Wireless computer or Wired???
 

Hi, Whats your thoughts on Wired bike computers vs Wireless.

Do they both work relatively the same? Is one better than the other? And does the wire on the wired computer get in the way or looks messy?

Thanks all :)

There's pros and cons to both, it just depends on what you want. A Wireless job looks nicer when it's on the bike due to no wire going from the computer to the sender, but they cost more to get the same features found in a wired computer. Wireless computers use batteries in the computer and sender, the bat in the wireless computer will last at least 5 years same with wired, the wireless sender about 6 months. The wireless is a bit heavier due to the bulky sending unit. Typically a wireless computer will last about 4 years though none of mine ever made it past 3 years. Overall I believe wired computers are better in terms of features, reliability, and cost.

Brand wise Cateye and Sigma are my favorites, currently I use Sigma's, I think they offer more features for the money, plus I think their the nicest looking of all the computers on the market.

When I use to have an Avocet 45 wired, I would compare it to the wireless Polar which I would also mount on the bike at the same time. The wired responded to speed changes and showed them to you instantly where as the wireless had a short delay. I now use a Cateye double wireless on one bike and a Ciclo wired on the other. Both have cadence and the wireless is muss less messy with out all of the wires and double senders. My one dislike of Cateye units are the very narrow digits.

I use a basic wired cateye. Totally reliable and the single wire going to the front wheel can ride down the brake cable. Its lasted six years so far and never missed a beat. If you want cadence etc wireless may offer a neater solution, but IMHO its just more complicated for no real reason going wireless.

The biggest thing in my book is that when, (it's only a matter of time), you mess up the wire in a wired system your screwed. I have nothing against them and I loved mine. Worked flawlessly for years but because the wires somehow frayed or split made mine a paperweight.
If all you want to know is how far you went and how long and how fast then all you need is a basic wired, or a watch. if you want all that other stuff cadence, elevation, blah blah blah. go wireless.

I have had trouble with interference from bike lights disrupting the signal of wireless computers. Doesn't happen with my Garmin though which uses a digital protocol that is less susceptible. Just something to bear in mind.

I also like how a wired computer just starts up when you start moving, but you have to wake up a wireless or else it'll just stay blank, and not register anything until you do.

cateye wireless never an issue and when done with a wheel rollout it is deadly accurate.

When I had a Cateye Strada wireless, you didn't have to do anything to get it started unless the bike had been sitting for a long time (like 2 weeks) and it went to sleep. Otherwise just get on the bike and go. I use a Garmin Edge 200 now, which requires a few button pushes (power on, select ride mode, press start) but is a much cleaner installation with nothing on the wheel or fork.

I have a wireless computer on my bike. Whenever I start a ride (i.e., mile 0) I reset the various ride counters (i.e., time ridden, distance ridden, etc), so that "wakes it up" anyway. If I am just resuming from a mid-ride stop (i.e., traffic light, lunch, etc) though, I don't have to touch it.

I bought a wireless CatEye Strada Cadence, what a waste of money. Even if it wasn't crap (it just stopped working one day - I replaced the batteries and it just shows 0 mph no matter how fast I'm going) I wouldn't have a use for it now that I've got a Garmin.

GPS bike computers can be profoundly useful and nice-to-have. If you're the type of person who might want one down the line, consider putting the money you might have spent on a wireless cyclocomputer right into a GPS.

what is it about the Strada Cadence that causes so many problems. Even after Cateye sent me new parts I refused to put it on my bike because I knew down the road I'd just have the same problem everyone else did.

I agree.. if you think you're gonna stick with cycling and really really want a computer just do yourself a favor and get something nicer from the get go.

I prefer wired, but I have a Cateye Double Wireless on my road bike because the black wire from the chain stay to the handlebar on a white bike just looks weird. The computers on the other bikes are Sigmas.

I use the Bontrager Node 1.1 system. It's a great system, big screen...but for Trek Madone riders, the best part is the sensors built right into the frame mount. Makes for a very clean setup.

One poster mentioned that the wire on a wired job can be broken, that's true, you can break one...but it's also a rare event, my last wired computer lasted 18 years before the wire got loose...18 to 20 years vs 3 to 4 years for wireless...hmmm, I can't figure out which is more reliable and cost effective, maybe someone can figure that out for me.

I have a wired Sigma that has been great for 8+ years.

I have a Garmin which is wireless. It works perfectly and have never had an issue with it. I am using cadence and heart rate on it so they require two batteries and the head unit is rechargeable.

My Gramin Edge500 works great. It is a bit pricey, but I can use it on three of my bikes and still get a grand total of miles for all three bikes.

Wired computers are OK, but I kept ruining the wires.

Just got a Node 1.1 and love the clean and easy install.

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/531/img2189cj9.jpg
It takes some patience to make a wired computer look good.

I use these, free shipping.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/sunding...edometer-24075

I've used Schwinn (Target) wired and Topeak wired and they were ok. The Schwinn ones didn't have features I needed (heart rate, I would get tunnel vision up some hills and decided to upgrade to something with heart rate) and the Topeak failed horribly. My wireless ones are both Sigma and I love them. I get interference from lights in the winter, so I just use strava for then when commuting. I got the Sigmas from moderbike.com and REI.

Don't know why anyone would still use a wired computer. That's like having a cord on your house phone. Get with the times and just buy a wireless system.

Yeah, my wired cateye cadence is now a clock.

Second that for the Node, I have the Node 2 on my Madone. Seeing as you are a fellow Torontonian which model Madone do you have?

I had a wired Sigma 1609 before (w/ cadence, now for sale ;) ) and I'm using the wireless Sigma 2209 w/ cadence and HR monitor at the moment.

One gripe about wireless is losing data transmission and I can honestly say I haven't had that issue. You just have to make you your sensors make the optimal "contact" distance with the transmitter and you're good.

I like my Cateye Strada Cadence. Wireless is overrated, and the sensors are big and ugly anyway.

I heard that a lot before I got my first wireless, including losing transmission near high voltage wires, I never had any of that happen unless a sending unit battery died then I lost transmission.

By the way, all 3 of my wireless computers, 2 Cateye and 1 VDO, all failed due to the sending unit failing.

Call me old fashioned if you want, but making something more complicated for the sake of it seems pointless. A computer is attached to the bike and its not like you are going to go walking around with it. Why put more in there to fail when its only a wire or 2 riding the cables or tubes on the bike? The wires are simple 2 core jobs and if they for some reason fail it would take me all of 5 minutes to solder them back together.

I personally prefer wired over wireless. Just last night I installed a Sigma BC-509 computer on by bike, and it looks fine, and works great..... I didn't need the cadence or heart rate monitor so for $19 bucks the wired 509 is perfect.