Opinion Request - Best Odometre & Speedometre for Bikes



C

Churchill

Guest
Is there one or two that stand out as the best bang for the buck ?

A URL link would be appreciated to your recommendations.

Cordially,

Churchill
 
There is no "best" but the one I'm using now that has the fewest problems
and seems the best designed is the Sigma. I like the 800 best but it doesn't
have an average speed function that many people must have.


"Churchill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there one or two that stand out as the best bang for the buck ?
>
> A URL link would be appreciated to your recommendations.
>
> Cordially,
>
> Churchill
>
>
 
"Churchill" wrote: (clip)Is there one or two that stand out as the best
bang for the buck ?
^^^^^^^^^^^
Unless you need a lot of sophisticated data as a part of a training regimen,
I would go for one that has the fewest functions (therefore, costs the
least.) The cyclometers that have very sophisticated displays don't do me
any good, and are hard to read while riding, anyway.

Look for one that is easy to rezero without getting out the instructions
every time. I ride with a friend who forgets to bring the instructions with
him, and always has to subtract to know how far we have ridden (or ask me.)
 
I have a Sigma BC800 on my hybrid and it works well...it does show avg
speed, but you have to push the button on it to cycle through to it. While
riding it only has a 2-line display, current speed and your choice of
elapsed time or elapsed distance.

For my new road bike I got a Planet Bike Protege 9.0, it's supposedly
weatherproof (haven't had to test that feature yet) and it has a large 4
line display, so you can pretty much see whatever you like without having to
toggle it. So far I think it's superior to the Sigma for that fact.
They're both pretty easy to zero out. If you want to save a dollar or so
(depending on site you order from) you can get the Protege 8.0 for a little
less than the 9.0. The difference is the 9.0 includes a temperature
reading...and I figured for the extra dollar - why not.

I got the Protege at JensonUSA
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.aspx?i=CP707A08 for $20...most of the
other online sites want at least $30 for it...not sure how Jensen can sell
it so cheap, but I took a chance and they delivered it quickly, I highly
recommend them.


"Churchill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is there one or two that stand out as the best bang for the buck ?
>
> A URL link would be appreciated to your recommendations.
>
> Cordially,
>
> Churchill
>
>
 
One important feature is that when the computer goes into "sleep mode"
that when you start to move the wheels again it automatically comes back
to life without you having to touch any buttons to make it work again. I
put on a wireless computer early this year and hated it because when I
would stop for a while (say to go into a convience store or stop to rest
or something) when I got back on the bike 5 or 10 minutes later, I
didn't realize that the computer would stay in "off" or sleep mode. I
would have to push a button to "wake it up". By the time I would
remember to do this I'd be down the road a mile or more and those miles
wouldn't get recorded. So get a computer that doesn't do this -- that it
is always "on" when you are moving. I went back to a non-wireless type
of computer and love the one I have. The Protege 9.0 by Planet Bike. It
runs about $28.00. See it at
http://www.outdoorsportz.com/BGCPOOOO1006.html Or do a search for
Protege 9.0 Big clear screen with lots of functions showing all at the
same time: Screen 1: MPH, distance, clock, avg speed, max speed, Ride
time. With a push of the button screen 2 shows: MPH, current
tempurature, total distance, avg speed, trip time Sara



--
 
"SaraBikes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]
> One important feature is that when the computer goes into "sleep mode"
> that when you start to move the wheels again it automatically comes
> back to life without you having to touch any buttons to make it work
> again. I put on a wireless computer early this year and hated it
> because when I would stop for a while (say to go into a convience
> store or stop to rest or something) when I got back on the bike 5 or
> 10 minutes later, I didn't realize that the computer would stay in
> "off" or sleep mode. I would have to push a button to "wake it up".
> By the time I would remember to do this I'd be down the road a mile
> or more and those miles wouldn't get recorded.

I don't have that problem with my Echo W2.

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?
 
On Sat, 3 Jul 2004 21:30:41 -0400, "Churchill" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Is there one or two that stand out as the best bang for the buck ?

If you're just looking for a basic wired-sensor type that doesn't do
anything beyond time, speed and distance, then let price be your guide
at the local bike shops. I haven't found much difference between the
midrange and cheap stuff, and none of them have failed to work well.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.
 
On Mon, 5 Jul 2004 05:18:30 +1000, "DRS" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>"SaraBikes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]
>> One important feature is that when the computer goes into "sleep mode"
>> that when you start to move the wheels again it automatically comes
>> back to life without you having to touch any buttons to make it work
>
>I don't have that problem with my Echo W2.

No surprise; I don't think it's common. I know that I haven't seen
that behavior in the four or five different really cheap units I've
installed. Even the crummy $9 one from the local sporting goods chain
has auto-wakeup...and the unit works OK, though it is *really* basic.
I'd call the lack of auto-wakeup a significant bug, myself.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Surrealism is a pectinated ranzel.
 

> If you're just looking for a basic wired-sensor type that doesn't do
> anything beyond time, speed and distance, then let price be your guide
> at the local bike shops. I haven't found much difference between the
> midrange and cheap stuff, and none of them have failed to work well.


i got mine at target. not as fancy as the cateye i had years ago, but i
really dont need "cadence" anyway.
 
"Fred Hall" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a Sigma BC800 on my hybrid and it works well...it does show avg
> speed, but you have to push the button on it to cycle through to it.
While
> riding it only has a 2-line display, current speed and your choice of
> elapsed time or elapsed distance.

You have the older BC 800 which DID have average speed. The newer one does
not contain this function. It does have riding time and distance so you can
calculate the speed average easily enough at home. But some people feel the
need to watch their average speed all the time.

The BC1200 has the average speed function but it has a difference case shape
and the buttons are top and bottom and it is really easy to accidently
re-zero it.

But the most important thing is that the Sigma just works. All of the other
cyclometers I've used had some sort of irritating bugs in them. Avocets
ALWAYS fail. Out of perhaps 12 Avocets every single one of them failed after
the first battery change or so. Avenirs were OK but would do that really
irritating jumping between the correct speed and either half or one third of
the real speed. And the distance would have errors in it because of that as
well. Cateye was OK but they were missing average speed and/or riding time
or they too would half the speed whenever you looked at it.
 
On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 21:30:41 -0400, Churchill wrote:

> Is there one or two that stand out as the best bang for the buck ?

I finally settled on a Cateye Enduro. Best thing about it is that the
wire harness is tougher than any other, so lasts longer.


--

David L. Johnson

__o | You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say this; but
_`\(,_ | what canst thou say? -- George Fox.
(_)/ (_) |
 
On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 09:44:20 -0700, smokey wrote:

>
> My favorite has been my Planet Bike 8.0. Just the necessary functions,
> and easy to set up and re-set. You can get them at
> Performancebike.com.
> http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=12090

How small a wheel diameter will it calibrate to? Will it calibrate for
a 20" (409) wheel - and to what accuracy? I've seen posts on this and
other NGs recently mentioning calibrations in the range of 100-200, to
me that's not accurate enough - does is have 4 digits of calibraton?

mike
 
My Protege 9.0 shows a 20 x 1.75 as the smallest on the preconfigured list
(which is 1502mm)...you can also do your own measurement...it says the
smallest it will accept is 1000mm. It does allow 4 digit calibration
accuracy in WSS.

"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:p[email protected]...
>
> On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 09:44:20 -0700, smokey wrote:
>
> >
> > My favorite has been my Planet Bike 8.0. Just the necessary functions,
> > and easy to set up and re-set. You can get them at
> > Performancebike.com.
> > http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=12090
>
> How small a wheel diameter will it calibrate to? Will it calibrate for
> a 20" (409) wheel - and to what accuracy? I've seen posts on this and
> other NGs recently mentioning calibrations in the range of 100-200, to
> me that's not accurate enough - does is have 4 digits of calibraton?
>
> mike
>
 
On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 12:56:36 GMT, "Mike"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 09:44:20 -0700, smokey wrote:
>
>>
>> My favorite has been my Planet Bike 8.0. Just the necessary functions,
>> and easy to set up and re-set. You can get them at
>> Performancebike.com.
>> http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=12090
>
>How small a wheel diameter will it calibrate to? Will it calibrate for
>a 20" (409) wheel - and to what accuracy? I've seen posts on this and
>other NGs recently mentioning calibrations in the range of 100-200, to
>me that's not accurate enough - does is have 4 digits of calibraton?
>
>mike

Dear Mike,

Here are some reviews of the Planet Bike 8.0:

http://www.roadbikereview.com/Compu...ege,8.0,Cyclocomputer/PRD_132758_1624crx.aspx

Most cyclocomputers allow entering a wheel circumference in
millimeters, either from a printed table of average sizes or
else from your own measurements.

For a ridiculously small 1% inaccuracy, you'd have to be
10mm off on a 1000mm tire, or 20mm off on a 2000mm tire, so
this is overkill anyway.

Most tables list a 700c tire at 2124mm, while a 20" is
listed at 1596mm. Technically, the smaller tire will be less
accurate because it has roughly the same measuring error
(plus or minus about an eighth of an inch) as the larger
tire, repeated more times in the same distance.

However, the 20" tire does have the inestimable advantage
that it may be just small enough for someone to build an
odometer that reads in thousandths of a mile (5.23 feet per
spin) instead of the lamentably coarse hundredths of a mile
of larger tires.

Carl Fogel
 
"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 09:44:20 -0700, smokey wrote:
>
> >
> > My favorite has been my Planet Bike 8.0. Just the necessary functions,
> > and easy to set up and re-set. You can get them at
> > Performancebike.com.
> > http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=12090
>
> How small a wheel diameter will it calibrate to? Will it calibrate for
> a 20" (409) wheel - and to what accuracy? I've seen posts on this and
> other NGs recently mentioning calibrations in the range of 100-200, to
> me that's not accurate enough - does is have 4 digits of calibraton?
>
> mike

It has four digits of calibration, but I don't remember if it works
with 20" wheels. You could call Performance's tech line at
800-553-TECH and they should be able to help you.
 
In article <[email protected]>, "Churchill"
<[email protected]> writes:

>Is there one or two that stand out as the best bang for the buck ?

I have a Cateye Mitee 3 that has 18,000 miles in four years on the same
battery. You cannot say the same for an Avocet. The Cateye is a little big
for some people's tastes, but it's easy to read and use and mine has never had
a problem with the weather.

Tom Gibb <[email protected]>
 
<sinp> But the most important thing is that the Sigma just works. <snip>

I've also got a BC800, and it doesnt always work. Scolling throught the
menus can knock the computer off the contacts, causing the speed sensor to
disconnect. It's usually ok now that I know what causes it, but i miss it
when night cycling. Poor design, fine otherwise.
 
"David L. Johnson" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> On Sat, 03 Jul 2004 21:30:41 -0400, Churchill wrote:
>
> > Is there one or two that stand out as the best bang for the buck ?
>
> I finally settled on a Cateye Enduro. Best thing about it is that the
> wire harness is tougher than any other, so lasts longer.

Yep. Cateye anything is good. Enduro 2 or the new Enduro 8 or
something is best. On sale at Nashbar or Performance for $20 most of
the time. And you can usually find a 10% off or 20% off coupon code
for Nashbar or Performance if you are patient. $16 for a Cateye
Enduro is a mighty fine bang for the buck.
 
"Tom Kunich" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> There is no "best" but the one I'm using now that has the fewest
> problems and seems the best designed is the Sigma. I like the 800 best
> but it doesn't have an average speed function that many people must
> have.
>
>
> "Churchill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Is there one or two that stand out as the best bang for the buck ?
>>
>> A URL link would be appreciated to your recommendations.
>>
>> Cordially,
>>
>> Churchill
>>
>>
>
>
>

I'll second that. I'm using a Sigma BC-600(discontinued) that's still
going after two years plus.

Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Opinion Request - Best Odometre & Speedometre for Bikes
Replies
19
Views
2K
Cycling Equipment
David Johnson
D
C
Road Racing Tires - Opinion Request
Replies
44
Views
3K
Cycling Equipment
Charles Hizark
C
C
Road Racing Tires - Opinion Request
Replies
46
Views
1K
Cycling Equipment
Charles Hizark
C
A
Need a new riding bag- opinion?
Replies
1
Views
1K
Cycling Equipment
Froze
Froze
Felt_Rider
Contour GPS - My Opinion
Replies
0
Views
676
Cycling Equipment
Felt_Rider
Felt_Rider
Top Bottom Back