Category Archives for Bike Computer Advice

Which Bike Computer Should I Buy?

A bike computer provides data and feedback as you ride. There are different types available for the casual rider, the competitive rider, and the enthusiast. These should not be confused with fitness monitors, though some bike computers now incorporate similar features.

Primary Features to Look For

Casual Rider: the device features should include the distance you have traveled, time, and speed. It should also include the total time you spent on the bike and how far you’ve ridden.
Enthusiast Rider: the most important details are top speed, average speed, odometer statistics, and trip distance.
Competitive: you’ll want all the features mentioned above as well as power output, elevation, heart rate, and cadence.

Types of Bike Computer Sensors

There are two major types you’re going to come across, GPS and magnetic.

Magnetic sensors are comprised of a magnet connected to the wheel spoke. The spoke turns along a sensor hooked on the front fork. Magnetic bike computers have a long battery life. However, they don’t have GPS and cannot be recharged.
GPS devices have more features and data. They are more customizable and can be used on various bikes. However, they are heavier and cost more.

Bike Computer Data Transmission

There are two options, wired and wireless.

Wired magnetic sensors are affordable and lighter, and they’re easier to setup. However, swapping among bikes is not easy. Wires can also get tangled, which is a risk if you’re on a mountain bike.
Wireless types are more expensive than wired models, but they’re easier to configure and less of a hassle. Wireless GPS units are heavier than regular magnetic sensors.

Other Features to Look For

You may also want to look for these features:

Backlight: Do you like to ride at night? You’re going to need a backlight to read the data.
Battery Life: The longer the battery life, the better, of course. Magnetic sensors frequently use a CR2032 which is good for a couple of years depending on usage. GPS units can be recharged, and a single charge is usually good for 20 hours.
Screen: Bike computers may have one or multiple screens. The screen may be fixed or there may be options available.
Transferring Data: Do you want to put the data on your computer or online for record keeping and/or analysis? Then you’ll want a data transfer feature.
Compatibility: Do you plan to use the device on other bikes? Look for a bike computer that has universal compatibility or at least works with both your bikes.
Ease of Use: All those extra features are nice, but what’s the use if the device is difficult to operate?
A mount is necessary if you want to put the computer on your bike. Usually it is included with the package, but there are aftermarket mounts if you want to customize its placement on your bike.
Easy to Read: The numbers and data must be easy to read. You don’t want to have to stop when you’re riding, so large numbers are a must.

Bike Computer FAQ

Q: How accurate are bike computers?

A: GPS units are often thought to be more accurate than magnetic models, but if you can provide your tire’s size, you will get accurate results with magnetic sensors.

Q: What happens to my data when I replace or recharge the battery?

A: Your data won’t be lost, but you may need to reset the settings.

Q: Which brand is the best?

A: It depends on what you’re looking for. Rather go with a specific brand, it is better to go with one that has the features you’re looking for.

Q: Are all bike computers water resistant?

A: No, but most won’t get damaged with a bit of water splash every now and then.

Other Considerations

Apart from what we already mentioned, you also have to consider the following before buying a bike computer.

What type of rider are you? Are you new to cycling? Do you ride causally? Do you ride for competition? Are you serious about fitness? The type of rider you are is going to determine what kind of bike computer you’re going to use.
Long term consideration: Do you often upgrade your equipment? Do you see yourself content with a basic computer? Think also of your future plans when buying a bike computer.
Durability: Even the best riders aren’t immune to crashes, so look for a computer that can take hits.
Waterproof: Do you like to ride in the rain or muddy, wet terrain? If so, you’ll want a waterproof unit.
Warranty: A long, comprehensive warranty is always preferable.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a lot of features and factors you need to look into. It’s important that you delve into it, though, because it’s going to make a big difference when you use the device. The amount of time you put in the research is going to ensure that you get the right one for your bike.

What Bike Computers Do the Pros Use?

Professional riders use different types of bike computers. There is no one preferred brand. It is more about deciding which is appropriate for the moment. Pro riders don’t necessarily need to have the most data from their bike computers. For them, accuracy is the most important aspect.

If you’re a pro and looking for a quality bike computer, you may use the following criteria to guide your purchase.

What Pro Riders Look for in a Bike Computer

While pros each have features they individually consider necessary, some are almost always found on their list.

At the very least the computer must record your speed, distance you have traveled, total distance covered, average speed and total time. A clock is also handy. Pros also need to keep tabs on their top speed and how much progress they’re making.

Apart from the basic features, you also want more advanced tools like a GPS, cadence, a pulse/heart rate monitor, etc. You will find these on a lot of pro level bike computers.

Types of Bike Computers

There are many kinds of bike computers you can choose from, but the following are the most common.

Regular Bike Computer: These are computers designed for use on bikes. You mount this on your bike and it displays real time data as you ride. They are weatherproof and most are water resistant. They’re easy to mount and inexpensive. However, they can only be used on bikes.
Health Monitors: Some bikes allow you to mount a fitness watch or monitor on the handlebar. These devices are weatherproof, and they’re also versatile. The drawback with fitness monitors is they’re not as compact and they are more vulnerable to damage.
Mobile Device App: Cycling apps have lots of features. With a few taps and swipes, you’ll have access to your data. However, these devices re not waterproof and need a special mount to attach on your bike.

Between the three options, the bike computer is the best for several reasons. A smartphone app is too risky to use on your bike. You’ll need to purchase a heavy duty case, and keeping the screen and GPS on eats up a lot of battery.

More than that, mobile devices are more expensive than bike computers. If you crash your bike, you risk destroying your smartphone or tablet. The same problem applies when you use a fitness monitor. For these reasons you’ll be better off with a bike computer.

Which Pro Bike Computer is Right for You?

To answer this question, you have to consider what type of pro rider you are.

What type of data do you want to record? If you just want to record your speed, time, and distance covered, even a basic bike computer will suffice.
If you want to record everything including the smallest details, you’ll need an advanced bike computer with all the bells and whistles.
Just like with anything else, the more expensive the computer, the more features it has. However, there are now budget bike computers available.
Pro riders take their bikes on off-road adventures and rugged terrain, sometimes in rainy weather. If you belong in this category, you’ll need a heavy duty computer.
: High end bike computers provide enhanced functions, but the features vary by product. It’s up to you to decide if they’re essential.
A long battery life is essential for professional riders.
Look for a powerful backlight, data transfer, and computer compatibility if you want to study your data on a laptop.
A lightweight compact design is also ideal.

GPS or Magnetic?

Some pros use GPS and some use magnetic. Each type has its pros and cons. The gist is that magnetic sensors cost less, are easy to mount, and have long lasting batteries. GPS systems provide more customizable options and have more features. They’re also more expensive.

So which of the two is better suited for the pros? If you’re on a budget and don’t want to have to recharge batteries (magnetic sensor batteries are good for 8 to 12 months), a magnetic sensor will do.

If you want a customizable model with lots of data recording, then a GPS bike computer will be more to your liking. These are also more suitable if you want to use the device on more than one bike. However, it is possible to mount magnetic sensors on other bikes too.

Pro bike computers are almost always wireless. There are wired magnetic sensors but they’re impractical for pros to use. GPS enabled sensors are wireless by nature.

Conclusion

As we have shown here, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered if you’re going to buy a professional level bike computer. Since the pros use many types of bike computers, it is up to you to do the research and pick the right one for the situation.