New roadie owner looking for a computer

volfro said:

Hello again, cyclingforums.

I'm seeking buying advice again. Rayhuang sold me his old Trek 2300 (thanks again Ray!) which I've since had tuned and I'm loving it a bunch, but I'd like to get a computer to keep track of my progress.

I'm looking at the Cateye Astrale 8 or the Echo F2. They're in a similar price point and offer similar features, but I was just wondering which you guys liked better. Seems to me there are quite a few happy Astrale 8 owners around here. Anybody have experience with the Echo?

Let me know what you guys and girls think!

volfro

Sigma bc1606L

bobbyOCR said:

Sigma bc1606L

Just looked that up, and it looks like a nice computer! Cadence is optional though, which means it costs extra, whereas it's included in the Cateye and Echo.

volfro said:

Just looked that up, and it looks like a nice computer! Cadence is optional though, which means it costs extra, whereas it's included in the Cateye and Echo.

Got Cateyes on all my bikes, good basic unit operates flawless. Had a Sigma wireless once and the thing didn't even display fractional mileage!!!

volfro said:

Just looked that up, and it looks like a nice computer! Cadence is optional though, which means it costs extra, whereas it's included in the Cateye and Echo.

Unlucky. In Aus, cadence is included. I'd say go for the cateye then, but echo has a good rep with wireless stuff over here, but they are ugly computers. I got the sigma because it exactly matches the colour of the bike, and its made in Germany, near switzerland.

IMO go with a Polar CS200cad. Best basic dedicated cycling computer on the market. When they first came out a few kinks had to be worked out with the software but now i see 100% success rate. I manage a bike shop and have put on close to six the past week. Everyone has come back raving about it and its capabilities.

also if you want a full system with more analysis I still have a sweet spot for my S720i

volfro said:

Hello again, cyclingforums.

I'm seeking buying advice again. Rayhuang sold me his old Trek 2300 (thanks again Ray!) which I've since had tuned and I'm loving it a bunch, but I'd like to get a computer to keep track of my progress.

I'm looking at the Cateye Astrale 8 or the Echo F2. They're in a similar price point and offer similar features, but I was just wondering which you guys liked better. Seems to me there are quite a few happy Astrale 8 owners around here. Anybody have experience with the Echo?

Let me know what you guys and girls think!

volfro

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Go for the Astrale 8. I've sold close on 30 of them and no complaints. I have one on each of my bikes too and love them. No problems with them even through rain etc. 🙂

impakt said:

IMO go with a Polar CS200cad. Best basic dedicated cycling computer on the market. When they first came out a few kinks had to be worked out with the software but now i see 100% success rate. I manage a bike shop and have put on close to six the past week. Everyone has come back raving about it and its capabilities.

also if you want a full system with more analysis I still have a sweet spot for my S720i

Impakt--that computer's gorgeous, but it's a bit outside my price range. Part of the appeal of the Astrale and F2 are the number of functions for the price. According to Froogle, though, I can't get that Polar for anything less than $130. Unless you feel like sending a nice discount my way, you bike shop manager you 😉

Bigbananabike, I think I saw you recommending the Astrale 8 when I searched the forums for reviews. Big fan eh? One question: is the display backlit? Not a deal breaker, per se--it is, after all, a $30 computer--but it's nice to have a bit of light. Also, I read somewhere that there's no mph reading, only kph. Is this true? (I'm in the US, so kph hasn't all that much meaning in my mind, unfortunately. Although I suppose I could learn...)

[EDIT] Now that I look at it, that Sigma mentioned earlier looks like a pretty good deal if I can get it with the cadence included. Bobby, do you buy online? Is there a reliable place I can order it with the wired cadence attachment included?

Also, does anybody else have experience with this computer? (The Sigma bc1606L.) Is it reliable? I'm not really interested in wireless, so I'm asking specifically about the wired models.

Alright folks, I went ahead and bought the Sigma BC1606L off of eBay. Ended up costing me about $47 US shipped, which I thought was perfectly reasonable. Came with the cadence accessories, as well.

(Interestingly, Bobby, it's being shipped from Australia--I guess you're right, the cadence stuff is included over there.)

I was debating between that, and the Astrale 8 in particular, because the Astrale has such a reputation for being virtually bulletproof--but I didn't hear any complaints about the Sigma (wired) computers, and it has more features, so I went with it.

Thanks for all the tips!

Hey Volfro, can you tell us how you like the computer.

mysrh said:

Hey Volfro, can you tell us how you like the computer.

I'll be sure to once I get it.

The guy who sold it to me said he's sold 60 in the last couple of months, and has had zero complaints/returns.

I'll let you know about my experience with it though. It should be here in around a week.

volfro said:

The guy who sold it to me said he's sold 60 in the last couple of months, and has had zero complaints/returns.

That's because the blighter doesn't answer is emails!!! j/k 😉

I have a cheap Topeak poota that looks the biz, to the non-cycling-pro and does all the speed, distance travelled, time travelled, avg speed etc... but will be looking at going cadence at some stage so yeah, would be great if you could relay some feedback on that unit... as I was only thinking of cateye or polar for my next poota purchase...

If you have a old Polar give them a call directly. They have a pretty big trade in discount for all new product🙂

Hi BobbyOCR, wondering where can I order/buy this computer in Perth? or where to order in Australia?

Is the wireless one good?

G'day, I can only support other riders in saying that I am very happy with the Astral 8,use the cadence function as well and am very happy.Have had Sigma computers previously and while not unhappy with these decided to try new computer with a new bike,am still using a Sigma HRM quite happily.
Regards Allan42

volfro said:

Hello again, cyclingforums.

I'm seeking buying advice again. Rayhuang sold me his old Trek 2300 (thanks again Ray!) which I've since had tuned and I'm loving it a bunch, but I'd like to get a computer to keep track of my progress.

I'm looking at the Cateye Astrale 8 or the Echo F2. They're in a similar price point and offer similar features, but I was just wondering which you guys liked better. Seems to me there are quite a few happy Astrale 8 owners around here. Anybody have experience with the Echo?

Let me know what you guys and girls think!

volfro

mysrh said:

Hi BobbyOCR, wondering where can I order/buy this computer in Perth? or where to order in Australia?

Is the wireless one good?

It usually retails for something like $80, so get it from here http://www.phantomcycles.com.au/product.php?productid=3441&cat=74&page=1
Where it is $55. That is where I got it from. Sigma haven't got there wireless figured. Wired gives you quick response, and near faultless operation. I have had a wireless computer which dropped out at least once every ride, It was a Polar CS 100. Besides, wired is cheaper.

Alright folks,

I got the Sigma in the mail today, but the included battery was dead! Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to replace the battery and give it a test run, so I just bought a new battery and put in my basic settings. So far, so good.

For me, a complete newbie, it's been a wee bit on the confusing side to get going (none of the four buttons are labeled--but there are only four, so it's not like it's a lot to remember--and I found the English used in certain parts of the manual don't match what I see on the screen).

Once I get to take it for a ride a few times, I'll post my full impressions here. Thusfar, though, it looks to be feature-rich and relatively easy to use (once it's set up), even for a n00b like myself.

Volfro, is yours wired or wireless?

mysrh said:

Volfro, is yours wired or wireless?

The B1606L is wired. I kinda prefer wired; it's a little messier to set up and probably doesn't look quite as nice as wireless, but I've read too many stories on here about wireless set-ups dropping out intermittently during rides, which I'd hate. Seems as though very specific brands, and even very specific models within brands, are good at wireless computers, so I'd rather stick with the wide choice and reliability of a wired computer. At least, till there's more consistency in the technology.

OFF-TOPIC - Wireless accuracy, or lack thereof.

The best wireless story I have: Riding near a military airbase, quite close to Rome, along the seashore, on a road which is on the flightpath to the airport.

A military trainer comes in for a landing, right over my head, my wireless computer goes crazy, and I get to ride home with a maximum speed in the 180kp/h range.

That was great for bragging rights with the local riders! 😄