Hi,

Can anyone give me some input on good bike computers?

Thanks!

Cateye Strada Double Wireless

+1 Great computer. Pretty good price.

I agree. I have it and have no complaints.

Anyone use the Sigma 1909? Don't really need the HR monitor but it's certainly a plus.

Thanks for the input!

Since you didn't specify a price, I'll suggest the Garmin Edge 500 - which has the wireless and cadence your looking for + lots more. Elevation, HR, Temp....

garmin 500 or garmin edge 305

I have a Sigma 2209 I got cheap. Not sure what the difference is between it and the 1909 offhand.

Pros:
- barometric altimeter
- wireless speed, cadence, HR
- big display is easy to read

Cons:
- have to buy the docking station separately
- software sucks and can't export to a format you can use with any site I've seen (Endomondo, Strava, etc)
- no gps
- screens aren't customizeable
- temp isn't logged


In short, I'm good with the ~$120 I have in it including docking station, but it's for damn sure no Garmin 500. The display is far easier to read than a Cateye double wireless, but it costs more too.


My recommendation if you have a smartphone is to use a good cycling app, bluetooth HR monitor ($50-60), and a Cateye double wireless ($60-75).

+1 more unless you want to go Garmin. I have single wireless + Garmin setup on my main bike (cateye is the odometer)

I'm selling a Polar CS500 in the For Sale forum. It has everything you want plus a HRM and a lot more. If you're interested, we can discuss the proce.

This.

/thread

/thread ?

305 is equalled by a smartphone. for most of us, that's free.

500 is $250+. I think there are many options for speed & cadence much cheaper. sounds like there is a lot of support for the cateye.

I just got a 500 for 210.00. Check ebay.

You're assuming the OP has a budget in mind. Without knowing his price range this thread gives him most of his options. $350 on Amazon for a Edge 500 bundle is the best deal in my opinion, but I have an Edge 800 and am biased.

If you are budget constrained, get the cheapest computer (e.g.) you can find that gets you speed and distance. Forget cadence. Save up until you can get a Garmin 500 and look for the best price.

Everything else you'll get would have a ceiling on it. No GPS, or grade, or power, or heart rate. You'll be spending 60% of the Garmin, and still not have all the function, and then end up getting the Garmin anyway. Just hobble along with a cheapo computer until you can be all in.



If you are destined for a Garmin anyway, an alternative is to get a Bontrager Node, which has an ANT+ cadence sensor. So when you finally do get the Garmin, you won't have to get a new cadence sensor (or HRM, if you opt for that).

The Cateye is certainly the cheapest reliable that I know of, but a smartphone != an Edge 305. 305 = Heartrate/Cadence. Smartphone = no heartrate/cadence (without possible additional hardware plugged in). 305 = weatherproof. Smartphone = not weatherproof without some kind of case. 305 = battery life that is adequate for 200 miles in a weekend without a charge. Smartphone = battery life? What battery life?

you can get bluetooth HR very easily. cadence though, you are right.

gps-based speed and altitude is the main tech of the 305. a smartphone does that.

Well then, do tell, and link on this thread:


Best source for the Garmin Edge 500 and two cadence sensors.

Sigma BC1609 STS does wireless speed/cadence and has a nice big display, but eventually you'll wish you'd just bought a Garmin 500.

Agree about the posts on the 500. I got one a couple weeks ago with HRM/cadence and it's easily the best thing I've bought for my bike (also the most expensive, but worth it if you enjoy data and riding a lot). I still have my old (wired) Cateye cadence computer on my bike as well so it looks a bit Fredly with all the sensors but I like having two displays. The Cateye shows speed + cadence, and the Garmin you can customize to have just about whatever you like. The HR chart is great, and I also like elevation, heading, grade, etc.

Here's something you may not be aware of: If you plan on getting a front light for your bike, be aware that some lights generate an electromagnetic field which interferes with analog wireless bicycle computers. I bought a Planet Bike 2-watt Blaze with Superflash front headlight, and it completely screwed up the Bontrager Trip 5W wireless computer I had at the time. For instance, the computer would indicate I was going 22 mph when I was stopped, etc. I ended up buying a digital bicycle computer--a Bontrager Node1--which solved the problem.

By the way--if you think you may put your bike on a trainer during the winter months, I also recommend you (1) get a computer with cadence, and (2) get one which can accept signals from a rear-mounted sensor. I've been using a trainer for the past three months, and I've found cadence to be extremely useful in helping me monitor my workouts. I use it a little less on the road, but I still find it to be useful there, as well.

Since you didn't mention price lets start form less to more. I had a Garmin Forerunner 305. Its been discontinued now and you can get one really cheap. I think it was the best thing they ever made. it does both running and cycling and if you are a little clever swimming too. Just be careful of the bike mount, ( the 305 "F" is a wrist mount) as it tends to come off and bounce under a cars wheels. Ask me how I know. I had mine for years and found it to be bullet proof. So much for the cheap Garmin. The Garmin 800 is the latest one and is really nice, however there new and improved HR strap is junk. I used the old style and fine it to work great. Of course all Garmins are up loadable to "Garmin connect" or "Strava" so you can keep track of your data online. Good luck.

Cateye Strada Double Wireless and $25 Target-bought, ECG-accurate Heart Rate Monitor. Now, GO RIDE...

I have a cateye strada double wireless on my Gary. It is the simplest to set up, most durable, probably most accurate of my computers.

I use the strada wired cadence on my trainer. It is freddly (it's on the trainer), but is accurate and the fastest responding of my computers.

I have the sigma b2209 on the road bike. The HR and altimeter are nice, but not always the most accurate. Setup is more difficult with two sensors. The mount is not as solid as the cateye, but the display is larger and easier to read even though it is not customizable. I didn't bother to purchase the docking station. I would buy a cateye triple wireless before I would buy another one of these.

on all but the road bike I wear a Timex watch style HRM. I find it a little more consistent than the sigma.

on nearly all of my rides, I track the route using my smartphone.

Do I need a Garmin? No. Do I want a single device to share between all my bikes that gives me all the information I want on a single display.....depends on the day, but the answer is usually yes.

if your are going to go beyond speed and cadence (cadence is a gateway stat,IMO), Garmin is definitely the only way to go. If you're happy with simplicity, cateye double wireless is the best available at a reasonable price.