Might be time to consider a computer
 

Hi, I think it might be time I consider a cycling computer for my bike. I have Dura Ace 7800, so I imagine I can use Shimano's Flight Deck product.

What I want is something that can gauge speed, avg. speed, top speed, cadence, heart rate, distance, and the degree of incline when I climb hills.

If the computer can be downloaded to a computer, hopefully it is Mac compatible as that's all I have for a PC at the moment.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

you basically described a Garmin edge 305/500/705. It'll measure all those things and is mac compatible. It's not flight deck compatible though.

get a garmin 500 and be done with it. later.

I'm not familiar with that bike or computer but I can say that I have a computer on several bikes and I find it really fun and interesting to have that kind of information. so DEFINITELY get a computer! :-)

+1 on the Garmin Edge 500. If you look at the specs vs. the Flight Deck there is no comparison.

The flight deck does not measure incline or altitude. It's also not uploadable.

Edge 500. Without a doubt.

another vote for the 500

I have a Trek insight 8 wireless that is great dead accurate and has never had any issues in 4000 miles except I had to change a battery. I also have a Garmin Four Runner 305 that I use with it being a runner too. The Gramin it dead accurate in my last century the garmin had 100.15 miles and the Trek 100 even. I like using both but I had the garmin for running before I ever had a bike computer so finally I simply bought the bike computer. I use the wheel roll out method to get the Trek at the best level of accuracy.

Got the Edge 500 last week. I don't know how I lived without it.

Screw the flight deck.

Another Edge 500 vote. All the data you need, none of the bull**** you don't.

In the short term depending on what kind of phone you beverages there are apps that will do a lot of what your asking just not cadence.

What? :confused:

Get the Garmin Edge 500.

And from many accounts is a PITA.

About the only thing it does offer is telling you what gear you're in.

However, you can put an inline indicator into your cable on 7800 to do that, or you can simply look.

FWIW, I have a Flight Deck on my 7800. I actually like how it has the gear combo displayed so I don't have to look down between my legs. I also like that I can change functions and start lap timers without leaving the hoods. And, I can see what my cadence would be as I'm coasting downhill and thinking of what gear I should shift to when it comes time to pedal.

But, yup, it's not uploadable (I don't care), has no incline, altitude, or GPS tracking (don't care), no interval timer, HR, or backlight (don't miss those from my Blackburn Neuro), and comes with the biggest friggin' spoke magnet I've ever seen (which I replaced with the Neuro's smaller rare earth spoke magnet).

So, there are some things that I really like, and some that make me go "meh". I only wish that it would display a combination of cadence and clock, because those two things are what I think about the most during a ride (although, unlike the Neuro, it can show the cadence as the large number with speed in smaller digits). If I change shifters, I'm just going to go back to a wired Cateye Strada.

I have had a 305 and now have a 705. I love these computers. The best bang for the buck in the Garmine line is the 500. The 500 has a better screen than the 305, is smaller and I think cheaper too. The 705 is great if you want to create a route on your computer and have the 705 give you turn-by-turn directions; of if you want to enter a location and have the 705 give you directions.

Forgo the vacation, skip 6 months of college fund savings, buy a used washer instead of a new one and you don't need a new car yet. Then get a quarq crankset, a a cable lock for the crank and a Garmin something 500 or 750. Revise your home insurance if applicable to include your new found schwag. Best 2400 you will ever spend. Not that I did it yet but it maybe happening soon.

I have 2 PMs already (PTs and iAero CPU). The problem is once you have one, you can't really think of riding a bike without one. Even for the big dummy - I want one. It reminds me to constantly push and improve. I am afraid that once you get to the Garmin then you won't go back to anything without GPS.

If you follow the Garmin advice be prepared for the addiction that will follow if you own multiple bikes. If you do find a Performance Bike tent sale, they were blowing VDO with altimeters for less than 60.

the beautiful part about the Garmin is that all you need to move it to another bike is a <$10 mount, as long as you don't mind riding without cadence. Everything else is contained in the unit which can be put on as many bikes as you want.

Even cadence is an easy fix. The cadence sensors are sold separately for around $40.00. Put a cadence sensor on your other bike. Garmin 500 and 705 can support up to three bikes and keep track of the mileage on each one.