Just wanted to see what the percentage on this was. I haven't had a computer on any of my bikes in over 5 years. It's nice to gauge a ride based on how I felt rather than my avg speed. I know how long my loops are, and I know how long they take. I don't need a computer to complicate things.

I used to do it that way but lets be honest, without the confirming data we lie, to ourselves and others. Exaggeration creeps in and aside from all that, cold hard numbers help you train better and smarter. Get a Garmin 500 and find out how good it can be.

Lie about what? If I had a good ride, I had a good ride. Is it that crucial to know to the tenth what your avg speed was?

How you felt about a particular ride doesn't always jive with the data - if you had a computer, you would know this.

Having just purchased the garmin 800 I guess i'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I have so much data available to me after each ride, it's sort of overwhelming.

How you felt, RPE, is important to and I agree that riding by feel beats a computer. But if you want to compare rides, say to see if you're making improvements, then mph and to a lesser extent heart rate isn't a good measure because they are affected by too many variables. I use a power meter during rides, to control my effort, and after a ride, to measure my progress, so a computer is required. I also use the PM to determine if I need more recovery or less. GL

I guess that works fine if you want to ride the same boring route day after day after day. I just got a Garmin 500 for Christmas, and the data is great (avg speed, distance, HR, cadence, elevation, temperature). The Garmin Connect makes it easier to log my workouts. I plan to get a PM hub this summer.

WTFudge is the poll?

BTW, I had a CatEye Micro Wireless.
I just upgraded to a Kinetic Wireless Power Computer.
I am looking forward to the day that I upgrade to a Garmin
from that and relegate the KK to strictly trainer use.

Computers are personal. They are tools; accessories.
I for one like to measure my performance on a computer.

I wouldn't use one on a mountain bike or my singlespeed because I don't use them to work out with.
My MTB is a pure "get away" vehicle. When I'm in the woods, I'm in a totally different frame of mind than I am when I'm on the road.
When I'm on my SS, it's all about having fun and hauling arse down a busy NYC street dodging traffic.

Get an iphone mounted to your handlebars. It'll log just about everything you care about, and you can watch TV. If you watch old TDF vids while riding, it my motivate you to HTFU.

Garmin 305 Forerunner FTW. GPS + HRM + online data tracking galore. If you've never seeen your ride instantly mapped onto a Google Maps overlay, you're in for a real treat.

Computers aren't very personal at all. They either have all the features you want and more, or they don't and cost less. Not nearly the same sort of "personal" as a saddle or frame.

Also, can't see how a simple computer that displays current speed, distance, and time would take the fun out of MTBing or commuting.

jibe

I like it for commuting so I know whether I need to kick it up a notch to get to work on time.

Let's face it, if we didn't have computers, we wouldn't be on this forum.

duh, I meant bike computer

well I ride with my iphone in my jersey pocket because I use it for music. Is there an app for a bike computer? It's not that I don't like computers, I just don't like them on my handlebars.

If you're unjivable, you can use 'jive.'

You can't jive me.

Yes, one my main ride, no on the others

See? That's a "personal" opinion.

Your wrong, I'm right- End of Discussion.

If you're training for performance improvements, you are at a severe disadvantage without real data. If you're just riding around and either know or don't care about distance, then you don't need a computer.

You're only compounding the error.

Computer free since 1992, raced thru 1995. Did have HRM+watch+chrono and still do.

I have a computer even though I'm not currently racing or training for whatever. A computer just helps me know my daily mileage and average speed to see that I'm on track with my personal goals. It also takes some boredom out. Since I don't race I don't have a fancy computer just a Sigma 1609 that tells me everything I need to know; it came with the cadence feature, temperature, and back light for night rides, in addition to all the other stuff found on computers. I don't use an HRM either since I never had one when I use to race because they weren't around yet, but really see no need for one since again I'm not racing.