Advice Needed For A New Cycling Computer

Dearo · May 2007

Yes me again, hunting for more advice [:I] and only one week into my new hobby [}:)]

I would like to fit a cycling computer to my bike, budget is approx. œ60 (ish)

What are your recommendations ??

Wireless or not ??

Regards

Dearo

Unknown · May 2007

stretching the budget a bit but you might get lucky with an Ebay bid on a garmin edge 205 GPS unit. i got one for just over œ70 (retail is œ169!) i have looked at the items the seller i used had sold in the past and the lowest sale was œ60. this seller is registered in USA but ships from Nottingham and seems to sell tons of these units everyday!

Wot, get up early and ride to work.... are you mad?

simbil1 · May 2007

Personally, I'd spend œ20 on a wired computer with cadence (e.g. cateye astrale) and use the rest of the money for something else (like a nice track pump).

http://picasaweb.google.com/thefirstsimbil/Bikes

Dearo · May 2007

Wow !!

Does the Garmin Unit Pedal For You As Well ???

Dearo

Garybee · May 2007

Unless you're willing to fork out for a gps or power output enabled computer then i don't see any reason to spend more than about œ20. In which case i would also suggest the Cateye astrale 8.

Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.

Dearo · May 2007

Valued point !

Cheers Gary

Dearo

spasypaddy · May 2007

i got a blackburn delphi 4.0 and i highly recommend it, i got mine off ebay for around œ20 so it wasnt too expensive!

http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bikeim9.jpg

Greenbank · May 2007

Wireless can be a pain in the a***. Extra battery to go flat, interference from power lines, sensors in the road, mobile phone masts and other cyclist's sensors.

I'm not interested in cadence, I can see when my legs aren't moving quick enough. So I just go for the Cateye Velo 8. Simple, does everything I need (although the Calorie counting is rubbish) and you can get it for about œ10 on ebay.

--
If I had a baby elephant signature, I'd use that.

Tony666 · May 2007

I love the spec for Velo on wiggle "Speed display up to 185 MPH" If only!

dakidcp · May 2007

I have the Cateye Astrale 8 (in fact one on each bike) and I definitely recommend it. The cadence function is invaluable.

<hr noshade size="1">"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live."
Mark Twain

popette · May 2007

Hiya, I got a blackburn delphi 2.0 - œ20 from Edinburgh Bikes. I like it but I wish I'd gone for one with Cadence function as many of the training plans I look at tell me to train at particular cadences. I'm almost three months into cycling but I'm consumed by it and want to know and record all the details of my rides. I'm already thinking of upgrading my computer at some point in the future.
Good luck choosing.

gkerr4 · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tony666

I love the spec for Velo on wiggle "Speed display up to 185 MPH" If only!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

makes more sense when you consider that you can pass an MOT test with one fitted to a motorbike though..

I have seen a couple of craash-damaged bikes rebuilt, usually with fairings removed and re-done in a 'street fighter' style of bike - with a bike computer to act as the speedo. OE manufacturers speedos are prone to being smashed to bits in even a light 'off' and cost 3, 4 or 500 quid to replace!

Garybee · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by popette

Hiya, I got a blackburn delphi 2.0 - œ20 from Edinburgh Bikes. I like it but I wish I'd gone for one with Cadence function as many of the training plans I look at tell me to train at particular cadences. I'm almost three months into cycling but I'm consumed by it and want to know and record all the details of my rides. I'm already thinking of upgrading my computer at some point in the future.
Good luck choosing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If you're a data freak you'd love the garmin edge 305. After a ride you can download your route and view your cadence, speed, heart rate, height, gradient for the entire ride. There's loads of other data on there as well, whether or not it is useful to know is a different matter.

Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.

popette · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Garybee

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by popette

Hiya, I got a blackburn delphi 2.0 - œ20 from Edinburgh Bikes. I like it but I wish I'd gone for one with Cadence function as many of the training plans I look at tell me to train at particular cadences. I'm almost three months into cycling but I'm consumed by it and want to know and record all the details of my rides. I'm already thinking of upgrading my computer at some point in the future.
Good luck choosing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If you're a data freak you'd love the garmin edge 305. After a ride you can download your route and view your cadence, speed, heart rate, height, gradient for the entire ride. There's loads of other data on there as well, whether or not it is useful to know is a different matter.

Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

gimme gimme gimme

popette · May 2007

just checked the price of the garmin - I think I'd better start saving :-(

Dearo · May 2007

Yes nice bit of kit popette, I must admit, but would you use all the functions ??

Dearo

Garybee · May 2007

I find the navigation is a useful feature as you can preplan your route and just follow a black line on the map page. This is great for training as you can find varied routes without stopping to look at maps, helps to keep the ride 'flowing'. The use of the rest of it is debateable, it would be quite easy to ride into a ditch at the side of the road because you were lookingat all the information on your computer. Not that i would know of anybody who's done that of course.

Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.

Dearo · May 2007

Gary,

Do you preplan the route on your PC and then down load onto Garmin ??

What if you take a wrong turn does it re-calculate ??

Please excuse my ignorance !

Dearo

Garybee · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dearo

Gary,

Do you preplan the route on your PC and then down load onto Garmin ??

What if you take a wrong turn does it re-calculate ??

Please excuse my ignorance !

Dearo
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, the route needs to be preplanned as it works by displaying a 'track' on the map screen. It is only the most basic of maps though as it is just a track on a blank page, although you can zoom in or out as much as you like near junctions.

You can either leave the unit on the 'map' page and just follow the black line. Or on the compass page a pointer will just point towards your next waypoint. I find it easiest to just skip to the map page when i am approaching a junction i am unsure of, it is easy enough to work out which road to take as the map aligns itself with your direction of travel.

In case you want this feature (the really useful one) and are not really interested in the others you can buy GPS units that can do this for much less than the edge 305. For navigation these units are actually better as you can download road maps which will make it easier.

I think the edge 305 is well worth the money however, especially with H/R and cadence sensors, and would happily buy another one tomorrow if i broke it.

Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.

Dearo · May 2007

Do many riders use the Heart Rate Monitor ????

Dearo

2191flint · May 2007

Dearo,

Take a look at the updated pictures at the link, now YOU have my bike LOL ;0) the 'puter on the stem is a Polar CAD 200 CS, it has cadence facility, is wireless and will store data which allows you to track your progress, you can download/upload, search on google and you'll pick one up fotr œ70 worth every penny.

Have you been out for a spin yet?

A turkey is just for Christmas, not for life.

Me and my bike- http://aolpictures.aol.co.uk/galleries/flintosaur9/

Dearo · May 2007

Thanks Chris !

No I haven't taken her out for a spin yet, call me a tart, but I didn't want to get her wet !

To be honest I'm still waiting for some new cleats to arrive, so hopefully Saturday will be the day, so stay clear of the Windsor area (sight for sore eyes), you have been warned !!!

Dearo

2191flint · May 2007

Martin,
You should have said, I've get a brand new still in their packing, pair of Red Deltas, which are no use to me as my new bike (which I collect tomorrow) is having Keo Sprints which have a slightly different cleat.

Don't blame you for not wanting to get her wet, she wouldn't like it, not one little bit!

Ride report expected tho' soon as!

A turkey is just for Christmas, not for life.

Me and my bike- http://aolpictures.aol.co.uk/galleries/flintosaur9/

Dearo · May 2007

D'oh !

Went for a quick spin round the block today ! Only seven miles in 30 mins. Not the quickest, but was really just going up and down the gears and getting used to clipping in & out !

First time I have used clipless pedals, what an experience, but didn't fall off though (Just)

Got real bad cramp in my feet (new shoes / clips not in correct position ???).

Dearo

Wynne G Oldman · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by WindyRob

stretching the budget a bit but you might get lucky with an Ebay bid on a garmin edge 205 GPS unit. i got one for just over œ70 (retail is œ169!) i have looked at the items the seller i used had sold in the past and the lowest sale was œ60. this seller is registered in USA but ships from Nottingham and seems to sell tons of these units everyday!

Wot, get up early and ride to work.... are you mad?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Hi, did it really ship from Nottingham? I've been looking at the same dealer on ebay, and I wasn't sure if it was actually shipping from the UK or the US. I didn't want to risk being hit with import duty. Also, are these UK or US models? Any problems?

"on your bike" Norman Tebbit.

Advice Needed For A New Cycling Computer

Comments

Categories