Hi all, I wanted to get some cycling computer recommendations, such as one brand versus another, what features to look for or are critical to have, wired vs. wireless (does it really matter?). I'm kinda clueless, help a newbie out please!

I've had a sigma 1609 and a cateye triple wireless.

Sigma is cheap and wired. $35 on amazon I believe so you can have the same on each bike. It works great if all you want to really see at once is speed and cadence then look at distance later. After about 4000 miles on rough road the handlebar mount often wouldn't seat the computer well enough to read cadence. I was using a wrist heart rate monitor with it which was difficult to read and it going out I upgraded.

The cateye triple wireless was $130 on amazon. It includes wireless speed/cadence and heart rate monitor strap. It is great except the text is quite small for cadence. Let's me view speed, heart rate, cadence, and distance at once. Doesn't drop signal like cheaper wireless computers I've had and is built really well. Heart rate strap seats better than my stand alone one which also lost connection where the cateye is solid. Only negative is the menus are a little difficult to navigate coming from the sigma but after a few times of use it is fine.

Get a cateye wireless. less of a hassle to install and also very popular to the advent cyclist. accurate and reliable.

Garmin Edge 500

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If you don't need ANT+, Garmin Edge 200.

If you do, Garmin Edge 500. And if you want to splurge, Garmin Edge 800.

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sooooo.... what is ANT+ ??

Stay away from PlanetBike computers if you want accurate time. Their clocks only show minutes and hours, not seconds. If you like to time your self, it blows.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare....eProduct=90675

https://www8.garmin.com/intosports/antplus.html

If you don't need GPS but want ANT+ and lots of customization options look at the Bontrager Node 1 or Node 2.

This.

ANT+ is what allows you to connect a heart rate monitor, cadence/speed sensor, or power meter to the unit to record the data. Many cyclists like the HR and cadence data and the more serious ones (or those who like gadgets) use the power meter.

For just speed, distance and cadence, I got the cateye strada double wireless. I like that both speed and cadence are handled by one piece. As a novice, I find myself paying attention to the cadence all the time. I'm not hardcore enough (yet) to need the more advanced stuff. $69 on amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Cateye-CC-RD40...1547883&sr=8-3

Are you talking about the clock or the elapsed time of the ride? I am almost postivie that my PB tracks elapsed time as HH:MM:SS...I just don't have it in front of me at work. Will check when I get home.

I am happy with MY PB computer. It was cheap, accurate, and reliable.

To tell the truth, I've been happy with my CatEye Strada. I bought the wired version, because I feel there are more disadvantages than advantages to wireless if all you need is a basic bike-o-meter. Specifically, if you want a wireless computer, then you have two batteries to worry about, so twice as often you need to replace them, and there is at least twice the weight associated therewith. Then you have the wireless transmitter/reciever, which surely adds weight and potential for failure, as well as cost, obviously. This extra weight and extra hassle for marginally better aesthetics and convenience when installing? My simple $25 computer is perfectly aesthetic as it is.

I also found the Garmin Edge 200/500/750/800 have good resale value, FWIW.

I use a timex global trainer gps watch with ant+ for my sensors. It works well. If I had to do it again, I may have gotten a garmin.

I have a CatEye Strada on one bike and CatEye Strada wireless on another. Both work great and the wireless is easier to install.

Another Garmin vote. In the end you'll be happier.

For a basic computer that does all I want (no cadence) I recommend the Sigma BC 1009. I have two of them. Currently it is $23.99 on Amazon. Their prices fluctuate often. I think I paid a few dollars less. Wired. Works great. Simple to set up.

I checked and my PB computer does track time as HH:MM:SS.

I use the Bontrager Trip 3, and am very happy with it. I REALLY prefer computers that mount on the stem rather than the handlebars, and this one goes either way. I've tried wireless and had poor luck, and this one has a nice hefty wire that I worry less about than I did with my older computer with a tiny wire. The Temperature reading is a nice feature, and other than that it does what it's supposed to and doesn't get in my way.

-Jeremy

In my opinion Garmin Edge 500 with heart rate and cadence is the best setup. The Edge 500 will also be compatible with the Garmin Vector pedals when they come out in March 2012.

also have the cateye strada double wireless. a little more feedback on it:

1. it interferes with my polar HR monitor
2. it eats batteries...but this may have been compounded by the HR monitor interference before i figured out what was happening
3. it rattles pretty loudly on the bike because of the way the mount/computer interface is designed

besides those issues, it works great.

I ride with a Garmin 500 with cadence and heart rate. I would not suggest it though for a newb. I would suggest Cateye products, I had the Astrale 8 for many years and for the price, it is quite good. If you can afford heart rate and cadence think about getting it, I find them both very helpful in planning rides.

+1

I bought 2 other types, and took them back because the installation was next to impossible. The Cateye went in really easily, and has all the basic features:
- Speed
- Average speed
- Distance
- Time
- Max speed
- Total distance

Works for me...

You don't get the full utility of any of that without computer downloads which the Node computers don't do.

(tracking training stress on variable rides, making correlations in the data like you can ride threshold intervals on consecutive days at over 90 RPM but not under, updating interval targets based on critical power calculated off the most recent best shorter and longer efforts, etc.)