Cycle computer recommendations, please

[Kermit power]

I'd like something which will measure speed, cadence and heart rate as a minimum, and which will allow me to download this to my PC.

GPS to record the route would be nice, but not essential, depending on how much difference it makes to price.

I'd like to be able to use it on more than one bike without too much hassle - ideally sensors on each, then just choose the profile for the bike on the computer.

[johnxjsc1985]

Just be careful I had a Cateye Comp sometime ago that did everything and was downloadable but the screen was so small you couldnt see the detail when you were racing the display was too small.

[Kermit power]

johnxjsc1985 said:

Just be careful I had a Cateye Comp sometime ago that did everything and was downloadable but the screen was so small you couldnt see the detail when you were racing the display was too small.

Fear not, I won't be racing. Just trying to get fit!

[Kermit power]

The Garmin Edge 500 seems to be hugely well rated on Wiggle. Anyone on here use one?

[robpearson]

I'm a big fan of the edge 500. I also have an edge 800, and for road use the 500 is much better, menus are better laid out, screen is easier to read, and the battery lasts longer, although it's nothing compared to the many months you get out of a non-gps bike computer. I do need to sell the 500 to recoup some of the cost of the 800 if you are interested? I kept all the new sensors etc for the 800 boxed so they are as new... Alternatively, if you don't need gps, you could look at the suunto t3c and up as they have much easier to use training software being designed more around the fitness market.

[johnxjsc1985]

Garmin are quality products I also have them on my boat.

[Kermit power]

robpearson said:

I'm a big fan of the edge 500. I also have an edge 800, and for road use the 500 is much better, menus are better laid out, screen is easier to read, and the battery lasts longer, although it's nothing compared to the many months you get out of a non-gps bike computer. I do need to sell the 500 to recoup some of the cost of the 800 if you are interested? I kept all the new sensors etc for the 800 boxed so they are as new... Alternatively, if you don't need gps, you could look at the suunto t3c and up as they have much easier to use training software being designed more around the fitness market.

If you've still got it in August, then I'll give you a shout - this is going to be a birthday present...

[a boardman]

wiggle have a 20% sale on Training Electrical goods at the moment for the next 34 hours

[neenaw]

I just got an Edge 500 this week to replace my Forerunner watch and Cateye computer.

So far I've found it to be a pretty impressive piece of kit, the only problem was getting some spurious readings from the wheel speed sensor but it was because I didn't have it set up correctly. There seems to be some pretty good deals about on them if you Google it.

[robpearson]

Kermit power said:

robpearson said:

I'm a big fan of the edge 500. I also have an edge 800, and for road use the 500 is much better, menus are better laid out, screen is easier to read, and the battery lasts longer, although it's nothing compared to the many months you get out of a non-gps bike computer. I do need to sell the 500 to recoup some of the cost of the 800 if you are interested? I kept all the new sensors etc for the 800 boxed so they are as new... Alternatively, if you don't need gps, you could look at the suunto t3c and up as they have much easier to use training software being designed more around the fitness market.

If you've still got it in August, then I'll give you a shout - this is going to be a birthday present...

I have offered it to one of the guys I ride with regularly, but if he doesn't get back to me, you are top of the list

[Raoul Duke]

Another +1 for the edge 500, had mine for over a year now and remain very impressed with it.
Use it all year, night and day - you can set the back light to remain on permanently during the winter months and still not drain the battery over the course of a ride.

[robpearson]

Afraid my edge 500 has gone to the guy I ride with. Just got to work out how to reset it now...

[Rocksteadyeddie]

This is getting boring. Another one for the Edge 500. The only downside is the £150 odd price. Other than that it's bang on the money.

[Parrot of Doom]

If you have an Android or iPhone there are plenty of apps to do this. I'm not sure about cadence, but my phone records GPS and heartrate (using a Zephyr Hxm heart rate monitor).

See:

http://www.sportstracklive.com/track/map#parrotofd...

[Kermit power]

Parrot of Doom said:

If you have an Android or iPhone there are plenty of apps to do this. I'm not sure about cadence, but my phone records GPS and heartrate (using a Zephyr Hxm heart rate monitor).

See:

http://www.sportstracklive.com/track/map#parrotofd...

I currently use Endomondo on my Blackberry which is fine, but to get to where I want to be, I'd need to buy a waterproof case & handlebar mount (around £25), an HRM strap (around £70?) and then a separate cadence computer (£40+ ?), so by the time I've done all of that, I'm not a million miles off the cost of the Edge 500, and I have an extra device on the bars.

[Parrot of Doom]

Kermit power said:

I currently use Endomondo on my Blackberry which is fine, but to get to where I want to be, I'd need to buy a waterproof case & handlebar mount (around £25), an HRM strap (around £70?) and then a separate cadence computer (£40+ ?), so by the time I've done all of that, I'm not a million miles off the cost of the Edge 500, and I have an extra device on the bars.

I don't have a waterproof case, just the cloth sleeve the phone came with. It lives in my back pocket. The HRM cost about £70, you're right there, although it's worth noting that you don't just have to use it for cycling - you can use it for any sport bar swimming (actually I don't know, it may be waterproof).

Another plus is that eventually the Edge 500 will be superseded by something shinier. But of course, you'll probably upgrade your phone at some point anyway, so it's one less thing to buy.

[Mr Gear]

I have a Garmin Edge 800. It is absolutely first rate, but it costs big ££££££££££££££££

[Kermit power]

Parrot of Doom said:

I don't have a waterproof case, just the cloth sleeve the phone came with. It lives in my back pocket. The HRM cost about £70, you're right there, although it's worth noting that you don't just have to use it for cycling - you can use it for any sport bar swimming (actually I don't know, it may be waterproof).

This would be fine if I didn't want cadence, but I do, and for that (and speed) to be of any use, it needs to be bar mounted, hence including those costs.

Parrot of Doom said:

Another plus is that eventually the Edge 500 will be superseded by something shinier. But of course, you'll probably upgrade your phone at some point anyway, so it's one less thing to buy.

Upgrading is a very good point, and not one I'd really considered. If the Edge 500 gives me route tracking, cadence, heart rate and everything else I'm after (and it sounds like it does), then I won't have any reason to replace it unless it breaks.

Doing it on my phone, on the other hand, means that it will be replaced on a fairly regular basis (it's a work phone, so I get what I've given, when I'm given it), and then I have to go through the potential pain of replacing the bar mount, waterproof cover and HRM if they're not compatible with the new one. Decision is now definite then - Edge 500 it is!

[Kermit power]

Well, my birthday finally came around, so I got home from work today to find my nice, shiny new Garmin Edge 800 with HRM, cadence meter and UK-wide OS maps waiting for me.

Definitely a project for the weekend to get this set up!

I'm slightly surprised to find that the cadence meter also doubles up as a speedo. Is this more accurate than the GPS? Or is it maybe just more responsive to quick changes in speed?

There is an automatic option on it to calculate wheel circumference from GPS data rather than putting it in yourself.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Kermit power said:

Is this more accurate than the GPS?

Yes as it doesn't lose the signal.

Kermit power said:

Or is it maybe just more responsive to quick changes in speed?

And yes

Kermit power said:

There is an automatic option on it to calculate wheel circumference from GPS data rather than putting it in yourself.

This works fine.

It's a good bit of kit. Enjoy it.