AdvXtrm

I'd like to get a computer that includes a reasonably accurate temperature gauge, which also has a back-light function. I only need basic functions such as Mph., top speed, OD, and Trip. I don't need cadence, heart rate, calories, and whatever else. Altitude reading would be nice, but can be done without if need be. Any suggestions?

* UPDATE:
I have ordered the "Sigma BC 16.16 STS Wireless". @Rowan said he's had good luck with the brand, so hopefully I will too. I'll report back with how it works out for me. Thanks to all for the suggestions.

FBinNY 

The problem with bike computers and temperature is that they're so small. So they're very prone to the housing getting warmed by the sun, and throwing off the accuracy by more than enough to matter.

If you really need to know the temp, consider a small stand alone thermometer that you can keep in the shade, or just download weather to a smart phone.

AdvXtrm

Good points. I tend to ride at night a lot, and that's when I'm most concerned about the temp.

10 Wheels

You can rubber band one of these to your bike.

BigAura

The current temperature is not really that important while on tour. If you're cold you add layers or shed them if you're warm. For academic purposes I'd use my smart phone.

Steve B.

My Garmin 810 displays temperature via a built in sensor on the unit.

It also gets local weather data via the BlueTooth data link to a smartphone that has the Garmin Connect app on it. Where that app is getting it's weather data, I've no clue, but it seems reasonably accurate when I use it, in terms of temps, and wind direction. Of course this means you need a cell data connection, as the info. is coming from somewhere.

AdvXtrm

I'm more interested seeing it while riding at night, and without a back-light available, a don't think that would work well for me. I'm sure not ruling it out though, thanks.
OK, thanks, that's pretty interesting. I have considered a Garmin unit as well. I'll check them out some more.

gauvins

You may want to look at the Node 2.1.

AdvXtrm

Wow! That may be "exactly" what I need! It's at the top of my list now, thanks!

Rowan

Sigma 1612 or if you can find one used, the 1609 model. Has backlighting, and 15 or so other functions.

They are available in either wired or wireless. I have the 1609, and love it.

All my bikes, and likely Machka's, will be getting the 1612 progressively over the next little while, all wired. For randonneuring, redundancy is important, so I have my smartphone to track and provide route instructions, and the Sigma as my back-up and ready reference for distance (and temperature, of course).

Price depends on how much effort you want to go to, but the best I have seen for the new-model 1612 is around $AUD60.

AdvXtrm

OK, funny, I was just looking at the Sigma units when I checked back and saw your post. Great to hear they are working good for you. I'm ordering the "Sigma BC 16.16 STS Wireless" right now, thanks!

Squeezebox

What about a cheap digital thermometer from Xmart.

2 Piece

Looks like Cat Eye Adventurer has all the functions you request.
https://www.amazon.com/CatEye-Advent...teye+adventure

gregf83 

My Garmin 520 displays temp with a precision of .1C unfortunately, it's not accurate and reads at least 2C (4F) lower than it should.

AdvXtrm

* UPDATE:
I have ordered the "Sigma BC 16.16 STS Wireless". @Rowan said he's had good luck with the brand, so hopefully I will too. I'll report back with how it works out for me. Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Sigma BC 16.16 STS Wireless

2 Piece

Good deal, I just thought you wanted an altimeter as well and it does not look like the Sigma has that function.

cyccommute 

The problem isn't accuracy. It's what the thermometer is measuring. Convention says that we measure temperature in the shade but the question you have to ask is why? If you are sitting in the shade, that's an accurate measurement of the temperature in the shade. But if you are riding a bike in full sunlight, the temperature you are experiencing is much higher than a shaded temperature.

The unshaded thermometer on the computer is measuring an accurate temperature for your activity.

"Weather" from a smart phone is even less accurate. It's measured (most of the time) at an airport so it's only accurate for a shaded location at the airport's location. That could be miles and miles from someone's current location. And that temperature could vary widely.

For example, the Denver airport is 20 miles from downtown Denver. Last night, the temperature in downtown was 51°F. The temperature at the airport was 36°F. So is the temperature 36°F or 51°F?

5 miles to the west of me, it is currently in the mid-30s. At my current location, the temperature is 43°F. The airport temperature is 45°F but another airport (smaller regional one) 15 miles north of me is at 50°F. What is the "accurate" temperature? And all of those temperature are shade temperatures. The sun temperature could be much higher, especially in the summer.

cyccommute 

The 16.16 doesn't have an altimeter but the 14.16 does. It also has a temperature function. It has a few less functions than the 16.16, however. I've had the older version of 14.16 and the only drawback to that one was that it didn't have the ability to change wheel sizes automatically like the 16.16 but they seemed to have fixed that.

Either computer is a good computer at a pretty good price.

jefnvk

Meh, some of simply like to know. It drives me crazy that my current car somehow came without a thermometer, a feature every other car I've had in the past decade has had.

Love it! Probably could even stick the probe up under the seat, so it stays shaded.

10 Wheels

I have them in the A/C vents on my cars.

jefnvk

Measuring the efficiency of the system?

For those that have the computers with altitude, how do those actually work? Do you have to plug in barometric pressure to get a good reading, like an airplane, or how exactly are they calibrated?

pdlamb

I find the shaded, old-school zipper pull thermometer on my saddle bag more accurately measures what I experience cycling than the Garmin sitting on my bars. They're pretty close if it's overcast. But in bright sunlight the exposed Garmin reads way high, sometimes up to 20° high. No way it feels like 80° when all the shaded thermometers read 60°. 65°, maybe, in the sunshine. But not 80°.

10 Wheels

I like the wind Temp. The summer roads heat up to 120*F and my rear is just ten inches above the hot road.

indyfabz

I had a basic Sigma model put on by a LBS when I shipped my bike out west for a tour. It functioned very well. The only thing I did not like about it was the interaction between the button on the bottom of my unit and my thigh. When I would stop take photos, I would, out of habit, lean my bike slightly to the left. That caused the from wheel and handlebars to turn to the left, and the computer would press against my left thigh. If the computer was set on distance or time mode, it would reset. During the first day of the ride I thought the computer was malfunctioning because it kept resetting. At some point I finally realized what was going on.


The model you have opted for appears to have a button on the bottom of the unit. Mounting the computer on the stem would eliminate the problem I had. You might also consider mounting the computer on the side of the stem opposite of the side you lean the bike when straddling it for photos, etc.

cyccommute 

Your zipper pull thermometer measure a temperature but whether that is accurate or not depends on what you are measuring. When you ride your bike do you ride under an umbrella (or shaded by your saddle) or is the sun beating down on you? The temperature difference between what the Garmin reads in full sun could indeed be around 20°F higher.

And, yes, I'd expect the temperatures to be closer to the same during overcast conditions because one device isn't measuring solar radiation while the other is in those conditions.