You can also get inline cable indicators. Low tech, but it works if you just want to know what gear you are in.

This is exactly why I don't like it, and exactly what I'll replace it with. Are we buddies?

Check Amazon

My Tiagra shifters have built in gear indicators. It's nice and all but it doesn't really tell me much except for when I'm cross chaining and I'm in too tall a gear at the red light.

I already have a PowerTap so getting data is not the problem. Without getting too geeky, the problem is how to have a light and aero display where the eye can focus on it. Not an easy solution.

ouch $$$

i'll get one in the next life.

PowerTaps aren't very expensive. Look up an SRM...

technically speaking i can calculate my average speed very accurately with my iPhone by using google maps and timer.

i should probably be able to figure out my cadence with iPhone as well if i simply start the timer and count 1000 revolutions then stop the timer.

my old specialized bike had mechanical gear indicators as well. i bet they omitted them on the Ultegra shifters on purpose to make me buy that stupid flight deck computer.

maybe they should rename it to flight deck gear indicator

:facepalm:

You do realize that the FD will continue to record speed and calculate cadence even if the crank isn't turning, right? The image suggests to me a fast coast. The cadence would of course be REALLY high if it were visible, but then you wouldn't be looking at your FD display coasting downhill at that speed.

you're doing it wrong.

so is your buddy.

It might be a little easier to count your revolutions for 15 seconds, them multiply by 4.

Thanks for the enlightenment.

you're welcome.

If you consider when Flight Deck (FD) was offered (I think around five years ago), it was ahead of it's time. It offered both cadence and mileage data without having to install a chainstay sensor. The computer was sealed with epoxy on the backside to render it waterproof. Just the ability to show your ring and cog (particularly if you rode a triple), was worth the price of admission.

Today, I use a Sigma Rox 9.0 and haven't been more pleased. I love the slope, ft climbed, and calories burned features, plus HR too. But I plan to install FD also to get the gear info, particularly on my triple bikes. Plus I can set that in kilometers while my Rox reads in miles, as sometimes I like to see my km/hr speed too. What's nice is the FD and Rox sensors don't compete for space on my chainstay, as the FD sensor mounts on the front fork.

Oh dear...

flight deck computers are great on tandems where you can use the buttons without taking hands off the bars. also the gear indicator is great as it's tougher to look back and see what gear you're in

Since he puts out more power (unmeasured) than TdF pros and would break any mortal pedal, I think that SRM and like products would only explode in the face of such godly power. If he reaches godly power within a 30 minute ride, since anything after that is clearly a waste of time and doesn't do anything for fitness.

I have to agree. I love my FD (I have the wired version). I have had no issues with unintended button pushes, and I love the fact that I can scroll though my data without taking my hands off the bar. The gear indicator has trained me not to be constantly looking down to see what cog I'm on. The virtual cadence is a little hoaky and takes some time to set up properly, but IMO, it beats having to set up a chainstay sensor.

I will say, it does seem a little slow to respond to speed changes, but it isn't the worst I've seen. An updated version with ANT capability for things like power meters and HRMs would really make the FD a nice computer.

When I break down and finally get a Garmin 705 (maybe it will be an 805 by then), I'll give the inline cable indicators a try.

Finally pitched my wireless Flight Deck at the last tape change - the wired one worked great and I like having the gear display, but with the wireless I wasn't getting times and mileage for most of my rides - it would just turn off when I went over a railway line, under a power line, whatever. I would go back if they would make it work properly.

No just trying to understand why a number of people go to the expense and how it helps them?

Are you really that dense?

To quote you I am fat and dense, I guess you are very special person, but not a politician.


Still question the need for watts

Need is a strong word. You don't "need" watts.. Well actually you do, but you don't need to know what they are.

Power meters are a tool that can help you train more effectively, especially if you are time limited in any way.