they didn't get in a hurry. Took 3 weeks. The place I mailed it to was in I.L. and I called them a few times to see what was going on with it and they would be like " Yeah its right here, we will get to it tomorrow".