Bike computers add an interesting extra dimension to cycling. In their simplest form they tell you your speed and the distance you have travelled. The more complicated ones will give you much more information such as your pedal revolutions. They can be useful for improving performance or simply for curiosity sake to see how many miles you have covered this week or whether one route is shorter than another.
Plus it’s a lot of fun to keep beating your highest speed!
As with all our other guides I’ll take you through what things to look for in a good bike computer and then I’ll pick out some of the latest and greatest bike computers that are well regarded.
What to look for
Ease of use – many come with just one button but often that can make it tougher to use. Other things to look for include well sized and designed buttons so you can quickly tap them while you are cycling. Keep in mind that if you are wearing cycling gloves the buttons will be harder to press.
Setup process – Often where bike computers stumble is in the setup process when you need to input your wheel size for accurate calculations.
Wired vs. wireless – a lot of the newer bike computers are now wireless. This makes them slightly more expensive but is usually worth it for simplicity. Avoid the cheapest wireless ones as the accuracy is likely to not be very good.
Mount – It should be possible to very quickly remove the bike computer when you reach your destination. Also the mount should be easy to fit and not wobble whilst cycling.
Display – You want a clear display so you can check stats without taking your eyes off the road for too long. The larger screens usually mean you can fit in more statistics which is a bonus.
Functions – Checkout the list of functions to see if it provides you with the statistics you need. Ask yourself which ones you are genuinely interested in.
Well recommended bike computers
Sigma BC 906 (Under £20)
At the entry level there is a lot of competition but the Sigma BC wins out thanks to its clear display, accuracy and good range of basic functions. It is wired so you will need to securely strap down the wire so it doesn’t cause problems. On the plus side this means there isn’t any interference with other similar devices. The only problem that really plagues this device is the difficult instructions that make the initial programming tough. Once you manage to battle through that though this is a reliable little device that will serve you well.
Cateye Strada Wireless Cycle Computer (£40)
Towards the higher end of the bike computer scales is the CatEye Strada. You’ll fall in love with the nice slim design, the ease of use and the big clear screen. Rather than fiddly buttons you simply press the body of the computer towards the base of it. This ends up working really well, even with cycling gloves on. The setup process has been well thought out and is easy to do. On the downside the lack of backlight means in the dark it is tough to read the display. Whilst the list of functions will be perfect for most, more advanced riders may be looking for more.
Knog N.E.R.D 12 function wireless (£45)
This is likely to be the easiest bike computer you will ever use. The simplicity begins at the installation stage. Thanks to the silicon casing it takes no time whatsoever to attach to the handlebars. Setting the computer up involves a quick input of your wheel size and you are good to go. In terms of operation you simply press down on the entire unit to change to the next screen. There is a clear display and you even get a graph comparing your current and average speed. The Knog is a little on the pricey side but no doubt its simplicity will appeal to many.
I had the Knog Nerd on my last bike before it was stolen – excellent piece of kit despite price.
Thanks for giving it the thumbs up Joby. Unfortunately a lot of people get bike computers nicked
Ah no – my bike got nicked from my garden and my Nerd was still on it. An enclosed garden… And I left it 10 minutes…
Robbing sods.
But I did get a Garmin Edge 705 out of it.
Tsk tsk the lengths some people will go to is insane! Hows the Garmin treating you?
Mmm.
I love the equipment. Its very useful – has improved my cycling no end as I always have recorded heart rate, calories (inaccurate of course), mileage and time.
Shame the GPS is poor – google maps on the iphone is much better… but that sucks battery life.
Oh to be a cyclist 🙂
It’s true no-one seems to have nailed the “GPS for cyclists” thing. What I tend to do on the iPhone with gmaps is turn off 3G, wifi and put the brightness right down. I find then it usually lasts me a lot longer still not long enough for some of the rides. I’m half tempted to get myself one of those solar re-chargers if only they were a bit cheaper.
Andreas,
You should try one of these units from energizer. Prices start from around £20 on Amazon.
It comes with Cell Phone adaptors for Nokia, Mini USB, Micro USB and there’s an iPhone Charging cable.
Energizer® XP2000
The Energizer® XP2000 rechargeable ultra slim portable charger is guaranteed to provide smart phones up to 1 full charge, and cell phones up to 3 full charges! Great for music or portable gaming devices too.
Easy to Use Just plug it in for instant power
Stay Charged Maintains charge for up to 1 year
Green Energy Star certified with full charge auto shut off
Lightweight No more bulky AC adapters and messy cords
Rechargeable up to 500 times
Reliable Longest industry 3 year limited warranty
http://www.energizerpowerpacks.com/us/products/xp2000/
Isn’t there some sort of charger on the cards that charges whilst you cycle? Can’t remember the technical term for it, but am sure I’ve read it somewhere.
I’d be loving that – as I have Tom Tom on the iphone and thats perfect but Google Maps comes a close second.
Perhaps thats whats needed – thats the killer app?
Perhaps, I think you are thinking of that Dahon one that will charge your iPhone as you cycle dynamo style. Pretty good idea
Have used the Sigma BC 906 for quite a while now, including a long bumpy canal-side ride and it looks pretty stable – it’s got one big button on the front to cycle between all the functions, so it’s very easy to press even while wearing cycling gloves.
I got a Cateye Strada (Wired version which saved a few quid). its very good and easy to use.
One good point is the mount on the handelbars is so stiff that you can’t get it off without spending ages. So I normally leave it on knowing that someone will probably give up before getting it off.
I finally replaced my old sigma which had done 10 years when I got to work one day and it gave my top speed for the trip across London as 99.4MPH.
ive just ordered my cat eye strada.
I was wondering though, can you fit the sensors to the back wheel, rather than the front, as i have some hefty forks to contend with.
Cheers.
can’t see why not but it depends on the wireless strength doesnt it, plus suitable mounting point.
I wear a pair of Specialized Elite road shoes, love the ratchet system, I have an old pair of Shimano something or other rather worn and very much in need of a new pair……
I’m a fan of BUTTONS on a bike computer rather than a touchscreen. I’ve used a fair few bike computers over the last couple of years and my two stand out favourites are the Polar M450 and the Garmin Edge 25. Both are GPS style bike computers, both support pedal cadence and heart rate sensors and both have traditional buttons. As standard each comes with a stem or handlebar mounted 1/4 turn bracket. However, they each have a nice OUT FRONT mount available as an accessory if you want easier viewing when on your drops.
Garmin Edge 25 for ease of use, functionality, size (tiny case but relatively large display due to design) & battery life (real world 6 hours usage)
Polar M450 for customised display settings, 1,2,3 or 4 data lines per screen and excellent post ride feedback via Polar Flow app / website
Note – Polar have just released the new M460 with Live Strava Segments so it’s probable the M450 price will tumble over the next month or two … if you’re not bothered with Strava Live segments, it’s a great unit (the M450)
First, since nothing on this page seems to actually list it, these are the “9 functions”:
– Total distance (odometer)
– Total time
– Trip distance
– Trip time
– Average speed
– Maximum speed
– Clock
– Current speed
– Comparison of average and current speed
If you’re comparing this with the BC1106 11-function computer and getting confused, the two extra “functions” are total distance and total time for a second bike. The BC1606 adds sectional trip distances, a backlight, and cadence measurements. See this page for comparing the rest: […]
Overall, it does what it’s supposed to and does it well. The numbers are big enough so that they’re easy to read on a quick downward glance, and the adjustable-contrast LCD display remains readable in a variety of lighting conditions. There are three buttons, which actually makes the computer more intuitive. Upper left is “Set”, upper right is “Reset”, and the entire bottom of the device is “Mode”. You should only ever need to use the big “Mode” button while riding.
P.S. Note to other reviewers: all bike computers are “difficult to install”. That’s why you only have to install them once. Like all other cyclocomputers, you’ll spend at least 20 minutes trying to loop the wire just right, figure out how each piece actually attaches together, and setting up the computer for your wheel size.