advice on a new cycle computer please

[andyh]

hi im thinking about buying a new cycle computer.

ive seen a cateye strada double wireless computer does anybody have one ??.

i would like it to show speed/distance/cadence.

any advice would be great..thanks andy

 

[andyh]

hi, if nobody has one of these what do you use ??

 

[Broadside]

I have got the Strada double wired (which is identical but not the wireless version). It is a great simple computer with one button operation. It shows everything you want, speed is always shown, pace arrow always shown and you select the other info by clicking the button so I always have mine on cadence.

I have three gripes with the Strada Double:

1: I would like to see more info on the screen at once, eg to show speed, cadence and distance at the same time

2: when it gets soaked it sometimes stops showing/recording unless I wiggle the head unit. The contacts where it slots in to the steam mounted clamp seem to get wet and recently seem to be wearing away after 6,000 miles of use and vibration.

3: A backlight for night rides would be nice.

Because of point 2 I have ordered a new computer, a 55 ride last Sunday was recorded as 31 miles! However the Double Wireless would not be subject to this problem because it doesnt have any contact points being wireless.

I have gone for the Cateye Double v2 which answers all my points above, McConvey cycles are currently doing it for £71.99 which is a very good price.

I think the Cateye computers are good, the next step up would be a Garmin but then you are talking about a lot more money, granted with much better features but it is not something I can justify.

 

[Andrew_P]

What is your budget?

Do you want to be able to upload and keep ride data online at the various sites?

Do you want Heart Rate & Cadence?

 

[smokeysmoo]

The Strada is a great computer, but it is very small, so if your eyes aren't great look elsewhere. I've used Strada Wireless and Strada Double Wireless, but I did have problems, particularly with the Double Wireless. The screen would go haywire and need regular re-setting. Perhaps it was Friday afternoon unit?
I still use a Strada on my commuter, but it's a wired Strada Cadence, and touch would it's never missed a beat.

 

[WychwoodTrev]

I have just got myself a Polar cs200 wireless it does speed, cadence, heart rate, and wireless down load so you can save ride info. The digits are nice and big. Only down side is price £ 100 to £125 depending on where you shop

 

[MattHB]

I wish I'd got one with cadence

 

[Enw.nigel]

I have the Cateye V2c wireless computer and have had no problem with it at all. The display is clear enough to read speed, cadence and a 3rd display which can display a number of different options e.g. Time, distance. Can display your average speed and cadence if you prefer but I tend to chart this at the end of the ride. You can't upload data but it does store the last 14 rides as files in its memory.

 

[ColinJ]

I'd suggest getting yourself a GPS device which would do all the usual computer functions, plus help with navigation and logging exactly what you did, where and when. My cheapo Garmin Etrex's tracklog shows what speed I was doing at every point on a ride.

 

[ufkacbln]

GPS has come along, but it depends what you want

Basic GPS will do most of the functions, but not all

The best advice is to write a list of what you rally want or need and then see how this can fit in your budget.

 

[ColinJ]

GPS has come along, but it depends what you want

Basic GPS will do most of the functions, but not all

My bottom of the range Etrex can display useful cycling functions: current speed, maximum speed, average speed, moving average speed, vertical speed, odomoter, trip odometer, time moving, time stopped, total ride time, elevation.

Other useful stuff including: OS grid coordinates, north indicator, sunrise time, sunset time, ETA destination, how far off course (never far because I use the GPS to navigate!).

(Quite a few other obscure readings that I've never bothered to check out!)

You can get more expensive GPS units that will also measure temperature, cadence, heart rate etc.

Apart from power output, I can't think of anything else that you'd want to measure when cycling!

 

[Garz]

I'd suggest getting yourself a GPS device which would do all the usual computer functions, plus help with navigation and logging exactly what you did, where and when. My cheapo Garmin Etrex's tracklog shows what speed I was doing at every point on a ride.

Agree with colin on a GPS unit. I personally have an Edge 500, which for logging purposes and following a breadcrumb route on random outings it is perfect. I did read in a magazine a while ago an alternative to the Edge reminded me of an open source version and had some great features. If you are not bothered about HR and cadence then the Edge 200 may be up your street.

 

[andyh]

thanks for all the advice, i was looking at the strada double wireless as i was thinking i could put the speed
sensor on the back wheel so if i used a turbo trainer i would still get the info i wanted, is this right ??

 

[smokeysmoo]

Yup, unless you have a fancy turbo then you need a rear wheel mounted pick up.