Recommend a Cycle Computer

[pirate]

I recently lost my cycle computer, so now I'm looking for a new one.

Can someone recommend a reasonably priced, preferably wireless, computer that includes an altimeter?

[ChrisJ]

Any of the Garmin Edges work fine. I think I have the 305.

[BottomBraket]

I'm likin' the VDO C3 DS Digital Wireless Cyclocomputer w/ Wireless Cadence. Its got a Digital Wireless interface so I can park my bike next to the neon sign at Radio Shack without clocking 76 mph.

Performance has a VDO with an altimeter, but it's not clear whether its Digital Wireless.

VDO MC 1.0+ Cyclocomputer/Altimeter
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?sku=20547


My everyday computer is the dB 4LW Wireless Cyclocomputer. It's cheap and has most of what I want on one dispay. I have one on most of my bikes (going on 6 to 7 computers now). The tradeoff is: it clocks 76 mph when I park next to the neon sign.

dB 4LW Wireless Cyclocomputer
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17167&subcategory_ID=4110

[Jackson]

Any of the Garmin Edges work fine. I think I have the 305.

Yep - and getting pretty cheap as I recall.

[ExigeS]

Yep - and getting pretty cheap as I recall.

Yea, just picked up an Edge 305 on ebay for $167 and love it! :thumbsup:

[mkurle]

I just got an Edge 205 and love it. $175 from Perfomance on sale. It is very cool when you use it in conjunction with the Garmin MotionBased website -- where you can plot your ride on Google Maps and play them back. You can also download rides from their Trail Network and just show up at the trailhead, hit "go" and follow the arrow.

[jabberwocky]

Another vote for the Edge 305. It might be more than you want to spend, but for the functionality its worth every penny. No sensor to setup (which means its super easy to swap between bikes), records rides with heartrate info, barometric altimeter, GPS, customizable main screen. And quite durable (at least mine has handled 20 months of year-round riding now).

[nocro]

Another vote for the Edge 305. It might be more than you want to spend, but for the functionality its worth every penny. No sensor to setup (which means its super easy to swap between bikes), records rides with heartrate info, barometric altimeter, GPS, customizable main screen. And quite durable (at least mine has handled 20 months of year-round riding now).

I use my 305 when I run, go on walks, if I want to see how far it is from point A to point B. Dave borrowed it to do some trail proposals. He got GPS maps of existing trails in an area, and used that to develop his trail proposal.

I don't have a mount or anything. I just start it (when I remember to bring it) and throw it in my camelbak. At the end of the ride I stop it (when I notice I was 73 mph, I realize I didn't turn it off before driving home) then upload the stats to motion based and the local application. It is also a cool way to have an inventory of the trails that you've ridden.

Way cooler than a cyclo-computer. This year I will buy a new GPS if I can find one that does everything that I need. Turn-by turn for both automobile and motorcycle, as well as MTB tracking. Bonus points if I can ditch my cell phone, and runs andriod. Garmin, you reading this?

[yueq]

This year I will buy a new GPS if I can find one that does everything that I need. Turn-by turn for both automobile and motorcycle, as well as MTB tracking. Bonus points if I can ditch my cell phone, and runs andriod. Garmin, you reading this?

I heard G1 does all that - poorly.

[pirate]

The Garmin GPS units look pretty cool, but I don't know if I like relying on GPS... Things like tall buildings, tree cover, etc. *could* make it a little unreliable. On the other hand, a sensor on the wheel doesn't care about those things.

Thanks for the recommendations, though.

[jabberwocky]

The Garmin GPS units look pretty cool, but I don't know if I like relying on GPS... Things like tall buildings, tree cover, etc. *could* make it a little unreliable. On the other hand, a sensor on the wheel doesn't care about those things.

Thanks for the recommendations, though.I use mine commuting around tall buildings in Tysons and Reston and don't have any issues. If you are between tall buildings, the initial satellite acquisition can take longer, but once it gets a lock it doesn't seem to lose it very easily. It only happens to me when I go under overpasses on the W&OD (it momentarily loses the satellite, but instantly reacquires it on the other side).

When I used to use wheel sensors I had a few times where a sharp bump caused the sensor to move and stop registering. I'd say that the Edge has been far more reliable overall.

[paulson]

started running the Sigma (http://web.sigmasport.de/en/produkte/bikecomputer/rox_wireless/rox_90/?flash=1) on my road bike last month. Best computer I've ever used.

Its got everything you want and probably more (considering you don't care about GPS).

PM with any questions you can't answer from the website.

[pirate]

started running the Sigma (http://web.sigmasport.de/en/produkte/bikecomputer/rox_wireless/rox_90/?flash=1) on my road bike last month. Best computer I've ever used.

Its got everything you want and probably more (considering you don't care about GPS).

PM with any questions you can't answer from the website.

That looks exactly like what I am looking for... Do you know, by any chance, what the difference is between the Rox 9 and the slightly less expensive Rox 8?

[jabberwocky]

That looks exactly like what I am looking for... Do you know, by any chance, what the difference is between the Rox 9 and the slightly less expensive Rox 8?I thought you wanted an altimeter. If all you want is a basic bike computer, I have a few Planet Bike Protoge 9s laying around.

[pirate]

I thought you wanted an altimeter. If all you want is a basic bike computer, I have a few Planet Bike Protoge 9s laying around.

Yeah, the Rox 9 looks like it has an altimeter... The website lists the following functions, which look pretty cool.

6 Altitude Measurement Functions
Current altitude
Current incline /decline
Current rate of ascent / descent
Calibration via current altitude
Calibration via 3 starting altitudes
Calibration via air pressure reduced to sea level
9 Uphill Functions
Day‘s climb
Maximum day‘s altitude
Trip distance
Ride time
Average speed
Rate of ascent m /min
Maximum ascent speed
Average incline
Maximum incline
8 Downhill Functions
Day‘s descend
Trip distance
Ride time
Average speed
Rate of descent m /min
Maximum rate of descent
Average decline
Maximum decline

[jabberwocky]

Yeah, the Rox 9 looks like it has an altimeter... The website lists the following functions, which look pretty cool.I missed that. Feel free to ignore me, but you already know that. ;)

I will say that it looks like those things are pushing 200 bucks, which isn't far off what you'll pay for an Edge. You might want to compare them.

[pirate]

I will say that it looks like those things are pushing 200 bucks, which isn't far off what you'll pay for an Edge. You might want to compare them.

Yeah, good point...

[mkurle]

Here's the cool thing about the edge. Say you want to do a ride in GWNP that you haven't done before. You go to motion based, do a search, find a ride that someone has posted (there are thousands out there) and download it. Then show up at the trailhead , hit start and follow the arrow. When you get to an intersection of trails/fire roads, you will know exactly where to go. I may be starting to sound like a commercial, but I have used cycle computers for many years, and this is a huge improvement.

[jon_baler]

I might have lightly used 305 or 205 to sell.....

[pirate]

I might have lightly used 305 or 205 to sell.....

I might be interested! :D

[pirate]

Ok, I'll admit it... All you GPS fans were right.

I have been using my new Garmin Edge 305 for a few days now, and it IS badass. It even has a spoke mounted speed sensor and a barometric altimeter for when the satellite reception is bad. Cool. :thumbsup:

It has also reduced the amount of crap I need to keep track of, because I no longer need a separate HRM.

Thanks for the advice!

EDIT: Almost forgot... It also works REALLY well with mapmyride.com.

[Jackson]

Ok, I'll admit it... All you GPS fans were right.

I have been using my new Garmin Edge 305 for a few days now, and it IS badass. It even has a spoke mounted speed sensor and a barometric altimeter for when the satellite reception is bad. Cool. :thumbsup:

It has also reduced the amount of crap I need to keep track of, because I no longer need a separate HRM.

Thanks for the advice!

Everyone will be assimilated - it's just a question of time.

Glad you like it.

[jabberwocky]

Told you so. :D

Make sure you check out sporttracks. Its free and much better than the Garmin software. You can download the data to both for a few weeks and see which you like better, if you want.

[sourceofdenial]

Its funny that Pirate came in wanting a cycling computer and left with a big fancy GPS unit.

I got a 705, and it's really cool. I am actually keeping track of stuff now, although the documentation is horrrrible.

Any garmin people out there using Macs?

Also, check out the opensource free maps available on the web. I am using cloudmade, and so far its been great. I'm too cheap to shell out 90 bucks for the City Navigation maps from Garmin.