Cycle Computers

[wbmkk]

I would like some advice on a semi-decent bike computer, for my road bike.

If i was only going to buy one, it wouldn't be so bad and i could pay a bit more money, but two of my kids want them too, for their bikes.

Which computer do folk recommend, up to about £20 each .. and why

thank you

 

[stevetailor125]

Ok call me tight but I use one from Tesco, it does everything I need, distance, average speed, highest speed, time taken etc. Mine was just over £6.00 and is wired. Then again all my cycling is on a tight budget lol.
It was easy to fit, has auto switch off and has been out in storms so very waterproof

 

[mark barker]

I've also been using the Tesco ones. One has just speed (sounds like the one mentioned above) and I've also got the one with cadence meter on it (around £15 iirc). Both have worked fine and are left on the bikes regardless of weather and I've had no problems.

 

[BSRU]

I have a ETC Mach 2 on my hybrid, nothing fancy, completely waterproof and survived all weathers including riding when it was -10.

 

[HLaB]

I've got a raleigh Echo lying around somewhere (iirc it was sub £15) its a good computer but it tends to get interfered with if my Led's are too close or if I'm cycling slowly on a heavily congested road. My cheap wired Aldi was £3 an it seems much more reliable (but not as good an interface). I think I'd reccomend that you consider wireless if you are looking at a cheaper computer.

 

[donnyjnk]

Aldi are banging out wired cycle computers for a fiver with 3 year warranty. I used it against a gps tracker app on htc and it was only out by 200 meters over 13 mile

 

[endoman]

I'm using my Iphone as a computer with Cylcemeter, I make it turn off the screen automatically but it still eats battery, I like the downloadabilty though.

I reckon it will manage 3 hours if I select the screen to be off most of the time. I don't ride well enough to need it on all the time,

any reason why I should get a proper cycle computer?

 

[evilclive]

I'm using my Iphone as a computer with Cylcemeter, I make it turn off the screen automatically but it still eats battery, I like the downloadabilty though.

I reckon it will manage 3 hours if I select the screen to be off most of the time. I don't ride well enough to need it on all the time,

any reason why I should get a proper cycle computer?

Simple, cheap, works all the time. Mine has managed over a couple of years on a battery rather than three hours :-)

It's quite nice seeing the odometer showing twenty-something thousand miles. (more than one battery for that...)

 

[endoman]

Simple, cheap, works all the time. Mine has managed over a couple of years on a battery rather than three hours :-)

It's quite nice seeing the odometer showing twenty-something thousand miles. (more than one battery for that...)

Will look for a cheapie then, if there's room left on the bars with new grips and light

 

[Peter91]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sigma-Bc1009-Function-Computer-Black/dp/B002NGZIRE
This works for me, has trip milage, trip time, avg speed, max speed, current speed, and arrows to indicate if you are doing above, below or average speed, it's waterproof and made by Germans.

 

[endoman]

Simple, cheap, works all the time. Mine has managed over a couple of years on a battery rather than three hours :-)

It's quite nice seeing the odometer showing twenty-something thousand miles. (more than one battery for that...)

I look at mine about 5 times in a 1 hour ride, it has gone down by 20% minimum, I guess I should be ok up to 60 or 80 miles, and by then I should have advanced beyond my hybrid and Iphone!

 

[Nebulous]

I have used cyclemeter on my iphone since October last year. I switch off the screen, leave it in my back pocket and never look at it on the road. If I stop for a banana I pause it, but apart from tha I leave it. I have done 4 and a half hours where the battery was still in the green. I have also done a whole day where it ran out. That was annoying as I lost my data. It has some glitches- for instance the height gain is a bit strange.

A few weeks ago I bought a Lidl wired computer for £3.99 and now run both. Advantages are: visibility- quick glance gives speed, temperature- I've found this surprisingly useful.
Mileage travelled- it records all my rides, where I often didn't record short rides and occasionally forgot to charge the iPhone in time for longer ones. Back-up. If there is a glitch in the gps signal on cyclemeter I still have some data.I

I have been impressed with the degree of correlation between the two. Things like distance travelled and maximum speed are usually very close. So I like using both and think they complement each other. Its amazing how much Information you can get for £3.99 computer + £2.99 app. (the iPhone belongs to my work)

 

[jig-sore]

a "normal" bike computer is only as accurate as the wheel/tyre size you set it too. if you find its 200m out over 13miles then adjust the wheel/tyre size to suit.

don't blindly follow the sizes provided in the instructions... we are people not sheep

 

[wbmkk]

Thank you to everybody who kindly posted answers to my original question.

 

[Moodyman]

Aldi are banging out wired cycle computers for a fiver with 3 year warranty. I used it against a gps tracker app on htc and it was only out by 200 meters over 13 mile

I think you mean your expensive GPS is only 200 metres out from your Aldi one.

There's been several tests - wired computers vs GPS, and the wired ones come out more accurate. GPS, measures your position on a road but doesn't take into account that you ride at the edge of the road and meander to avoid pot holes etc. Wired computers measure wheel rotations which is more accurate

To the OP - I also got a Tesco one and it's been very reliable - even in the last two extreme winters. Only needed a battery change after 18 months.

On my road bike, I've a Cateye Strada Wireless. It's very good, but other than avoiding the wires, doesn't do anything that my Tesco one doesn't.