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Do you keep a computer on your fixie?

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)
View Poll Results: Computar?
Have a computer, take it off
9
18.37%
Have a computer, leave it on
13
26.53%
I am a luddite and 7-segment displays offend my simple, fixed lifestyle
27
55.10%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

Do you keep a computer on your fixie?

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Old 12-02-04 | 01:50 AM
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From: The Land of Milk and Hoppy.
Do you keep a computer on your fixie?

I'm obsessed with mileage for some reason and am thinking of getting a computer for my fixie. The question is whether it's worth it as I'd have to take it on and off for lockup periods, which would be several times daily.

Do you use one? Do you leave it on?
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Old 12-02-04 | 03:38 AM
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Bikes: Red Cutlass, the 01 Pista

have one--cateye enduro8. I like seeing how fast im going when I blast past roadies. I also like tracking my mileage. If im off my bike for longer than 10 minutes, ill just unclick it, and put it in my pocket. easy as....well...pie.
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Old 12-02-04 | 03:51 AM
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If left out in the open, I take all removables off -- comp, pump, rear LED.
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Old 12-02-04 | 05:55 AM
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Twitch, $10 cyclos can be had at online stores right now.
I use a Cateye Enduro and it is very easy to clip off, even easier to clip on.

Prob is- can't see it in the night. Have you thought about putting a cheap GPS on the top of your bag and carry it with you
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Old 12-02-04 | 06:35 AM
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Bikes: Converted 1997 Trek Singletrack 930 singlespeed and a Kona Lavadome singlespeed, fixed Dahon folding bike, fixed 27" Miyata road bike, early 70's Raleigh Chopper

Got a cheapo $9 Schwinn one I got from Walmart. It stays on the bike unless I remember to take it off when locking it up. I like seeing how slow I actually am going and how far I haven't gone.
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Old 12-02-04 | 07:00 AM
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From: home of orville and wilbur

Bikes: khs flite...phil hubs...dt swiss wheels...48/16 ratio

i have a computer on my bike...it matches my new reflector set, blinkie, fenders, gay helmet and brake cables...
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Old 12-02-04 | 07:39 AM
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From: Sci-Fi Wasabi

Bikes: I built the Bianchi track bike back up today.

I used to sometimes have a laptop computer in my bag, but it's kind of falling apart and the monitor doesn't work without pulling the keyboard off if you turn it, so it just sits at home now...
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Old 12-02-04 | 10:47 AM
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Bikes: Cannondale Bad Boy / Mercian track / BOB trailer / Moulton recumbent project

I have a strawberry-pink transparent computer on mine. It's coming off when I get the new bars, though. Mile-counting's fine for the gearie but disturbs my fixie Zen.
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Old 12-02-04 | 11:37 AM
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Cyclo computers? What is next a handlebar TV with DVD? Concentrate on the road please! I can tell I'm going fast by the wind in my face.
Oh, and don't forget the heartrate monitor so it can tell you when you are tired! Just pray it doesn't malfunction - your heart might explode.
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Old 12-02-04 | 12:53 PM
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I was going to put one on to see how fast I was going but I realized that I had no brake cable to wrap it around. I though about attaching to the fork and reading it from there but it did not work
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Old 12-02-04 | 01:43 PM
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I keep a computer on because I like to know whether I should applaud or berate myself after rides. I currently use a Cateye cordless and I like it so far. Not cheap at $40 but I've tracked my mileage for several years and like to see what works and what doesn't. When locking up I just throw it in my pocket unless I'm using my old beater which has a computer that zeroes real easy if put in a pocket. I just leave that one on the bike.
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Old 12-02-04 | 01:46 PM
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Nope! something about soiling the purity of the experience with technology.

I have been curious about it though, but i think i would be looking at it all the time, like working out in front of a mirror

but i have it on my MTB
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Old 12-02-04 | 01:57 PM
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i used to be into keeping tabs on miles, diet & trainning logs, etc. down to the weight of foods i was injesting, but it got to become too much and i found out (FOR ME) that it took away from the very reason why i ride, for the enjoyment that it brings me, afterall i am not in trainning for anything...

with me fixed brings me back to those days when we rode to long after we were supposed to be home for dinner....it took me months just to put a light on it....
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Old 12-02-04 | 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by MKRG
I keep a computer on because I like to know whether I should applaud or berate myself after rides.
Exactly.

Faster is better. Sometimes I train. Sometimes I just want to know how far I've gone. Is that 47t chainring faster than the old 42?

As posted recently in the commuting forum, my rain bike doesn't have a computer and runs a lower gear. It's a very different experience. I don't have a measure for my performance and relax a lot more and that can be good too.
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Old 12-02-04 | 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by charlesw
Have you thought about putting a cheap GPS on the top of your bag and carry it with you
That's what I'm waiting on. Once they have a computer w/ GPS and a rode map that will give me turn by turn directions in sexy vocies and in at least 4 different languages. A bouns would be some number I could call that will unlock my u-lock on the days that I wallk out without my keys. I mean, I keep a spare in my bag and all, but that would be cool.
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Old 12-02-04 | 06:20 PM
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From: by a big river
Note: I use the comp as a tool rather than let the numbers turn me into one.
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Old 12-02-04 | 11:05 PM
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Bikes: Gunnar Street Dog, pink GIOS, Iron Horse MTB

I haven't had a computer on my fixed gear in many years of riding. I tend to trash them, but I crash less than I used to and I'm thinking about getting one now. But if it makes me any "less relaxed" in traffic I'm going to start riding over the top of cars
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Old 12-02-04 | 11:14 PM
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Bikes: 2 roadies, 7 fixed-gears, 1 hardtail, 1 full suspension mtb, and 1 hybrid...so far.

I have one on three of the five fixies.
I like to track milage, and I like watching the speedo trying to hit 40 mph.

I have a pretty good idea about how fast I'm going without one.
You know what gear you're in so it's just a matter of converting the rpms to speed.
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Old 12-02-04 | 11:44 PM
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Bikes: 1992 Schwinn Paramount

Yeah, I threw my old Cateye Mity8 on my fixed-gear after I bought a Cateye CDW-300 for my Allez.
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Old 12-03-04 | 03:08 AM
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From: Les Bois

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Originally Posted by Mr. Shadow
You know what gear you're in so it's just a matter of converting the rpms to speed.
It finally dawned on me that I could easily do that and know my cadence after a couple rides with the new cyclocomputer. According to Sheldon Brown's online gear calculator, my conversion factor is 5x, meaning @16mph, cadence is 80; @20mph, cadence is 100rpm; @24mph, cadence is 120. Luckily for me I chose 46/18 gearing as it just happens to work out that it is exactly 5x.
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Old 12-03-04 | 05:14 AM
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I used to keep one eye on the "average speed" the other on the road,,,,,can you say obsession. I just ride for fun and transportation now.Puter's not a good thing for me,but thats just me--JJ
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Old 12-03-04 | 07:54 AM
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From: East Alabama

Bikes: 2004 Litespeed Tuscany, Trek 5500, Breezer Storm, Bianchi road bike (fixed)

I don't have one. If I have extra bike money it seems there's always other things more important to spend it on.
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Old 12-03-04 | 08:19 AM
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From: Cph

Bikes: some- variety is good..

i have a mac on my bike, but what i am really interested in is one of those rollcages so i can do a full front flip without even blinking. or biking..

no really i had a puter on a bike and i was a slave, but i know a guy that puts the display under his saddle.. if i wanted/ needed a puter thats probably where iŽd put it..
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Old 12-03-04 | 10:10 AM
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Bikes: Rock Lobster track, Colnago Dream, Ti Paramount, Litespeed Vortex compact, Santa Cruz Blur, Bianchi cyclocross...always wanting more...

I got a deal on a wireless Vetta w/cadence and put it on my track bike one day - it remains there 'cause I still record my mileage (in a semi slave-like manner) and I like checking what my max cadence was after a ride...still trying to beat 167 on my spin hill.
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Old 12-03-04 | 10:19 AM
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Bikes: I built the Bianchi track bike back up today.

If you're running brakes you could just take your feet off the pedals and probably beat 167...

Wait - what hills in FL? Isn't the highest hill in the state Space Mountain in Disneyworld?
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