Budget bike computer
#2
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You will have to spend some time shopping to find one under $150 like I did. Look at "IGPSPORT IG618. It does a lot for the price and I have had excellent response from their support team.
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#6
aka Tom Reingold
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I use my phone plus a $60 Quad Lock mounting system plus the paid version of ridewithgps (~$50/year) plus a $20 external battery to keep it powered all day long.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#7
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$150 for a bike computer takes me out of the "budget computer" range, but then again I'm a cheapskate. Along those lines, can anyone recommend a good basic computer for around $50 USD maximum? I'm looking for a reliable easy to read unit that is wireless and displays current and average speed, ride time, trip distance, odometer, and clock time. I'm not interested in GPS.
Thanks, all!
Thanks, all!
#8
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
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$150 for a bike computer takes me out of the "budget computer" range, but then again I'm a cheapskate. Along those lines, can anyone recommend a good basic computer for around $50 USD maximum? I'm looking for a reliable easy to read unit that is wireless and displays current and average speed, ride time, trip distance, odometer, and clock time. I'm not interested in GPS.
Thanks, all!
Thanks, all!
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#9
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#10
#11
aka Tom Reingold
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The $3 computers are a design possibly 30 years old, probably not patented or copyrighted, debugged and made efficiently.
I use an Anker Astro E1 battery, lashed onto the top tube with rubber bands and Velcro, just behind the stem. I use a 1-ft cable.
I use an Anker Astro E1 battery, lashed onto the top tube with rubber bands and Velcro, just behind the stem. I use a 1-ft cable.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#12
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Watch off by a minute after 2 days, screen crowded invisible in sunlight, screen disappearing when it gets cold, computer stopping when it rains, all accumulated readings disappearing when you change battery, obnoxious menus with useless functions that you need to toggle through to get to an elementary function, etc. When you have money to waste you can hardly go wrong with $3 computers off Ebay
#13
Thank you
Rick
#14
aka Tom Reingold
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Yeah, I use my iphone heavily, and the internal battery is in bad shape. I have to charge it several times a day. With this external one, I can leave the screen on for ours and not deplete the internal one at all. The external battery has so much capacity that I don't have to charge it every day, but I suggest that you do anyway. This way, you don't have to think about it.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#15
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,678
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
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Watch off by a minute after 2 days, screen crowded invisible in sunlight, screen disappearing when it gets cold, computer stopping when it rains, all accumulated readings disappearing when you change battery, obnoxious menus with useless functions that you need to toggle through to get to an elementary function, etc. When you have money to waste you can hardly go wrong with $3 computers off Ebay
![roflmao](images/smilies/roflmao.gif)
OK I know this stuff happens sometimes, but it hasn't happened to me. Sure, you shouldn't expect much when you spend $3. More importantly, you don't have to spend a lot. Cateye has been in the bike computer business for a long time, and if you buy one of their computers, you can't go wrong. I imagine a $20-50 model will be rock solid.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#16
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Watch off by a minute after 2 days, screen crowded invisible in sunlight, screen disappearing when it gets cold, computer stopping when it rains, all accumulated readings disappearing when you change battery, obnoxious menus with useless functions that you need to toggle through to get to an elementary function, etc. When you have money to waste you can hardly go wrong with $3 computers off Ebay
But $20 or so will get you a proven design.
#17
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![Big Grin](images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
After the spew of purchases of cheap computers on Amazon/Ebay I spent ~$30 on a Sigma and did not need to go back to the problem since.
#18
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
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![roflmao](images/smilies/roflmao.gif)
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#19
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![Big Grin](images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#20
Senior Member
#21
Senior Member
I had used relatively expensive wired Cateye and sigma computers with cadence sensor. they all have similar problems:
- the magnet needs to be very close to the receiver. I had to build up quite a contraption on the chainstay or the fork to get the receiver close enough (wasn't possible with the included material). that magnet that gets attached to the spokes is just too small. Occasionally the magnet turns and needs to be re-adjusted.
- the cadence magnet slips on the crank with the included rubber. one even fell off. i ended up buying a large molybdenum magnet and glued it on the crank with epoxy.
- every once a while one of the signals (cadence or speed) doesn't display because the computer needs to be re-reinserted in the base.
- One of my bikes lost the cadence, sensor must have failed
So, wired and expensive brand also doesn't give you painless computers.
The newer BT/ANT cadence are much better and don't need a magnet, they just use an accelerometer. IMHO speed can just be derived from GPS. Yes in deep canyons this may be spotty. But an rpm-based speed has its own problems. You need to measure the wheel circumference exactly and account for pressure and tire-sag. Wheel swaps and sue on different bikes makes an even better case for GPS-derived speed.
If speed is all you need, there are $50 GPS speed computers. No fuss with wheel sensor etc.
- the magnet needs to be very close to the receiver. I had to build up quite a contraption on the chainstay or the fork to get the receiver close enough (wasn't possible with the included material). that magnet that gets attached to the spokes is just too small. Occasionally the magnet turns and needs to be re-adjusted.
- the cadence magnet slips on the crank with the included rubber. one even fell off. i ended up buying a large molybdenum magnet and glued it on the crank with epoxy.
- every once a while one of the signals (cadence or speed) doesn't display because the computer needs to be re-reinserted in the base.
- One of my bikes lost the cadence, sensor must have failed
So, wired and expensive brand also doesn't give you painless computers.
The newer BT/ANT cadence are much better and don't need a magnet, they just use an accelerometer. IMHO speed can just be derived from GPS. Yes in deep canyons this may be spotty. But an rpm-based speed has its own problems. You need to measure the wheel circumference exactly and account for pressure and tire-sag. Wheel swaps and sue on different bikes makes an even better case for GPS-derived speed.
If speed is all you need, there are $50 GPS speed computers. No fuss with wheel sensor etc.
#22
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Location: Michigan
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- the magnet needs to be very close to the receiver. I had to build up quite a contraption on the chainstay or the fork to get the receiver close enough (wasn't possible with the included material). that magnet that gets attached to the spokes is just too small. Occasionally the magnet turns and needs to be re-adjusted.
- the cadence magnet slips on the crank with the included rubber. one even fell off. i ended up buying a large molybdenum magnet and glued it on the crank with epoxy.
- every once a while one of the signals (cadence or speed) doesn't display because the computer needs to be re-reinserted in the base.
- the cadence magnet slips on the crank with the included rubber. one even fell off. i ended up buying a large molybdenum magnet and glued it on the crank with epoxy.
- every once a while one of the signals (cadence or speed) doesn't display because the computer needs to be re-reinserted in the base.
#23
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,678
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Liked 2,637 Times
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![Wink](images/smilies/wink.gif)
I strap the battery onto the top tube, right behind the stem. I use a velcro strap, a very thick rubber band which I use as a bumper between battery and frame, and a ball bungee. It's quick to insert and remove the battery, and the battery is secure while I ride. I use a very short, 1-ft cable between the battery and the phone.
Another way to do this is to use a top tube bag. There are very small bags that go on top of the top tube, right behind the stem.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#24
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,678
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Liked 2,637 Times
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Calculating speed from GPS has its own problems. Some computers and phone apps use both GPS and sensors, and this combination improves accuracy.
My app was set to use a small sampling period for displaying speed. As a result, the speed it displayed went up and down wildly, showing speeds I know I wasn't hitting, both too high and too low. I increased the sample period to 50 seconds, and that solved that problem, but now I don't know how fast I've been going for the last 15 seconds. It's too bad. I strongly suspect that when I end the ride, software on the server recalculates speed from all the data points I've provided, because it looks about as accurate as possible. But one problem which can't be fixed is that I ride in NYC where there are many tall and dense buildings. The buildings create reflections, and it shows me zigzagging through buildings and onto the river, which I am definitely not doing. The bigger the deviation, the higher the incorrect speed. It has even shown me to make bursts of speed up to 50 mph while on flat ground. Because these bursts are short, they probably don't throw off my average too much, but max speed becomes a useless metric.
My app was set to use a small sampling period for displaying speed. As a result, the speed it displayed went up and down wildly, showing speeds I know I wasn't hitting, both too high and too low. I increased the sample period to 50 seconds, and that solved that problem, but now I don't know how fast I've been going for the last 15 seconds. It's too bad. I strongly suspect that when I end the ride, software on the server recalculates speed from all the data points I've provided, because it looks about as accurate as possible. But one problem which can't be fixed is that I ride in NYC where there are many tall and dense buildings. The buildings create reflections, and it shows me zigzagging through buildings and onto the river, which I am definitely not doing. The bigger the deviation, the higher the incorrect speed. It has even shown me to make bursts of speed up to 50 mph while on flat ground. Because these bursts are short, they probably don't throw off my average too much, but max speed becomes a useless metric.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#25
Went out for a spin today. Locked in bike navigation in the maps app on my smartphone, threw it in my jersey pocket and put on a pair of headphones. Easy peasy.
So it seems I'm set as far as navigation. Just looking for speed, mileage, and possibly cadence. Anyone have any options for $60 or less? Much appreciated
So it seems I'm set as far as navigation. Just looking for speed, mileage, and possibly cadence. Anyone have any options for $60 or less? Much appreciated