I just got the garmin 500 edge. My buddy had the garmin sensor still in package and wasn't going to use it so he gave it to me. I got it home and started reading the directions I also started looking at the size of the sensor. that thing is an eyesore! I realize its for performace, but to be honest I rarely see a cadance sensor on bikes. I have never used a cadance before and though i know its important data, i have done just fine without.

I really dont want to be spending money, but is there a MUCH smaller sensor? (I'm talking about the transmitter specifically)

How many of you actually have this on your bike?

I have it on mine - it also serves as a speed / mileage sensor when I ride on a trainer.

I check my cadence anytime my level of perceived effort seems out of whack. Sometimes on long, steep climbs to make sure I'm in my sweet spot. Otherwise, it's not a parameter I monitor on every ride. Just a diagnostic. There are three or four times a year when I wouldn't want to be without it.

If you can fit the arm down inside the chainstay, they aren't very noticeable.

I bought my Edge 500 with the cadence HR bundle and honestly don't even notice it, or on anyone eles bike (I even installed it upright when I'm sure I could have flipped it upside down on the chainstay). Bikes are made for riding, not looking at. Put the sensor on and enjoy.

I use the wired Cateye Strada Cadence computer on my road bike. The only reason I got it was so I could tell how I was doing on the trainer (speed and distance wise), since a normal bike computer won't work connected to the front wheel. After I got it, I started keeping track of my cadence because of all the reading that I have done on the subject, especially here on BF. Since I ride my road bike and the hybrid and I don't always ride them in the same manner each time, I started to pay less and less attention to the cadence and now seldom use that mode.

On the road bike, I pretty much have the 80-100 rpm's down to where I know if I'm pedaling too slow without using the computer. However, there are times when I ride and I am not doing more than 10 mph (neighborhood rides with the wife or rides with the grandkids) so trying to maintain a cadence of 80-100 is a waste of time.

Edit: My wife has the Garmin Cadence sensor on her tadpole trike to go with her Forerunner 405CX. It is more noticeable than on a DF bike because it is mounted at the crank, which is out in front of everything else. She uses it for the cadence only.

You got the GSC-10, right? I use it on my bike. You're right about the size, but it does pick up both speed and cadence. Additionally, I have an all-black bike, so it kind of just blends in. All that aside, I've heard lots of stories about these particular sensors dying due to getting excess moisture in the battery compartment, so you may want to be careful with washing your bike, lots of rain riding, etc. I haven't had any problems with mine yet, but maybe I've just been lucky.

^This

I use it on my bike. While not a piece of art, it does it's job just fine, and I don't even notice it anymore.

really? it's not THAT big...

i also got an edge 500 recently and i do have the sensor on my bike. before that, i had a cateye double wireless, and the sensor on that was at least as big as the garmin. it's not like it gets in the way, throws your bike off balance, or anything...it's just a little sensor. might as well use it if you have it. cadence doesn't really influence my workouts much, but it's nice to know sometimes.

edit: also, the speed and distance from the sensor are more accurate than from the GPS (assuming your wheel size is entered correctly). so throw a magnet on the wheel and use it for that, too.

I had that problem and was glad to get rid of the GSC-10 when I got a Quarq.

I just got a Sigma 2209 for xmas-- it was really cheap, under $150 for the device and docking station and it comes with wireless HR, cadence, speed, barometric altimeter and *no* GPS.

Anyway I have two sharkfins on my left chainstay now because speed and cadence are unfortunately separate. There's no way I can mount them on the inside of the chainstay.. that would take a lot of tire/wheel clearance that I simply don't have. (Does it work on steel frames, maybe?)

However I do have them mounted on top of the chainstay to keep road funk to a minimum. I wasn't sure about that versus underneath. We'll see if I bump them while riding and if so, I'll move them to the bottom side.


Anyway, I find cadence really useful right now... since I've never had it. But after I put a couple hundred hours on the trainer over the rest of the winter, I will probably know my cadence by feel, and thus won't look at it much.

also use the GSC-10 speed/cadance sensor. I have it mounted on top of the chainstay as far back as possible so i could have the little swing arm for the speed sensor down behind the stay. It's hardly noticeable, just use it imo.

One really big advantage of the cadence sensor paired with the Garmin is it provides more accurate speed than the GPS. If you ride under tree cover or on very twisty roads, you'd be surprised at the wonky speed readings you can get when you use only the GPS. The Garmin defaults to reading speed through the GSC-10 if it's available and it provides more accurate data. Plus it's a must have if you're going to use your bike on rollers or a trainer.

As others have mentioned, it's not too bad size wise and when you're riding your bike you'll never see it. The only better option is the Trek DuoTrap or some crank based power meter.

Of course. It's a lot more useful than an HRM. My chain stays are black, so you can barely see it. It isn't that big, and you don't look at it while you ride anyway.

I have them on three of my bikes. Very useful for training when combined with power -- most of the intervals I do have a power and cadence target.

On my single bike I just use the Quarq.

On the tandem, We use the GSC-10.

I'm thinking though about adding a speed only sensor to the single bike to go along with the Quarq to get more accurate speed.

Not really a big deal, but the sensor is cheap and a bit less clunky than the GSC-10

I have a VDO head unit that I swap between my two bikes...one bike has the cadence transmitter, the other doesn't. I found that my cadence transmitter only confirmed that my average cadence is right within the recommended range (85 - 95) on every ride and that it's rare if my average falls outside the 89 - 91 range. Knowing that is what made me decide not to acquire the transmitter for my second bike.

Use it. Buy more for your other bikes at Amazon for <$40 each. For the cadence magnet, you can stick a rare-earth magnet to the inside of the pedal spindle (if it's not Ti). I use 3x12mm magnets but the size isn't that important. You can get these cheap on eBay or at craft stores like Michael's.

At least there's no wires. I have cadence sensors on two of my bikes and they're both wired.

I look at my cadence more than my speed.

I run cadence on all my bikes -- I like to use it for rhythm.

I rarely look at measurements other than cadence and HR.

Use it for a few months so you can learn your cadence. It's a good learning tool. Then take it off if you feel you don't use it or if you still think it's too ugly.

It should do speed and cadence, and it's more accurate than just GPS. I look at cadence more than anything else. Pliers help getting the zip ties and spoke magnet tightened.

At the speed you ride, no one will see it!

I could not resist.

I tend to let my cadence drop to sub-fred levels too often. When I use the sensor it reminds me to not be such a bum.

I think cadence sensor is prob the most useful accessory for new riders. It's kinda like a metronome for those starting learn music.