Separate speedo on a Bosch bike

[RobF]

I decided to fit a separate speedo on my Rose/Bosch bike to get a true reading after the dongle cuts in.

Treated myself to a wireless one from Halfords, and after the usual bike fettling faff, managed to get it fitted and working.

Or so I thought.

The new speedo reads as it should - until I turn on the Bosch display which causes the new speedo to stop working.

It has a little radio transmitter icon on the display which goes out when the Bosch system is turned on.

So it looks like the Bosch system is interfering with the radio signal.

I did wonder about that in advance, but (wrongly) concluded that because the Bosch system is hard wired all would be well.

My patience is now wearing thin, but can anyone tell me if it is worth trying a wired cycle computer/speedo?

Halfords have a basic one for around a fiver, but I don't want to go to the bother of fitting it if the same problem will happen.

 

[Hugh]

I use a Cateye Strada computer on my Haibike - no problems. Not so cheap, but it works

cateye+strada+wireless+8+function+-+rd300w | Chain Reaction Cycles

 

[tillson]

I've always used a wired speedo on my electric bike for this very reason and have never experienced any problems.

As a brand, I like Sigma. Rightly or wrongly, they seem to have the edge in terms of quality.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You shouldn't use a wireless computer on an electric bike. There's often interference that blocks it.

 

[Hugh]

That may be the case with some makes, but I've used a wireless Cateye Strada on my Haibike and my previous Kalkhoff without any problem.

 

[103Alex1]

For just a speedo a very simple one works fine. When I was testing effect of derestricting Impulse using the service unit I just fitted a wired front wheel speedo from here to compare whilst riding :

Inner Handheld Gps | Gps For Walking, Cycling And Mountain Biking | Sports Watches And Sports Computers | Buy Online

It worked absolutely fine and was about £6 on a sale offer. Come to think of it the magnet's still wired in and the holder's still on the handlebars as I never took it off ... the Impulse LCD still shows the correct speed even when the controller is changed via different wheel size parameter so no alternative speedo needed.

 

[flecc]

Wired for me every time, it's not only e-bike systems that can interfere with wireless cycle units, some powerful transmitter masts can too, how about over 90 mph indicated when passing one!

 

[Artstu]

My current Sigma bicycle computer has been very reliable, although it looks like the design has changed since I bought mine.

Or if you want to do a bit of Strava or just ride tracking a GPS bicycle computer is good, not as accurate as a wheel sensor device though with the satellite errors. Oh and they've gone up a fair bit recently for some reason.

Garmin Edge 200 - Cycle GPS | Chain Reaction Cycles

 

[RobF]

From the replies, it seems wireless computers don't work with ebikes, except when they do.

I can't justify the cost of the Sigma which might well work, so I will probably get a cheapie wired computer from Halfords.

Having gone through one fitting process, the second ought to be simpler.

Tapered bars, and particularly forks which are also an odd shape, made the last job fiddly.

The wireless sensor was about the size of a small lipstick and too big to fit easily against the fork - I'm hoping the wired one will be smaller.

Anyone want the wireless computer?

I suppose it's hardly worth anything 'secondhand', but I would rather it be in use somewhere then sitting in my bike parts drawer for years.

 

[Artstu]

I should have said, wired Sigma. I once had a wireless VDO unit and that was troublesome. On my static turbo trainer I have the sensor on the back wheel, but the wire only allows the computer to sit on the top tube near the head tube.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

That may be the case with some makes, but I've used a wireless Cateye Strada on my Haibike and my previous Kalkhoff without any problem.

The problem is that one won't know if it works until one tries it, but then, when one finds out that it doesn't work, one ends up selling it on Ebay at a big loss. Just because it worked on your bike/s, it doesn't mean that it'll work on anybody else's. It's simply not worth the risk and expense to save one wire. The Aldi and Tesco wired ones work perfectly for about £7. I can't understand why someone would want to spend £50 or more on one, especially as you can get aps for your phone that give you everything you need to know about your journey for nothing.

 

[Artstu]

I can't understand why someone would want to spend £50 or more on one, especially as you can get aps for your phone that give you everything you need to know about your journey for nothing.

Those without android phones, and even those with, the stand alone Garmins tend to be better at accurately tracing your route, I've seen some shocking GPS traces from android phones.

I also know someone with a cheap bicycle computer and it is pretty rubbish compared to my £20 Sigma, of course the cheaper one does the job, but it isn't a pleasure to operate like mine.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

No self-respecting biker should be without a decent Android phone unless your name begins with a F and ends with a C, in which case you're excused for being a luddite. People with iPhones are not excused.

 

[Croxden]

It's to hoped you don't have a pacemaker fitted.

some powerful transmitter masts can too, how about over 90 mph indicated when passing one!

 

[Artstu]

No self-respecting biker should be without a decent Android phone unless your name begins with a F and ends with a C, in which case you're excused for being a luddite. People with iPhones are not excused.

I'm a luddite too then. Not sure why a cyclist needs an Android phone though?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Not sure why a cyclist needs an Android phone though?

To listen to the Test Match as you amble through the rolling countryside, while you study the cycle routes on the display for the prettiest routes, and you log all the data so that you can analyse and compare it later. Yes, and you can take beautiful pictures of all the nice bits to share with others. When you stop for a pint with your buddies and you can't remember the name of the waker on Xfactor that should've got voted off, you can look it up. Plus, you can check whether your lottery ticket numbers came up so that you can get that new EZee Torque bike that you've always dreamed of. Half hour after the pub stop, you notice that one of your buddies is missing, so you use the"Find Friends" ap to pinpoint his position within a couple of meters. Once you get going again, you start arguing about how steep the hill is, so you open up your clinometer ap to settle it. Of course, if there's an emergency at home, like "Where did you leave the car keys?", you can tell her where she left them to alleviate her panic. If anything goes wrong with your bike, you can use the bike maintenance ap to find out how to fix it, or you can jump on to Pedelecs forum for live help, especially if it's a fault with your electrics. You could even start a Skype video session to show what your problem is. If you're worried about the hoodies next door ransacking your home while you're away, you can have a look at your IP cameras to confirm, and then ring the police to get your stuff back and get the toe-rags locked away. Then you remember that new wheel-set that you were bidding for on Ebay, so you get your bid in at the last moment and win it at a nice low price.

How can anybody manage without one?

 

[Artstu]

Hmm I was a bit like this with PC's, very slow to get one, now I couldn't imagine life without one. I'll carry on resisting the fancy phones for the time being

 

[tillson]

App based cycle computers may be alright for leisure cyclists or sports cyclist, but commuters don't wont to be fannying about opening apps, waiting for a GPS fix and then pressing the start button before setting off. I need something which works without any intervention from me.

I have always used Sigma wired cycle computers. Their cases seem to be robust, they start up automatically when you set off and they are reliable too, not suffering from interference as the wireless ones do.

I like technology and gadgets, but on occasions, a return to a basic low tech approach is the most effective solution. A bike speedo is one if those occasions.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I think we're in agreement then. I said you should get a basic cycle computer for the basic things, and use a smartphone for the additional complicated stuff rather than spend a lot of money on an all-singing all-dancing expensive cycle computer.

 

[Artstu]

I think we're in agreement then. I said you should get a basic cycle computer for the basic things, and use a smartphone for the additional complicated stuff rather than spend a lot of money on an all-singing all-dancing expensive cycle computer.

I guess so, as I said my Garmin edge 200 is good for reviewing rides and more accurate more of the time than some smart phones, but I really like the simplicity and exact accuracy of my Sigma BC 1009.