wireless computer
Thread started by
KiMS1 at 02.11.10 - 9:02 am
looking for a cheaper wireless computer recommendations.
i'm not sure what features can be offered but anything with speed, distance, average speed, and cadence.
are there any other features that are worth mentioning?
what are the differences between 100 dollar and 30 dollar computers?
any suggestions?
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I was thinking about getting a Cateye Strada Cadence computer
Gav02.11.10 - 9:19 am
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NOT SURE WHAT YOU DO ON THE COMPUTER BUT I PICKED UP A NETBOOK AND LOVE IT. I CHECK EMAIL AND BROWSE THE WEB. NOTHING MAJOR LIKE QUICKBOOKS, PHOTOSHOP, OR ANY OTHER LARGE PROGRAMS THAT TAKE UP RAM..I GOT MINE FOR $326 OUT THE DOOR.
barleye02.11.10 - 9:31 am
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ok...i fucked up and read it wrong....haha..
barleye responding to a
comment by KiMS1
02.11.10 - 10:26 am
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cheap wireless computers suck.
their cables are poorly shielded, have very low refresh rates, and are subject to low tolerance of interference.
If this is for one bike, get a wired computer.
Cat Eyes are ok two bike solutions. don't do that VDO crap. but even the cateyes are prone to failures and inaccuracy.
my cervo serves me pretty good but i need to buy separate cadence and speed sensors, all other data just comes from my pt, so im pretty sure its not accurate at all.
_iJunes02.11.10 - 10:48 am
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is it usually one wire that comes out of the gizmo or is it like 3 separate ones that calculate different things?
KiMS1 responding to a
comment by _iJunes
02.11.10 - 11:20 am
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depends on how many functions you need.
if you're riding fixed, cadence is of little use. you can use speed zones and ratio to determine cadence.
Most wired sensors have one wire that goes to a fork mounted sensor and reads the magnet there. based on this wheel revolution number various formulas are used to give you data.
If using on a geared bike, polar tends to be the one that makes the rear mounted sensor which also has the cadence option, so it takes two different measurements with one cable.
I've yet to see a computer with two separate cables going into it.
_iJunes responding to a
comment by KiMS1
02.11.10 - 11:31 am
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Great thread.
Looks like I'll be getting myself a new Cateye Velo3 to replace my already existing one due to the conditions shooting everything on it to shit.
bentstrider02.11.10 - 11:51 am
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"if you're riding fixed, cadence is of little use"
good point.
i guess its just really speed and distance im curious about.
is the refresh really that bad with wireless? im guessing it gets better with more expensive computers?
KiMS1 responding to a
comment by _iJunes
02.11.10 - 12:08 pm
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i know some computers take up to 3s to report the speed, and its quite annoying because your speed usually drops a tiny bit when you stare at your computer waiting for a reading.
knog has a fancy approach to this by using their animated refresh where the number slides up and displays a new number, but basically its an animation gapping the 2 second rule. knog's computers and sensors are also easily removable making them ideal for city/commute use. fairly big display.
_iJunes responding to a
comment by KiMS1
02.11.10 - 12:12 pm
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http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/1592505521.html
at 40 bucks, its worth it.
_iJunes responding to a
comment by KiMS1
02.11.10 - 12:14 pm
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as someone mentioned above, cateye strada wireless.
its small, light, and doesnt get in your way. can be mounted to either the stem or your bars. theres also a wireless strada model that does cadence. one sensor on the chainstay pointed to the wheel and to the non driveside crank arm.
saying that cadence isnt an issue if youre riding fixed? i call bs on that.
ruinedbyidiots02.11.10 - 12:14 pm
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perfect. exactly what i was looking for.
KiMS1 responding to a
comment by _iJunes
02.11.10 - 12:16 pm
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saying that cadence isnt an issue if youre riding fixed? i call bs on that.
not that its not an issue but if you're not switching up ratios, you can find zones in your speed that relate to your cadence.
you'd think after a while you know that hitting 23 mph on your computer means you're spinning at or around such an RPM as set by your gear ratio
CORRECT?
and especially so on the strada, since it can either display only speed OR cadence, and since the two move linearly, you can estimate either or.
_iJunes responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
02.11.10 - 12:18 pm
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does that bell wired work well? i might pick it up just for starters
tree fitty responding to a
comment by onemanstrash
02.11.10 - 3:01 pm
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I have a Cateye wireless that doesn't include a cadence feature, but I can tell you this much... when I go through certain intersections or over train tracks, it blanks out for a few revolutions. Drops my speed or reads as zero until I clear the area of interference. Really weird. And there is about a 2+ second refresh between display updates.
Other than that it has served me well, I'd give it 4 of 5 stars probably. Clear, easy to read display. Pretty easy to remove once you figure out the trick. I like it.
outerspace02.11.10 - 3:24 pm
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if you're going wireless ant+ is your best 99% failproof best bet.
its also 100+ bontrager just released its first line of ant+ computers starting at $80, most other ant+ computers are 200+ and speed/cadence sensors are 50 bucks each.
really though, for one bike, wired system is enough. if the aesthetics of your wire wrapping around your fork is going to bother you, just dont use a computer at all.
_iJunes responding to a
comment by outerspace
02.11.10 - 3:36 pm
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just get a powertap or an srm and call it a day, amirite?
ruinedbyidiots02.11.10 - 3:38 pm
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The computer I already have (got it as a gift from the parents) doesn't do cadence.
I was like... hmmm... how can I get a cheap cadence meter?
So because I'm not already enough of a dork already, I made an MP3 that was just a click sounding at 80 BPM, and one at 85 and 90. Match the MP3 with my cadence and voila.
True story.
outerspace02.11.10 - 3:42 pm
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just go wired.
my pt drops my cadence as soon as i hit 130.
srm is supposed to be hell in water.
_iJunes responding to a
comment by ruinedbyidiots
02.11.10 - 3:42 pm
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is that 2sec delay really that bothersome? i dont really go at breakneck speeds or anything.
basically my goal with the computer is to keep myself at an even speed as much as possible.
that and to calculate distance.
KiMS102.11.10 - 4:13 pm
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dude there probably is haha
KiMS1 responding to a
comment by Joe Borfo
02.11.10 - 4:32 pm
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"does that bell wired work well? i might pick it up just for starters"
I love them. all i need to know is distance, top speed, average speed and current mph. Cadence can be figured on a fixed afterward, so it's not an issue for me. i have one on each of my three bikes.
onemanstrash responding to a
comment by tree fitty
02.11.10 - 4:34 pm
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the 2 second delay is annoying when trying to reach say a top speed.
because your actual top speed may happen in the 1 second interval you dont record, but the most annoying trend is when you're sustaining speed, and you see it change, but its not really changing its just refreshing.
_iJunes responding to a
comment by KiMS1
02.11.10 - 5:01 pm
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word, ill pick one up this weekend and give it a test. thanks
tree fitty responding to a
comment by onemanstrash
02.11.10 - 5:52 pm
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hey, what's wrong with VDO?
I have a VDO C2DS...
I use it for two bikes...wireless...one bike I have cadence, and the other I don't...I've never had any problems with it...
just saying...I suppose the transmitter is kinda hard to hide (they're not the smallest), but I've never had any problem with it reading...nor any problem with the cadence...and it always shows speed...and you can show cadence or distance or time along with the speed...
adrian responding to a
comment by _iJunes
02.11.10 - 6:16 pm
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picked one up yesterday and im very happy with it. you cant beat it for the price. Bell come through once again lol
tree fitty responding to a
comment by onemanstrash
02.13.10 - 6:35 pm
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