Recommendation?? The Simplest, Minimalistic Bicycle Computer for checking Speed?
08-19-18, 09:35 PM
#1
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Recommendation?? The Simplest, Minimalistic Bicycle Computer for checking Speed?
I only want to know how fast Im going.
Which bicycle computer should I look into? Im no expert, and was wondering if theres a no-frill (wires and such), just only a computer that would mount similar to a bicycle light, attach and go. Thank you!
Which bicycle computer should I look into? Im no expert, and was wondering if theres a no-frill (wires and such), just only a computer that would mount similar to a bicycle light, attach and go. Thank you!
08-19-18, 11:10 PM
#2
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There are no very basic models that I've encountered that I'm significantly more in love with. Get something wireless--so much cleaner looking. Aside from that buy something cheap from a major brand.
08-20-18, 12:00 AM
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I've done reasonably well with the basic Bell bike computers from your local department store. They come in either wireless or wired.
Oh, also,
Running RideWithGPS on my phone will give me real-time speed (plus a lot of other data) It jumps around a bit, but overall isn't bad.
Oh, also,
Running RideWithGPS on my phone will give me real-time speed (plus a lot of other data) It jumps around a bit, but overall isn't bad.
08-20-18, 12:04 AM
#4
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This works fine: SY wireless speedometer/odometer, $13.
Set up and instructions weren't as difficult as some users described. No complaints at that price.
I've had it a month. Results are nearly identical to data from activity apps on my Android and iPhone. Good enough. Now I can declutter my handlebar and keep the phone in my pocket -- saves battery run time and weight on the bar. During a ride I'm just interested in the basic info the speedometer/odometer provides: time of ride, average speed, distance, etc.
I did need to move my lights a bit farther away to prevent interference, from about 4" away on the handlebar to about 8" away on the head tube. That slight difference in distance was enough to enable running the speedo/odo normally. Some lights might not interfere but both of my USB rechargeable LED lights did (NiteRider Lumina Micro 750, Light & Motion Urban 500).
Set up and instructions weren't as difficult as some users described. No complaints at that price.
I've had it a month. Results are nearly identical to data from activity apps on my Android and iPhone. Good enough. Now I can declutter my handlebar and keep the phone in my pocket -- saves battery run time and weight on the bar. During a ride I'm just interested in the basic info the speedometer/odometer provides: time of ride, average speed, distance, etc.
I did need to move my lights a bit farther away to prevent interference, from about 4" away on the handlebar to about 8" away on the head tube. That slight difference in distance was enough to enable running the speedo/odo normally. Some lights might not interfere but both of my USB rechargeable LED lights did (NiteRider Lumina Micro 750, Light & Motion Urban 500).
08-20-18, 11:38 AM
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.....
Last edited by Cyclist0108; 10-08-19 at 10:18 AM.
08-20-18, 03:30 PM
#7
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If you can still find a Sigma BC906 buy it. (Or, tell me about it and *I'll* buy it!) The most elegantly simple cyclometer I've ever come across: Easy to read, doesn't have anything you don't need but does have a couple things you might not know you need until you realize it's there, and you could get them for <$25 when they were still being made. Which, sadly, they're not. But I'll bet someone has a couple left in stock.
08-20-18, 03:43 PM
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There are other GPS computers.
https://eugene.craigslist.org/bop/d/...675288641.html
This Soleus Draft has been up on Craigslist for a while. I think I got a version without all the docs, and it wasn't perfect, but still it may be worth revisiting.
https://eugene.craigslist.org/bop/d/...675288641.html
This Soleus Draft has been up on Craigslist for a while. I think I got a version without all the docs, and it wasn't perfect, but still it may be worth revisiting.
08-20-18, 03:48 PM
#9
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I have a Sigma Sport BC5.12 Wired Bicycle Computer from Amazon last year for 17 bucks - it seems an old model not in sale anymore (it shows unavailable).
The cheapest one now seems around 25 bucks.
I use as clock + cadence and have the sensor on chain stay and the magnet on my crank arm. It shows 10 times less cadence but works great for me so far.
The cheapest one now seems around 25 bucks.
I use as clock + cadence and have the sensor on chain stay and the magnet on my crank arm. It shows 10 times less cadence but works great for me so far.
08-20-18, 04:28 PM
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I disagree with almost everyone here, except maybe Clifford on the third post. I have tried cheap wireless and they sucked. Maybe I'm cantankerous, but it's the honest truth. Even those wireless that seemed OK at first, were not for long. Saving a few bucks on cheap off-brand wired ones, I have had uniformly bad experience. Buy the lowest level Schwinn or Bell computer, $10 or $12, and you know that it won't have any of those weird user interface issues, flaky software, stupidly bad precision ... I could go on, but either Bell or Schwinn I've had for years and I'm on my 4th battery on some of them.
08-20-18, 04:53 PM
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Simple as in "clean" looking, or simple, as in not a supercomputer on a bike? If you want clean looking, go with a GPS based computer, because there are no wires, or any other parts needed. Just attach to your bars and go. Problem with these is the speed is not very accurate, and/or will vary wildly. I love everything about my Wahoo Bolt, except the speedometer. It's way, way worse than Garmin, don't know why, but it's almost useless as a speedometer.
If you don't want to go that route, go with something wired. Wireless kind of sucks too, and will cost a lot more than a simple wired unit (which will be more or less foolproof).
If you don't want to go that route, go with something wired. Wireless kind of sucks too, and will cost a lot more than a simple wired unit (which will be more or less foolproof).
08-20-18, 05:16 PM
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Nashbar has a super-cheap wired version that does speed and ride time. Get the wired one. The wireless Always fails.
08-20-18, 05:56 PM
#13
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I agree that cheap wireless computers don;t work. I had an Axiom I/O from Performance that locked up for 45 minutes every 4th or 5th ride. If you want an accurate readout, I recommend a wired computer from Cateye or Sigma.
08-20-18, 06:34 PM
#14
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If you can still find a Sigma BC906 buy it. (Or, tell me about it and *I'll* buy it!) The most elegantly simple cyclometer I've ever come across: Easy to read, doesn't have anything you don't need but does have a couple things you might not know you need until you realize it's there, and you could get them for <$25 when they were still being made. Which, sadly, they're not. But I'll bet someone has a couple left in stock.
Looks like a bike shop in ....Egypt ...has a few BC906 in stock.
SIGMA BC 906 Computer
PS - Just noticed the pic shows a BC506. Hmmmm.
08-20-18, 09:12 PM
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Looks like a bike shop in ....Egypt ...has a few BC906 in stock.
SIGMA BC 906 Computer
PS - Just noticed the pic shows a BC506. Hmmmm.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/offer-li...&condition=new
08-20-18, 09:44 PM
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Go to CatEye and check out what they have. Theyve got a price point for everyone, wired or wireless. The Padrone line is over size for those of us with old eyes.
-Kedosto
08-20-18, 09:48 PM
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Cateye Velo 7. Wired, speedometer. 3 year battery life. Simple. $24.95
08-21-18, 04:53 AM
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I disagree with almost everyone here, except maybe Clifford on the third post. I have tried cheap wireless and they sucked. Maybe I'm cantankerous, but it's the honest truth. Even those wireless that seemed OK at first, were not for long. Saving a few bucks on cheap off-brand wired ones, I have had uniformly bad experience. Buy the lowest level Schwinn or Bell computer, $10 or $12, and you know that it won't have any of those weird user interface issues, flaky software, stupidly bad precision ... I could go on, but either Bell or Schwinn I've had for years and I'm on my 4th battery on some of them.
Go with wires. I have a wired Sigma from 2007 on my MTB ... flawless. Same version, wireless ... I have a couple in my trashed computer collection.
08-21-18, 06:15 AM
#19
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+1 for Cateye. I have the Cateye Padrone, and it's perfect. Just a little larger to see easier, wireless, works flawlessly. Clean looking. It's around $50
08-22-18, 09:47 AM
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Yeah, cheap wireless is garbage. I would go with a rebuilt Garmin Edge 200, no wires, no watts, no beats per min, just the cold, hard, truth.
08-22-18, 02:40 PM
#24
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Do all wireless still require you activate the computer before the ride? That drove me back to wired.
I've equipped all my bikes with PlanetBike Protege 9.0 wired.
I've equipped all my bikes with PlanetBike Protege 9.0 wired.
08-22-18, 04:26 PM
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This works fine: SY wireless speedometer/odometer, $13.
Set up and instructions weren't as difficult as some users described. No complaints at that price.
.
Set up and instructions weren't as difficult as some users described. No complaints at that price.
.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K1BX0IQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Which is the same unit as above. A few I run are 1 & 2 seasons old (they were $9.99 back then). No issues. Setup is simple. They work fine, they're wireless, and seem to run accurate...the results match other riders running different units. I have one more for another bike that just came in the mail today.