Using/no longer bike odometer? Restart?

[shootingstar]

Now, really it's pretty obvious for some members here, others know the chick is using her distance/speed odometer.

I've been cycling regularily for past 15 yrs. During first 6 years of returning to cycling at 32 yrs., an odometer helped me alot to improve my cycling and motivate me to go farther in 1 day. I was a mileage junkie and kept a daily cycling journal, noting mileage of day and anything I felt/saw during ride. THose journals do make interesting reading now...for myself.

Then I dropped off and now haven't installed my odometer for past few years. It's ok...I can estimate what my mileage is monthly, annually since local cycling consists of several regular routes and....my partner is a mileage freak, so I know what we do on out-of-town rides. I'm not a racer. Focus is on fitness, pleasurance and distance endurance....no matter how long it takes on that day.

It's just an achievement and sheer pleasure right now in life to cycle regularily given my schedule. Maybe later I'll get the odometer back on...


And you?

[7rider]

Metric junkie here.
Mileage. Avg. speed. Elevation gain.
...and folks here introduced me to BikeJournal.com, so I can feed my obsession on a daily basis.
And I have no clue why, really. It's not like my riding is anything to write home about!
But, yeah. It motivates me. Gives me a goal. Allows me to compare one (ride, bike, year, month, BikeJournal flunkie, etc.) against another (again...for what? Don't know).
And one January 1st, with much fanfare, I will have the "Annual Resetting of the Bike Computers Back to Zero!". Yee ha!

[kelownagirl]

I live for my bike computer. It's what motivates me to get stronger and faster. The only time I didn't pay much attention to my avg speed was when I rode in Provence this summer. I have not reset my computer - I like to keep an ongoing total miles tally.

[Popoki_Nui]

I pretty much live for my bike computers too, for the same reason: motivation. Every New Year's Eve, I reset all my bikes' odometers to zero, and start fresh. I keep my total cumulative distances on bikejournal.com.
When I restored the Falcon last summer, I didn't bother to put a computer on it. I felt nekkid without it. It's now on a trainer in our sunroom....with a computer installed.

[Zen]

Enjoyment comes from the doing, not from gathering data.
It's a zen thing.

Sometimes you just have to get back to basics.

[DirtDiva]

Nah, I like the nerdy approach.

[KnottedYet]

I have a computer on my zoom-zoom, but not on my commuter.

Just bought one for the commuter so I can keep track of commuter miles and add them on BikeJournal. I got inspired by Pansy and RaleighDon, and I think keeping track of miles would help me keep on track with commuting.

I love that Seattle busses have bike racks, so even while it is still dark at each end of my commute I can at least ride a few miles. Not ready yet for the full 2 1/2 hour commute, but soon it will be light enough that I can get in at least 1/2 hour each way!

[shootingstar]

summer, I didn't bother to put a computer on it. I felt nekkid without it. It's now on a trainer in our sunroom....with a computer installed.

I feel more naked if I'm somewhere cycling (a bike that doesn't belong to me) and I'm not wearing cycling shoes or forgot to wear my bike helmet...of which both are very rare.

I already "measure" myself against peers in my job field...I needed to liberate myself from constantly benchmarking myself..for things I loved to do outside of my job. So for cycling, I gradually "forgot" the odometer for the time being.

But I live with someone who is a mileage junkie..he tracks on Excel and bar graphs. I half-joke to my partner that he is a used car...since he's done over 100,000 kms. in past 14 years.

We don't have a (real) car.

[Eden]

Interestingly enough it was after I started racing that I stopped paying any attention to my odometer - half the time its on the wrong bike.... but my training is all done by time these days so I don't need to worry about distance.

[Melalvai]

I use my odometer to know when I need to get a new chain. Every ~1500 miles.

I could probably get by ok without. I clean my bike frequently, and check chain stretch periodically.

[Resumer]

Seeking any and all advice about bike computers -- I can and have been searching on the web (ebay, reviews, etc) to try and get a handle on what's worth buying, what to avoid and I trust the info provided here more than anywhere else!

Brands to avoid? Things to look for in choosing a model of computer? I'm never going to race, I'll be training to ride the ALC in June. I'm eager to get something so I can begin to track, and know, my progress.

Ok all you gear junkies, weigh in, I'm all eyes! And thanks, in advance...

[KathiCville]

Hi Resumer......First, if you haven't already done a search here on the TE forums for the term cyclocomputer, give it a whirl. You'll find several threads devoted to the pros and cons of various models.

I started out with a Cateye 8 last year when I got back into cycling. Good, basic model, worked just fine. But then I decided about six weeks ago that I wanted to work on improving my cadence (spin rate), so I switched to a Cateye Strada Cadence on my road bike. (Kept the Cateye 8 for my MTB)............I'm very happy with the Strada-------changes from screen to screen with minimal effort. Just a little bit of light finger pressure at the bottom "clicks" through the various screen options..........

For what it's worth, my BF tells me that the Cateye 8 is being phased out.

Both of my cyclocomputers are "wired" models. There are wireless versions---more expensive, and I *think* a bit more finicky in terms of getting the pieces positioned *just right* to send and receive info. If you're interested, do a search here for the term wireless and you'll find a few discussions.

Have fun!

[Zen]

I have the basic wired Cateye and I'm quite pleased with it.

It's small yet still easy to see and use. Very aesthetically pleasing and quite affordable.

[IFjane]

I have the basic wired Cateye and I'm quite pleased with it.

It's small yet still easy to see and use. Very aesthetically pleasing and quite affordable.

Is that a Zen thing?