Help with Cycle Computer

[Glow worm]

Agree on the Cateye wireless computers. You can't really go wrong with these- they're easy to set up and good battery life. I think mine was about £35 or so. They measure in miles as well. (I had to take an old wired one back to the shop years ago when i discovered it only did KMs which was hopeless).
I did have one with cadence on it once but couldnt really see the point.

 

[craigwend]

I've had cadence in the past, paid a bit of attention to it for a week or so until the novelty wore off.

I don't have it, miss it or want it now TBH.

Cadence has no significance IMO unless you are an athlete training to a goal and crunching numbers for marginal gain.

Tend to agree with the above , still have a wired cateye with cadence , can't remember the last time I used the function

 

[jackjack701]

I've had cadence in the past, paid a bit of attention to it for a week or so until the novelty wore off.

I don't have it, miss it or want it now TBH.

Cadence has no significance IMO unless you are an athlete training to a goal and crunching numbers for marginal gain.

Tend to agree with the above , still have a wired cateye with cadence , can't remember the last time I used the function

I haven't used cadence, as this will be my first computer, but I have looked into it, and it is a function I would use and find helpful.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I tend to watch my cadence rather than speed, speed is irrelevant really, as your best power output is within a given cadence range say 85-95, though you also know when you know when you are spinning to fast, its a little less noticeable when you drop below a certain cadence.
The Bryton R20 is a little out of the price range, but is Ant+ compatible, which means you can add HR/Sp/Cad sensors, whoever these are not cheap £30+ for each though they are cheaper in bundles.
They are very light in weight (something people seem to over look when comparing gps units to smartphones, and being Ant+ unlike smart phones no bluetooth adaptor to buy which could go towards one of the sensors), they also tend to bounce pretty well if dropped.
This has cadence at £32
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-strada-cadence-cycle-computer/

 

[jackjack701]

Thanks, your first suggestion is over budget and I think the second one is wired, and I would prefer wireless.
Although thanks for mentioning weight, as I had never really considered that, and it is a good point.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@jackjack701
This at £45 but you would need to add a speed sp/cad sensor (which can be done later), it tracks your gps route (so can be uploaded to strava) it is £45 on a bid, no bids yet and about 10hrs left.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bryton-Ri...K_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item43cd281d99

New the sp/cad sensor is almost as much again.

 

[jackjack701]

I was looking at the Boardman 22 on Halfords and then saw next to it a fitting kit. Would I need to buy both of these, or does the computer come with the fitting kit.
If I do need both I would go with the Sigma BC16.12, but would that also need an additional kit.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

Best to ask the retailer what it comes with, some companies sell fitting kits separately so you can fit one computer to multiple bikes, my Cateye comes with the option to configure two bikes in to it for just this reason although the interface is so fiddly I can't imagine me ever doing it no matter how tempting, others might sell extra bits that you consider 'required'.

Watch with wireless and cadence that the cadence sensor is also wireless. I use a Cateye strada with cadence that is all wireless, but I think it was a tenner or so above your budget (may be deals around though) I think sometimes computers can be sold 'cadence ready' but the sensor kit is extra too, be wary of that. The original Cateye my LBS tried to sell me was wireless speed, but wired cadence and being sold as 'wireless' because of the speed connection.

I'm comfortably at the novice end of things and I like having the cadence sensor on my 'bike to do sportive training and the like on'. Basically it keeps me honest and if I want to try to ride to cadence, which I sometimes do, it's the only way I'm going to be able to and know that it's happening. I care about it a lot more than speed as an indication of how I'm doing and use it a bit like a rev counter on when to change up or down through the gears. My commuter doesn't have cadence on the bike computer and I don't miss it, but I find myself looking at the clock more than any other readout on it lately. I believe my cadence has increased on the commuter through practice on the road bike.

It's probably a phase you need to go through at some point, especially if you want to get faster (much like shouting at ignorant car drivers is a commuting phase, now I just smile and wave.)

They are pretty bullet proof (my cat eye has bounced down the road more than once as the mount could be better designed) and there are no moving parts, so on your budget a used one might be the way to go, just make sure they are selling it with all the bits.

 

[malcermie]

I converted a £3 cheap one to read cadence works a treat

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I presume as all it actually does is read how often a magnet passes a sensor that you just re-tasked the speed output as a cadence sensor then lived without a speedo?

 

[jackjack701]

Thanks for all the help everyone! After having a look around I decided to go for the Sigma Sport BC16.12 STS/CAD. I managed to get it for £32 on Amazon, which was an offer I couldn't resist!

Thanks

 

[Ticktockmy]

Thanks for all the help everyone! After having a look around I decided to go for the Sigma Sport BC16.12 STS/CAD. I managed to get it for £32 on Amazon, which was an offer I couldn't resist!

Thanks

As someone new to cycling, you will find cadence handy until you get used to riding at a steady cadence whatever the road conditions are, it will help you improve the use of your gears. however after a while, I doubt you will use it, as in your mind you will know what cadence your should be ridind at depending on the road conditions, ie up or down hill.

 

[confusedcyclist]

I fitted the wireless Sigma 16.12 STS and although it was a bit of a faff with not enough cable ties/crap quality ties, the computer itself is fantastic and the cadence sensor is great for tackling hills, really reminds you when to drop a gear as I found I was often working too hard to keep the pace up.

 

[confusedcyclist]

As someone new to cycling, you will find cadence handy until you get used to riding at a steady cadence whatever the road conditions are, it will help you improve the use of your gears. however after a while, I doubt you will use it, as in your mind you will know what cadence your should be ridind at depending on the road conditions, ie up or down hill.

Couldn't put it better myself!

 

[Coggy]

I use my iPhone with Strava/Map My Ride and many other Cycle Apps and mount it to the stem using a Quadlock.

Very secure mounting system with an excellent protective case.

http://www.quadlockcase.com/