Which Computer and Why?

I use a polar s520. It works well and I love being able to download ride data. I also like having the heartrate and bike data on the same readout. Havent had any problems with it so far.

Cateye Double Wireless w/o HRM. I dont really want/ need a HRM, so the extra $$ wasn;t worth it in my opinion. That said, I love my computer. The main reason I like it is because basically all the data is available to me at once. and what's not there on the screen in easily accessable. Cadence and speed zones are setable with audio and/ or visual alarms. It rocks!

mjshapiro said:

Need some help. Which computer are you currently using and why? Do you use an integrated HRM / Cycle computer unit? Do you plan to upgrade and to what? Thanks!

cateye micro wireless. could not beat the price you can get one for off ebay

On bike: Cateye Astrale 8 -- simple wired design with cadence, ~30 bucks. I like the wired design as I don't have to mess w/extra batteries or worry about interference (although I've heard little of interference problems from wireless users), and think it just looks classic/right.

On wrist: Polar s520. Really use it just for the HRM during serious training rides, especially the non-standard routes. I like it as I can use it running as well. I don't download the information, just use it's most basic functions. Downside -- sending the damn strap in for battery changes. That seems just stupid.

For HRM- Polar 520, I just use it for heart rate purposes. I've never really used the cycling functions or downloaded the data to my computer. Works solid as a HRM

For Cycling Funcions- Specialized Turbo Pro. I just got this a couple of weeks ago off of eBay, before that I'd been using Cateye Cordless 7 (which works great). I got the Turbo Pro for the altimeter function, I wanted to be able to monitor total climbing on hilly training rides. So far this cpu is working great. The altimeter has been reasonbly accurate so far. I also like the large led display and ease of use on the Turbo Pro. Also has temperature readings and interval settings. This cpu is pricey, it retails for around $100+, so far I feel it's worth it. If it had an integrated HRM monitor and/or cpu download capalbilities it would be the grand daddy cyclocomputer (Ciclosport HAC4 has those functions, but I've never gotten along with that product🙁).

Just purchased the Echowell XR (brand new bike, needs a brand new gadget), which is a speed/cadence/hrm all in one. The cadence & hrm are wireless, the display is big and has a backlight for night riding. The batteries are user changeable.

I got it over the internet, and I think it’s quite new as the Echo web site doesn’t have it in their product list. It arrived yesterday, so I haven't actually used it yet. My only concern is that the manual is written in Enghlishese, so the functions are not described very well.

I’m hoping to get time to install it tomorrow, so I'll get back to you(s) after I’ve done a bit of testing with it.

Planet Bike Protege 9.0. Since it's all screen and no buttons, it's clean looking, easy to read, and shows a lot of information all at once. It would be nice to have cadence instead of the not too acurate thermometer though.

peterlip said:

Just purchased the Echowell XR (brand new bike, needs a brand new gadget), which is a speed/cadence/hrm all in one. The cadence & hrm are wireless, the display is big and has a backlight for night riding. The batteries are user changeable.

I got it over the internet, and I think it’s quite new as the Echo web site doesn’t have it in their product list. It arrived yesterday, so I haven't actually used it yet. My only concern is that the manual is written in Enghlishese, so the functions are not described very well.

I’m hoping to get time to install it tomorrow, so I'll get back to you(s) after I’ve done a bit of testing with it.

Whats the verdict?

I also use the Cateye Double Wireless w/o HRM. It works well. Any any given time it has 3 screens. The top left screen always shows speed. The top right screen shows either cadence, avg cadence, or total pedal strokes. On the bottom screen I have it show time spent riding and total distance. It is also rear wheel mounted, so you can use it if you are using a trainer.

The only downside is the rear unit it kinda big and can be hard to get in place. Once it's in place, it doesn't move though.

-Matt

Polar CS200cad. Big display. HRM. Cadence. Wireless....actually, reliable wireless. Stem mount. 4 lines of data. Easy to scroll through all data. Easy setup. Er....has red buttons.......Most important to me are HRM and cadence.

tm_ross said:

Whats the verdict?

Tomorrow is 5 months since I got the Echowell XR.
Here's a (not so) quick run down:
The cadence & HRM are wireless, the speed sensor is wired.
The display is quite large, and you can display HR, speed & cadence all at one time. No need to play with buttons while riding. The other features are: trip dist, time, trip time, total distance, ave speed, max speed, ave rpm, max rpm, time in hr zone, time over hr zone, ave hr, weight lost, fat lost, calories burned. You can program 6 different hr zones.
I tend to avoid the wet, but have been caught out a few times, and the unit doesn't seem to mind it (the manual claims it's water proof).
Small issue is the HRM occassionally drops out from time to time, usually for 30 - 60 seconds or so. But at other times it will run literally for hours without a hitch. I'm not sure if it's strap placement, or other external factors. The cadence is also wireless, but never seems to have problems.
The other issue is the backlight. It only works in total darkness. If there is some light, it renders the display unreadable. Plus, you have to set the time at which the backlight should come on/off. So you set the time, then a few weeks later, sunset time has moved, and you have to reset it, which is a little fiddley.
Aside from that, I'm very happy with it, especially because I can have everything on display at one time.

Peter.

mjshapiro said:

Need some help. Which computer are you currently using and why? Do you use an integrated HRM / Cycle computer unit? Do you plan to upgrade and to what? Thanks!

Polar 725 and nothing else.

I use a Mavic Wintech right now

I like the cadence and the wireless technology and the neat way that the e-skewer simply replaces the QR skewer on the front wheel.

No HRM here yet...

A couple of years ago I bought two ToPeak Panorams because they have a large screen with 4 windows of information. I have the older ones that are out of production. Mine are actually the Next brand name but it's the same thing. Like so many things in the electronics industry, they're just rebadged and sold with somebody else's brand.

I recently picked up a couple of the Ascent wireless computers (rebadged dBase 4LW) as they have 4 lines of info on the screen including average speed. I thought that would come in handy for Time Trials. I got them cheap. Paid just under $17 each back when Nashbar had one of those "add 5 items and get 20% off" deals. They were only listed at $20 back then too and not the current $30. Nashbar seems to juggle their prices frequently as some sort of a pricing scheme.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=82&subcategory=1035&brand=&sku=12195&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

My HRMs are seperate as I use them for non-cycling workouts as well.

Polar CS100 on my "main" bike. It's an HRM & cycling computer in one stem-mount unit for less than $100.

Cateye Cordless 7 on my backup. Simple, and inexpensive.

Doctor Morbius said:

I recently picked up a couple of the Ascent wireless computers...

Does this computer have cadence info as well? I've heard good things about the Ascent models, and am thinking about getting one, but I want to make sure it has everything I need.

Thanks

Actually, now I see that it doesn't do cadence. What would y'all suggest that is similar to the Ascent that includes cadence and is also in the under $30 range?

wmgardner I don't know how it compares to the Ascent but for less than 30 @ I have 2 Cateye Astrale 8's for my 2 bikes. Inexpensive & work great. They are wired though.

That being said I want to get a comp/hrm w/cadence. I kinda killed my hrm. :eek:

I've been looking at the Vetta V100hr with cadence. Any opinions on it anyone?

There are so many bike computer products that I think one has to define a few must-have functions and a max price to narrow down the choices somewhat. That being said, I'll give you some input based on the three bike computers I own and one that I am considering buying. I own a PowerTap SL power meter and two Ciclio HAC4+ computers. For training and racing purposes, nothing is even a close second to the value of power data. A HRM doesn't even come close. If I didn't have a PM, I would train with RPE and not HRM. But, when I do look at my HRM, I like the presentation of the HAC4+ -- large numerals and very stable readout. My second most important function is cadence and my big issue there is that I want to be able to have a very short averaging interval. I would be very unhappy with a bike computer that had, say, a 5 sec averaging interval built in. The PT is user-definable, which I like. The grade feature of the HAC4+ is nice in theory, but has too much lag to be of much value. The power feature of the HAC4+ is so distorted that it's worthless for training purposes.

The computer I am considering buying is the Garmin Edge 305. This new computer (will start shipping in January at ~$350) has a new, greatly improved GPS receiver and early reports are that its accuracy is outstanding. It also has barometric pressure, so altitude and grade data are obtained from two sources. I am interested in this computer primarily for highly detailed course maps so that I can do analysis of training and race courses. I also plan to ride all of the standard routes of my cycling club and post them online so our members can view the routes (including a topo profile view) in advance and choose the route appropriate to their abilities when we have multiple rides. Today, we just have turn-by-turn route descriptions, so this will be a quantum leap in detail available to our members, with details and graphic displays of the route, climb grades, etc. You can get an idea of the detail available from GPS tracking files at www.MotionBased.com. Eventually, MotionBased will probably have something where you can put in your sustainable power and it will give you a predicted time enroute for a route (e.g., for centuries).

Like I said at the outset, there are dozens of products with many features. If you don't narrow down a set of must-have features and a price range, you'll go nuts figuring out which one to buy.