Cateye Strata Cadence

I've a Cateye Strata Cadence on my bike, and while I had noted an issue with the mileage before yesterday, I finally realized what the problem is. For some odd reason, it only adds distance/adds to the odometer when the bike is upside down! (I turn it over to clean the chain).

Yesterday I had it out and noted that while it picked up cadence fine, it wasn't picking up speed nor distance. It makes little sense to me that it won't pick it up when upright, but that it does when I have turn it over and am moving the crank by hand - at least the odometer moves...

I am trying to avoid a special trip to my LBS who installed it, though I will if I can't figure this out. Any idea what might be happening?

(1) Don't turn your bike over to clean the chain (or for any other reason). You risk damaging cable housings, cables and your computer; and you'll definitely scuff your saddle, brake hoods and/or handlebar tape. If it's too much bother to lift your rear wheel off the ground (which to me it is, just to clean the chain), then turn the crank backwards. Easy as that. (Did your computer ever work properly? It's possible you bent the contacts by having the bike upside down...)

(2) Along the same lines, I'm guessing that when your bike is resting on top of the handlebar, it's also resting on the computer, putting pressure on it and improving the connection. Try cleaning the contacts with a Scotch-Brite pad (either dry or with brake/contact cleaner, but be careful with the latter because they're pretty toxic); remove any debris with a brush or compressed air; apply a drop of WD-40 to prevent corrosion; and if it still doesn't work, take it back.

If you didn't buy the computer new and can't take it back, then the next step would be if there's a spring in the contacts, GENTLY and CAREFULLY bend it out a little bit with a small screwdriver, the end of a safety pin, or something similar. But don't try that if it's returnable.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

(1) Don't turn your bike over to clean the chain (or for any other reason). You risk damaging cable housings, cables and your computer; and you'll definitely scuff your saddle, brake hoods and/or handlebar tape. If it's too much bother to lift your rear wheel off the ground (which to me it is, just to clean the chain), then turn the crank backwards. Easy as that. (Did your computer ever work properly? It's possible you bent the contacts by having the bike upside down...)

(2) Along the same lines, I'm guessing that when your bike is resting on top of the handlebar, it's also resting on the computer, putting pressure on it and improving the connection. Try cleaning the contacts with a Scotch-Brite pad (either dry or with brake/contact cleaner, but be careful with the latter because they're pretty toxic); remove any debris with a brush or compressed air; apply a drop of WD-40 to prevent corrosion; and if it still doesn't work, take it back.

If you didn't buy the computer new and can't take it back, then the next step would be if there's a spring in the contacts, GENTLY and CAREFULLY bend it out a little bit with a small screwdriver, the end of a safety pin, or something similar. But don't try that if it's returnable.

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Thanks - it has only been upside down once since the computer was installed (yesterday). I don't think it ever worked properly, which may simply mean that the magnet is too far from the sensor. I can take it back to the LBS if I need to - it was purchased new.

I can't see how turning it upside down would change the relationship between the magnet and the sensor - unless either the magnet or the pickup are so loose that they're moving around.

Did you check tightness on the magnet and the sensor? How far apart are they, in the closest position?

I just installed several of these on my bikes for my class. It does not make any sense that reading would change whether the bike is right side up, or turned over. If it is not recording speed, there are a couple of things that you can check. Like someone else mentioned, check the contact with the computer and the mount on the handlbars... although if it is recording cadence then the contact should be fine. I would check to make sure that the magnet on your rear wheel and the sensor are lined up... that is what will give you speed. They need to be very close in order to give you the speed. If that doesn't help, then perhaps a trip to LBS will alleviate any more issues. It's a great quality computer, so I hope it's working for you soon:p

I will check the distance of the magnet/sensor tomorrow - I am hoping that is the problem. If not then I will just have to make that special visit across town to the LBS, the computer is new.

Thanks to both of you for your advice!

Whew, the problem is fixed. The magnet is supposed to be 3mm from the sensor according to the paperwork, though the LBS told me 4mm... so I experimented and moved the magnet just a little closer to the appropriate end of the sensor. It worked - I held the bike up and moved the crank a couple of times and saw both an average speed AND the odometer changed slightly. Success!

The magnet wasn't all that hard to move, perhaps when I turned Stella upside down the other day the magnet shifted a little? I don't know how likely that is, but it now seems to be working with the right side of the bike up :D

And I won't be turning it upside down again - though it was always on carpet with a blanket on top of the carpet - no scratches and with proof the computer works I know it hasn't been damaged either.

Thanks for the tips!