Cycle computers - wired or wireless?

Is the battery good? If you have a spare one throw it in and see.
I have Cateye Enduro 2.
I found I had to scrape the contacts to get a reading at times. Winter
could be rusting things up.

nash said:

Is the battery good? If you have a spare one throw it in and see.
I have Cateye Enduro 2.
I found I had to scrape the contacts to get a reading at times. Winter
could be rusting things up.

It should be good. I mean it seems to work o.k. in the garage, spinning
the rear wheel. This bike is my good weather ride only bike has never
seen rain and winter here in Florida is not like winter in other places.
Like I said it's not the first time I have noticed inaccurate readings.
When I had it mounted in sight I would sometimes look at it and see some
pretty crazy readings. Like average speeds in the 30's, current speeds
in the 50's.

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

Read the manual to see what the range is. My VDO C3CD claims to have a
pickup range of 1.5 m. I figure it probably has half that, so I'm good even
on my recumbent. I rode a course who distance I've measured off on another
computer and it is very close. I note that my polar 720i has a much smaller
range. I think the digital transmissions offer slight greater range since
all they need to do is detect a 0 or a zero, in essence.

Ken C. M. wrote:
:: I rode for a couple of hours this afternoon on the road bike, I have
:: the cycle computer reading off the rear wheel and the head unit
:: mounted on the seat post. It's an Ascent wireless model. This isn't
:: the first time I have notice it, but thought it might make for an
:: interesting tech sort of thread here, now this was a two and a half
:: hour ride. When I got home I checked the readings, and clearly it's
:: not getting info from the pick-up all the time. It said my average
:: speed was about 7.5 miles per hour, and total distance was 15.5
:: miles. Now I KNOW that I am slow, but not even close to being THAT
:: slow. Now the cycle computer in question is not a very expensive
:: model. and not a GREAT brand, but really now? I mean enough already.
:: So whats some advice about computers, go with a wired design like my
:: Cateye Enduro 8 on my other bike, or just get a better wireless
:: model?
::
:: Ken
:: --
:: The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it
:: gets old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one
:: without shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

Ken C. M. said:

I rode for a couple of hours this afternoon on the road bike, I have the
cycle computer reading off the rear wheel and the head unit mounted on
the seat post. It's an Ascent wireless model. This isn't the first time
I have notice it, but thought it might make for an interesting tech sort
of thread here, now this was a two and a half hour ride. When I got home
I checked the readings, and clearly it's not getting info from the
pick-up all the time. It said my average speed was about 7.5 miles per
hour, and total distance was 15.5 miles. Now I KNOW that I am slow, but
not even close to being THAT slow. Now the cycle computer in question is
not a very expensive model. and not a GREAT brand, but really now? I
mean enough already. So whats some advice about computers, go with a
wired design like my Cateye Enduro 8 on my other bike, or just get a
better wireless model?

The last computer(s) I got were also these wireless Ascent. POS. Mine
would get interference from everything; many rides would indicate a max
speed of 76 mph. Now, I like to downhill fast, but not that fast. They
also are hard to read in the sun, rattle, and finally they broke. What
did I expect for $20, I guess.

I do like the wirelessness. It is just one less thing to fuss about.
Also, many wired computers have cheesy wiring and/or connections, so they
don't last all that long for me, anyway.

I got a Planet Bike Aero to replace these (going to switch from bike to
bike as soon as I get a second holder/sender). Much nicer screen, good
information, and, so far, no interference.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | "Business!" cried the Ghost. "Mankind was my business. The
_`\(,_ | common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance,
(_)/ (_) | and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my
trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my
business!" --Dickens, "A Christmas Carol"

Ken C. M. said:

I rode for a couple of hours this afternoon on the road bike, I have the
cycle computer reading off the rear wheel and the head unit mounted on
the seat post. It's an Ascent wireless model. This isn't the first time
I have notice it, but thought it might make for an interesting tech sort
of thread here, now this was a two and a half hour ride. When I got home
I checked the readings, and clearly it's not getting info from the
pick-up all the time. It said my average speed was about 7.5 miles per
hour, and total distance was 15.5 miles. Now I KNOW that I am slow, but
not even close to being THAT slow. Now the cycle computer in question is
not a very expensive model. and not a GREAT brand, but really now? I
mean enough already. So whats some advice about computers, go with a
wired design like my Cateye Enduro 8 on my other bike, or just get a
better wireless model?

Ken

For me, wired computers have been less trouble to get running and keep
running on the family stable of bikes. A lot of people love the
wireless, but having the wires lacing up the fork is not a big deal for
me and I sure don't go fast enough for it to hurt the aeorodynamics of
my ride. Plus, there's one less battery to go dead on a wired unit.

Obviously, if you mount yours where you can't see it, it is a little
hard to catch your computer not working if you can't look down and
glance every so often at the odo/mph on your handlebars, but I
understand how you might not care that much about keeping up with those
things every day.

On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:11:44 -0500, "Ken C. M."

may have said:

I rode for a couple of hours this afternoon on the road bike, I have the
cycle computer reading off the rear wheel and the head unit mounted on
the seat post. It's an Ascent wireless model. This isn't the first time
I have notice it, but thought it might make for an interesting tech sort
of thread here, now this was a two and a half hour ride. When I got home
I checked the readings, and clearly it's not getting info from the
pick-up all the time. It said my average speed was about 7.5 miles per
hour, and total distance was 15.5 miles. Now I KNOW that I am slow, but
not even close to being THAT slow. Now the cycle computer in question is
not a very expensive model. and not a GREAT brand, but really now? I
mean enough already. So whats some advice about computers, go with a
wired design like my Cateye Enduro 8 on my other bike, or just get a
better wireless model?

Wired units and wireless can both misread if the wheel magnet is just
a trifle out of position, but wireless units add errors due to low
battery at the sender, signal loss, or interference, and the latter
factor can actually cause them to read high on speed and distance.

I've considered wireless units once or twice, but for the few uses I
make of a comp, I have stuck with wired. Although wires can break,
it's my opinion that wired units have fewer ways for things to go
wrong overall.

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I've got a cateye wired on the MTB and a Sigma wireless on the road.
Both have been trouble-free in a few years of use.
I prefer the larger display on the Sigma but otherwise I've had no
complaints.

Werehatrack said:

Wired units and wireless can both misread if the wheel magnet is just
a trifle out of position, but wireless units add errors due to low
battery at the sender, signal loss, or interference, and the latter
factor can actually cause them to read high on speed and distance.

I've considered wireless units once or twice, but for the few uses I
make of a comp, I have stuck with wired. Although wires can break,
it's my opinion that wired units have fewer ways for things to go
wrong overall.

On the same thought as your last sentence, I also get the least
expensive, least complicated wired unit. I basically just want to know
mph and keep up with mileage.

catzz66 said:

Werehatrack said:

Wired units and wireless can both misread if the wheel magnet is just
a trifle out of position, but wireless units add errors due to low
battery at the sender, signal loss, or interference, and the latter
factor can actually cause them to read high on speed and distance.

I've considered wireless units once or twice, but for the few uses I
make of a comp, I have stuck with wired. Although wires can break,
it's my opinion that wired units have fewer ways for things to go
wrong overall.

On the same thought as your last sentence, I also get the least
expensive, least complicated wired unit. I basically just want to know
mph and keep up with mileage.

Yup, the cheapest computer I've owned is my favorite, a Sigma BC506.
Just does the basics, and is easy to read. Mine was $13 on sale, and
currently $18. Totally weatherproof in case you get a freak downpour.

I have two computers on my bike - one wireless Flight Deck and one wired
VDO, the former with a virtual cadence, the latter with heart rate
indication. They are operated by the same magnet on the front wheel.
They are fairly accurate, and the wireless doesn't give me any problems.
But there are inaccuracies at times. F.ex. when I accellerate (or the
opposite)they disaggree on the current speed.
I have calibrateded the two computers accurately by riding 10 km between
km-stones (milestones). Yet at times the one is a little ahead of the
other. In the long run - which means over 200 km - the relative
difference between them is about 1 - 2 pct., which I find satisfying and
better than the measurement I get from my car.

But when it comes to max speed there are huge differences - and I find max
speeds way above what I had read when I was going the fastest. I think I
have figured out why.

Inside the sensor is a little metal piece rattling around, as you may be
able to hear, activated by the rotating magnet and turning a contact off
and on.
Sometimes it will skip a turning on, somtimes it will be delayed a
fraction of a second.
If the frequency of the skipping is fairly constant, you will be able to
work the inaccuracy into the calibration, so the measurement in the long
run will be fairly acurate anyway.
But the max speed is probably a calculation made from only one turn of the
magnet. If the metal piece inside the sensor is delaied for a split
second, the next measured period will be too short - just as the former
was too long. But multiplying this inaccuracy will display the
unrealistic high speed. There is nothing to do about it - other than
disregarding max speeds you didn't see when it was going on for some
time. (Which is difficult. If I go 60 km/h I don't like to move my eyes
from the road to the computer for long.)
Once in a while one of the sensors get out of place - sometimes so much
that the measurement stops. At other times so little that the reception of
the magnetism only skips once in a while, giving a low measure.

Sometimes I try to tell myself not to look at the computers - so I can
understand why it can be a good idea to place your computer under the seat.
But if you want it to be reliable, you have to keen an eye on it.
Ivar

Den 12.12.2006 kl. 00:10 skrev David L. Johnson <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Ken C. M. said:

I rode for a couple of hours this afternoon on the road bike, I have the
cycle computer reading off the rear wheel and the head unit mounted on
the seat post. It's an Ascent wireless model. This isn't the first time
I have notice it, but thought it might make for an interesting tech sort
of thread here, now this was a two and a half hour ride. When I got home
I checked the readings, and clearly it's not getting info from the
pick-up all the time. It said my average speed was about 7.5 miles per
hour, and total distance was 15.5 miles. Now I KNOW that I am slow, but
not even close to being THAT slow. Now the cycle computer in question is
not a very expensive model. and not a GREAT brand, but really now? I
mean enough already. So whats some advice about computers, go with a
wired design like my Cateye Enduro 8 on my other bike, or just get a
better wireless model?

Quoted message said:

The last computer(s) I got were also these wireless Ascent. POS. Mine
would get interference from everything; many rides would indicate a max
speed of 76 mph. Now, I like to downhill fast, but not that fast. They
also are hard to read in the sun, rattle, and finally they broke. What
did I expect for $20, I guess.

I do like the wirelessness. It is just one less thing to fuss about.
Also, many wired computers have cheesy wiring and/or connections, so they
don't last all that long for me, anyway.

I got a Planet Bike Aero to replace these (going to switch from bike to
bike as soon as I get a second holder/sender). Much nicer screen, good
information, and, so far, no interference.

--
Sendt med Operas banebrydende postklient:
http://www.opera.com/mail/

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Although wires can break,

it's my opinion that wired units have fewer ways for things to go
wrong overall.

Cateye Enduro have extra thick wiring and a plastic coil also to protect it
at the top end.

the possible problems you stated about covers it.
Steel wool on the contacts or just a knife did it for me.

"Ken C. M." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I rode for a couple of hours this afternoon on the road bike, I have the
cycle computer reading off the rear wheel and the head unit mounted on the
seat post. It's an Ascent wireless model. This isn't the first time I have
notice it, but thought it might make for an interesting tech sort of thread
here, now this was a two and a half hour ride. When I got home I checked
the readings, and clearly it's not getting info from the pick-up all the
time. It said my average speed was about 7.5 miles per hour, and total
distance was 15.5 miles. Now I KNOW that I am slow, but not even close to
being THAT slow. Now the cycle computer in question is not a very expensive
model. and not a GREAT brand, but really now? I mean enough already. So
whats some advice about computers, go with a wired design like my Cateye
Enduro 8 on my other bike, or just get a better wireless model?

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets old
and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without shocking
the entire community. ~Ann Strong

One thing is the batteries that come with the units may be old and or very
low quality or capacity. Thus the wireless models usually run the batteries
down fast.
Second, is I haven't seen a wireless unit that use the rear wheel yet. All
the ones i dealt with need to have the sensor mounted on the front wheel as
close as possible to the cyclecomputer, and it has to be a unobstructed
straight line shot to it.
Third, so far the wireless units I used, all can be interfered with from
other RFI sources, such as big commericial radio transmitter antennas, High
tension power lines, some city utility trucks (I like this one, as you are
stopped waiting for the stop light to change, a city utility truck pulls up
next to you and your computer says you are doing 12mph).
Fourth, the battery life with good batteries may not be very good for some
wireless units. Mine all state they have about 40 hours of use before you
should change the batteries. But I tend to run them for longer than that.
But if your batteries are weak, then after a certain speed the computer
starts to have wild and erratic readings.

Wired computers on the other hand, don't need radio signals, aren't
sensitive to RFI, and the batteries last like forever. Plus the sensor can
be mounted anywhere that is convenient within the length of the wires. But
you can solder in extensions if needed.

On 11 Dec 2006 17:02:33 -0800, "landotter" <[email hidden]> may

have said:

catzz66 said:

Werehatrack said:

Wired units and wireless can both misread if the wheel magnet is just
a trifle out of position, but wireless units add errors due to low
battery at the sender, signal loss, or interference, and the latter
factor can actually cause them to read high on speed and distance.

I've considered wireless units once or twice, but for the few uses I
make of a comp, I have stuck with wired. Although wires can break,
it's my opinion that wired units have fewer ways for things to go
wrong overall.

On the same thought as your last sentence, I also get the least
expensive, least complicated wired unit. I basically just want to know
mph and keep up with mileage.

Yup, the cheapest computer I've owned is my favorite, a Sigma BC506.
Just does the basics, and is easy to read. Mine was $13 on sale, and
currently $18. Totally weatherproof in case you get a freak downpour.

In this area, that's not a freak occurrence. Cycling survival skills
here include knowing where the nearest places to take shelter are
located[1].

[1] and which ones won't flood if the rain keeps coming down for
several hours.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Ken C. M. said:

So whats some advice about computers, go with a
wired design like my Cateye Enduro 8 on my other bike, or just get a
better wireless model?

Would you classify GPS as "a better wireless model"? Prices have come
down so much and GPS units are much more versatile than a bike-only
gadget. My bike computer crapped out a few years ago and I haven't
really missed it, but if I were going to get back in the habit of
gathering ride data I would definitely go GPS.

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Doc O'Leary said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Ken C. M. said:

So whats some advice about computers, go with a
wired design like my Cateye Enduro 8 on my other bike, or just get a
better wireless model?

Would you classify GPS as "a better wireless model"? Prices have come
down so much and GPS units are much more versatile than a bike-only
gadget. My bike computer crapped out a few years ago and I haven't
really missed it, but if I were going to get back in the habit of
gathering ride data I would definitely go GPS.

Yeah I have considered that option. I guess I just need to shop around
and research them a bit. I like the idea of having a GPS to record my
ride routes. Plus having a navigator would be a plus.

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

Ken C. M. said:

Yeah I have considered that option. I guess I just need to shop around
and research them a bit. I like the idea of having a GPS to record my
ride routes. Plus having a navigator would be a plus.

I know some of you do use GPS units instead of computers. Is the margin
of error, standard deviation, whatever you want to call it, acceptable?
It seems like they monitor my speed pretty well in the car. Drawbacks
I could see with my Garmin unit (have been using it exclusively in the
car) are that takes a while to find the satellites and does not always
find them in all kinds of weather/conditions. It seems to me like I
would be pretty likely to have quite a few episodes where I don't have a
good signal over a year's time if I tried to rely on it every day on the
bike.

Ivar Hesselager said:

Sometimes I try to tell myself not to look at the computers - so I can
understand why it can be a good idea to place your computer under the seat.

I often ride with the computer set to clock only. It still tells
speed, but I don't really want to know the ride statistics, and even
some electrical tape over the speed reading can be acceptable during
certain rides or moments of a ride.

The worst (at times) are those darned pace arrows that tell you if
you're falling off your pace...which you generally are if you're
climbing a hill.

Those pace arrows can be brutal! Best to disconnect the display
and put it in the seat bag when in that frame of mind! Some times
your own mind demands that you suffer, and the cycle computer is
its means to make it so.

SMH

Ken C. M. said:

I rode for a couple of hours this afternoon on the road bike, I have the
cycle computer reading off the rear wheel and the head unit mounted on
the seat post. It's an Ascent wireless model. This isn't the first time
I have notice it, but thought it might make for an interesting tech sort
of thread here, now this was a two and a half hour ride. When I got home
I checked the readings, and clearly it's not getting info from the
pick-up all the time. It said my average speed was about 7.5 miles per
hour, and total distance was 15.5 miles. Now I KNOW that I am slow, but
not even close to being THAT slow. Now the cycle computer in question is
not a very expensive model. and not a GREAT brand, but really now? I
mean enough already. So whats some advice about computers, go with a
wired design like my Cateye Enduro 8 on my other bike, or just get a
better wireless model?

Ken
--
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets
old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without
shocking the entire community. ~Ann Strong

Is it possible that your calibration (wheel size setting ) is off? From
what you say it looks like the computer properly read the time. So, it
seems that it sensed that you were moving for the two hours. So it was
reading something for the entire ride and that would lead me to believe
it isn't the sensor or the sending function but soemthing to do with
the measurement.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Ken C. M. said:

Yeah I have considered that option. I guess I just need to shop around
and research them a bit. I like the idea of having a GPS to record my
ride routes. Plus having a navigator would be a plus.

I see something like a Garmin Forerunner as a good starting point. The
danger is in looking for too many features that bulk up the size and
price of the unit. I would *love* to find a cheap GPS unit that did
little more than buffer data and Bluetooth it when a computer/phone/iPod
is available. This comes close:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/security/8212/

but it's about $200 overpriced for what it does.

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