Computer? Why or why not?

[tulip]

I'm in the minority here, but I prefer to ride without a computer. I think they have become a crutch in many ways. When I raced, computers were very expensive, and I learned from a great coach how to spin without depending on a computer. My legs tell me.

I no longer race, but I love to ride my bike. Not having a computer allows me to enjoy the ride. Years back when I had a computer I ended up putting tape over it during my ride. That way I could get the mileage and average speed at the end of my ride without getting obsessed about it during my ride.

Just something to consider, otherwise you might miss the world as it goes by.

[Deanna]

I ride with a computer, but pretty much keep it on the average speed view and only checking the other stats at rest stops. I take time to "analyze" the rest of the data as I log it. I used to keep it on distance until one very tough climb that I knew to be "only" a mile. It seemed like it took FOREVER for each tenth of a mile to turnover. It was very unmotivating and made me feel like a slug.

[Pax]

I have the attention span of a flea on crack so I LOVE my computer! It gives me a place to re-focus when I'm off in my head solving the worlds problems instead of paying attention to traffic.

[Nanci]

My calorie counting software wants to know how many hours I rode at what mph- so I have to have a computer! (I think my calorie expenditure Saturday will be about 10,000! EEK!!)

Nanci

[MomOnBike]

I've been trying hard to increase my cadence, so the computer set to show the cadence is (for me, at least) necessary.

I'm also a wee bit obsessive/compulsive so knowing how far/fast I've gone fills a psychological need. Also, since I post on bike journal, those numbers come in handy.

My computer also continuously shows MPH, but I don't worry about it much, I'm slow. I know it. I don't worry about it any more. I still like to know HOW slow, though. Go figure.