bike computers and fitters...

IanD said:

All,

I've got two questions to ask:

1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

I'd say that the minimum would be none at all. People managed to cycle for at least 100 years
without them.

A bientot Paul
--
Paul Floyd paulf.free.frpaulf.free.frOpen ↗ (for what it's worth) Surgery: ennobled Gerald.

[email hidden] (IanD) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

All,

I've got two questions to ask:

1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

Speed. Percent of useful charge left in my headlight battery. (It'll never happen, but I can dream.)

IanD said:

1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

Just the following (in order of importance): Trip Distance, current speed, average speed, maximum
speed, odometer.

Art Harris

I would add cadence to the list. This year I added a cyclocomputer with cadence and it really helped
me improve the 'smoothness' in my pedal stroke.

FWIW Joel <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

IanD said:

1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

Just the following (in order of importance): Trip Distance, current speed, average speed, maximum
speed, odometer.

Art Harris

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

Quoted message said:

I've got two questions to ask:
1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

distance, current speed, current time.

Quoted message said:

2)I just purchased a new bike (Felt F50) and would like to find a good bicycle fitter in San Diego,
Ca or even in Los Angeles if that's what it takes.

You got it backwards. You get fit first. Then you use that information to buy the frame that fits.
-----------------
Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)

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

Quoted message said:

I would add cadence to the list. This year I added a cyclocomputer with cadence and it really
helped me improve the 'smoothness' in my pedal stroke.

This is very easily to calculate, so on a minimalist computer, you don't need it. After using one
for a while, you can guess you cadence.
-----------------
Alex __O _-\<,_ (_)/ (_)

(IanD) said:

1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

Speed, distance, time, avg (computed while rolling), max, clock AND...cadence. Except cadence, most
will have all of the above.

Additional nice features: "Speed comparator" which tells you how your current speed relates to your
average. Choice of main display, allowing you to switch cadence to the big display and speed to the
small display

Quoted message said:

2)I just purchased a new bike (Felt F50) and would like to find a good

Those Felts are nice. I almost bought one, and I think I probably should have.

Quoted message said:

bicycle fitter in San Diego, Ca or even in Los Angeles if that's what it takes.

Everybody will tell you one of the following:
- The shop where you bought it should have fit you
- Just fit it how you think you should, and ride it
- Go to <some website> and fit with that article
- Fit by doing this, looking there, adjusting here

I, personally, don't know enough about fit to help you, and I have never been to Ca, so I can't help
with that either. Instead, I can only give you the smartass remarks above. 😉

Quoted message said:

Thanks all,

IanD

--
Rick Onanian

Traveller v.116 said:

Percent of useful charge left in my headlight battery. (It'll never happen, but I can dream.)

Why not a small, cheap automotive volt gauge?

--
Rick Onanian

Traveller v.116 said:

[email hidden] (IanD) wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

All,

I've got two questions to ask:

1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

Speed. Percent of useful charge left in my headlight battery. (It'll never happen, but I
can dream.)

I'm contemplating buying two NiMh batterypacks of 4.5 Ah each. This way I always know when I hit the
halfway mark at least.

--
Perre

You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

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

Quoted message said:

All,

I've got two questions to ask:

1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

2)I just purchased a new bike (Felt F50) and would like to find a good bicycle fitter in San
Diego, Ca or even in Los Angeles if that's what it takes.

Thanks all,

IanD

You doing triathlons on this bike, or are you riding it like a road bike? For road fitting try John
at Supergo. For triathlon setups either Dan at B&L or the guys at John Cobb's shop in Encinitas.

Re: speedometer. Time (preferably ride time) and speed. The rest is extra. You wanna know more? Get
a power meter (HAC, Polar, Powertap, SRM, etc.) or a HRM.

Mike

Joel Rose said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

IanD said:

1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

Just the following (in order of importance): Trip Distance, current speed, average speed, maximum
speed, odometer.

I would add cadence to the list.

That's a waste, adding a great deal of complication and expense for something a numerate person may
easily calculate on the fly. When I worried about cadence I knew my speeds at 100rpm in each gear
and worked from that.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!

[email hidden] (IanD) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

All,

I've got two questions to ask:

1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?

With the low cost of full featured computers, there is no reason to get one that doesn't offer, most
options. The only option that can add more hardware is cadence and I think it is worth it. By your
questions, I would guess that you are relatively new to serious cycling. It is nice to have a
computer that besides the necessary speed and odometer, has a trip odometer, average speed, top
speed, time elapsed actual riding, and cadence.

Some may tell you that all those "options" are a waste, that you can calculate that stuff
yourself. Why bother? The last thing you want or need to be doing, is math equations, in your
head, while riding.

Adding cadence and monitoring it, has helped me understand my riding habits and to then fine tune
them. The only feature I have, but never use, is the clock, but it added no cost, weight, or
complication to the device. Take a look at the CatEye Astrale 8, it has all the features I have
mentioned and retails for around $45. I'm sure you can find them discounted at Performance or
Nashbar. You have bought a really nice bike, no need to be chintzy with the computer. By the way,
some of us, keep logs and/or spread sheets, charting our performance, and keeping track of distance.

Quoted message said:

2)I just purchased a new bike (Felt F50) and would like to find a good bicycle fitter in San
Diego, Ca or even in Los Angeles if that's what it takes.

I live in Milwaukee Wisconsin, so I can't help you, on this one.

Quoted message said:

Thanks all,

IanD

Sure, good luck with the new bike. Life is Good! Jeff

David Damerell <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Joel Rose said:

<[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

IanD wrote:
>1) What's the minimum amount of features that you would consider needing on a bike cyclometer ?
Just the following (in order of importance): Trip Distance, current speed, average speed,
maximum speed, odometer.

I would add cadence to the list.

That's a waste, adding a great deal of complication and expense for something a numerate person
may easily calculate on the fly. When I worried about cadence I knew my speeds at 100rpm in each
gear and worked from that.

" That's a waste, adding a great deal of complication" How so? I never considered, pushing a little
button as complicated, but you do? Expense? without cadence, a computer that does all those things
can be had for under $15. Boy, I thought my budget was tight.

"When I worried about cadence I knew my speeds at 100rpm in each gear and worked from that." well
that was you, I'd prefer to just look down and there it is. I see no added complication from having
all of the above options, with the exception of installing the sensor and magnet for cadence, but
that is very basic. I see no good reason for the OP not to get a full featured computer. Life is
Good! Jeff

Jeff Starr said:

David Damerell <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Joel Rose said:

I would add cadence to the list.

That's a waste, adding a great deal of complication and expense for something a numerate person
may easily calculate on the fly. When I worried about cadence I knew my speeds at 100rpm in each
gear and worked from that.

How so? I never considered, pushing a little button as complicated, but you do?

However, an additional sensor and wire (or the inherent complication of a wireless computer) is,
especially as the wire must run considerably further than a normal computer wire.

Quoted message said:

Expense? without cadence, a computer that does all those things can be had for under $15.

How is that revelant to the claim that cadence makes computers more expensive?

Quoted message said:

well that was you, I'd prefer to just look down and there it is.

Perhaps you are not particularly numerate?
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!