cyclometer

[tgame]

Supposing that one bought a new Aggattu and since all the cables were so beautifully routed through the frame, was unwilling to fit a cyclometer that would need a cable led along the frame from wheel to meter? What would one do? Use a wireless one? Do they work? Are they reliable?

 

[flecc]

Wireless ones do work Tony, though they can suffer the odd interference failure like any radio device. Not serious though, just missed beats, but I'm personally not keen on having a regular two battery replacement situation.

In fact the cycle computer that 50cycle fitted to the Agattu that I tested was very unobtrusive. The black wire didn't show up on the headstock, and they'd neatly coiled some of the spare cable into a slim spiral to allow free steering and wound the rest round the left hand brake arm where it wasn't obvious. Since I like the Cateye Velo 8 cabled model, I'd be happy with doing an installation like that.
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[tgame]

Thanks Flecc, I'll follow your advice. I wonder if I can persuade them to fit one for me?? I'll try.

 

[Ian]

I had a wireless one that had a habit of clocking up miles while the bike was stationary, it also required switching on before use, unlike most wired ones that switch on automatically. I have also heard of others clocking up miles when mobile phones are used nearby and one case of clocking up miles while the bike was being carried on a train.

The wired type only needs a short wire up the front fork which can be discreetly routed on the inside edge of one of the legs for much of it's length so the hiding of the cable need not be an issue.

Having said that there are undoubtedly better wireless types than my example which other users may be perfectly happy with.

 

[flecc]

Thanks Flecc, I'll follow your advice. I wonder if I can persuade them to fit one for me?? I'll try.

50cycles do supply the Sigma cycle computer Tony, and will fit it free if you get one at the same time and ask them nicely.
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[tgame]

I had a wireless one that had a habit of clocking up miles while the bike was stationary, it also required switching on before use, unlike most wired ones that switch on automatically.

Thanks, Ian. I hate the idea of all that and also of changing the lower battery whose neccessity I had quite overlooked. I shall get a cabled one and the 50cycles Sigma will do nicely I'm sure as I only need to know how far I've been so as to be able to work out getting home before the battery runs out. And if they will fit it that will be great - my fingers are apt not to do as I tell them nowadays. All sorts of things start to fight back as one gets older I find!!

 

[Joe]

i have not used a cycle computer previously but intend to when i purchase an electric bicycle to monitor battery performance. so for those that have used them for a while how often are you changing the battery and have the units proved reliable?

 

[flecc]

The wired ones are very reliable in my experience Joe. Battery life seems very variable but well over a year seems the minimum, and I had the one on my Lafree go for three years.

Read out updating varies. The Cateye Velo ones seem to update very quickly, but many like the previously mentioned Sigma are slower. In other words, increase speed and the indicated speed momentarily drops before increasing to the new figure on the readout. This doesn't affect the accuracy at all though, just a slight delay in the electronics.
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[Ian]

My Velo 5 is 18 months old and still on the original battery, the other wired one I have, a cheaper "Techwell" branded one needed a new battery at 1 year old.