Bike computer recommendations

[hab1966]

I'm looking for suggestions for a bike computer.

For me, i want to be able to see how far and how long i've been cycling for, along with current and average speed.

My wife cycles to work and would probably use a removable computer for similar information.

We also cycle as a family, wife and 6yr daughter and for this i would like to be able to store the route and overlay onto a map (google maps?) for my daughter to look at and see where she has cycled.

I guess to achieve both of these i will need a computer with GPS so i can record the route as opposed to a magnetic/switch combo on the fork and spoke.

I'm a leisure cyclist, so not looking for Strava features. Normally cycle off road though the wife and i do the occasional 50+ mile charity rides which would be good to record. Neither would i use any Ant+ sensors.

It would be handy if the unit allowed two different accounts to use it and keep the data separate.

I always carry my phone and have considered using an app for doing all the above but i wont be able to see the real time info as i wouldn't want to mount the phone on the handlebars.

Any suggestions as to what would fit the requirements?

[lufbramatt]

Buy a cheap Cateye Velo cycle computer for a tenner for each bike so you can see speed, distance info, then run something like Strava or Wahoo fitness on your phone which can record while it's in your bag.

Cheapest way of doing what you want I think. GPS cycle computers seem to start from about £70 but obviously have Bluetooth/ANT+ connectivity for sensors you don't need.

[The_Jackal]

Lezyne, Wahoo and Garmin are your main choices.
All will do what you want well (apart from the separate accounts thing).
Just choose the one that costs the amount of money you want to spend.
Everyone will recommend a different make but they will all work well.

Just shop around online for the cheapest deals, as prices can vary.
Do you have a budget?

Edited by The_Jackal on Monday 21st May 14:38

[supersport]

lufbramatt said:

Buy a cheap Cateye Velo cycle computer for a tenner for each bike so you can see speed, distance info, then run something like Strava or Wahoo fitness on your phone which can record while it's in your bag.

Cheapest way of doing what you want I think. GPS cycle computers seem to start from about £70 but obviously have Bluetooth/ANT+ connectivity for sensors you don't need.

Cheap Cateye is the way forward although I think more like £30. I keep my phone safe in the tool kit and can easily read the display on the bars whilst riding. A nice simple in-expensive solution.

[lufbramatt]

supersport said:

Cheap Cateye is the way forward although I think more like £30. I keep my phone safe in the tool kit and can easily read the display on the bars whilst riding. A nice simple in-expensive solution.

£13

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-velo-7-function-com...

or £26 for the wireless version, useful if you have suspension:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-velo-wireless-plus-...

[hab1966]

Thanks for the advice.

Looks like a cheap and cheerful wireless bike computer for the live information and an app on my phone for route logging.

Any recommendations on an app? Im currently looking at MapMyRide and Viewranger. Any other to consider?

[anonymous-user]

Cyclemeter is an app to look at for such purposes

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/cyclemeter-cycling...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com....

[Bill]

Why not use Strava? You don't need to pay any attention to the bits you don't want and can have a totally anonymous account. I haven't tried the others apart from viewranger which didn't seem as intuitive to use.

[leyorkie]

Strava is free and it works it is the choice for most people.
You can set your results to private that only you see them. Garmin have their own recording system which is not as flexible as Strava.

[lufbramatt]

+1 just use strava

[paulrockliffe]

LEft-fieldish suggestion - get a second hand Sony Smart Watch 3 from eBay. Will cost the same as a Cateye rubbish thing, runs Android, has GPS built in so it can work with or without your phone. Runs Strava, does everything you need, and you get a very good watch out of the deal too. Mount it to the bike with a piece of pipe-lagging or foam around your handlesbars.

[supersport]

lufbramatt said:

supersport said:

Cheap Cateye is the way forward although I think more like £30. I keep my phone safe in the tool kit and can easily read the display on the bars whilst riding. A nice simple in-expensive solution.

£13

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-velo-7-function-com...

or £26 for the wireless version, useful if you have suspension:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-velo-wireless-plus-...

Should have read your post properly the first time. Had it in mind that you would be connecting the app to the computer.

So yes this is cheapest start.

[hab1966]

Going to fit a cheap wireless computer this weekend and try a couple of the apps to see which is easiest for me to use.

Thanks for all the suggetions.

[alock]

I bought one of these for less than £4 and use my old Galaxy S5 phone that was sitting in a drawer feeling sorry for itself.



It works surprisingly well without a SIM card while running Strava and OsmAnd (for navigation). There is also thousands of cycling apps to show speed, distance etc if that's your thing.

Several months in, I treated myself to a new battery. With OsmAnd configured to switch off the screen after a junction and then switch it back on 30 seconds before the next junction it would easily last a whole day of cycling.

[lufbramatt]

That Osmand app sounds really useful. Might give it a try as I have a spare IPhone 5s at home doing nothing after my wife got an upgrade.

[hab1966]

Just to update.

Over the last bank holiday i got wind of a £40 discount off Wahoo products so bought a Wahoo Element Bolt.

Only received it late this week so been having a play with it this weekend and looking at software options.