Cycle Computers - when it's off, it's off?

vanquished

Hi all - my boss gave me a LIDL cycle computer for the bike, so I've been trying it out. It seems OK, I think, but one slight quirk that's bugging me is that I have to remember to turn the device on for it to log even the distance accrued.

I'd (naively?) expected that even if the display wasn't, er, displaying, the chip would still be totting up the distance travelled, if nothing else.

Is this normal behaviour?

karl j

dunno about Lidl ones, but my Cateye and Halfords cheapo (yes, yes, i know...) both turn themselves on when the wheel spins and the magnet passes the sensor

vanquished

urn themselves on when the wheel spins and the magnet passes the sensor

That's what I was expecting to happen with the Lidl. But it doesn't. Cheap (for my boss) for a reason, I guess. I got it for nowt, so shouldn't grumble, but may well stump up for a Cateye or similar in preference.

sc999cs

I used to have an expensive Shimano Flightdeck computer and you had to turn that on manually so I think it depends on the type of computer.

alan_sherman

it might be a setting. My cateye can do either dependign on how you have set it to perform.

redddraggon

My cheaper Cateyes start automatically, I have to remember to switch my Polar computer on AND press "Start" before it does anything.

chewa

One of my Cateyes has to be turned on, one is automatic (though you can set it to manual.) I have a Lidl one on one bike (has HR, temps calories etc) and it has to be switched on.

I normally notice the blank screen after a few yards. one way to get round it is to take it off when you park the bike and put it in your helmet or gloves. You never forget to turn it on when you put it back on.