Shimano Flight Deck

I've been using one for about two years. Have no complaints about it. It works well, looks sleek, and the lever operated controls make it easy to work with while riding since you don't need to let go of the bars to fiddle with the computer. The only problem is you will need to remove your bar tape to route the wires inside.

The buttons don't have a very good feedback, they work fine but you don't always know if you pushed the button or not because they're kind of mushy, especially with thick gloves. I really like the look (off the bars and ahead of the stem) and the wireless transmitter to keep ugly wires off my beautiful fork.

One thing that annoys me, the max speed function works off the stopwatch only, and there are two different sets of functions which is kind of confusing (in one mode you see speed, clock, elapsed time, stopwatch, distance, and odometer; in the other mode you see cadence, average speed, and maximum speed) they could have made that simpler but you get used to it. Having the stopwatch different from the elapsed time is nice, but they shouldn't have linked it to max speed.

Yeah the two sets of functions is a bit annoying to get used to at first since you need to hold down the button for 2 seconds to cycle between them but its no big deal once you get used to it.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by firc56ab
Im thinking of buying a Flight deck computer, does any one have any comments that would be usefull? 😄

I have a flight deck and I really like it but I have to admit that I originally purchased it because I liked the fact that it displayed the gear you were in and the built in buttons. Not long after I bought the flight deck I realized that I really needed a HRM. Since I already had a computer I bought one of the lesser expensive HRM that weren't cycling specific. If I were to do it all over again I would just spend the money on the more expensive HRM/cycle computer combinations since they collect more data than my two combined and you can easily upload into your computer not to mention you only have one unit to deal with. That said though, both my polar HRM and flight deck have been functioning flawlessly.

Matt

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by DiabloScott
The buttons don't have a very good feedback, they work fine but you don't always know if you pushed the button or not because they're kind of mushy, especially with thick gloves. I really like the look (off the bars and ahead of the stem) and the wireless transmitter to keep ugly wires off my beautiful fork.

One thing that annoys me, the max speed function works off the stopwatch only, and there are two different sets of functions which is kind of confusing (in one mode you see speed, clock, elapsed time, stopwatch, distance, and odometer; in the other mode you see cadence, average speed, and maximum speed) they could have made that simpler but you get used to it. Having the stopwatch different from the elapsed time is nice, but they shouldn't have linked it to max speed.

The max speed function does not only work off the stopwatch function.
I think it is linked to the elapsed time function (and average speed) being active.
I watch my max speed all the time, but I use the stopwatch only occasionally.
It is a little tricky getting used to. In general, if the average speed function is active (the arrows showing indicating whether you are above or below avg speed) then the max speed function is active.

Yeah, you may be right, I think I messed up my elapsed time settings on that last ride. But there are actually THREE modes - the first (default) mode, the second mode that you get into by holding the right button for two seconds, and the third mode that you have to use the little button on the underside for - it shows the stopwatch values of max speed, avg speed, etc - really easy to get confused at what data you're looking at.

I use the stopwatch mode to time myself up the local mountain while keeping the total trip distance data from home - very useful that way.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by DiabloScott
Yeah, you may be right, I think I messed up my elapsed time settings on that last ride. But there are actually THREE modes - the first (default) mode, the second mode that you get into by holding the right button for two seconds, and the third mode that you have to use the little button on the underside for - it shows the stopwatch values of max speed, avg speed, etc - really easy to get confused at what data you're looking at.

I use the stopwatch mode to time myself up the local mountain while keeping the total trip distance data from home - very useful that way.

Scott

I'm not sure I relate to your description.
The only reason I touch the button under the left side of the computer is to turn it on.
There is another button under the computer, on the right side I think, that you should just never touch, because you can reset it, totally screwing up the settings.
One of the two modes you describe does contain avg speed, max speed, etc.
The only reason I'm writing back is to say that it sounds like either something's messed up with your computer or the settings, and as a result you're not getting as much out of it as you should.

Maybe get it looked at by a tech who knows the device at a LBS just to be sure. apologies if I have misinterpreted what you decribed.

Nope Velvagolden - there's another mode in there. There are Display Modes 1 and 2 which you describe, and also one called "Stopwatch Group" which only works when the stopwatch is running and it displays distance, max and average speed calculated from the stopwatch function. You have to access it using the B button on the underside of the computer head and you have to scroll through the functions with the B button also. Once you push the mode button under the hood it goes back into the regular display mode.

Check out your owner's manual again, or you can download a .pdf version from Shimano's site. It confused me for months but I finally figured out what they were talking about and how to do it.

Right, but I thought you were frustrated that "max speed works off the stopwatch only.."

Now I wonder if you can't view trip max speed because you are in the stopwatch group all the time.

to watch trip max speed you temporarily get out of stopwatch group, activate the time function with the Left button, and it's calcualting avg and max, until you inactivate with left button again. The arrow flashes in the upper Right corner when you're on.
Hope I haven't been too redundant on this thread. sounds like you are already an advanced user. Cheers