[ORRando] Bike Computer Suggestions

[Jeff Arasmith]

I hope no one wanted anonymity.  I'm posting all the responses I've received, so there will be some data stored for posterity.  Here's what I've heard so far, starting with the most recent and going backwards in time:

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From: cecilanne

VDO MC 1.0, wired
 works great, never fails, lots of useful functions without being over-the-top geeky like some others mentioned so far

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From: chris (fool) mccraw

so it says on peter white's page, but i've never experienced that, and i use a son hub and a wireless computer. however, the computer and the sensor are both pretty far away from the hub, being as it goes on the back wheel (& chainstay for cadence).

i have had a crappy wireless computer that was billed as being back-wheel compatible but wasn't even stable on the front wheel (and totally nonfunctional on the back), even on the bike without a generator hub. fortunately nashbar took the return with aplomb and i paid for a name brand and now i'm happy and fine.

also, my wired cateye handles fairly infinite ride time. i never reset it during a 4,500 mile tour and it certainly didn't reset itself during. twas interesting to know that the highest speed i went for the entire time was 48.9mph (glacier national park, IIRC).

unfortunately i forgot to check the "average" speed to get a better idea of how fast i actually went on average for an entire summer, before i had to reset it to km for a cue sheet that didn't have mile listings.

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From: Lesli

I'm adding a "me too" to the cyclometer search question.  I wouldn't mind going wireless but I've heard that the son 20r generator hub cause some interference with some wireless units.

At some point, I'll go GPS but for now I'm looking for something functional and affordable that works with my bike's front hub!

LL

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From: Del

I also do not like wireless, found them to be unreliable.
I also like very simple, just speed, distance, time, average.
My all-time favorite is Cateye Mity-3, but they quit making them years ago.  I had one on my Cannondale for 10 years, and it registered nearly 50,000 miles on the same original battery before failing earlier this year.  Replaced it with Cateye Mity-8, which is ok, but not as user-friendly in my opinion.  I'm not sure how long these will run before auto resetting, because I reset it daily when doing multi-day rides.  But it will give good averages all day long and accumulate total trip distance on Trip-2 meter.  Another thing I like is that I can set it to do true average speed by turning off the auto-start feature.  Then it keeps running while I am at a control and I can monitor my time spent by how much my average drops while at the control.  I try to average 25 kph, or 15.5 mph, which is 4 hrs per 100k.

-- Del

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From: Lynne F

I have (on one bike) a SON28/B&M IQ Fly and (on another bike) SON20/Supernova E3.

I have not noticed any interference with the bike computer.

----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff  A
Do you have any problems with the wireless? Do you use a generator hub or bright flashing LED headlights?

----- Original Message -----
Sorry about your prejudice against wireless.  I found that once I went wireless, dismantling and reassembling my S&S coupled bike got a LOT easier and quicker.

My wireless bike computer is the Sigma Rox 9.0.  All the pickups (sensors) attach with O-rings.

For randos, depending on how often the log samples (5s, 10s, 20s, 30s), you can get from 14 hours to a time duration probably long enough for a 1200k, which is an amazing plus.

For us folks with aging eyesight, the readouts are plenty big enough to read.  There is also a backlight, which I don't use much.

It has more functionality than I know what to do with - I stick with speed, cadence, hrm (yup it has one of those), altitude, temperature, vertical feet, waypoints (no gps, but you can set markers in the log) plus all the totals and averages.  It also works on 2 bikes, so when I had Sweetpea built up, I just had to buy a second set of pickups.

There is also a computer dock and PC app (included), for any geeky post-ride analysis side you may have.  I've also reverse engineered (on the side) an Excel spreadsheet that takes the log data file and turns it into clock time values, so you know what TIME you've set that waypoint.  Handy for controls, or just marking progress.

I wrote a review for Road Bike Rider a year or so ago.  Any complaining I did (which was more than Ed let through to the final review) on the PC app user interface is now greatly reduced by an updated version of that app.

Cheers,
Lynne F

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From: David Strong

I like the basic Specialized wired computer, Speedzone Sport ($30), I am not sure it has temperature, but everything else, and big numbers, easy to see.
Would you mind posting all the feedback, I would be interested to learn what you uncover.
-d


________________________________
From: orrando-bounces at orrandonneurs.org [mailto:orrando-bounces at orrandonneurs.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Arasmith
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 10:25 AM
To: orrando at orrandonneurs.org
Subject: [ORRando] Bike Computer Suggestions


I just got a new, custom bike from Baron Bicycles of Seattle.  I need to put a computer on it.

It has S&S couplers, so I think a front wheel sensor is best; without cadence.  Also, I have a prejudice against wireless.  I'm addicted to the temperature feature on the Trek Incite 11i on my "old" bike.  I'm interested in suggestions of cycling computers that fellow randonneurs have been happy with...   Any suggestions?

One troubling thing about the Trek Incite is that it resets at 24 hours of ride time.  I found this the hard way on the Headwaters 600.

-Jeff


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