Computer question.
 

Hi everyone, this is maybe my second post here and I have a question regarding computers.

I was just given an older Panasonic DX-3000 to ride so I can see how my knees hold up before spending a large sum on a new touring rig (frame is somewhat small). I used to do a lot of weekend trips when I was in my mid to late teens on mountain bikes, I'm now 31 and have pretty much not been on a bike sense then. My knees have been acting up recently so I'm a bit worried about starting to ride now. eek. I miss my weekend trips though, and would like to do some longer ones eventually.

Anyhow, there are a couple of things I'd like to get and besides a helmet the other is a computer. I think I'd like a fairly basic wired one as I've read a lot of bad things about wireless. I'd like something that is water "proof" as I live on the west coast and it gets wet, a lot. I want it to tell me current my speed, distance traveled this trip and total distance traveled for an entire trip or whenever I reset it. I've seen at least one video of someone reaching 1000 m/km and having it reset to zero, I'd like to know that it will continue counting past 999 m/km

Extra things I'd like are a clock and a back light as well as possibly keeping track of my max speed, average speed, etc.

Thanks!

I like my Cateye Strada. It does everything you want except the back light. I haven't found that the light is really needed as I don't night ride often. Cateye has a long history of making good quality computers and it's price is very reasonable compared to others.

I have a $10 Schwinn 6 function that works well for me. Don't need to spend a lot of money to get a good computer

If the computer cycles to zero after 1000 mi/km, I wouldn't think that's a deal breaker. Just keep track of how many thousands of miles you've gone in your head. Even if the display supports distances over 1000 mi/km, it's a bit risky to depend on the computer to keep track of that on its own. If you have a digital camera, just take a picture of the display when you think of it. That will give you a log of distance at a specific date and time.

It's hard to find a computer anymore that isn't at least water resistant (that is, sealed against water getting into the unit itself). The main water problem is when water gets in the contacts between the computer and the mount and messes with the electrical connection. I have yet to find a computer that is really rock solid against this in a pouring rain. Not much to do about it apart from tie a baggie over the computer when it starts getting wet.

The latest computer I got is the Sigma Sport BC906, which can mount on the handlebars or the stem. Mounting on the stem frees up space on the handlebars for lights or, um, for your hands. I'm also partial to computers with nice thick wires that don't pull so easily.

I'll second the Cateye Strada. It was the last wired computer I used and seemed to work fairly well. The wires are rather thin though, so it's easy to damage them. Found that out the hard way... twice! Post-Strada I used wireless computers from Sigma and Garmin; both were flawless.

BWF,
Thanks for the info, I looked at a few of their computers and really like the big display.

Ploeg,
The computer resetting at 1000 m/km would not be something I'd let keep me from buying an otherwise great computer.

I figured getting something that's water resistant would not be an issue now. I'd been thinking about it and was assuming the that the buttons would be the weak link in a system, never thought about the contacts in the mount! So does that water get into the mounting tray and then into the computer around its contacts? Or, does water pool in the mounting tray and sit there making the connection between the mount and computer weak?

Hmm, probably not neccesery under normal circumstances but has anyone ever tried water repellent or electrical grease to prevent that?

I've never had a computer fail due to water, to my knowledge, and I've ridden in the rain plenty. I have computers on 4 of my bikes and all of my family's (4 more.) Here are my thoughts. Obviously, others make take different, equally valid views.

1. I used wired. One less battery to replace (the one on the sender if you go wireless) and they're cheaper. I don't mind spending extra money for a good reason, but going wireless hasn't seemed worth it to me. I could care less that there's a little black wire winding down my fork.
2. I like a big display. My 58-year-old eyes have gotten so that I can't read without glasses, but I certainly don't want to put on reading glasses every time I want to read my bike computer. My Cateye computers are very viewable.
3. I like to see current speed and my trip miles all the time - without having to hit a button to switch between them. My Cateyes do this.
4. Other functions I like are average speed, maximum speed, and time riding. On tours I always include these numbers in my journals.
5. I used to like the odometer so I could keep track of how many miles I ride in a year, but I don't seem to care anymore. Partly it's because I ride 4 different bikes, and don't want to hassle with switching the computer between them. They each have their own.
6. I don't care much about a clock function to tell me what time it is. I always wear a watch.

When you have a good soaking rain, the rain will sometimes seep between the computer and the mount and start messing with the electrical connection. When that happens, the computer simply stops recording distance and eventually shuts off automatically. You can pull over, get a dry towel and wipe off the mount and the back of the computer, and the computer works again. If it's still raining, more water can seep in and it might shut off again. In any case, it's a temporary issue, and I see it only after a prolonged soaking rain. I've never had water get into the computer that way. I've seen this with Trek, Cateye, and Vetta computers. I haven't used the Sigma computer in such a downpour yet. It seems that the Sigma might not be as susceptible, because the mount has a big hole in the middle instead of the continuous platform that is used in all the other mounts, and so wouldn't collect water as readily. I wouldn't be surprised if the Sigma had the same issue, though. Regardless, it's an infrequent and temporary issue with a non-mission-critical part.

I've never ridden with anything but a wireless computer and I've never had a single issue. I know I still see allot of wired computers on bikes in this area but still, I wouldn't be afraid to go wireless. They are hassle free and easy to install.

Most computers have an odometer that keeps the cumulative number of miles traveled. This should be much larger than 1000 miles.

If you are going on a long/multiday trip, just note the starting odometer reading. The trip odometer is not meant to be used over multiple days.

The problem with wireless computers is mostly interferance. My Planet Bike wireless once in a while reports really impressive maximum speeds but, outside of that, the wireless doesn't appear to be a problem.

The newer (more expensive) ones, work so they don't produce wacky data.

I've found wireless to be good and bad. Prior to my most recent wireless computer, I would periodically tear the wires when packing/unpacking the bike for travel. Not every time, but I ruined several wired leads that way. Last time that happened, I replaced with wireless. Now the only thing I'll occasionally get is some interference that causes the computer to suddenly go into hyper-mode and hence I'll lose track of distance. This seems to happen with overhead lines, electrified fence, some city streets and overhead tram lines. Nothing fatal, but then I'll just estimate the total adjustment and go from there.

I've got a cheap schwin computer from a box store. It works fine, except in really constant rain, which I'd rather not ride in. I have used a schmear of dielectric grease on the mount, but I don't know if it makes a difference or not. It's not like it was hard to apply, and I've got a lifetime supply of the stuff.