Cycle Computers - what to get ?

Guess it all comes down to what you're gonna use it for.

Gonna try that century next spring? Vetta V100 with HR monitor.

Recreational rider that wants to improve your spin? Astrale 8

Just kickin around the neighborhood and want to see how many miles yer puttin on? Mighty 8 and many others for under $30.

My Commuter has the Astrale, My MTB has a mighty 8 and my Club racer has the V100HR with Cadence. All of them work exceptionally well. I'm a believer in cadence. For me anyway, it helped improve cardio and my spin. It just all depends on what you want to use it for.

JR

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by JoeRider
Guess it all comes down to what you're gonna use it for.

Gonna try that century next spring? Vetta V100 with HR monitor.

Recreational rider that wants to improve your spin? Astrale 8

Just kickin around the neighborhood and want to see how many miles yer puttin on? Mighty 8 and many others for under $30.

My Commuter has the Astrale, My MTB has a mighty 8 and my Club racer has the V100HR with Cadence. All of them work exceptionally well. I'm a believer in cadence. For me anyway, it helped improve cardio and my spin. It just all depends on what you want to use it for.

JR

Thanks for the reply.

You've confirmed what I wanted and Ebay's just solved the price problem. Just scored a new V100 wireless w/cadence DIRT cheap. (not HR though)

Yep, I was after a cadence model, but wanted wireless..... so the V100 has solved the problem. The bike's my club racer, and the cadence option, combined with my Polar HR monitor should provide great feedback.

C.

I have been using the Planet Bike Protégé 9.0 Cyclocomputer. (Got mine @ the LBS for $24 USD).

No buttons, 100% waterproof. Four lines on the LCD display that provides up to 5 pieces of data at once. To switch modes, just push the computer body forward. Auto on/off, H/D oversized wire harness. Functions: current, average, and maximum speed, +/- average speed indicator, trip distance, total distance, clock, stopwatch, ride time, and temperature read-out.

Down side is no cadence.

http://www.planetbike.com/computers.html

Great! Glad there was one on ebay for ya. You'll really like it.

JR

I have the Cateye Astrale 8, and love it. It's small, and is very easy to read and program. Since using it, I've discovered that I cannot live without its cadence feature, which is important for training. IMO, it is the most useful of the Cateye offerings. I also have the Cateye cordless computer, but because it has no cadence, it is going bye bye.

Now, for my new bike (under construction), I was considering using the Sigma BC1600 coupled with the Sigma PC1600 HRM (worn like a watch). I have a Tacx Grand Excel trainer, so I could just omit the PC1600 when training, as the trainer has an internal HRM. I believe the Sigma computer cannot be set up for optional cadence *and* be wireless.

Having learned that the Vetta V100HR has *both* cadence and HRM capability, that seems like the best, least troublesome option, especially being that aside from having everything in one device, all features are wireless compatible. I'm not convinced as to the reliability of the wireless option, but nevertheless, it is the only cyclocomputer I know of that combines all of these features - and the cost is reasonable considering what you get.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Ted B
I'm not convinced as to the reliability of the wireless option.

I was also wondering about this.
Any people who have experience with wireless? Any reliability problems?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Aernout
I was also wondering about this.
Any people who have experience with wireless? Any reliability problems?

Not sure about this but I've heard in group rides you can have issues with cross-talk between other wireless computers, and uncoded HR monitors (as well) giving you erratic readings...

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Cipher
Not sure about this but I've heard in group rides you can have issues with cross-talk between other wireless computers, and uncoded HR monitors (as well) giving you erratic readings...

That might make sense.... hope they're well coded !

There must be some interference problems somewhere :
I've got a Polar HR monitor (wrist mount)... and also a Seiko Kinetic Auto Relay wristwatch.. (you know, the kind that you don't need to wind up).

the electromagnetic pulse that comes from my watch interferes with the HR..... wondered why I was getting a 180bpm reading before I even got on the bike.
(Sounds stupid to have had them on the same wrist, I know,.... but I just never take my watch off!)..... so the HR has to go on the Right hand !.

It'll be interesting to see if there's interference between the Vetta & Polar gear !

C.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Aernout
I was also wondering about this.
Any people who have experience with wireless? Any reliability problems?

I second JoeRider's comments on the V100HR with wireless cadence. I got this setup for a new bike back in May and it has worked flawlessly since. I do a lot of group riding and it has never shown a problem. One feature I really like is the HR will work with the display unit off of the bike. I can then monitor my HR during the cool down after the ride.

I reget getting wireless. if I get HID I wil lget interference. but I also got it when I moved my xenon strobe over.

I've got a Specialized Speedzone Pro that goes back and forth between my roadbike and my Bike Friday and I really like it. It's pricey, but I find having not only cadence but inclinometer and altitude functions add another kind of motivation to my climbing. If I can stand my way up a long 12% grade I feel like a real stud.

It's very easy to use, including switching between two wheel diameter settings, so I can use it for two bikes.

Ben

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cpa
What Cycle-computers are everyone using these days ? <br><br>(snip)

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cpa
...the electromagnetic pulse that comes from my watch interferes with the HR..... wondered why I was getting a 180bpm reading before I even got on the bike.

Maybe you were just unusually nervous? :p

Anyway, I have not had any problems with the Cateye cordless setup whatsoever. However, in reading reviews of the Vetta V100HR cordless, one person complained about getting intermittent lapses in data.

I suppose it's best to be extra careful to keep an absolute minimum of distance between transmitter and receiver. After all, the makers of this equipment realize that you will be riding in a group with other riders who may also be using cordless computers.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Ted B
Maybe you were just unusually nervous? :p

Anyway, I have not had any problems with the Cateye cordless setup whatsoever. However, in reading reviews of the Vetta V100HR cordless, one person complained about getting intermittent lapses in data.

I suppose it's best to be extra careful to keep an absolute minimum of distance between transmitter and receiver. After all, the makers of this equipment realize that you will be riding in a group with other riders who may also be using cordless computers.

Maybe we're all on the wrong track !?

Just imagine : If we all rode Pennyfarthings (or fixed ratio track bikes), the cadence and speed could be taken from the same sensor !!! 😄 :p

Viva la Pennyfarthing !!!

C !

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cpa
Maybe we're all on the wrong track !?

Just imagine : If we all rode Pennyfarthings (or fixed ratio track bikes), the cadence and speed could be taken from the same sensor !!! 😄 :p

Viva la Pennyfarthing !!!

C !

Yeah, but they make kinda crummy commuterbikes...

Ben