Spring cleaning for the handlebars?

[Howard]

Anyone else ditch the cyclo computer altogether? It's been years since I've gone without one, but
I'm thinkin'... The averager stops when I do, so it's useless as a forecaster of ETA. Beyond that, I
wonder if there's something I'm missing by letting myself be tempted to chase down numbers.

When I was a kid, I couldn't afford a cyclometer (not that and tires both anyway!) and part of
the fun was poring over the map after a ride to figure out how far, and looking at the clock to
figure how fast.

I got a 'puter after a couple of tours, and it was a great novelty, and a way to pass the time.

Anyone else quit the velo-silicon habit?

Howard bitshift etc to respond

[Skip]

"Howard" <bishop(1199<<1)@yazhooz.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9456CC33A8F0yflyer2398@207.69.154.202... <snip>

> Anyone else quit the velo-silicon habit?
>
> Howard

I always thought I was the only one.

As I got older I changed from a log keeper always doing training rides (training for what I now
wonder) to a rider to whom milage an speed wasn't the primary reason for the ride. I've found the
slower and less complicated the mode of transportation (hiking, biking, XC skiing) the more I
experience and enjoy my surroundings and the environment. From a cycling standpoint my Ryan Vanguard
serves this purpose perfectly.

On those occasions when I need to ride fast and cannot waste precious time sightseeing I have a GRR
and some road bikes that are quicker than the Vanguard.

I do have an old bike computer, an Avocet 30, that doesn't do auto stop and therefore useful for
doing ETA on tours and longer rides. It tells me know how much time I have to kill looking at things
and talking to people and still make it to where I'm going before dark. It's a way cool thing as the
kids used to say.

skip

[Purphekt]

Perhaps you are. I have added a heart rate monitor and a altimeter to track my rides. I don't stare
at the little devices while I'm riding, but I do glance down at the HRM every so often to get a
better "feel" of my level of exertion. After the ride, I use all the numbers to log my ride and
track my progress. The only time I like seeing downward progress is after I have pushed myself to
the top of long climb.

Purphekt "skip" <skip@comcast.net> wrote in message news:SvqdnYTSZYvcGXmi4p2dnA@comcast.com...
>
> "Howard" <bishop(1199<<1)@yazhooz.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns9456CC33A8F0yflyer2398@207.69.154.202... <snip>
>
> > Anyone else quit the velo-silicon habit?
> >
> > Howard
>
>
> I always thought I was the only one.
>
> As I got older I changed from a log keeper always doing training rides (training for what I now
> wonder) to a rider to whom milage an speed wasn't the primary reason for the ride. I've found the
> slower and less
complicated
> the mode of transportation (hiking, biking, XC skiing) the more I experience and enjoy my
> surroundings and the environment. From a cycling standpoint my Ryan Vanguard serves this purpose
> perfectly.
>
> On those occasions when I need to ride fast and cannot waste precious time sightseeing I have a
> GRR and some road bikes that are quicker than the Vanguard.
>
> I do have an old bike computer, an Avocet 30, that doesn't do auto stop
and
> therefore useful for doing ETA on tours and longer rides. It tells me know how much time I have to
> kill looking at things and talking to people and still make it to where I'm going before dark.
> It's a way cool thing as
the
> kids used to say.
>
> skip
>

[Joe Keenan]

Howard <bishop(1199<<1)@yazhooz.com> wrote in message news:<Xns9456CC33A8F0yflyer2398@207.69.154.202>...
> Anyone else ditch the cyclo computer altogether? It's been years since I've gone without one, but
> I'm thinkin'... The averager stops when I do, so it's useless as a forecaster of ETA. Beyond that,
> I wonder if there's something I'm missing by letting myself be tempted to chase down numbers.
>
> When I was a kid, I couldn't afford a cyclometer (not that and tires both anyway!) and part of the
> fun was poring over the map after a ride to figure out how far, and looking at the clock to figure
> how fast.
>
> I got a 'puter after a couple of tours, and it was a great novelty, and a way to pass the time.
>
> Anyone else quit the velo-silicon habit?
>
>
> Howard bitshift etc to respond

Howard,

I have given up watching the MPH average, but I still use the cycloputer for the following:

1. Cue Sheets: For those times where I have no idea where I'm going other than Turn "L" @ mile 12.7

2. Clock: I've never worn a watch, so it's helpful for letting me know when it's time to have an egg
nog latte.

3. Distance: I try to get in a certain distance on a ride and this is so much better than
guessing....

4. Brevets: I do brevets and do need to know the time to see if I'm going to finish in time. An
overall running speed average lets me know if I'm on track to make it before the cut off.

Hope that helps....

Slow Joe Recumbo

[Howard]

"skip" <skip@comcast.net> wrote in
news:SvqdnYTSZYvcGXmi4p2dnA@comcast.com:

> I always thought I was the only one.
>
<snip>
> It's a way cool thing as the kids used to say.
>
> skip
>

Thanks Skip, that's about all the encouragement I needed. It'll be gone in the morning.

H

[Howard]

,
>
> I have given up watching the MPH average, but I still use the cycloputer for the following:
>
> 1. Cue Sheets: For those times where I have no idea where I'm going other than Turn "L" @
> mile 12.7
I had considered that, but don't you think that guessing at distances adds to the challenge? :-)
When I was in college, I worked with an organization that (among other things) took teen-agers on
bike trips. Lots of cue sheets. I didn't have a cyclometer for the first couple of years, and the
old cateyes would go tango uniform after about 3 days of rain.

>
> 2. Clock: I've never worn a watch, so it's helpful for letting me know when it's time to have an
> egg nog latte.

Good point. That is the most compelling reason for keeping it. OTOH, I tend to keep a cheap T*m*x
with a countdown timer on hand. (cheaper than a Harken or Ronstan timer, and just as functional for
sailboat racing).

>
> 3. Distance: I try to get in a certain distance on a ride and this is so much better than
> guessing....
I'm trying not to get too hung up on distances, but I sense you have good reason to care. I
respect that.

>
> 4. Brevets: I do brevets and do need to know the time to see if I'm going to finish in time. An
> overall running speed average lets me know if I'm on track to make it before the cut off.
>
This puts things in a whole different category. Especially for some of the longer rides, where
fatigue becomes a factor. I have a lot of respect for the randonneurs, and can see how that would be
a whole lot of challenge, and maybe even some fun.

.
>
> Slow Joe Recumbo