Cycling UK Forum

I am looking at purchasing a reliable cycle computer which tells me my current speed, trip distance, total miles etc. I am not bothered about cadence and stuff like that. I purchased a cycle computer from Aldi about two years ago and fitted it to my bike, it worked absolutely fine until I got caught in a very heavy downpour on the way home, to my dismay when I looked at the screen it was completely blank, so I removed the battery covers left them to dry out replaced them but no sign of life. I put this down to bad luck and once again a year later when I was in Aldi I noticed their computers reduced so I took a gamble and purchased another. I forgot about it and finally fitted it a couple of days ago. When I tried to use it the screen worked fine but it the sensor appeared to not be working, so I replaced the battery , still no luck. Of course its to late to return it now, lessons to learn on my part, so I will put this down to experience.

So if you could recommend a decent model which will work and not turn its toes up at the first sign of real rain i would be most appreciative, I dont mind paying for decent one

Sigma.I have five in service all are the cheap low end wired type either BC600,800.
The oldest one is almost ten years old,they used in all weathers and temperatures,other than battery changes no problems to report.

EDIT:- It seems I'm a bit behind the times,which isn't unusual for me .The new range is here:- http://www.sigmasport.de/en/produkte/bi ... t=zubehoer

I'm heartened that the fitting kit is the same as my older models,which,incidentally is the same as Aldi cycle computers.

Just been looking at Sigma computers, they look ideal, there is quite a difference in wired and wireless. Are the wired easy to fit and is there any difference in performance between the two?

I have used Sigma wireless computers in the past and while they are good it can be expensive for batteries, I don't know if they have changed but they used to require three. I now use Cateye, I have a wired and a wireless, very simple to use. The Velo5 is a nice simple one or the Velo8 if you need average speed http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye/cycle-computers/

When I had my first Cateye wireless I thought the receiver on the bars was missing as I only had a normal bar mount, then I RTFM and found that the receiver is actually in the computer unit so less batteries are needed. Wired can be more reliable with sending the data to the head unit but routing the cable tidily can be challenging. My best solution was when I had a Sigma stem mount and routed the cable down the steerer tube to the wheel.

Halfords get a bad press but their 5 and 12 function computers are pretty good value and reliable.

My Cateye Micro wired computer is 20 years old and goes out in all weathers. No problems, although I need to clean the contacts every couple of years. Of course, that model is no longer available.

That's the problem. We don't know if a bit of kit is reliable until it's a few years old. By that time, it's no longer made.

BryterLayter wrote:Just been looking at Sigma computers, they look ideal, there is quite a difference in wired and wireless. Are the wired easy to fit and is there any difference in performance between the two?

Dunno,after hearing numerous complaints from people with wireles computers,re battries and interference, I decided long ago to stick with wired.They may have come on a bit recently but until my wired ones give up the ghost I'll plod on with them as they do everything I ask of a computer.
BTW battery life is amazing with mine,years go by without a problem and if a battery is needed they're CR2032,as common as muck!

True. Pity Cateye stopped making the Mity3, most reliable computer I've had since the Avocet disappeared.

Another vote for Sigma here. I've been using them for about 15 years or more. Currently have wired 906's on all 3 bikes and 2 of my wife's bikes as well. They are all the wired version. I find the batteries last about 3 years. A single CR2032 cell, cheap and easy to replace.They are relaible and easy to read. Can be mounted on the stem or the handlebars and you can also get rear wheel sensors. They also have nice big numbers, good for those like me whose eyesight isn't as good as it once was. Easy to fit - you get several different sized O rings, one to hold the computer to the bars, another to hold the sensor to the fork and a spare one.

Mine do occasionally stop working in a torrential downpour, but work fine again once it dries out a bit (I think I've only had this twice). I was out in the rain this morning and the computer worked fine all the way.

I would go back to Aldi next time they are in and buy 2/3 models. Quite honestly have paid more and had worse life out of fancier named computers. The price of the Aldi ones it is almost not worth replacing the battery, just replace whole unit.
Not had one affected specifically by a downpour, but have had some very poor life out of cateye's etc., over the years.

I have a Cateye Micro Wireless that has performed fine for several thousand miles. Battery life seems fine - and it has a warning anyway so you shouldn't get caught out, - with CR2032 batteries being widely available. My run around bike has a Halfords basic model which has also worked without trouble over many hundreds if not a few thousand miles. I'd happily recommend that, although the specific model is no longer available. On the Cateye you can set the odo mileage when changing the battery, something that unfortunately the Halfords, and probably most cheaper computers don't have.

Another vote for Sigma wired form me. I have four and have never had any problem other than breaking the buttons on one when off the bike (My fault) The one on my work bike is four years old and stays outside during the day, so it's seen plenty of rain. I like the fact that the fitting kit has remained unchanged for at least a decade, the computer fits with a firm click and the mount is easy to turn if you want it mounted on the stem. I've never seen the point of wireless for basic functions, you swap a bit of thin wire for big sending a receiving units, even on aesthetic grounds I prefer wired, that's before you consider reliability and battery usage.
Of the current models -
BC509 does everything you ask, but doesn't have average speed. Once it's set up it has a simple one button operation.
BC1009 has quite a few more features you might not require, it's the most basic model with average speed. But the operation is more complicated than the 509.

Thanks for the responses, I think I am going for the basic sigma wired model which will provide everything I require