Can I Have 2 Cadence Sensors?

CleeRider

OK, I've heard that I'll be able to ride for longer if I train my cadence to be constantly around 90rpm, so need a cadence sensor and a bar mounted display to keep an eye on during my ride.

I currently use the Cyclemeter app on the iPhone and keep the phone in an arm band during my rides.
I would like Cyclemeter to record my cadence readings throughout the ride for later analysis.

I've seen the 'Wahoo Fitness Bike Case for iPhone with Speed and Cadence' for £90 but it has poor reviews in terms of the mounted case and the iPhone battery use due to the display being permanently on. I really don't want to lose the phone due to the poor case.

Therefore would it be possible to attach 1 sensor that would communicate with the phone in my arm band, plus another sensor that would have it's own small display mounted on the bars? Or would they interfere with each other?

I don't really want to spend £275 on the Garmin Edge 800 just for Cadence monitoring as I'm happy with Cyclemeter.

Any other solutions gratefully received.

Slack

I wouldn't get too hung up on cadence, as the more cycling you do, the more your body will become efficient, including finding a natural efficient cadence.

If you must know, count your pedal turns for 20 secs......Or buy a cheap cycle computer which has cadence measurement.

CleeRider

If I forget about the iPhone logging and went for a cheap cycle computer, are there any better in terms of quality+price than the Cateye Strada Cadence wired cycle computer for around £33?

danowat

CleeRider wrote:

OK, I've heard that I'll be able to ride for longer if I train my cadence to be constantly around 90rpm.

That's a new one.........where did you hear this?

t.m.h.n.e.t

I have two,they even share the same magnet. Cateye V3 for the road,wahoo unit for training software.

rolf_f

Slack wrote:

I wouldn't get too hung up on cadence, as the more cycling you do, the more your body will become efficient, including finding a natural efficient cadence.

If you must know, count your pedal turns for 20 secs......Or buy a cheap cycle computer which has cadence measurement.

That's what I thought. Didn't work. My cadence probably increased somewhat since I started cycling but never got above an average of about 79-80. Even after I got a cadence sensor I struggled to change this. Until I set my computer to display current and average cadence. In a matter of a couple of months, I've increased my recorded average to the extent that I'm starting to get full ride averages of 90-93 (and that includes coasting zero cadences).

Counting is all very well but I don't think it will improve your cadence and nor am I convinced that what you feel is your 'natural' cadence is actually your most efficient or that you will necessarily find it automatically.

To the OP - you hardly need an 800 for cadence. You can, for example, get a Bryton 20 for £100 plus £25-£30 for the cadence sensor which will be ANT+ and if you already have an ANT+ sensor, you won't need another anyway. I've sometimes had two ANT+ devices on my bike at one time both recording cadence from the same sensor.

But if you had the 20 there would be no point you using the iPhone anyway as it would do all you need.

T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:

I have two,they even share the same magnet. Cateye V3 for the road,wahoo unit for training software.

A magnet is a magnet (unless it's a neodymium one which are great!) - why wouldn't you expect them to work off the same magnet?

CleeRider

Ah this sounds like a solution. So of I bought a Bryton 20 plus an Ant+ sensor, it would connect and send the data to both the IPhone and the Bryton 20 display. That sounds perfect if it works.

slowondefy2

Wahoo do a bluetooth cadenece/speed sensor, so you don't need the ANT+ dongle http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320947070880 . Cheapest solution to your problem I think, but it only works on the 4S, no other iphone has Bluetooth LE.

Battery life on an iphone is an issue on rides over 4.5-5 hours, to go over that you need to switch the screen off.

For long rides I don't bother with cadence monitoring, but I find it invaluable for shorter rides. When I started using I found it very surprising how the cadence can gradually drop without me realising. If I could concentrate enough to count pedal turns for 20 seconds I don't think I'd be trying hard enough!

The Bryton 20 look pretty neat if you don't want mapping on the road. Seems to do everything else though.

rolf_f

CleeRider wrote:

Ah this sounds like a solution. So of I bought a Bryton 20 plus an Ant+ sensor, it would connect and send the data to both the IPhone and the Bryton 20 display. That sounds perfect if it works.

Assuming the iPhone can read ANT+

There maybe other useful solutions but the Garmin bargain Edge, the 200, is not ANT+ so that one isn't an option. Holux might be another option but they are a lot bulkier. The Bryton 20 is a really neat little thing.

slowbike

Rolf F wrote:

CleeRider wrote:

Ah this sounds like a solution. So of I bought a Bryton 20 plus an Ant+ sensor, it would connect and send the data to both the IPhone and the Bryton 20 display. That sounds perfect if it works.

Assuming the iPhone can read ANT+

I believe you can get an ANT+ plugin.

CleeRider

Does anyone know the difference between the E and T versions of the various Bryton models?

t.m.h.n.e.t

Rolf F wrote:

Slack wrote:

I wouldn't get too hung up on cadence, as the more cycling you do, the more your body will become efficient, including finding a natural efficient cadence.

If you must know, count your pedal turns for 20 secs......Or buy a cheap cycle computer which has cadence measurement.

That's what I thought. Didn't work. My cadence probably increased somewhat since I started cycling but never got above an average of about 79-80. Even after I got a cadence sensor I struggled to change this. Until I set my computer to display current and average cadence. In a matter of a couple of months, I've increased my recorded average to the extent that I'm starting to get full ride averages of 90-93 (and that includes coasting zero cadences).

Counting is all very well but I don't think it will improve your cadence and nor am I convinced that what you feel is your 'natural' cadence is actually your most efficient or that you will necessarily find it automatically.

To the OP - you hardly need an 800 for cadence. You can, for example, get a Bryton 20 for £100 plus £25-£30 for the cadence sensor which will be ANT+ and if you already have an ANT+ sensor, you won't need another anyway. I've sometimes had two ANT+ devices on my bike at one time both recording cadence from the same sensor.

But if you had the 20 there would be no point you using the iPhone anyway as it would do all you need.

T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:

I have two,they even share the same magnet. Cateye V3 for the road,wahoo unit for training software.

A magnet is a magnet (unless it's a neodymium one which are great!) - why wouldn't you expect them to work off the same magnet?

The Wahoo sensor isn't one unit, the cadence sensor is wired so I was able to wrap the wire around the stay,and cable tie it to use the same magnet.

I should have been clearer but phone browsing without taptalk sucks balls

CleeRider

Slowbike wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

CleeRider wrote:

Ah this sounds like a solution. So of I bought a Bryton 20 plus an Ant+ sensor, it would connect and send the data to both the IPhone and the Bryton 20 display. That sounds perfect if it works.

Assuming the iPhone can read ANT+

I believe you can get an ANT+ plugin.

Hmm maybe not a solution. Bryton 20 + Wahoo Cadence Sensor + iPhone Wahoo ANT+ Key = ~£190
Might as well pay a bit more and move over to the Garmin Edge 800 but I don't want to spend mega bucks just to see the Cadence figure.

So I might have to go for the Cateye Strada Cadence wired cycle computer for around £33 and forget the iPhone logging.

rolf_f

CleeRider wrote:

Does anyone know the difference between the E and T versions of the various Bryton models?

It's just what you get in the bundle. For the 20 I think you can get the basic unit, a HRM bundle and HRM and cadence bundle (sadly not cadence only in this case).

Evans sell the basic unit for £89 at the moment. The sensor can be anyones so I daresay a Google/Ebay search will deliver one for less than £30.

Check Evans and Wiggle at least - both have a reasonable range of Bryton stuff.

I'm not sure why you want to use the iphone at all (in combination). Realistically, the Bryton option is £120 all in. I think the GPS loggers are way more appealling than traditional computers (which I used for many thousands of miles).

junglist_matty

Just get the Edge 500, best cycle computer out there.... There's a reason almost all good riders have one!

rolf_f

junglist_matty wrote:

There's a reason almost all good riders have one!

This is the most ridiculous comment of the day!

slowondefy2

Sorry, my previous ebay link was for an old defunct listing, but have a look at this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wahoo-BLUESC- ... 1112998775

There's also one available through Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wahoo-Cadence-S ... B0089FXA96 . They seem a bit tricky to get hold of! I'm getting on really well with mine, and the battery life is minimally affected (it's the screen and GPS function that seem to affect battery life the most).

Its a combined speed and cadence sensor made by Wahoo and will connect directly with an iPhone 4S without any dongle. If you have any other iPhone you'd need an ANT+ dongle and sensors.

The Bryton seems to be a great value alternative to the comparable Garmin units. Personally I like the cheap handlebar mapping that an iPhone app can offer, which I routinely use to do longer rides on roads I've never used before, but I think a Bryton can do everything else (probably better, too).

Gizmodo

CleeRider wrote:

Hmm maybe not a solution. Bryton 20 + Wahoo Cadence Sensor + iPhone Wahoo ANT+ Key = ~£190
Might as well pay a bit more and move over to the Garmin Edge 800 but I don't want to spend mega bucks just to see the Cadence figure.

if you buy the Bryton 20 then you don't need to use your iPhone - so you don't need Wahoo stuff.

The Bryton plus an ANT+ Speed/cadence sensor will do everything you want in 1 unit, leaving your iPhone battery for making phone calls in the event of an emergency.

The Bryton 20 records your ride GPS data, plus cadence during the ride. You can then connect it to a computer to upload to the Internet.

CleeRider

OK, at Evans Cycles...
Bryton 20 = £90 + Cadence Sensor = £120
Bryton 35 = £108 + Cadence Sensor = £138
Bryton 40 = £110 + Cadence Sensor = £140

Would be great to see a simple comparison table to see what each model can do.

At first glance the 35 looks more useful and maybe worth paying the extra £20 for.
The 40 looks like it has many features I wouldn't use but is only £2 extra.

Decisions, decisions. What do you think?

t.m.h.n.e.t

As if by magic http://corp.brytonsport.com/products/rider50?lang=en

bold seagull

slowondefy2 wrote:

Sorry, my previous ebay link was for an old defunct listing, but have a look at this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wahoo-BLUESC- ... 1112998775

There's also one available through Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wahoo-Cadence-S ... B0089FXA96 . They seem a bit tricky to get hold of! I'm getting on really well with mine, and the battery life is minimally affected (it's the screen and GPS function that seem to affect battery life the most).

Its a combined speed and cadence sensor made by Wahoo and will connect directly with an iPhone 4S without any dongle. If you have any other iPhone you'd need an ANT+ dongle and sensors.

The Bryton seems to be a great value alternative to the comparable Garmin units. Personally I like the cheap handlebar mapping that an iPhone app can offer, which I routinely use to do longer rides on roads I've never used before, but I think a Bryton can do everything else (probably better, too).

Thanks, useful posts. With a young family my rides will be rarely over 2 or 3 hours let alone 4 or 5. As I already have an iPhone 4S, getting this Wahoo BlueSC appears to be the cheapest way to get some decent data from the ride. I note you can also get a Wahoo heart rate monitor which also bluetooth's the info. to your iPhone making it a pretty powerful tool on the front of the bike. Not to everyone's taste, but ideal for me I think.

bold seagull

CleeRider wrote:

I really don't want to lose the phone due to the poor case.

This case got a few good reviews, water proof and shock protective. It might not be pretty, but it does a job at £15!

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Topeak-iPhone-Drybag_45045.htm

slowondefy2

With regards to an iPhone case, I'm getting on quite well with a Topeak Drybag. Not perfect, but it's completely waterproof. A bit ugly and rattles a bit (which a zip-tie fixes), but it's not come detached inadvertantly yet (again, a zip-tie fixes any danger of this). And it's cheap.

bold seagull wrote:

Thanks, useful posts. With a young family my rides will be rarely over 2 or 3 hours let alone 4 or 5. As I already have an iPhone 4S, getting this Wahoo BlueSC appears to be the cheapest way to get some decent data from the ride. I note you can also get a Wahoo heart rate monitor which also bluetooth's the info. to your iPhone making it a pretty powerful tool on the front of the bike. Not to everyone's taste, but ideal for me I think.

Only downside to the Wahoo Blue SC is that it's the least supported with the various cycling computer apps, although I get on fine with Wahoo's own app. As I set off I put the GPS tracking app to go, then switch over to Wahoo's app to use the sensors.

thefd

slowondefy2 wrote:

With regards to an iPhone case, I'm getting on quite well with a Topeak Drybag. Not perfect, but it's completely waterproof. A bit ugly and rattles a bit (which a zip-tie fixes), but it's not come detached inadvertantly yet (again, a zip-tie fixes any danger of this). And it's cheap.

I have this too - where are you putting zip-ties to secure it, and stop the rattling?