How to switch bike computer from one bike to another???

[kiwi girl]

Yep the answer is snip the old ones off carefully and buy some new ones

if the old zip ties are really tight you won't be able to get sissors under them, so use a craft knife or a stanley knife to carefully cut them - there is a small risk you might cause a minor scratch - but by the time you do this its your old bike right?

you should be able to get new zip ties from a hardware store

[SouthernBelle]

I bought a big thing of zip ties at Lowes. 'Spect Home Depot or a neighborhood hardware store would have them too. Thay are often referred to as cable ties.

[SadieKate]

Michele, you will need to re-set wheel size in the computer since (I'm guessing) you'll be moving it from a mtb to a roadie. Go to Blackburn's web site and download the instructions. The instructions will tell you also where to mount the speed sensor and the magnet.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

We bought a bunch of zip ties at the local bike store. Remember- they sell bike computers and lots of clueless customers pay them to install them on their bikes- so they HAVE to have zip ties around.

Remember, you will have to recalibrate your wheel circumfrence for the new bike, or it will give wrong mileage readings. You can check it against an old familiar route you used to do on your old bike. Keep resetting the circumf. setting until it matches the old mileage. Or check it against your car odometer and keep adjusting until it matches.

[michelem]

Thanks for all the suggestions/input! I'm sure I'll be having the LBS install it on the new bike, since I have no clue how to do so (REI did it for me back when I bought it from them for the old bike). I didn't even think about them having extra zip ties around.

Thanks again.

P.S. Thanks for the reminder about recalibrating. Luckily, I did read that part of the manual!

[SadieKate]

Call me hardheaded but I'm a DIY'er when it comes to computers, especially because it is so simple. It's not uncommon that the magnet may get bumped and the computer stop reading or you need to find tune the wheel size calibration to get it right for the combined weight of you and your bike. The more you can do yourself, the better you can deal with these things out on the road.

[SadieKate]

Remember, you will have to recalibrate your wheel circumfrence for the new bike, or it will give wrong mileage readings. You can check it against an old familiar route you used to do on your old bike. Keep resetting the circumf. setting until it matches the old mileage. Or check it against your car odometer and keep adjusting until it matches.

If you want it to be that precise, how about using the rollout method in the instructions so you only have to do it once?

[Grog]

For a 700X23C wheel the number is 2093 if I remember correctly.

It's really simple to install, I'd strongly recommend doing it yourself. Cable ties can be bought anywhere, including at the dollar store, and have tons of other uses.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you want it to be that precise, how about using the rollout method in the instructions so you only have to do it once?

The rollout method is good to get you in the general ballpark. (Be sure you are sitting ON your bike when you measure the rollout, and it helps to have a helper.) But the rollout method is just not the same as when you are going your normal speed and longer distances. Road surface contact and tire compression will be different at normal speed, and give different results. I also found the little chart for typical tire circumferences that came with the computer to be pretty inaccurate when I actually measured it against my two different tire sizes.

I used the rollout method to get within the general range. Then I drove our two different cars a certain route that was exactly 10 miles. Both cars read the same. Then I rode my bike a few times that same exact route and adjusted my tire rotation setting each time until it matched the 10 miles. You can't get nearly as accurate by rolling at almost a standstill for 12 yards.

[SadieKate]

Wow, I'd rather ride my bike.