Might be time to consider a computer
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Los Angeles
Bikes: 2000 Schwinn Paramount Ti, 1994 LeMond/Bilatto, 1985 Colnago Super
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.
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.
#3
grilled cheesus
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,957
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From: 8675309
Bikes: 2010 CAAD9 Custom, 06 Giant TCR C2 & 05 Specialized Hardrock Sport
get a garmin 500 and be done with it. later.
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#4
Senior Member


Joined: Jul 2008
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
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! :-)
#6
well hello there

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,488
Likes: 388
From: Point Loma, CA
Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)
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.
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.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
#8
ka maté ka maté ka ora
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: wessex
Bikes: breezer venturi - red novo bosberg - red, pedal force cg1 - red, neuvation f-100 - da, devinci phantom - xt, miele piste - miche/campy, bianchi reparto corse sbx, concorde squadra tsx - da, miele team issue sl - ultegra
another vote for the 500
#9
Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2009
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Bikes: Habanero Titanium Team Nuevo
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.
#13
John Wayne Toilet Paper
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Roanoke
Bikes: BH carbon, Ritchey steel, Kona aluminum
#14
pan y agua

Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
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.
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You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#15
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,863
Likes: 6
From: Washington, DC
Bikes: Some bikes. Hell, they're all the same, ain't they?
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.
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.
#16
Live to ride ride to live
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,896
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Texas
Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro
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.
#17
Headset-press carrier
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Corrales New Mexico
Bikes: Kona with Campy 8, Lynskey Ti with Rival, Bianchi pista, Raleigh Team Frame with SRAM Red, Specialized Stump Jumper, Surley Big Dummy
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.
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.
#18
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.
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.
#19
Live to ride ride to live
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,896
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Texas
Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro
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.
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