Do you use a cycle computer?

i just started using one in the last 3 months and it has helped me check my preformance.

would not be without it now.

roger89 said:

Hello,

Just gimme ya vote and tell me also. Is it necessasry to have one? and why is it necessary for u?

Oh ya, I'm planning to get Cateye Mity 8 for USD17.

I've used them at various times and while knowing how fast you are going etc is nice, I don't find I can't live without them. I haven't used one in ages in fact.

I've used computers at various times and have found them very useful when training, but eventually I stopped using them as they spoil the ride. I find it easier and much more pleasurable just to ride hard and enjoy the scenery.

I use a bike computer. The speedo is "nice" but I mostly use the trip meter and odometer to motivate me to get enough riding in each week. I can see how far I've gone and if I fall short it's pretty visible.

GPS all the way for me. I guess you can count that as computerized?
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I use both a Sigma BC1200 and a Polar S520. Between the two, I get more data than I need for each of my rides. I like knowing the numbers for my rides, and the computers are the only way to get them. I'd like to be able to afford a Powertap setup or SRM, but can't at this time. Maybe someday though....

Ow k, keep up your replies. I wanna know too, is the cycle computer water proof? Cause I'm getting the Cateye Mity 8.

roger89 said:

Ow k, keep up your replies. I wanna know too, is the cycle computer water proof? Cause I'm getting the Cateye Mity 8.

A Cateye Mity 8 is water resistant, meaning you can ride in a downpour without hurting it but you can't ride your book under water. I have the Enduro 8 which is the same computer with a thicker wire attached.

For years I've used a cycle computer. I like to log my mileage. Knowing how fast I am going is a good gauge of how efficiently I am cycling. The reason is the faster I am going without any increase in perceived effort is due to correcting my spin errors and using my muscles at greatest efficiency.

The odometer lets me know when I should check my chain. I also want to see my mileage on a monthly basis.

As I am a recreational rider and I am increasing my fitness and have not reached my maximum yet I see the gradual gain in strength and endurance and use my cycle computer for the information it gives me.

Consider that all the pros use a cycle computer. You see most cyclists nowdays using one.

A practical use is to help navigate in unfamiliar places. If you have ever ridden with a trip sheet it's helpful to know that you should be looking for the next turn about a half mile ahead.

I've got computers three years old that still work, so the battery lasts a very long time. I've never had a computer fail on me. I have had one overheat in the sun but that is a temporary malfunction of the display only, not the computer itself. It's common to all liquid crystal displays. When overheated all the graphics are dispalyed. After the display cools off you see the computer has been working fine all along.

slgeo1 said:

I use a bike computer. The speedo is "nice" but I mostly use the trip meter and odometer to motivate me to get enough riding in each week. I can see how far I've gone and if I fall short it's pretty visible.

That's pretty much the reason why I have a cyclocomputer. I usually don't care about how fast I am going, I just want to know how long my bike rides are.

I use the Cateye Micro Wireless. I like it in group rides so that I don't alter the pace drastically when I am in the front... That is unless I am doing it on purpose...🙄

I use a Cateye Enduro 2, although I am considering moving up to a model that provides cadence and other additional features.

It is not essential for me to use a computer, but I use it continually to determine how far I have ridden, and how far I have to go, and too often check my average speed and riding time as well.

When I have forgotten to clip it on before a ride, I have felt a little lost...

Most of my rides are somewhat linear, going out a certain distance, and then returning. When I set a goal to ride for a certain distance (which is what I use to motivate myself) it gives me the ability to know when to turn around.

Since I am a slow rider, and susceptible to significant slowdowns due to gentle hills and fatigue, timing wouldn't be enough, since I could easily take 30 percent longer on the return than on the outbound leg.

Polar S710

All I want to know about the bike (well, it does not show at what gear I'm ridding, but that's Ok), the temperature, the altitude and, eventually, more than I wish to know about my heart and my effort.

No..
I ride the bike it does not ride me. My compulsive nature caused me to monitor my computer all the time and evaluate myself. One day it just flew of the mount while on a long decent. I found I enjoy my rides more without it. I measure the time in the saddle. I can use the sun for that.

ceeceesun said:

GPS all the way for me. I guess you can count that as computerized?
bestbuy.comolspage.jspOpen ↗

That sounds like a great idea. Went to the link and checked it out and called and they said that model would be perfect. Wondered how basic the maps are and what kind of detail.

I have a Polar s710 and i love it. But a few posts below are dead on: Don't become a slave to the computer. I like the combination heart monitor and cycle computer on one device. The trip odometer is great for following route sheets and being in CO, I like to know how high I go with the altimeter. What I use my Polar for most is the heart monitor functions and the interval training you can set with it. I can also use the polar for other exercises. However, the best thing is that it is wireless. You can get into a solid Cateye wireless for around $30-35. You'll find it's worth the money not to have to deal with the wires.

I have the Cateye Mity 3 on my MTB and the Cateye Micro Wireless on my commuter. I log the information into a spreadsheet which helps me gauge such things as whether my average speed has increased and the whether I have improved my time to get from a to b. Usually I do this only on my commuter as I take the same route to and from work every day. The computer on the MTB is purely to let me know the distance i've covered. Other than that, I prefer to just enjoy the ride without having the self induced 'pressure' of beating previous times, speeds etc.
BTW, I only started using them in the last month or so and have only gotten back into cycling in the last three months so I find them beneficial. I'll probably slacken in my use of bike computers after I have attained a better level than where i'm now at (that'll probably be another decade or so from now 😄).

I just started using an incite 11i c/w cadnence and found it really improved my spin.

I mainly use mine to track my mileage...I am not too interested in my speed unless I am going fast down a long hill, and want to see just how chicken I can be.

roger89 said:

Hello,

Just gimme ya vote and tell me also. Is it necessasry to have one? and why is it necessary for u?

Oh ya, I'm planning to get Cateye Mity 8 for USD17.

I wouldn't say it's necessary to have on to ride a bike but it is a bonus for me.

I'm a commuter, 60km a day, and went the first 18 months without one. I got a bit of coaching and my coach recommended one which has cadence and it really helped me a lot. When I first started using it my normal cadence was 80ish, now it's 95 and I find I can go longer with less effort as a result.

Also keeps a track of how much milage I've done, though I don't check that very often. I probably should 'cause I've done 6,000k since I've given the bike a serious overhaul :-p