Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Computer on a vintage bike???

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Computer on a vintage bike???

Old 05-02-10, 06:12 AM
  #1  
jimmuller 
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
 
jimmuller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,452

Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10

Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times in 232 Posts
Computer on a vintage bike???

Help me out here. There are times I'd like a cyclocomputer, mostly as a simple odometer. For a long time in the old days I'd used one of those mechanical things with a star wheel turned by a pin on a spoke. (It tightened up so much it wasn't usable any more.) But I can't see putting an electronic computer on the '73 Gran Sport. It just seems wrong. The aesthetics call out for simplicity. Such a dilemma.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
jimmuller is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 06:17 AM
  #2  
wrk101
Thrifty Bill
 
wrk101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,570

Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more

Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 957 Times in 624 Posts
Do you have the same issues with the rest of your riding stuff? Tires? Shoes? Pedals? Jerseys? Bibs/shorts? Seat Bag? Water Bottle? Saddle? Cell phone in your pocket? Ipod?

No dilemma for me. Its a modern convenience, and one that does no harm to the bike (no grinding, no drilling, no modifying at all).
wrk101 is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 06:21 AM
  #3  
gomango
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STP
Posts: 15,223
Mentioned: 74 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 821 Post(s)
Liked 253 Times in 141 Posts
I have a Cateye computer on one of my De Rosas.

I've been riding since I was 6, and I'm going to be 52 this summer.

I have a pretty good idea of how slow I'm going at this point.

Trust me.
gomango is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 06:24 AM
  #4  
randyjawa 
Senior Member
 
randyjawa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,672

Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma

Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1370 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,743 Times in 934 Posts
No dilemma for me. Its a modern convenience, and one that does no harm to the bike (no grinding, no drilling, no modifying at all).
Yup! That's the way I see it, too. I no longer use traps and straps when clip in pedals and shoes are available. I prefer clinchers but will, for special bikes, retain tubulars. Water bottles are a must, but it does take a bit to get me into my, hand me down, Spandex, bib less shorts.
randyjawa is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 09:55 AM
  #5  
JohnDThompson 
Old fart
 
JohnDThompson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,935

Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.

Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,367 Times in 1,916 Posts
For a Gitane you need the Huret "Multito" belt-driven odometer to stay authentic:
JohnDThompson is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 09:57 AM
  #6  
Zaphod Beeblebrox 
PanGalacticGargleBlaster
 
Zaphod Beeblebrox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Smugglers Notch, Vermont
Posts: 7,536

Bikes: Upright and Recumbent....too many to list, mostly Vintage.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
I have one of those Huret Odometers, works perfectly and I've been using it for a while. The cool thing is its totally silent...no ticking noises.

Are they hard to come by or something?
Zaphod Beeblebrox is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 10:04 AM
  #7  
roccobike
Bike Junkie
 
roccobike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC
Posts: 9,622

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 37 Times in 27 Posts
Originally Posted by jimmuller
Help me out here. There are times I'd like a cyclocomputer, mostly as a simple odometer. For a long time in the old days I'd used one of those mechanical things with a star wheel turned by a pin on a spoke. (It tightened up so much it wasn't usable any more.) But I can't see putting an electronic computer on the '73 Gran Sport. It just seems wrong. The aesthetics call out for simplicity. Such a dilemma.
I'm guessing converting to brifters isn't in your plans.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
roccobike is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 10:11 AM
  #8  
illwafer
)) <> ((
 
illwafer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,411
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
garmin forerunner 305. its great, especially if you have multiple bikes (who doesnt?). can be had for around $175.
illwafer is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 10:13 AM
  #9  
beech333
Fuji Fan
 
beech333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Oswego, Il
Posts: 1,942

Bikes: Was Fuji and got my grails (Pro, Pro SR, Design Series, & Ti). Now I hunt 50's and older road bikes.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 150 Post(s)
Liked 161 Times in 106 Posts
Wireless systems without cadence sensors are not that noticeable. I picked up a few recently and I am happy with them. I need the odometer for directions.
beech333 is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 10:23 AM
  #10  
Rabid Koala
Chrome Freak
 
Rabid Koala's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kuna, ID
Posts: 3,208

Bikes: 71 Chrome Paramount P13-9, 73 Opaque Blue Paramount P15, 74 Blue Mink Raleigh Pro, 91 Waterford Paramount, Holland Titanium x2

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times in 14 Posts
I have computers on all my bikes. I like them much better than the ticking odometers.
__________________
1971 Paramount P-13 Chrome
1973 Paramount P-15 Opaque Blue
1974 Raleigh Professional Blue Mink
1991 Waterford Paramount
Holland Titanium Dura Ace Group
Holland Titanium Ultegra Triple Group
Rabid Koala is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 10:42 AM
  #11  
jonsan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: So Cal
Posts: 74
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Might as well go for a vintage Avocet computer for a vintage ride. Limited feature set but great if all you want is speed and odometer. Small, unobtrusive, and very lightweight.
jonsan is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 12:48 PM
  #12  
buck mulligan
I'm shovel-ready!
 
buck mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 136

Bikes: Raleigh Sports All-Gold

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
The other night, I was having a conversation with my cousin (an engineer) about modifying an old-fashion head and tail light set with guts scavenged from a modern LED light set. He was confident he could do so easily and cheaply, and create a retro-looking product with all the modern conveniences. The next day, I found myself wondering if he would be as optimistic about the idea of installing the guts from a modern computer into a cheap, old-fashioned analog speedometer. I might have to ask him next time we talk.
buck mulligan is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 04:15 PM
  #13  
Shp4man
Senior Member
 
Shp4man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,051

Bikes: 1989 Schwinn World Sport. 1994 Diamond Back Response Elite MTB. 1964 Schwinn Typhoon. 1974 Bridgestone Sprinter, 2015 Scott Sub 10 Citybike.

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1687 Post(s)
Liked 78 Times in 34 Posts
Shp4man is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 04:21 PM
  #14  
jimmuller 
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Thread Starter
 
jimmuller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,452

Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10

Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times in 232 Posts
It's great to get a sense of perspective. I've been eye-ing the CatEye wireless units. Maybe...

In the meantime, I've got this nifty idea for an accessory, big plastic tubes which fit over those narrow steel tubes to give your bike the modern carbon look. No more lug seams messing up those flowing lines either. Whadaya think?
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
jimmuller is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 04:36 PM
  #15  
prathmann
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by buck mulligan
The other night, I was having a conversation with my cousin (an engineer) about modifying an old-fashion head and tail light set with guts scavenged from a modern LED light set. He was confident he could do so easily and cheaply
If this is a reasonably high-power headlight, then be sure he's taking the cooling requirements into account. Many of those lights are counting on a stream of air flowing over them.
prathmann is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 04:38 PM
  #16  
wrk101
Thrifty Bill
 
wrk101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,570

Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more

Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 957 Times in 624 Posts
Nothing wrong with adding brifters IMHO.

My latest project. Sold in 1987 as a frameset only (7 speed). It is now sporting modern wheels, all 2003 era Ultegra 9 speed components including brifters (except for crankset, its a Tiagra compact crank with a hollowtech II bottom bracket, FD which is still Shimano 600 tricolor, and the seat post, which is Shimano 600). Pretty far from original design. But no drilling, no grinding, no irreversible changes. Trading for a different wheelset, then I will be "done" (for now). And then I will add clipless pedals, and probably upgrade the computer to a Garmin product. Then I will be done... (Yeah, sure).


I rationalize since the bike was only sold as a frameset, there really was no "original" component set up on this bike.

My next project will be either upgrading my 1984 Lotus to nine speed, or the 1986 Basso frameset I have.


Last edited by wrk101; 05-02-10 at 04:45 PM.
wrk101 is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 05:19 PM
  #17  
pastorbobnlnh 
Freewheel Medic
 
pastorbobnlnh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: An Island on the Coast of GA!
Posts: 12,878

Bikes: Snazzy* Schwinns, Classy Cannondales & a Super Pro Aero Lotus (* Ed.)

Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1448 Post(s)
Liked 2,177 Times in 957 Posts
Originally Posted by illwafer
garmin forerunner 305. its great, especially if you have multiple bikes (who doesnt?). can be had for around $175.
I've been using the Foretrex 201 for the past 7 years and really like it. I have a mount on each bike and it takes all of 15 seconds to remove and then install from one bike to the next. No calibration, and it gives you a perfect read out within a few feet regardless of which bike I'm on. Garmin sells models which do cadence, but that requires a sensor.

It has more functions then a typical cycle computer, including altitude, odometer, speed, time, compass, a cookie crumb track, and much more. I also use it for hiking, snow shoeing, canoeing, etc. Very adaptable to what you want, very sturdy, and the charge lasts about 20 hours.

__________________
Bob
Enjoying the GA coast all year long!

Thanks for visiting my website: www.freewheelspa.com





pastorbobnlnh is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 05:35 PM
  #18  
buck mulligan
I'm shovel-ready!
 
buck mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 136

Bikes: Raleigh Sports All-Gold

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh
Good grief - you hit 52 mph?
buck mulligan is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 05:41 PM
  #19  
USAZorro
Señor Member
 
USAZorro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hardy, VA
Posts: 17,934

Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs

Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1491 Post(s)
Liked 1,071 Times in 633 Posts
Was it on during the drive to the ride?
__________________
In search of what to search for.
USAZorro is online now  
Old 05-02-10, 05:46 PM
  #20  
khatfull
FBoD Member at Large
 
khatfull's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Woodbury, MN
Posts: 6,246
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts
My Garmin 305 goes with me everywhere...classic or modern.
khatfull is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 05:50 PM
  #21  
wrk101
Thrifty Bill
 
wrk101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,570

Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more

Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 957 Times in 624 Posts
Originally Posted by buck mulligan
Good grief - you hit 52 mph?
Before 911, I took my GPS up on an airliner, saved a max speed somewhere around 550 MPH. Got a lot of laughs out of that one.

I love Garmin products, but they just make too many models. No way can I figure out the benefit/cost of the various models out there.

Foretrex 401 is kind of interesting, as it is compatible with cadence, HRM and has barometric elevation.

Last edited by wrk101; 05-02-10 at 06:02 PM.
wrk101 is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 06:01 PM
  #22  
khatfull
FBoD Member at Large
 
khatfull's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Woodbury, MN
Posts: 6,246
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by wrk101
Before 911, I took my GPS up on an airliner, saved a max speed somewhere around 550 MPH. Got a lot of laughs out of that one.

I love Garmin products, but they just make too many models. No way can I figure out the benefit/cost of the various models out there.
I've done it after 911.
khatfull is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 06:36 PM
  #23  
sykerocker 
Senior Member
 
sykerocker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ashland, VA
Posts: 4,420

Bikes: The keepers: 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix, 1968 Ranger, 1969 Magneet Sprint, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1973 Raleigh Tourist, 3 - 1986 Rossins, and a '77 PX-10 frame in process.

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 221 Post(s)
Liked 237 Times in 129 Posts
My vintage stuff is in constant rotation with my modern, and I'm a mileage geek. Which means, every bike has a computer. And, as long as I can get them, every bike has the same make and model computer, which makes setup a lot easier.
__________________
Syke

“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”

H.L. Mencken, (1926)

sykerocker is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 06:40 PM
  #24  
GV27
Light Makes Right
 
GV27's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Green Mountain, Colorado
Posts: 1,520

Bikes: Gianni Motta Criterium, Dean Hardtail

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
What does 9/11 have to do with anything? Therre's no rule against having a GPS on an airliner. Heck - some airlines give you one on the screen in the seatback in front of you!

If all you want is an odometer though, how 'bout just a GPS in your back pocket? No need to mount it on your bike. When you want to see how far you've gone just fish it out of your back pocket and look. I have an app on my Blackberry that works a treat and I often take my Garmin GPSMap 60Csx mountain biking.

OTOH, I have an ancient Avocet computer (one of the original candy colored ones - mine's Kawasaki Green) that might actually qualify as vintage. It's from the mid-'80s sometime IIRC. That's as old (nearly at least) as my Super-Record equipped Gianni Motta......I don't suppose anyone would argue with THAT being C&V.


edit: ah....missed that vintage Avocet already mentioned by new member Jonsan. Good thinking and Welcome, Jonsan!

Last edited by GV27; 05-02-10 at 06:47 PM.
GV27 is offline  
Old 05-02-10, 06:49 PM
  #25  
repechage
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 20,320
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3449 Post(s)
Liked 2,800 Times in 1,974 Posts
Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
For a Gitane you need the Huret "Multito" belt-driven odometer to stay authentic:
There was a vintage computer in 1974, it used needle readouts for cadence and speed, and hall effect sensors, pretty amazing for 1974, it was expensive. Ron Skarin used one on the road and track. I forget the name, Barry Wolfe was seen often promoting them, no trip odometer, they were for pacing cadence vs speed. The Avocet killed them off.
repechage is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.