How many cycle speedos/computers have you got through?

Johnpsanderson

I'm not sure if i'm unlucky, careless or just finding out what everyone else already knows but.... I seem to eat my way through cycle computers at a frightening rate.

In the last 5 years i've had 6 or 7 different bike computers and none of them have lasted much more than 12 months. I've tried cheap Halfords and Argos ones - expensive Trek and Cateye ones. Mainly wired, but one wireless, they all seem to last about 12 months or so before the sensors stop responding - or the computer stops recognising the signal from them.

What is eveyone elses experience?

krakow

I'm on my 3rd, two of those in current 'use', but with one currently looking like it might have snuffed it.

Cateye Enduro - worked fine for about 12000 miles and was going strong when it was ripped off my bike when I thoughtlessly left it on while parked up outside Tesco Maryhill (not a wise move, I really should have known better).

Cateye Mity - worked OKish for about 3000 miles on my road bike, though it was always pretty tempramental, but has now stopped reading from the sensor entirely, despite massive amounts of fiddling to try and get the alignment right. I'm soon going to give up and replace it.

Tesco Value - very pleased with this so far, though it's still relatively new, with about 6 months and 4000 miles behind it. I like the idea of having a Tesco Value cycle computer though, especially at just £6.95.

bhm100

I'm on a halfords cheapie, about £6-£7 from memory. It's been on now for over 2yrs and swopped over for the winter bike, so continual use. It's on it's second set of batteries.

During winter I'll tend to cover it in cling film - you can still read it & use the button but it keeps the weather out. The mount is covered in vaseline before sliding the speedo head in place and that keeps the contacts clean.

It's a personal thing, but I don't see any value in expensive speedos, I've had £30 ones last no longer than £5 ones, and I only want the usual speed/time/distance/avs functions. Tesco Value sounds a good idea to me !

krakow

Apart from the packaging the Tesco Value computer seemed to be exactly the same as the Tesco Activesport one, which was about £10 more expensive - thus far I can hardly argue with £6.95 (and clubcard points too!).

2fast748

I've been using the same £20 (I think) job from Halfords for 4 or 5 years now. It's wireless and no trouble. It gets used year round and only the display unit has ever needed a battery.

fenlandplodder

Over the years, I have got through a lot of cycle computers. Some fail is odd ways - e.g.
recording a speed of 330mph whilst cycling down a busy road and then forever displaying the number 6. One was run over after it's mounting failed and fell into the path of one coming traffic. I have one that still works which I bought in 1992. However modern fork designs mean I can't fit to a bike. Generally if I get 3 years use out of one, I am happy.
More often that not, the mount because the plastic has become brittle, the wires are broken or the contacts are worn out.

I am a bit disappointed with the Sigma 1106 I bought last August. Two of the buttons fell off. So resetting it requires use of a small screwdriver which is not so convenient. Other than that it works perfectly.

Monty Dog

If you're loosing the signal - particularly using a wired computer, try gently abrading the metal contacts on the handlebar mount and using some vaseline to help with conductivity. Alternatively try a wireless model - I've found Cateye to be pretty reliable, as well as Ciclosport. I've only got through 5 in 20 years - an Avocet, followed by an original Cateye Mity in purple, a Cateye Wireless and Astrale and a Ciclosport HAC4 which finally gave up in a deluge of biblical proportions. I now use a Garmin Forerunner - straps to the wrist/bars and doesn't need any sensors.

Johnpsanderson

I do wonder if I am cursed when it comes to electrical items - my HRM doesn't work too well either....

on the road

I know this might sound like a silly question but did you change the battery?

SteveR_100Milers

I have used one at a rate of every 2-3 years, but thats out of choice than failure of the device. I currently have 2 running at once on my summer bike, but one is a Garmin 205 and the other is wired to the speed and cadence for using on the turbo. I have a separate HRM which also has a GPS sensor that work with the watch and separate data logger..... :oops:

blorg

I have a couple of Cateye Mity 3s (wired) for around ten years now and have never had a single problem. Battery needs replacement every four years or so.

Bought a Lidl/Aldi one that never worked.

Have had to replace a Garmin 305 which had increasing problems before failing entirely; still have issues with the wireless cadence/speed sensor on the rear, difficult to align and signal seems to drop off.

krakow

I'll try cleaning the contacts on mine, which is suffering from the lack of readings from the sensor. The display unit seems to be working fine though (telling the time still, comes alive if I press the buttons), so I didn't think it was a battery issue.

dennisn

I have used Shimano's Flight Deck for some years now. Really like it and have only replaced the computer head once. (It's wireless).

Dennis Noward

pete.whelan

had a Cateye 6000 for at least 15 years., probably 20 years the more I think of it.

Cajun

My first was in 1981, a Huret that mounted to the front-fork and had a band that connected to a small pulley wheel...it only indicated 'miles' ridden (am I THAT old??? 8) );
since then I've had some Mity Cateyes, but only upgraded because of added features.
Presently I've got a Wireless Flight Deck on the DA bike; Wireless Cateye CD300DW on the Record 10 bike and a wireless Mity 8 on the Trek 8000 off-road... I just don't like cables hanging on, just waiting to grab something

muz250

Good timing of post!

went out for a cycle earlyer and got on to this long stretch of road, took a look to see what speed I was doing, 7.9mph, I must of been doing at least 20!. I stopped and angled the sender closer to the wheel, but then it started catching the spokes some times, so I moved it back. then I got no signal at all (mayby was catching the spoke contact and moved it out the way??). Just got on with the ride anyway, plus started raining so had other things to worry about.

Only had the bike since november so wouldnt think it wil be a battery issue, Ill check it out tomorrow.

Just pissed off, I would of added another 14miles to my offical counter, hardcore I am..... :roll:

TBJ

I've been through every model of VDO (and some other makes I can't remember). They all die after 6 months at most, usually at the worst possible moment. I've tried changing batteries, moving sensors, different models, tearing my hair out, everything my LBS can think of and physical violence.

How can something without moving parts be so unreliable?

Garry71

TBJ wrote:

How can something without moving parts be so unreliable?

The sensors are usually reed switches, ie a thin leaf of metal which opens and closes each time the spoke magnet passes it. Eventually the metal will work harden and fail, the same as if you keep bending a piece of metal or plastic untill it cracks.

Garry

Johnpsanderson

The sensors are usually reed switches, ie a thin leaf of metal which opens and closes each time the spoke magnet passes it. Eventually the metal will work harden and fail, the same as if you keep bending a piece of metal or plastic untill it cracks.

Could the amount of failure depend on where the bike is stored? If the bike is in the garage where it is prey to the hot/cold temperature extremes of British weather could it weaken the sensors prematurely?

krakow

Monty Dog wrote:

If you're loosing the signal - particularly using a wired computer, try gently abrading the metal contacts on the handlebar mount and using some vaseline to help with conductivity.

Thanks so much for this tip Monty Dog - I'd never have thought of this, but I tried it last night on my malfunctioning Cateye Mity that I thought was suffering from eternal sensor alignment problems and after just a couple of swipes with an old scrubbing cloth it sprang straight back into life and worked flawlessly for a quick 10 mile jaunt. Hurrah.

Mike Willcox

Johnpsanderson wrote:

I'm not sure if i'm unlucky, careless or just finding out what everyone else already knows but.... I seem to eat my way through cycle computers at a frightening rate.

In the last 5 years i've had 6 or 7 different bike computers and none of them have lasted much more than 12 months. I've tried cheap Halfords and Argos ones - expensive Trek and Cateye ones. Mainly wired, but one wireless, they all seem to last about 12 months or so before the sensors stop responding - or the computer stops recognising the signal from them.

What is eveyone elses experience?

Never used one. How is any information on cadence, speed, mileage on current or total or average whatever is supposed to influence my training? Any data is relative to the bike, terrain and the conditions.

I just get on with the PE of the riding of the bike, and by all accounts it looks as though I've saved my money

redddraggon

Mike Willcox wrote:

Johnpsanderson wrote:

I'm not sure if i'm unlucky, careless or just finding out what everyone else already knows but.... I seem to eat my way through cycle computers at a frightening rate.

In the last 5 years i've had 6 or 7 different bike computers and none of them have lasted much more than 12 months. I've tried cheap Halfords and Argos ones - expensive Trek and Cateye ones. Mainly wired, but one wireless, they all seem to last about 12 months or so before the sensors stop responding - or the computer stops recognising the signal from them.

What is eveyone elses experience?

Never used one. How is any information on cadence, speed, mileage on current or total or average whatever is supposed to influence my training? Any data is relative to the bike, terrain and the conditions.

I just get on with the PE of the riding of the bike, and by all accounts it looks as though I've saved my money

Not all of us get on the bike to flog ourselves stupid, training for events. I for one find it interesting what speed I'm climbing or descending at, adds more enjoyment to the ride. The computer also records how many miles I've done, another interesting stat.

Unfortunately numbers mean something to me.

Mike Willcox

redddraggon wrote:

Not all of us get on the bike to flog ourselves stupid, training for events. I for one find it interesting what speed I'm climbing or descending at, adds more enjoyment to the ride. The computer also records how many miles I've done, another interesting stat.

Unfortunately numbers mean something to me.

If that's the way you think a successful racing cyclist trains then you couldn't be more wrong. Come the summer I'll be spending 70% of my hours easy riding, looking at the scenery and enjoying myself. The other 30% though is very very hard.

andrewgturnbull

Mike Willcox wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

Not all of us get on the bike to flog ourselves stupid, training for events. I for one find it interesting what speed I'm climbing or descending at, adds more enjoyment to the ride. The computer also records how many miles I've done, another interesting stat.

Unfortunately numbers mean something to me.

If that's the way you think a successful racing cyclist trains then you couldn't be more wrong. Come the summer I'll be spending 70% of my hours easy riding, looking at the scenery and enjoying myself. The other 30% though is very very hard.

Hi there.

Unusually I'm with Mike on this one. The TT bike has a computer on it, purely for pacing in flat races, all of my other bikes are free from any handlebar ornaments.

Red - numbers do mean something, but your current or average speed in training probably doesn't mean much. Nor do total miles ridden. Too many variables.

Cheers, Andy

redddraggon

andrewgturnbull wrote:

Mike Willcox wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

Not all of us get on the bike to flog ourselves stupid, training for events. I for one find it interesting what speed I'm climbing or descending at, adds more enjoyment to the ride. The computer also records how many miles I've done, another interesting stat.

Unfortunately numbers mean something to me.

If that's the way you think a successful racing cyclist trains then you couldn't be more wrong. Come the summer I'll be spending 70% of my hours easy riding, looking at the scenery and enjoying myself. The other 30% though is very very hard.

Hi there.

Unusually I'm with Mike on this one. The TT bike has a computer on it, purely for pacing in flat races, all of my other bikes are free from any handlebar ornaments.

Red - numbers do mean something, but your current or average speed in training probably doesn't mean much. Nor do total miles ridden. Too many variables.

Cheers, Andy

Who said I was training for anything? My average speed over the same hill I do nearly everytime I get on the bike means something, yeh conditions will vary but the faster I do it the happier I am.

I get on the bike to enjoy it, and seeing the number on the odometer increasing is good, seeing my average speed increase is also good as it means I am improving

andrewgturnbull

Hi red.

If you're happy - thats all that counts!

Cheers, Andy

Garry71

Johnpsanderson wrote:

The sensors are usually reed switches, ie a thin leaf of metal which opens and closes each time the spoke magnet passes it. Eventually the metal will work harden and fail, the same as if you keep bending a piece of metal or plastic untill it cracks.

Could the amount of failure depend on where the bike is stored? If the bike is in the garage where it is prey to the hot/cold temperature extremes of British weather could it weaken the sensors prematurely?

I wouldn't have thought so. These switches are used on doorframes as part of alarm systems, so they should be ok in British temperatures.

Garry