Cyclometer recommendations anyone?

Lauri said:

C.J.Patten said:

"Lauri" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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...

Quoted message said:

Lauri in WA, lurker and new biker

Welcome to the group Lauri! Glad to have you here. 🙂

Thanks! I'm amazed at how much fun I'm having riding my bike. I'm
trying to work up the courage to join a local bike club. I'm at the
point right now where I can ride maybe 6-7 miles and I don't how well
that would fit into a cycling club mentality. I don't have any of the
"fancy gear", either, and not sure how much of that is necessary...?
Right now, I'm just having fun in my shorts, tshirts and tennis shoes
(and helmet!).

Oh, one more thing. The smiley rides all use the drop and sweep
system. The leader drops someone at every turning point to point the
correct way, and someone is the sweep and stays at the back to make
sure that no one gets left behind. Periodically the whole group stops,
at some nice resting place, and waits for the sweep. With cell phones
it is really tough to completely blow it.

C.J.Patten said:

"dgk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I just started a thread about my two computers, including dB4LW,
showing the max speed as negative numbers. Yours doesn't do that?

Heheheheh. It's a setup issue.

That "negative" symbol isn't describing your speed. It's telling you your
CURRENT speed is less than your maximum or average, depending on what mode
you're in.

If you ever see a "wonky" speed, (eg: -96mph) in max or average, perform a
"trip-reset" (my words) - not the reset that kills all your settings but the
one that resets the trip time and distance.

If the signal from the sensor is weak, you'll get erroneous readings. One
cause of this is computer position. I had to adjust mine so the computer
wasn't obscured by the handlebars.

Aside from getting used to the interface and modes, the dB4LW has been by
best computer to date. (as I said, I've had a few ranging from cheap-imports
to expensive Cat-Eye's with cadence)

C.

No no, the dB4LW (I resent that little d) has two screens that
alternate by pressing the right button. Both show current speed (the
big display at the top) and one shows the average speed (+ or -) as
well as the trip distance and the trip time. The second screen shows
the max speed, time clock, and total distance.

I was referring to the maximum speed (mxs) display on the second
(cumulative) screen. That is the one that had the weird negative
number. I know about the negative sign on the average speed on the
first (trip) screen.

However, I just learned something new. I knew that holding the left
button for two seconds resets the non-permanent settings, but I did
not realize that it works for each screen independently. I always just
did it when the trip screen was showing. If I do it when the
cumulative screen is showing then it resets just the mxs setting (not
the odometer or clock. Now I'll keep an eye on it and see what it
does. I must have been really moving to end up at -77. Probably some
space/time warp thing.

"dgk" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

No no, the dB4LW (I resent that little d)

:? I have no idea why it's a lower-case "d"... that's how it is in the
manual...

Quoted message said:

I was referring to the maximum speed (mxs) display on the second
(cumulative) screen. That is the one that had the weird negative
number. I know about the negative sign on the average speed on the
first (trip) screen.

Almost! The negative in front of the MXS indicates you're currently below
that speed.
It's not a "negative speed."

Quoted message said:

However, I just learned something new. I knew that holding the left
button for two seconds resets the non-permanent settings, but I did
not realize that it works for each screen independently. I always just

Cool. Reseting both screens and making sure the computer was positioned in
line-of-sight with the sensor stopped the wonky readings for me. Once you're
set up, you probably won't see any more odd speeds.

Quoted message said:

did it when the trip screen was showing. If I do it when the
cumulative screen is showing then it resets just the mxs setting (not
the odometer or clock. Now I'll keep an eye on it and see what it
does. I must have been really moving to end up at -77. Probably some
space/time warp thing.

LOL! You exceeded 88mph. Doc Brown might be able to help but that's beyond
us. 😉

C.

Lauri said:

Apparently there are two local
clubs; one for the people who do lots of racing and century rides, and
then the other club. I'm really just looking for someone to ride the
local "loop" trail with. It's 11-12 miles and crosses the Columbia
river twice. There are a couple of areas that are unsafe for lone
female riders (transients and ne'er-do-wells), so even just one
biking buddy would be great. Till then, I'll keep biking around town.

Lauri in WA

Clubs are great but there are ways other than joining a club to find a
riding partner for the kind of riding you seem to be talking about.
1- Ask your friends and I'll bet that you already know someone that has
"an old bike I haven't ridden in years" hanging in their garage.
2- Pick a few nice weekends in a row when that loop trail will be
crowded and just hang out for awhile. I'll be surprised if you don't
spot at least one or two recurring lone riders. Say hi and ask if
they'll mind if you tag along.
3- There are charity rides, public "fun rides", and other bicycle
oriented events in many if not most localities. Raise the pledge, pay
the entry fee, whatever and meet others just like yourself.
4- Start spending a little time at your LBS and/or other places
frequented by cyclists. Most cyclists are fairly sociable and will
seldom snub anyone interested in riding. Say something nice about
another's bike and you'll find out just *how* sociable we can be. <g>

Regards,
Bob Hunt

P.S.- If I interpret your concern about being a "lone female rider"
correctly maybe this will help. You are likely at a higher risk of
being attacked when you are loaded down with shopping bags as your walk
to your car in an outdoor parking lot attached to a shopping mall than
you are when you're riding a popular loop trail. That should either
ease your mind about riding that trail or severely curtail your
shopping. If it's the former, you're welcome. If it's the latter, tell
your husband I said *he* is welcome. <g>

Lauri said:

jes.sandiegoca said:

Are they all pretty much the same?

I'm just starting to get into biking, so I bought a cheapie $20
computer from Target. It kept shorting out over bumpy road, so I
crammed some little pieces of paper behind the battery. Still no
good.

I then did what I should have done in the first place--went to my
local bike shop and had them install a $20 Cateye Velo 5. Same price,
much better computer (very simple with very few functions), and a
professional installation that looks a lot better than the goofy way I
installed the cheapie.

It is wired, and very basic: Odometer, time, miles for this trip,
MPH, and max MPH. I've only had it for a week or so but it's much
easier to operate and has been much more dependable than the first
one.

I had pretty much the same experience a few years ago. The *Mart
stuff looks full featured - will do bike or walking, estimate calories
and a few extended functions but they dont hold up. Within a month I
was having to fiddle with the sensor every few miles to get it to
work, even added an extra magnet to increase the magnetic field (to no
avail).

Gave up, bought a CatEye and havent touched the sensor or magnet in
yrs.

Quoted message said:

I like my email spamless

"jes.sandiegoca" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Are they all pretty much the same?

cjs

Well I will probably get laughed out of the NG for this one but I recommend
going down to the local Wally-Mart, or K-Sears and seeing if they have a
Schwinn. I bought I a couple of months ago and it has been the best $10.00
investment I made for my bike! Never misses a beat and it has all the basic
funtions you will probably need.

Ken