John_V 

After reading your post, it got me thinking about when Cyclemeter actually starts and stops the timers. On today's ride, I displayed my RFLKT screen page to the one I have set up for time; it display's ride time, stopped time and total time. As I came to a stop, I did notice a slight lag in time between the time I stopped and the time that Cyclemeter started the stopped time clock but hardly no lag between the time I started back on the ride and the ride time clock starting back up. I stopped about 6 times on a 50 mile ride so the extra time it took between lag time and the stopped time clock kicking in couldn't have been more than a minute.

What I think is happening here is the speed/cadence sensor is not sending a signal to Cyclemeter, which then goes into sensor fail mode and starts using GPS, which now has a lag between the time it starts reading the GPS data and the time the GPS data shows that you are not moving. When you start up again, the speed/cadence sensor sends a signal and starts the ride time timer. I have Stop Detection turned ON so I think that if it were off, even if you have a speed sensor, it would keep the ride timer going because it is using the time from the GPS data.

Anyway, that's my observation. I don't know how much that matters to others, but had I not tried it today, I would never have known about the slight lag time when stopping. I guess that for me, it's not a big issue.

canklecat

Tagging onto this existing thread since it's fairly recent...

I bought the full featured version of Cyclemeter after trying the freebie version, Wahoo Fitness and all the usual suspects for several months. Cyclemeter suits me best, and the auto pause/resume feature suits my preferences. I usually set the app before leaving home, stick the phone in a handlebar bag and don't look at it again until I finish the ride.

The only feature I was missing was a privacy zone map option to obscure the precise starting/stopping point, in case I want to share a route on social media. GPS is so precise now you could actually tell which room I was in when I started and stopped the app. I don't care to share that much specific info online. But I do enjoy seeing the mapped routes other folks ride so I can explore them as well.

I wrote an email to Cyclemeter Monday afternoon asking if this feature was available and I was just overlooking it. Then I went for a ride. By the time I got home an email reply from the folks at Abvio support was waiting. They said they'd consider my question a feature request and they'll pass the suggestion along to the programmers.

For folks who aren't competitive and don't really care about comparing times with other cyclists, Cyclemeter is a great alternative to Strava at a fraction of the price. Adding the map privacy zone feature would make it darned near perfect.

FBinNY 

People report the same thing on a regular basis. However it's very possible that both are accurate, though different.

You need to understand that they measure distance differently, and which is correct depends on what you want to know.

GPS systems measure "map" distance by adding the small distances you travel between way points. This is the shortest distance for a given route from A to B.

However, the real distance can and will be longer, for example if you do a small loop back to check or your riding buddy, or swing wide on turns, or slalom to climb hills, or any small maneuver of this type that has your front wheel cover a longer distance than the shortest straight line possible. In fact if you mount two identical bike computers front and rear, the front one will slowly pull away from the rear because the front wheel does in fact travel farther than the rear, though both don't actually pull apart.

I also wonder about how GPS systems account for hills. Obviously if you ride over the mountain to get from A to B, it's a longer trip that if you went through a tunnel without having to climb.

So, what distance interests you. Knowing you got from A to B which are 30 miles apart, or how far your wheel rolled along the way? (which wheel?)

kaos joe

I can't add anything regarding the OP's question, but I can confirm that this phenomenon does take place. It occurred when I began mounting a second computer on my wife's bars on our tandems. Had me confounded for a few rides. I now splice the wires together, running both computers off of the output of one magnet/sensor.

doctor j

I have had similar experiences to those the OP reported. Ride times are a little shorter and ride distances are a little longer. Elevations are sometimes close to what I think they should be, and at other times they and totally wacky.

I use my wired bike computers for my "official" mileages and times.

noglider 

Why does your wife want the computer, and do you both look at it and discuss the display?

I use ridewithgps, and it's probably the same in elevation reporting. When I ride over a bridge, it thinks I'm on the surface of the water, so it reports more descending and ascending than I actually do.

kaos joe

No, we don't discuss it, she just likes to be able to glance down and see how far and fast, same as any other rider.

noglider 

OK, I get that. Clever of you to hook it up that way, as well as considerate. I'll ask mine if she's interested. She kinda likes these gadgets. We started riding a tandem this year.

kaos joe

Good for you! If you try it, make sure you use 2 computers of the same make. I had problems when I mixed Cateye and another type.
I believe you and I have met on Tom. McM's Croton Aqueduct rides.

noglider 

You are correct. I was unable to make it this year, though I don't remember why. Last year, I decided at the last minute not to go, as I was too sick to go. It's a fun ride - bigly!

kaos joe

That should of course have been Tom McM, not "MoM"

I've missed the last 2 also. First Dad's illness, then work. I'm going to try to not let that happen again.

FBinNY 

tell me more about this. The aqueduct is only a short ride across the grain from here.

kaos joe

FB,

PM sent.

noglider 

@FBinNY, it's a great ride. I don't remember the length, but it's not too much for me. The terrain is a bit of a challenge, especially on a road bike, which is all I ride, but I manage. It's fun. I hope you join us next year. It's held in October. I trust @kaos joe will get you connected to the list.

Connie40023