Help! Cycle computer for MTB

[Yazza54]

Can anyone recommend a budget/reasonably priced cycle computer that will work on a MTB with suspension forks?

I stupidly bought one then realised the pickup was fookin miles away from the spokes because my bike has quite large fox 36 forks. Is there a different type made from suspension MTBs? The one I bought is now on the GFs road bike

Don't need fancy GPS or anything just speed, distance, time


Or is GPS my only option, can anyone recommend one that's cheap, I'm guessing not :/

Edited by Yazza54 on Tuesday 4th February 13:14

[Mr Will]

Would putting the sensor on the rear wheel help?

[daddy cool]

Any cheapo wired one should work with a MTB with front suspension - i had one a few years back, worked reasonably ok.
But ~£65 in a sale new, or 40-50 secondhand on ebay will get you something like a Garmin Edge 200. Had one for a couple of years, brilliant little device. Give you all the data you want, wireless, big battery life and the GPS fuctionality opens up a whole new world of excitement!*

• may not actually be that exciting, but i mean reviewing rides on Strava/Endomondo etc, or even plotting routes that you can follow when out on a ride.

[Yazza54]

I did try at the time but there didn't really seem to be any way of doing it, there's not really much space on the swingarm that lines up with the spokes.

[Smartboy]

Try packing out behind the fork mounted unit with a few wraps of electrical tape or similar around the fork leg. That will bring the unit closer to the magnet on the spoke.

Also, could you mount it toward the bottom if the fork where the spokes are closest to the fork?

I had a cheap-o cat eye unit and that fitted fine to my 2011 Reba forks though.

[Silver940]

How cheap? http://www.merlincycles.com/bryton-rider-20-gps-co...

[tjdixon911]

+ 1 for packing off the fork, that's how I used to mount mine prior to getting an Edge 200 (Which I would recommend as a cheap(ish) GPS unit).

[Yazza54]

I don't see how packing it out would help, it doesn't need to stand further off the fork it needs to be closer to the wheel, literally like an inch away. I guess it depends what style pickup the comp comes with, this one literally stood directly off the fork

[anonymous-user]

I thikn they mean pack it in, so the receiver is closer to the magnet, by putting something to reduce the gap between the fork leg and the wheel?

[Yazza54]

pablo said:

I thikn they mean pack it in, so the receiver is closer to the magnet, by putting something to reduce the gap between the fork leg and the wheel?

Yeah I get you, but that's not possible on the type of pickup it had. It just stands off the fork pointing forward parallel with the wheel, if you can picture what I mean lol

[WinstonWolf]

Wait for the Aldi or Lidl ones? Only about a fiver and do the job

[anonymous-user]

sure but assuming its a wireless computer, you dont have to use the mount that comes with the computer. Its not pretty but you could make something secure from a bit of bubble wrap and packing tape. I did something similar on mrspablo's bike which had the same problem.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 4th February 21:28

[Yazza54]

The mount was part of the sensor, just all wrong but bought on the bloody internet and no pics of pickup just kinda assumed it'd work, but yeah that'd work on a different type and allow me to buy a cheapish one

[Hobzy]

My cateye wireless fits fine... this one I think:



Have a Garmin 500 now so the cateye is sat in a drawer. Beer tokens and its yours, but let me make sure I have all the bits first! I'll check tomorrow.

[Gizmoish]

GPS.

[Incorrigible]

Obvious thicky question, why are the £200 jobbies better than a smartphone (which is what I use) what's the advantage

[daddy cool]

Incorrigible said:

Obvious thicky question, why are the £200 jobbies better than a smartphone (which is what I use) what's the advantage

For a short local ride, not much.
But for a whole weekend away, with 12-15 hours riding, you need a battery that lasts longer than a few hours. And the higher spec Garmins can have full OS maps installed, rather than relying on a phone signal in the wilderness to download google maps on the run. And the fact they are waterproof and your posh phone most likely isnt (as my friend found out the hard way in wales last year). And they fit securely on the handlebars rather than having to bodge some sort of holder up.

Edited by daddy cool on Wednesday 5th February 10:19

[Engineer1]

Incorrigible said:

Obvious thicky question, why are the £200 jobbies better than a smartphone (which is what I use) what's the advantage

Also off road when and if you come a cropper your expensive glass screened phone doesn't manage to find the onbly sharp edge or drop big enough to damage it, I know my previous phone suffered 2 broken screens when it hit the only solid or sharp object in the area. Sat Navs for biking are likely to be more robust.

[megaphone]

I have the Cateye wireless jobbie, the transmitter fits fine on the inside of the front fork. I also have a Specialized unit, works fine.

[Mr Will]

Incorrigible said:

Obvious thicky question, why are the £200 jobbies better than a smartphone (which is what I use) what's the advantage

Battery life, Speed/Cadence/Heartrate/Etc sensors, Waterproof, Always-on display, Neat & Tidy on handlebars.

I used a smartphone for a long time and it was very good. But my Garmin 500 is just better. Is it £200 better? Depends what you need it for but for me it's been well worth the money. The biggest difference for me has been the removal of battery anxiety - no longer do I have to worry that near the end of a long ride I may be left without maps or the ability to make emergency calls.