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Purchasing my 1st computer

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Old 04-02-10 | 02:11 AM
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Purchasing my 1st computer

I'm going to my LBS tomm to purchase a computer. What features do I look for? any specific model/brand? wired?wireless? price range for a very good computer?

hope you guys can help
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Old 04-02-10 | 02:12 AM
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i am running a wireless now, wish i got the other way(wired) because my cadence is a hit or a miss.

some even reported to have cell phone interference.

there's tons of features that i could really care less, i mostly use it to tell time, track average speed and that's all.

edit: it's a serfas Level3 wireless

odo/trip distance/candence/speed average(mph/km)/max speed/clock

very clean design, two buttons operation with backlight(you can set the backlight operation timer, something like 7pm to 5 in the morning)

like i said, i wish the wireless cadence works better

Last edited by iam7head; 04-02-10 at 10:59 AM.
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Old 04-02-10 | 03:08 AM
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Originally Posted by StevenAkaProek
I'm going to my LBS tomm to purchase a computer. What features do I look for? any specific model/brand? wired?wireless? price range for a very good computer?

hope you guys can help
speed, mileage, avg speed, time, odo. I have a cateye strada cadence wired version and think the wired look isn't so clean looking.
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Old 04-02-10 | 03:34 AM
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I use the cheap $10 Schwinn unit from Walmart. I have 3 and they are fine. they have a wire but it's not a problem. they are rugged and reliable.

current speed
avrg speed
max speed
distance

they come with a lile chart so you can set the wheel factor
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Old 04-02-10 | 03:48 AM
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Garmin edge 705 if you want it to tell tou where you're goin...
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Old 04-02-10 | 04:55 AM
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Well, I'd like the computer to show ride time, distance, speed and cadence at the very least - if you are training, then you'll also want HR. Altitude and/or gradient are also nice to have.

Another factor to consider is how much info you can see at once, without having to scroll through various displays. I just got me an Edge 500 and I am loving the fact that my main display can show all 7 fields I like to track at the same time.

V.
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Old 04-02-10 | 05:18 AM
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Garmin Edge 500 bundle and just be done with it. Can use with a tap in the future
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Old 04-02-10 | 08:38 AM
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cateye or if you got more money to splerge go for garmin...
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Old 04-02-10 | 08:43 AM
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Cateye, wired.

I've spent plenty of money on computers that just stopped working. The Cateye, so far, has been the best and the cheapest.
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Old 04-02-10 | 08:48 AM
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I'm beginning my 4th year on a cateye micro wireless. Thing has worked flawlessly. I wouldn't mind having altitude and cadence info, but they aren't necessary for me. If you aren't interested in alt. and cadence, the micro wireless is great.
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Old 04-02-10 | 09:17 AM
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..double check that the thing will retain it's odometer when you replace batteries...else I know someone who has run upto 10 magnets for months to get caught up again... i.e. $20 Cateye Mity2 has this feature, $30Cateye Astrale does not.
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Old 04-02-10 | 09:20 AM
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Originally Posted by rufvelo
..double check that the thing will retain it's odometer when you replace batteries...else I know someone who has run upto 10 magnets for months to get caught up again... i.e. $20 Cateye Mity2 has this feature, $30Cateye Astrale does not.
I don't think the micro wireless has this feature. It allows you to input previous mileage during setup assuming you actually remember the former mileage. I didn't the last time my battery died!
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Old 04-02-10 | 09:37 AM
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I have a Bontrager Node 2. It is wireless and will accept any Ant+Sport sensors plus read a power meter. I comes with a HR strap. It will display speed,HR, cadence, time, and temp all at once. The most power non Garmin cycle computer. Buy as much functionality as you can because upgrading is expensive. I have my old cycle computer in a drawer because I did not learn this lesson when I bought my first unit. Good luck.
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Old 04-02-10 | 10:18 AM
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I have a cheap blackburn computer 3.0 which shows cadence and speed and has a 2 bike setup. Pretty decent, was cheap (£20) and works well. Some minor annoyances - the cadence sometimes turns itself off - but only before I ride not during. Am very pleased with it - fully wired and well built. On my other bike I have a VDO cheap computer which works well too but doesn't have cadence which I wanted.
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Old 04-02-10 | 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by NCROADBIKER
cateye or if you got more money to splerge go for garmin...
+1, for under $30, I'd go with a Cateye ( the one with at least 8 features). I buy and flip used bikes. Any bike that I find that has a Cateye lands up donating it to one of my keeper bikes. That's how I obtained the two Cateye Mity 2's that I use on my rain bike and one of my vintage rides.
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Old 04-02-10 | 11:27 AM
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I'm looking to get a cateye strada cc-rd300 soon, anyone have one of these. Looking at reviews online people seem to like it a lot and its wireless which i like.
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Old 04-02-10 | 12:11 PM
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I go commando....no computer.

It's more fun that way!
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Old 04-02-10 | 02:06 PM
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i used a cheap bell computer, but if you want something with cadence on a budget go with cateye strada wired w/ cadence.the wiring part isnt hard at all, and there is no interference. I love my cateye
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Old 04-02-10 | 02:31 PM
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Bontrager Node 2 hear as well. It's wireless and I've never had it miss a beat (haha) yet. It has so many functions I haven't even figured them all out yet. Plus, if you've got a new Madone, the DuoTrap sensor/sender unit in the chain stay is the cleanest looking unit you'll find.
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Old 04-02-10 | 03:08 PM
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It all depends on budget. If you want to spend less than $100, go with a Cateye wired or wireless if you can get it for that. If you can spend more than $200, look at the Garmin products. I had a Garmin 305 and now a 705. I like them them a lot even though they are not cheap. The displays are large and easy to read, even if you are looking at 8 data fields.
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Old 04-05-10 | 10:00 PM
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Hi guys, so I went to my LBS and ended up purchasing Trek's Incite Alpine. So far so good getting used to the settings which are a bit difficult

how would I go about purchasing another sensor for cadence?
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Old 04-05-10 | 10:18 PM
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Originally Posted by StevenAkaProek
Hi guys, so I went to my LBS and ended up purchasing Trek's Incite Alpine. So far so good getting used to the settings which are a bit difficult

how would I go about purchasing another sensor for cadence?

Take a look at Trek's website--I Googled Trek Incite Alpine. It looks like only the Incite 11i is equipped for cadence. It will not display average cadence or max cadence if you need this. I don't use it. If you need heart rate, the Incite isn't able to display it.
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Old 04-05-10 | 10:25 PM
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It has a cadence and heart rate option when pairing

manual says it shows both avg and max along with hear rare curr, avg and max
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Old 04-05-10 | 10:27 PM
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Get a Power Tap. They're only $1500 or so.
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Old 04-05-10 | 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by calbrner
speed, mileage, avg speed, time, odo. I have a cateye strada cadence wired version and think the wired look isn't so clean looking.
I have this as well, and am pretty happy with it. But then again, I really don't have much to compare it to.
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