Cyclocomputers

[Zinger]

After breaking the wire on my Cateye AGAIN, I'm wondering what we think about the various wireless models out there.

Do they work as well as the wired models, albeit without a wire to break or be in the way? Is there model we particularly like?

I use the computer mostly for elapsed time and miles traveled. Oh, and with old eyes, the numbers have to be big, since I don't wear my reading glasses on the bike ;-)

[luvdatrails]

Wondering the same thing, almost bought one last week. Seemed people liked the CatEye Enduro with the thicker wire, but is there any reason not to go wireless?

[Cowboy]

I've got a Cateye Microwireless on the MTB, it works great!

I did have the sensor come loose one day, broke a tie wrap that holds it in place, and that kept it from working...other than that one incident it's been flawless. They are a little spendy though...compared to the wired models.

I've crashed several times, once doing about 25mph down a big hill at Avalon, that twisted my seat out of line, and had the handle bars a little off center, the computer was just fine...I was ruffed up a little worse. :o

[andykee]

I've been using a Garmin eTrex Vista CX GPS for about a year and I love it. No cables and it is definitely durable. Crashed several times and also gave it a pretty good dunk in a stream. Granted, it is a bit more expensive than bike computers, but you definitely get 10 points for the nerd factor!

[rodnreel729]

Another vote for the Cateye Micro Wireless. I bought one when I picked up my road bike last fall. Numbers are pretty big and fairly easy to read. Only one complaint, but it's not that big of a deal. One of the reasons I got that one is that it has a backlight as well. Problem with the backlight is that the button is on the back of the computer and is hard to get to while your moving. But thats ok because most other computers dont have a backlight in the first place. Other than that I think its a great computer for a decent price!

--Kevin

[mscard]

I like wireless for the clean looks, but they do have a couple of downsides. The potential downsides with wireless, in my experience, are as follows:

- potential interference with other electronics such as heart rate monitors (the Cateye dual wireless on my road bike does not play well with heart rate monitors).
- Instead of riping a wire, you might just rip of the big, clunky transmitter (This happened to me with a number of brands and led me to switch back to wired computers on my mountain bikes)
- More frequent battery replacement.

All of my mountain bikes, my cross bike and my commuter are wired (Polar S150 & a variety of cateyes). My road bike is currently all wireless, but I'll soon be testing it with a HAC4 with wireless speed but wired cadence.

[denisvtt]

(Finally a thread where I'm not the only one with a low reputation... :D :rolleyes: )

Speaking of computers, anybody knows a good one that would have:

- 3 displays on the same screen (speed, mileage, ride time)

- Altitude (total uphill for the ride)

[andykee]

(Finally a thread where I'm not the only one with a low reputation... :D :rolleyes: )

Speaking of computers, anybody knows a good one that would have:

- 3 displays on the same screen (speed, mileage, ride time)

- Altitude (total uphill for the ride)
this is one of the mail reasons that i got the GPS. i was looking for an "information overload" so to speak and the only device that i could find that was capable of delivering all of that information simultaneously was the GPS unit.

[dharma]

I have a pretty basic computer on my mtbike (wired) I just got a road bike and want to get a computer for that as well. it seems like most are recommending wireless - is that the case for mtn or road? or for road bikes is it less important to be wireless? Just curious. thanks

[punga]

I have a pretty basic computer on my mtbike (wired) I just got a road bike and want to get a computer for that as well. it seems like most are recommending wireless - is that the case for mtn or road? or for road bikes is it less important to be wireless? Just curious. thanks
Wireless is really just a convenience factor; you can get wired computers that will work fine. Aside from providing a cleaner look and less installation hassles because there's no cable to run, there is no other advantage.

You could get a basic wired unit around town for $20-30 easily with odometer, max speed, trip mileage, timer and clock. Others may have a cadence meter or HRM mixed in but they get more expensive. Depends on how serious you want to get, but I think for most casual riders, the basic stuff is fine. For example:
http://citybikes.com/page.cfm?PageID=37&action=details&sku=CY1007#

I'm finding that wearing a separate (or integrated for that matter) HRM gets to be a little distracting at times on the road. It takes some control to not look at it too much and pay less attention to the road.

punga!

[DaveG]

After breaking the wire on my Cateye AGAIN, I'm wondering what we think about the various wireless models out there.

Do they work as well as the wired models, albeit without a wire to break or be in the way? Is there model we particularly like?

I use the computer mostly for elapsed time and miles traveled. Oh, and with old eyes, the numbers have to be big, since I don't wear my reading glasses on the bike ;-)


I tend to lose/break them, so I don't want to spend a lot of money. Get them on sale for ~30 bucks or so. They tend to be more reliable simply because the wire's not getting ripped off all the time.

Dave

[DaveG]

Wireless is really just a convenience factor; you can get wired computers that will work fine. Aside from providing a cleaner look and less installation hassles because there's no cable to run, there is no other advantage.

You could get a basic wired unit around town for $20-30 easily with odometer, max speed, trip mileage, timer and clock. Others may have a cadence meter or HRM mixed in but they get more expensive. Depends on how serious you want to get, but I think for most casual riders, the basic stuff is fine. For example:
http://citybikes.com/page.cfm?PageID=37&action=details&sku=CY1007#

I'm finding that wearing a separate (or integrated for that matter) HRM gets to be a little distracting at times on the road. It takes some control to not look at it too much and pay less attention to the road.

punga!


I've had sticks tear the wire from my mountain bike computer.

Dave

[jabberwocky]

I like the Planet Bike Protoge 9.0 (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=82&subcategory=1035&brand=&sku=4748&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%20Cy clocomputers). Displays everything you want on the front (no having to push a button to see the info you want), pretty durable (same heavy cable as the Cateye Enduros), and cheap.

http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/PB-PRO9.gif

[Zinger]

Hmmm... 'Tis as I feared -- no obvious "you gotta do it this way" answer.

DaveG: yeah, exactly on the sticks biting the wires. You have any problems with your cheap wireless units losing their signal? Any problems attaching the pickup to the fork and making it stay put? What kind of battery life do you get from the transmitter/pickup?

One of my problems with wired units is I run a big frame and the wires usually juuuussssttt reach. Not a whole lot of room for error. But I wonder whether that distance will affect the wireless signal as well...

andykee: That big ol GPS unit on the handlebars doesn't get in your way?

[blacknell]

After going through a half dozen wireds, I ended up going wireless on my MTBs. In the end, though, I don't even think an MTB (for me, anyway) needs a computer. Speed? Meaningless. Distance? Well, helpful on something like the C&O, I guess. Elapsed time? Timex, baby.

Of course, I've outsmarted myself. The wireless computer I've got on my gary fisher is apparently too complicated for me. So it doesn't really provide me with any useful info. When it (inevitably) falls off, I'll just leave it.

~

None of the above applies for my road bikes. It's probably waaay overpriced, but I've been very happy with my Shimano Flight Deck for years. All the information I need, with no hassle.

But I still want a Garmin Edge 305.

[Brizn]

I really like having a computer on my mtb as I appreciate the feedback. For example, it's always fun to break your high scores (top mph, fastest avg mph) at venues like schaeffer.

I have that Cateye Microwireless and like it goodly. Although I did get it thinking you could set the backlight to stay lit for night rides. Not the case.Problem with the backlight is that the button is on the back of the computer and is hard to get to while your moving. Yep. I don't even bother with it. Most of the time my lighting system is helmet mounted so I just look down to read the computer anyway.

[punga]

I've had sticks tear the wire from my mountain bike computer.

Dave
I've never had a stick tear the wire. In my case, I've destroyed a couple of base units where it attaches to bar, so wired or unwired wouldn't have made a difference. I run my wire by twisting it around the brake line. If that breaks, I've got bigger trouble than my computer not working.

punga!

[martin]

I've gone through countless wired comps and finally got a cateye cordless 2 which worked great;

I have it off the bike because I ended up getting a garmin GPS unit...

If anyone wants it shoot me an eMail or PM an you can have it - just send me a few bucks via payPal for shipping and a six pack :)

Martin

[Squirrel Girl]

If anyone wants it shoot meI'd shoot you, but I don't have a gun! :p

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[rnym]

I also ended up replacing my computer with a GPS. I had a Magellan Meridian (it's kind of big) and ended up getting a handlebar mount. It's rugged, back-lit, and one of the screens gives you all of the standard bike computer data (except cadence, of course).

On top of that, you get all of the mapping/navigation features - I don't normally use it to know where I'm going, but it's pretty cool to get a map showing you where you've been. (http://www.google.com/maps?q=http://www.afterburner.net/temp/1905165151/Wakefield-3Apr.kml)

They don't make the Meridian, but I'm betting you could buy one pretty cheap if you didn't mind the size. It's not perfect (note where I was riding down the median of I-495 in the above link), but it works more than well enough for my needs, and I already owned it for hiking.

Rick




I've gone through countless wired comps and finally got a cateye cordless 2 which worked great;

I have it off the bike because I ended up getting a garmin GPS unit...

If anyone wants it shoot me an eMail or PM an you can have it - just send me a few bucks via payPal for shipping and a six pack :)

Martin