cycle computers
 

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive and simple cycle computer (preferably wireless)? All I am interested in is MPH, distance, and time. If it does more that’s cool, until it gets complicated to use, then it’s a deal breaker.

Thanks in advance!

Walmart used to sell a little computer for $9.32 that did all that. It's not wireless. I think they marketed it under the Schwinn name. I haven't looked to see if they still sell it, but I put one on my winter bike a few years ago and it works great.

It's tough to beat the Cateye Enduro 8 for an inexpensive touring-tough basic cycle computer. It's less than $30 or so.

I strongly recommend against wireless. I have owned a few and none were satisfactory.

My companions on the TA used wireless and hated them. They logged miles while in a restaurant if they parked anywhere near the front of the restaurant if there was a neon sign in the window. They also got bogus readings around power lines, electric fences, and other stuff.

My advice is just go with a nice wired unit. The ones listed as mountain bike computers tend to have a heavier duty wire if that is what your concern is. The Cateye Enduro 8 is a nice one.

Sorry but I can't recommend a wireless one since none of the ones I have tried were satisfactory.

Wireless computers tend to have most every feature, so they're a little more complicated than par. They also generally don't turn on automatically when you spin your wheel (which is good; otherwise you drain the computer battery). So if you want something that's simple to use, you need to go wired. Anything by Cateye is fine.

good to know, thanks.

If you're going to be using cue sheets, I like the CatEye Strada. It has a second trip distance that's easy to reset after a turn.

Wireless catseye,I've had no problems with mine in 4-5 years.My wireless goes thru batteries faster than my wired ones did.I change them every year now(6 bucks/2 batteries)

I had one of those and it did work great in winter. The problem was when summer came around. When the unit got hot the display would black out and I would be riding in the dark, so to speak. When I put it in the shade it would slowly return to normal, but obviously I wasn't riding in the shade much. Finally replaced it with a Cateye Mity 8, which has been great.

Years ago I had an Echo J12 that I found in a surplus store for $5.99. That was a great little computer that worked in all weather conditions and showed cadence as well as speed, avg speed, max speed, odometer, and trip odometer. I had about 15k miles on that little thing when it flew off the mount while I was riding single track a few years ago. Never found it, and don't think they're made anymore.

CC-MC100WMICRO WIRELESS this is the one I have and it works great now for two years.Not real cheap but you get what you pay for too.

I've not found wireless to be consistent in operation, so I no longer use them. As xyzzy832 mentioned the cateye enduro 8 works great, but is wired. I have one one each bike.

I've never had a problem with my Cateye wireless. 50K miles between several bikes over 6 years. It just won't die. It's actually the one piece of bike kit I've had the longest. No kidding.

I had a wireless unit. I wanted to use it on the rear wheel so I could put it on the trainer, but the electronic unit had to be really close to the sender and did not work. I then found that my handlebars were too far away from the sender location on the front fork so it did not even work on the front wheel unless I put the computer down lower than the handlebar. No more wireless for me.

I also like the automatic on and off of the wired variety.

I like the wired Sports Instruments SI 90 but the company that made it is defunct so they are no longer available. It had a large diameter wire so you don't break the wiring like on the several older Trek computers I had that had wimpy wiring that easily broke.

If I had to buy a new computer, I would look for one with robust wiring. And one that can be installed on the stem is nice if you have a lot of stuff already on your handlebar.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=194572

I've had a couple of wireless in the past and didn't like them at all. I go strictly with wired now. So much so that I passed on the one feature I was really wanting - altitude as that was only on the wireless ones that I found.

I got a wired Planet Bike Protoge 9.0 instead. Works well, no buttons to push after the initial set up (less openings for moisture), fairly heavy wiring at about 1/8 in thick. I'm happy with it.

I had the additional issue (with any computer) of trying to get it to work on a recumbent tadpole trike.... no real place to put the sensor close to the spoke magnet. Got this http://www.rei.com/product/736957 - the pic on the web page is like 4 times the actual size - and you can have up to a 20mm gap between the sensor and the magnet.