Bike computer downgrade
Sep. 20th, 2008 07:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
johnridleyIn March of 2007 I switched to a Sigma 1606L computer. The idea was to monitor my cadence, since the theory goes you should be pedaling at 90+ RPM to maximize your muscle's output and minimize strain on joints, etc. I put it on and over the course of the next week determined that I naturally pedal over 90 anyway, and my average is about 98 RPM, with peaks to about 105. I haven't paid any attention to cadence since then.
I decided that I actually like the Planet Bike computer I used to have, so I put it back on today. It took me about 2 weeks to locate the mount, sensor and the computer body itself, they were all over the place. Lots of stuff is turning up as I slowly get through boxes of crud spread all over.
It turned out that one of the wires had gotten quite frayed before and the sensor was cracked, and the frayed wire corroded enough to break. So I cut the sensor off an ancient old Meijer $10 computer and frankensteined that onto the PB computer, sealed it up with liquid electrical tape (which was getting thick, I had to cut it with acetone to make it usable again) and transferred the odometer to the PB. I did forget to read off the wheel circumference from the Sigma before it lost power, so I guessed a value. I'll have to take a few mile spin with the GPS on the handlebar to recalibrate.
The PB is definitely nicer for all that it's a "less sophisticated" unit. The main display shows speed, ride time, ride distance, temperature and current time, all at once. What else could you want? This is a Protege 9.0. I think I'd go for the 8.0 or even 5.0 if I bought again. The 8.0 lacks temperature, the 5.0 lacks the ability to track 2 bikes, and lacks average speed and maximum speed. I occasionally glance at average speed but I honestly don't care that much, and it's easy enough to calculate given ride time and distance. The 5.0 is $16.
I just like "simple and tells me all I want to know without fiddling with buttons."
Also you the PB is a little easier and faster to reset.
For the record, the odometer is 15156 miles. Hey, if I switch to kilometers I'm almost to 25K!
I decided that I actually like the Planet Bike computer I used to have, so I put it back on today. It took me about 2 weeks to locate the mount, sensor and the computer body itself, they were all over the place. Lots of stuff is turning up as I slowly get through boxes of crud spread all over.
It turned out that one of the wires had gotten quite frayed before and the sensor was cracked, and the frayed wire corroded enough to break. So I cut the sensor off an ancient old Meijer $10 computer and frankensteined that onto the PB computer, sealed it up with liquid electrical tape (which was getting thick, I had to cut it with acetone to make it usable again) and transferred the odometer to the PB. I did forget to read off the wheel circumference from the Sigma before it lost power, so I guessed a value. I'll have to take a few mile spin with the GPS on the handlebar to recalibrate.
The PB is definitely nicer for all that it's a "less sophisticated" unit. The main display shows speed, ride time, ride distance, temperature and current time, all at once. What else could you want? This is a Protege 9.0. I think I'd go for the 8.0 or even 5.0 if I bought again. The 8.0 lacks temperature, the 5.0 lacks the ability to track 2 bikes, and lacks average speed and maximum speed. I occasionally glance at average speed but I honestly don't care that much, and it's easy enough to calculate given ride time and distance. The 5.0 is $16.
I just like "simple and tells me all I want to know without fiddling with buttons."
Also you the PB is a little easier and faster to reset.
For the record, the odometer is 15156 miles. Hey, if I switch to kilometers I'm almost to 25K!
