I am looking for some recommendations for a new computer for the bikes. I currently have a Cateye Double Wireless but since dropping the cockpit of the TT bike a bit I am receiving a great deal of interference from my HR monitor strap (Polar). I am unable to track my speed, cadence or time because of this.
I would like the following features:
Prefer Wireless
Prefer rear wheel pickup for speed and cadence
Be able to display current speed, current cadence, and time riding at the same time
Dual wheel setup, multiple bike setups (with additional mounting kit)
I would like to also integrate my HR function as well so it would have to be compatible with my current Polar watch.
I’ve been using mine for about 6 months and love it. It accomplishes everything your looking for and about 10,000 other things. The interface is surprisingly easy to work with. I was skeptical about the GPS reception but it has proven to be very reliable for me.
Polar CS200cad fits some of those things, but be warned that I’ve found the cadence sensor to be inconsistent at best. Six months of fiddling with it, including sending it back to Polar because I figured it must be defective, and it still doesn’t work a good percentage of the time.
also, I don’t think it can display riding time at the same time as speed and cadence. Cadence, if it works, HR and distance are always on, but you have to choose between time and speed. There might be a trick I don’t know that will work that out.
Also, you can’t put the speed sensor on the rear wheel - the wireless range isn’t long enough.
I’ve been using mine for about 6 months and love it. It accomplishes everything your looking for and about 10,000 other things. The interface is surprisingly easy to work with. I was skeptical about the GPS reception but it has proven to be very reliable for me.
Good luck,
Travis
Ditto to Travis comments. Had mine for about a year and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
dont buy a garmin 305. it is the biggest piece of shit i have ever seen. software is vintage 1981, and is completely worthless for the average and above rider. the cadence optional piece lasted 3 weeks before it wouldn’t work anymore…threw it away after repalcing batteries,etc. garmin support people are extremely incompendent and completely in denial about all the problems people have had with this piece of junk. check the cycling forum is you want more horror stories about the 305.
Let’s see…I’ve got the cadence unit on my road bike, TT bike and my mountain bike. The only thing I have done in the last year is replace the batteries once in each of the cadence units. Never a hiccup period.
Unit gives you more information than most people know what to do with…I guess I’m not an average or above rider as the provided software combined with the Motion Based program let’s you do a friggin ton with the data.
I’m unsure as to compatability with the Polar straps but it does require you to scan for the strap so it may indeed work. The only issue that I can think of is that you can’t have an additional cadence unit anywhere near the one you are scanning for to make it work. Example was I had the battery go dead on the TT bike and was replacing it in the basement where the other bikes were stored. Error message that said multiple units in scan area…took it to the garage and no problems.
I do see one potential problem if you plan to use if for a full IM and that is battery life…claimed 12 hours but that is really pushing it.