Wireless cycling computers

Alan Holmes said:

"Vødkäjéllÿ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi

Please could someone recommend one, or give me a link to a forum where
things are discussed. I'm not having much luck on google for reviews for
them. Lots of adverts, but not many reviews.

Are they as good as wired ones? This is for a bike that will be doing off
road mountain biking type work.

Why on earth would one want a computer for cycling, we used to have a trip
counter and a watch!

That is in fact what cycle "computers" really are, electronic trip
counters with a built in clock. One might actually argue whether a
microprocessor that calculates current and average speed, cadence etc.
and indicates top ditto should qualif as a computer. After all,
calculators are still called calculators.

For the same reason that someone wants inflatable tyres on bikes, it may
soon become fashionable to have GPS navigators on bikes!

--
ts // to send e-mail, remove vehicle

ts wrote on 03/02/2007 17:26 +0100:

Quoted message said:

That is in fact what cycle "computers" really are, electronic trip
counters with a built in clock. One might actually argue whether a
microprocessor that calculates current and average speed, cadence etc.
and indicates top ditto should qualif as a computer.

But it probably has many time the computing power of the first
computers. However in the OED the two words are interchangeable except
calculators don't count :-):

Compute: To estimate or determine by arithmetical or mathematical
reckoning; to calculate, reckon, count.

Calculate: To estimate or determine by arithmetical or mathematical
reckoning; to compute, reckon.

--
Tony

"...has many omissions and contains much that is apocryphal, or at least
wildly inaccurate..."
Douglas Adams; The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

On 03/02/2007 13:02, soup said,

Quoted message said:

At £9.99 for Argos cheapies and ten mins work to fit it is an
inexpensive way of telling the time on the bike (yes you can look at
your wrist watch but any I have are much more than £9.99), oh and they
give speed and distance as well.

Ditto - and in this weather (aka 'winter'😉 it can be hard to see a
wristwatch under several layers. I also don't like a watch banging
about on my wrist whilst crashing about rocky slopes on my MTB.

So I think I'll stay in the 21st Century rather than the 19th :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Alan Holmes wrote:
you have heard the expression, 'there

Quoted message said:

was a computer error'?

Very seldom does the computer make a mistake per se, usually it has been
programmed badly or is working outside its parameters (wireless computer
and overhead rail lines).

Alan Holmes said:

Why on earth would one want a computer for cycling, we used to have a trip
counter and a watch!

You mean the old mechanical thingies circa 196notverymuch? A cam
mounted on a spoke used to knock a star-wheel on the device mounted on
the front hub. OK until hurtling down a hill where the star wheel
woulg get nudged a little too far so the next time the cam would meet
the star wheel end-on causing great twanging noises from the spoke.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

--
Vj

Phil Cook said:

Chris Eilbeck said:

Vødkäjéllÿ said:

Please could someone recommend one, or give me a link to a forum
where things are discussed. I'm not having much luck on google for
reviews for them. Lots of adverts, but not many reviews.

Are they as good as wired ones? This is for a bike that will be
doing off road mountain biking type work.

I've got the cheap 9-function wireless one from H******s on my MTB

Given that Vødkäjéllÿ appears to be new on here I thought I'd better
point out that H******s means Halfords.

Cheers :-)

Chris Eilbeck said:

Vødkäjéllÿ said:

Please could someone recommend one, or give me a link to a forum
where things are discussed. I'm not having much luck on google for
reviews for them. Lots of adverts, but not many reviews.

Are they as good as wired ones? This is for a bike that will be
doing off road mountain biking type work.

I've got the cheap 9-function wireless one from H******s on my MTB and
the wired version on my tourer. They're pretty much the same apart
from the wireless one costing twice as much for batteries. I've got a
Topeak wired one with cadence sensor on the road bike (50% off from
H******s last summer) and I've found that really useful.

Chris

I asked this question for my bloke and I am pasting all the answers onto a
word doc for him :-)

Thanks :-)

soup said:

Vødkäjéllÿ said:

Hi

Hi there, VonabikeJ.

Hello soup in a cardigan :-)

Mark Thompson said:

Quoted message said:

Please could someone recommend one, or give me a link to a forum
where things are discussed. I'm not having much luck on google for
reviews
for them. Lots of adverts, but not many reviews.

Are they as good as wired ones? This is for a bike that will be doing
off road mountain biking type work.

The early models suffered from interference. Current models have
improved a lot, and shouldn't give you any problems. If you by one
with a 'proper' brand name on then all should be well (I'm wary about
cheapo no-name ones).

One thing to add is that I've lost two expensive Sigma units - the
'twist lock system' makes it to easy to cycle away with the unit not
properly seated.

We lose ours because we take them off and put them somewhere safe ;-)

Alan Holmes said:

Why on earth would one want a computer for cycling, we used to have a
trip counter and a watch!

Alan

Thank you Alan.

Peter Grange said:

Alan Holmes said:

Why on earth would one want a computer for cycling, we used to have
a trip counter and a watch!

You mean the old mechanical thingies circa 196notverymuch? A cam
mounted on a spoke used to knock a star-wheel on the device mounted on
the front hub. OK until hurtling down a hill where the star wheel
woulg get nudged a little too far so the next time the cam would meet
the star wheel end-on causing great twanging noises from the spoke.

I ran out of breath reading that! :-)

Thanks for your replies and special thanks to Alan for starting a discussion
on watches and trip counters :-)

"ts" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For the same reason that someone wants inflatable tyres on bikes, it may
soon become fashionable to have GPS navigators on bikes!

Could be useful for finding your way between London railway stations.

"Chris Eilbeck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Alan Holmes said:

"Rob Morley" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
In article <[email hidden]>, Alan Holmes
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

"Vødkäjéllÿ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Hi
>
> Please could someone recommend one, or give me a link to a forum
> where things are discussed. I'm not having much luck on google
> for reviews for them. Lots of adverts, but not many reviews.
>
> Are they as good as wired ones? This is for a bike that will be
> doing off road mountain biking type work.

Why on earth would one want a computer for cycling, we used to have
a trip counter and a watch!

Good for you - why not go back to your pre-internet lifestyle?

What has that to do with cycle computers?

Whoosh!

And?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

When a trip counter and a watch will do the job as accurately, why
get something which may not be accurate, you have heard the
expression, 'there was a computer error'?

Luddite!

Whatever that is?

Quoted message said:

Cycle computers work and they're cheap, and they're less effort to use
than a trip counter and a watch.

So you have a problem with simple arithmetic?

Alan

"Adam Lea" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"ts" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For the same reason that someone wants inflatable tyres on bikes, it may
soon become fashionable to have GPS navigators on bikes!

Could be useful for finding your way between London railway stations.

Or you could use a map!

Alan

"Peter Grange" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Alan Holmes said:

Why on earth would one want a computer for cycling, we used to have a trip
counter and a watch!

You mean the old mechanical thingies circa 196notverymuch? A cam
mounted on a spoke used to knock a star-wheel on the device mounted on
the front hub. OK until hurtling down a hill where the star wheel
woulg get nudged a little too far so the next time the cam would meet
the star wheel end-on causing great twanging noises from the spoke.

I don't ever remember that happening to anyone I knew!

Alan

"Vødkäjéllÿ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Peter Grange said:

Alan Holmes said:

Why on earth would one want a computer for cycling, we used to have
a trip counter and a watch!

You mean the old mechanical thingies circa 196notverymuch? A cam
mounted on a spoke used to knock a star-wheel on the device mounted on
the front hub. OK until hurtling down a hill where the star wheel
woulg get nudged a little too far so the next time the cam would meet
the star wheel end-on causing great twanging noises from the spoke.

I ran out of breath reading that! :-)

You should take more exersize!(:-)

Alan

Quoted message said:

"Vødkäjéllÿ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mark Thompson said:

Quoted message said:

Please could someone recommend one, or give me a link to a forum
where things are discussed. I'm not having much luck on google for
reviews
for them. Lots of adverts, but not many reviews.

Are they as good as wired ones? This is for a bike that will be doing
off road mountain biking type work.

The early models suffered from interference. Current models have
improved a lot, and shouldn't give you any problems. If you by one
with a 'proper' brand name on then all should be well (I'm wary about
cheapo no-name ones).

One thing to add is that I've lost two expensive Sigma units - the
'twist lock system' makes it to easy to cycle away with the unit not
properly seated.

We lose ours because we take them off and put them somewhere safe ;-)

That's funny I keep doing that as well, I must have thousands of things in a
safe place!

Alan

Quoted message said:

"Vødkäjéllÿ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Alan Holmes said:

Why on earth would one want a computer for cycling, we used to have a
trip counter and a watch!

Alan

Thank you Alan.

Not at all, anything to help!(:-)

Alan

Quoted message said:

Alan Holmes said:

"Chris Eilbeck" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Luddite!

Whatever that is?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cycle computers work and they're cheap, and they're less effort to use
than a trip counter and a watch.

So you have a problem with simple arithmetic?

Not by a long chalk but I'd much rather be concentrating on the road,
traffic and my route than 3 into 8, carry 2 ...

Chris
--
Chris Eilbeck