Computer? Why or why not?

[allabouteva]

I'm a newbie too, but DH who'd been cycling a bit longer than me, just bought my bike with a computer, so I've always had one too.

Mine has cadence, which I always use, because from what I've read, you should cycle at around 75-90 rpm. If you spin too slowly, it puts pressure on your knees. Although I also understand it's a bit of a personal thing too. I've read that Lance Armstrong is a bit of a spinner, and Jan Ulrich is a bit of a masher (goes the big gears).

Like all the others, I use speed, ave speed, distance and also time ridden. All this is really important for training, because you need to know that you're improving! For example, when I first started, I couldn't get past 20kph, around the neighbourhood circuit. But at my last ride, I averaged 24.4 kph. And as I ride a hybrid, I reckon that's not too bad although like everyone else I want to go quicker!

It's all useful info and money incredibly well spent. And I think it brings a big dimension to your riding.

[Trekhawk]

I love my computer. My DH got me a new one for Xmas which includes an altimeter ( I stuck my old one on my MTB) . Hey if Im gonna ride hills its nice to know how much climbing Im doing. I cant imagine riding now and not having a computer to tell me how far I have come, what time it is (useful when you need to pick up the kids from school) and how fast or should I say for me how slow Im going.

[tjodit]

I guess the reason I'm asking is that I just dropped off my bike at the LBS during lunch to have a new computer put on. I somehow managed to nearly sever the wire on the one I had. I decided to just spend the money for one with cadence. Now I'm wondering if I wasted $65.00. There is a guy I tend to stick with on our club rides (well, I did last summer (when I first started road riding)...haven't riden but twice all winter) and he is always telling me to downshift and increase my cadence. I guess I tend to mash instead of spin. So I thought the computer with cadence would be a good idea. I guess I'm just trying to reassure myself that I didn't waste my money. I can be such a gear head!

[DrBee]

I love my computer. It does have the cadence feature. I find that knowing my cadence helps keep me riding at a steady pace, without killing myself in a higher gear. You did the right thing!

[Adventure Girl]

I use the cadence meter on my computer when I ride my bike on my trainer. I find it very valuable when doing spinervals drills.

One of my mountain biking buddies has an altimeter on his computer that is either not calibrated correctly or VERY generous! The last ride we did was 25 miles and we did more than 28,000 feet of climbing!!

[kiwi girl]

I wouldn't be without my computer

I have a cadence function on my road bike and I think its great - I am using my gears much more efficiently to keep my candence over 80 now that I can monitor it

[SadieKate]

The last ride we did was 25 miles and we did more than 28,000 feet of climbing!!

You da Woman! I'm afraid, very afraid.