Bike computer

[Melalvai]

My $10 walmart odometer did not survive the cold weather. I decided to get one from nashbar. I wasn't in a hurry, and I was getting something else which offset the shipping costs. I thought I could just pick on that was not the lowest end, but not too far away from the cheapest.

I got Sigma BC800 for $15. In retrospect, I wish I'd gone ahead and done some research, or asked for advice. I'm not sure what I would have selected though, maybe I would have gotten this one anyway. I didn't want to spend a fortune, I don't need a ton of features, all I really care about is total miles, so I can feel guilty that my chain is 500 miles overdue for being replaced.

I obviously did not pay for adequate instructions. It was written in about 10 different languages and equally comprehensible in all. I got the thing installed, and tried to set it. Not suprisingly, my tire size (700X38C) was not in their wheelsize chart. Nor was it obvious what wheelsize convention they were using. Eventually I decided they were using what Sheldon Brown called "Group E" wheelsize (mm X 1.61), and that the chart in the BC800 instruction manual (I use the term loosely) had a typo. Otherwise my 38 is smaller than 35, which makes no sense.

When I got to work, it read 3.2 miles, which is what the old odometer always thought too. It seemed I was going slower than usual, but it was terribly windy and I felt like I was going slower--so my internal speedometer seemed in sync with the bike odometer. Tonight I am going on a ride with several people who also have odometers so I should be able to confirm that mine is at least close.

Since I've already bought it I'll stick with it, but I wanted to get this message in the archives so if someone is considering buying it I hope my experience will give them second thoughts. I wish I had something inexpensive yet reliable, no frills, to recommend, but all I have are two products I do not recommend: Sigma BC800 and the walmart Schwinn odometer.

[tulip]

I like Cateye bike computers. They are straightforward without too many features. I only need to know about speed and distance (oh, and time). Cateyes are very reliable in my experience, too.

[VeloVT]

I'm a big Cateye fan. I know there are some who have had bad luck with Cateyes, but I've found both their lights and their computers quite reliable.

I have a Cateye Double Wireless on my road bike (as does bf and it's been reliable for him too), and a Cateye Strada Wireless on my commuter. Both are absolutely reliable in all weather conditions (I've ridden down to about 5 deg F with the Strada) and I've never had electrical/electronic interference problems either.

Cateye instructions are about on par with any Japanese-to-English translated instructions -- not the easiest to follow sometimes -- and the screenflow of the Double Wireless is not intuitive at all, but once you've got it all programmed and set up it's great. The Strada, on the other hand, is very simple and intuitive.

The only other computer I've had was a Vetta wireless computer that I hated. It was easy enough to set up but the signal was completely unreliable no matter how carefully I adjusted the magnets/sensors.

ETA: you can find really good deals on new Cateyes on Ebay sometimes. I bought the Strada on Ebay and spent around $25 (it retails for around $40 I think).

[Mr. SR500]

Another Cateye fan, I even keep an extra one around.

[SouthernBelle]

You can usually find an inexpensive puter even in a bike shop and they would set it up for your too. Don't you just hate the way you have to get your wheel size on most of them!

[OakLeaf]

Another vote for Cateye.

[violette]

Ditto on the Cateye