theblackbullet

In the process of buying and selling bikes, everyone comes across old bike computers. I'm cleaning out my parts bin today, and I am at a loss for what to do with these. I have no use, but they are in good working order. Are they trash? Would the be missed?

rickrob 

You could throw them in the Box O' Crap, or post in the for sale section -- I could give the Cateye Vectra a home for a build I'm working on, and would happily pay shipping

Nessism

I had a handful of old Cateye units but for some odd coincidence (or maybe not) they all started dying at the same time. Very odd. No battery leakage either. The LED's went on a couple of them and another has an intermitent contact somewhere since it comes and goes. So to answer your question, I'd just ditch those old units and move on to something earlier in it's lifeline.

Reynolds 531 

Someday we will be retromodding Wahoos into Campy Cycle computers.

And the 2031 Eroica rules will state that we need cadence cables, just like we need brake cables now

Chombi1 

Only C&V computer worth saving for me are the Avocet 20's
Simple and reliable, plus it looks good on any C&V bike.
Just never needed more information than what the Avocets provided for me.....

steelbikeguy

Personally, I'm rather fond of the early Avocet bike computers. They were fairly minimalist and didn't clutter things up. They also had some reliability issues. I've learned to address some of the reliability issues, and have stuck with them for my older bikes.

Other than that.... I'm not aware of any that have a fan base.


Steve in Peoria

RobbieTunes

If the wires were long enough, they'd make good winter trainer cyclos's.

dweenk

I have a few as well. When I hop back onto the box o' crap, they will probably be included.

RobbieTunes

Sachs-Huret

unterhausen

I had all three parts to a huret spedometer at one point -- wheel, display, cable. Maybe still do. I just don't know where they are.

I have a friend that kept giving me modern computers. I should figure out where they are and give them away. I use a gps, not exactly interested in better speed/distance readouts than that.

Pompiere

I think there were a few in the BOC the last time it came my way.

I stopped using computers when I got a Garmin 200. It is about the same size as a typical computer and has the same functions, but I can swap it between different bikes without wires, magnets, or re-calibrating.

Hoopdriver

Have an Avocet 20 on one of my bikes. I like the fact that it updates faster than modern units because it uses 4 magnets.

crank_addict

New vintage fave is this fork mount Ciclomaster / W.Germany. From Jamie Swan, box + manual. Perfect for my 2018 NOS find 1985 Ochsner.

John E

Does anyone else remember the old analog gauge speedo/tach combo from the early 1970s? The digital electronics revolution (my career path for 35 very rewarding years) soon killed them off.

Glennfordx4

I just throw the working units I come across in a plastic storage container, I have a bunch of Cateye units and a few others in there along with the old mileage only analog units, some of those are NOS.

Glenn

T-Mar

You're probably thinking of the Erisman Pacemeter, introduced circa 1977. While it didn't have a digital display it was electronic. It may have been more popular had it incorporated an odometer.

joesch

FYI, I was surprised but managed to sell a Cateye on 36@y. There are C&V'ers who do like this accessory for the more complete look.

kcblair

Yep, same problem here. 4 bike computers in a box and one still in use. Using a Garmin 25 on all bikes and for Christmas a Garmin 130 . Now
what to do with 5 computers. KB

John E

The one I saw predated that by a couple of years, but was similar in appearance -- it resembled a pair of tape deck VU meters -- and identical in concept.

Yes, an odometer would have been useful, but that would have required digital circuitry, and in those days lots of folks used the little mechanical ones, anyway. The Erisman Pacemeter and similar analog gauges needed only very simple, low-power analog circuitry, important considerations back in the days of expensive electronics and short battery life.

Aside: during my 35-year stint in the semiconductor industry, 1980 to 2015, the cost of computer memory per kilobyte dropped by a factor of 1.5 million. Now that's economic deflation.

steelbikeguy

I have to admit, it does a nice job of solving the issue of unsightly/untidy computer wires without the issue of a separate wireless sensor.
Are the digits big enough to see while riding, though? And can you reach down to change the function while riding? Probably not much more difficult than reaching down to tighten a toe strap,

Steve in Peoria

T-Mar

Well, I can buy the Pacemeter at least one more year, as the date was a typo. The picture was taken from a June 1976 article in Bicycling!. The Pacemeter might have been available a bit earlier but I don't believe that it extended back into the boom years.

My recollection from this period is that the tyre driven Iku was the most popular speedometer, due to its light weight.

fietsbob

I mixed the fork mount with the wired sensor, so was able to place it higher on the fork blade,
Now between my cantilever brake above, and the low rider rack below..
read it as an odometer , and used the reset-able trip function, on bike tours ,
pops off the mount , when stopped ,
to hold it up where you can see the rather small display..

I generally took the battery out, when I came home..






...

crank_addict

I don't have the instructions handy at the moment but recall it mentioned a remote wire kit. Personally, I like the quirky setup for this era bike. So far its worked without flaw, in the rain, and with battery longevity (vs. early Avocet). This Ciclomaster is very well sealed, the circuit board appears to have been dipped to protect from the elements and vibration.

steelbikeguy

so the display stayed low on the fork, but there were control buttons that could be mounted on the bars? Interesting!

As someone who is fond of the Avocets, I'll say that the versions with the ring magnet did have a fairly short battery life. I seem to get about a year out of my model 30, 35 and 45.
Part of what can be annoying is that there isn't a low battery indicator. Instead, the LCD loses a bit of contrast and the speed reading gets a bit erratic. Not so bad if you know what this means, but otherwise, it might be enough to make you remove it, chuck it in the parts bin, and install a Cateye!

Steve in Peoria

Butthash

Do they work? Are the comlatible with stationary trainers attached to bike wheels?
May I have one if they work. Using my phone as a computer drains battery life like no one's bizz.
Wint be back on my bike for about another 3 or so months I'm off my feet with three broken ribs broken tibia, broken vertebrae and a bruised lung on top of my normal moderate hemophilia A with 3% clotting factors.

so maybe later I'd live ojenif you want them off your hands.. lol, I'm sorta a broke, broken mooch.