I've recently taken up mountain biking as a way of building-up my fitness after a long lay-off from work, and I must say I'm rather enjoying it!
I'm looking to obtain a cycle computer and have been searching the web for suitable options....there are quite a lot to choose from! I have a question which I hope some one with a little more knowledge may be able to advise on.
Its regarding whether to go for a 'wired' variety as opposed to 'wireless' ? I've read that the wireless ones can suffer from 'line of sight' problems and I was also thinking that they might not be as effective when the sensor is covered in mud? I've had no experience with these computers so I would appreciate any advice on the 'pros' and 'cons' of each, before choosing one. Would I also be right in thinking that VDO, Cateye and Sigma are some of the better makes to go for?
Regards, Paul (R) My Lake District walking site: www.lakelandwalker.co.uk
I've recently taken up mountain biking as a way of building-up my fitness after a long lay-off from work, and I must say I'm rather enjoying it!
I'm looking to obtain a cycle computer and have been searching the web for suitable options....there are quite a lot to choose from! I have a question which I hope some one with a little more knowledge may be able to advise on.
Its regarding whether to go for a 'wired' variety as opposed to 'wireless' ? I've read that the wireless ones can suffer from 'line of sight' problems and I was also thinking that they might not be as effective when the sensor is covered in mud? I've had no experience with these computers so I would appreciate any advice on the 'pros' and 'cons' of each, before choosing one. Would I also be right in thinking that VDO, Cateye and Sigma are some of the better makes to go for?
AFAIK, they are all RF, not IR, so line of sight is not an issue. The wireless require a battery in the transmitter as well as in the head unit.
I've had the best experience with CatEye. Avocet was not well made, and the Nashbar brand was terrible.
I'm looking to obtain a cycle computer and have been searching the web for suitable options....there are quite a lot to choose from! I have a question which I hope some one with a little more knowledge may be able to advise on.
Its regarding whether to go for a 'wired' variety as opposed to 'wireless' ? I've read that the wireless ones can suffer from 'line of sight' problems and I was also thinking that they might not be as effective when the sensor is covered in mud? I've had no experience with these computers so I would appreciate any advice on the 'pros' and 'cons' of each, before choosing one. Would I also be right in thinking that VDO, Cateye and Sigma are some of the better makes to go for?
Mud isn't a problem. Metal is - it really helps to mount the sensor on the same side of the forks as the instrument, so as not to have the metal of the forks and the steering head in between. If you're cycling off-road wireless is in my opinion definitely better, because wired systems don't like suspension - the wire has to be loose, and consequently catches on things, and consequently gets damaged.
I've recently taken up mountain biking as a way of building-up my fitness after a long lay-off from work, and I must say I'm rather enjoying it!
I'm looking to obtain a cycle computer and have been searching the web for suitable options....there are quite a lot to choose from! I have a question which I hope some one with a little more knowledge may be able to advise on.
Its regarding whether to go for a 'wired' variety as opposed to 'wireless' ? I've read that the wireless ones can suffer from 'line of sight' problems and I was also thinking that they might not be as effective when the sensor is covered in mud? I've had no experience with these computers so I would appreciate any advice on the 'pros' and 'cons' of each, before choosing one. Would I also be right in thinking that VDO, Cateye and Sigma are some of the better makes to go for?
Regards, Paul (R) My Lake District walking site: www.lakelandwalker.co.uk
For suspension forks wireless is a lot easier. For rigid forks I'd have wired, to reduce battery consumption and bulk.
On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 20:28:55 GMT, Steve Peake <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
Paul Rose said:
Would I also be right in thinking that VDO, Cateye and Sigma are some of the better makes to go for?
Best Comp, that cheapo one from aldi! No distance problems, no cold weather problems(Cateye....spit), works well.
Could be a while before aldi get em back in though.
Steve
If you've got a hard tail with front suspension you can use the rear wheel instead. It might mean extending the cable slightly but no big deal.
I also recommend the Aldi £3.99 model. Nice big display, plenty of features and seems well made and reliable. Also its probably wise to get two anyway in case of breakages or theft and to provide a spare or two and £8 is better than £40-50.
I'm addicted to mine and always looking at it to see how fast, how far, how cold etc.
"Steven M. Scharf" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
AFAIK, they are all RF, not IR, so line of sight is not an issue. The wireless require a battery in the transmitter as well as in the head unit.
I've had the best experience with CatEye. Avocet was not well made, and the Nashbar brand was terrible.
Hi Steven
Thanks for your reply and info. As for the 'line of sight' question, I remember reading a report on the web somewhere about this problem but, as I say, I have very little experience with these so I may well be wrong here. Thanks again,
-- Regards, Paul (R) My Lake District walking site: www.lakelandwalker.co.uk
"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
in message <[email hidden]>,
Quoted message said:
Mud isn't a problem. Metal is - it really helps to mount the sensor on the same side of the forks as the instrument, so as not to have the metal of the forks and the steering head in between. If you're cycling off-road wireless is in my opinion definitely better, because wired systems don't like suspension - the wire has to be loose, and consequently catches on things, and consequently gets damaged.
Hi Simon,
Thanks for the info. Some useful pointers. I must admit I quite like the idea of wireless but I've also read that they can also suffer from interference and therefore may not be as accurate.
-- Regards, Paul (R) My Lake District walking site: www.lakelandwalker.co.uk
"Martin Wilson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
If you've got a hard tail with front suspension you can use the rear wheel instead. It might mean extending the cable slightly but no big deal.
I also recommend the Aldi £3.99 model. Nice big display, plenty of features and seems well made and reliable. Also its probably wise to get two anyway in case of breakages or theft and to provide a spare or two and £8 is better than £40-50.
I'm addicted to mine and always looking at it to see how fast, how far, how cold etc.
Hi Martin,
Thanks for the info and advice. Another one for the Aldi model! As you say, I could get two or three for between £8 and £12! I can imagine I too could become addicted to one ;o) -- Regards, Paul (R) My Lake District walking site: www.lakelandwalker.co.uk
"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
in message <[email hidden]>,
Quoted message said:
Mud isn't a problem. Metal is - it really helps to mount the sensor on the same side of the forks as the instrument, so as not to have the metal of the forks and the steering head in between. If you're cycling off-road wireless is in my opinion definitely better, because wired systems don't like suspension - the wire has to be loose, and consequently catches on things, and consequently gets damaged.
Thanks for the info. Some useful pointers. I must admit I quite like the idea of wireless but I've also read that they can also suffer from interference and therefore may not be as accurate.
This certainly can happen - I know at least two people who have unreliable wireless systems. The trick, I believe, is to keep the transmitter and receiver as close together as possible, and on the same side of the bike. If you have the transmitter on the left fork, but the computer on the left hand side of your handlebars, and vice versa. Have the transmitter as high on the fork leg as practical.
However I have to say on one of my bikes the wireless transmitter is within a few inches of the hub, and it (a Cat Eye) works fine.
"Zog The Undeniable" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:41c5be4f.0@entanet...
Quoted message said:
For suspension forks wireless is a lot easier. For rigid forks I'd have wired, to reduce battery consumption and bulk.
Thanks for that. I have suspension forks so it looks like the wireless option.
So have I (on my Trek 4300), and wrap the wire round the brake line. It has so far failed to break, fall off or exhibit suspicious political tendencies.
--
Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/ World Domination? Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)
"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Thanks for the info. Some useful pointers. I must admit I quite like the idea of wireless but I've also read that they can also suffer from interference and therefore may not be as accurate.
This certainly can happen - I know at least two people who have unreliable wireless systems. The trick, I believe, is to keep the transmitter and receiver as close together as possible, and on the same side of the bike. If you have the transmitter on the left fork, but the computer on the left hand side of your handlebars, and vice versa. Have the transmitter as high on the fork leg as practical.
However I have to say on one of my bikes the wireless transmitter is within a few inches of the hub, and it (a Cat Eye) works fine.
Thanks again, Simon. I will take your advice on board. All I have to do now is get one!
-- Regards, Paul (R) My Lake District walking site: www.lakelandwalker.co.uk
