Road Cycling · Public discussion

Backlit speedometers

Started by Daniel Crispin · · Last activity · 8 posts · 1,472 views

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Road Cycling
Published
2 July 2004
Last activity
8 July 2004
Original author
Daniel Crispin
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  1. I was out training tonight when I realized that not
    having a backlight on my speedometer is a real pain when
    cycling at night.

    Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye
    doesn't seems to think it's something useful.

  2. In article <[email hidden]>,
    [email hidden] says...

    Quoted message said:

    I was out training tonight when I realized that not having
    a backlight on my speedometer is a real pain when cycling
    at night.

    Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye
    doesn't seems to think it's something useful.

    Specialized does, but it doesn't stay lit continuously; you
    have to push a big button to light it up, kind of light the
    back light on an LCD watch.

    --
    Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in
    the newsgroups if possible).

  3. Problem is that the backlight trashes the battery in the
    computer. Better bet is a handlebar mounted "computer
    light". It has a small LED in it that provides enough light
    to read the display but not so much it burns batteries or
    causes disorientation at night (as in another light source
    other than your headlight, which I assume you use ;-). Costs
    about $10, and the one I have is by SigmaSport. Mine was
    given to me as a gift, but you can get em I think at
    Performance or Nashbar. Works great on my pre-dawn rides....

    Dave

    "Daniel Crispin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    I was out training tonight when I realized that not having
    a backlight on


    my

    Quoted message said:

    speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.

    Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye
    doesn't seems to think it's something useful.

  4. Daniel Crispin said:

    I was out training tonight when I realized that not having
    a backlight on my speedometer is a real pain when cycling
    at night.

    Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye
    doesn't seems to think it's something useful.

    There are several. The cheapest seem to be made by
    Specialized but there it's still only on their higher end
    wireless models. If you don't like wireless, then these
    won't be for you. See the Specialized site for more detail.
    Cateye also has some high end models with backlights. Some
    are wired. Some are wireless. All are pricey. Their
    cheapest is the CC-AT100 (wired) which is their altimeter
    model for around $90-$100. These high end Cateye's seem to
    be hard to find. See their website for details and see
    Google to find them for sale. Campagnolo also has a
    backlight on their Ergobrain computer and it's also an
    expensive high end computer.

    Topeak's Panoram used to have a back light and was priced
    around $50. Unfortunately, the new 2004 models no longer
    have a backlight. If you're very lucky, you may find a place
    that has stock left of the old models. If you find a wired
    one, please let me know, as I'm looking for one myself.

    Topeak, Vetta, Avocet, Sigma Sport, Shimano, Planet Bike,
    Nashbar and Performance don't seem to offer backlights in
    cyclocomputers at all.

    I asked about wired+backlight computers in the r.b.t last
    week. I got zero responses.

    I don't understand why a backlight is considered an elite
    feature to only be put on high end models but that's how the
    cyclocomputer makers see it (or at least the few that even
    bother). My $15 Casio watch has lots of functions including
    Indiglo. I don't see why a bike computer can't offer this
    feature cheaply.

    --Bill Davidson

  5. David Kerber said:

    Specialized does, but it doesn't stay lit continuously;
    you have to push a big button to light it up, kind of
    light the back light on an LCD watch.

    The batteries wouldn't last very long if you left it
    on continuously. It's acceptable to have to touch it
    to read it.

    --Bill Davidson

  6. Thanks for all the answers.

    I know about the High end Cat Eyes models, but I don't
    need a super powerful bike computer, just one I can read
    anytime 😉

    I agree it's nuts they would think only competing athletes
    need this, any basic watch has it, plus several types or
    ringers and the battery still last 2 years and more.

    I would not mind changing the battery once a year to get
    this.

    I think I will try to find a led lamp that could fit on the
    handle bar, it's a great idea until they wake up 😉

    "Bill Davidson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:vxfFc.7830$151.2443@fed1read02...

    Quoted message said:
    Daniel Crispin said:

    I was out training tonight when I realized that not
    having a backlight


    on my

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.

    Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models?
    Cateye doesn't seems to think it's something useful.

    There are several. The cheapest seem to be made by
    Specialized but there it's still only on their higher end
    wireless models. If you don't like wireless, then these
    won't be for you. See the Specialized site for more
    detail. Cateye also has some high end models with
    backlights. Some are wired. Some are wireless. All are
    pricey. Their cheapest is the CC-AT100 (wired) which is
    their altimeter model for around $90-$100. These high end
    Cateye's seem to be hard to find. See their website for
    details and see Google to find them for sale. Campagnolo
    also has a backlight on their Ergobrain computer and it's
    also an expensive high end computer.

    Topeak's Panoram used to have a back light and was
    priced around $50. Unfortunately, the new 2004 models no
    longer have a backlight. If you're very lucky, you may
    find a place that has stock left of the old models. If
    you find a wired one, please let me know, as I'm looking
    for one myself.

    Topeak, Vetta, Avocet, Sigma Sport, Shimano, Planet Bike,
    Nashbar and Performance don't seem to offer backlights in
    cyclocomputers at all.

    I asked about wired+backlight computers in the r.b.t last
    week. I got zero responses.

    I don't understand why a backlight is considered an elite
    feature to only be put on high end models but that's how
    the cyclocomputer makers see it (or at least the few that
    even bother). My $15 Casio watch has lots of functions
    including Indiglo. I don't see why a bike computer can't
    offer this feature cheaply.

    --Bill Davidson

  7. Daniel Crispin begged long and lud for:

    Quoted message said:

    I was out training tonight when I realized that not having
    a backlight on


    my

    Quoted message said:

    speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.

    Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye
    doesn't seems to think it's something useful.

    Try this from Sigma Sport (Link is to Colorado Cyclist
    site):

    makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.com

    I have one and it does OK, but not great. I fond I have to
    position it so that I can see what I want on the display
    because it doesn't light the whole thing. It does what I
    need, but not a bit more.

    Austin
    --
    I'm pedaling as fast as I durn well please! There are no X
    characters in my address

  8. "AustinMN" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Daniel Crispin begged long and lud for:

    Quoted message said:

    I was out training tonight when I realized that not
    having a backlight


    on

    Quoted message said:

    my

    Quoted message said:

    speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.

    Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models?
    Cateye doesn't seems to think it's something useful.

    Try this from Sigma Sport (Link is to Colorado
    Cyclist site):

    makeashorterlink.commakeashorterlink.com

    I have one and it does OK, but not great. I fond I have to
    position it so that I can see what I want on the display
    because it doesn't light the


    whole

    Quoted message said:

    thing. It does what I need, but not a bit more.

    Austin
    --
    I'm pedaling as fast as I durn well please! There are no X
    characters in my address

    Thanks! Very appreciated 😉

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