Anecdote: I did a race yesterday using my new bike. So new that I hadn’t had time to hook up a computer for it. So instead of watching the digital readout I motored along under perceived exertion. And the world didn’t end. I can certainly see the point of using a computer for training, but why exactly do we need/want a computer for a race? And yet we all do it. Wouldn’t it just put pressure on you to hit a speed number?
I’d be very interested to hear opinions on this.
I think that truly racing as a luddite would require you to destroy your bike computer (and maybe your new, technologically sophisticated bike!)
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If you can see the use of a computer in training, I’m not sure why you can’t see the same use for it in a race.
And what’s wrong, necessarily, with pressure to hit a given speed?
I don’t currently have a bike computer mounted- I throw my Garmin in my jersey pocket when I leave for a ride, and check it when I get back for distance and time. But when I did have a computer mounted, I used it primarily- almost exclusively- to monitor my cadence. Could certainly be used for that purpose in a race. It could also be used legitimately to determine speed or distance in a race.
Do you need it? No. Can it be useful? Sure. Both in training and in racing.
(With regards to racing by perceived exertion: I think that’s a good method for short races, but once you get past the sprint distance you need more and more experience to make that work. I think not a whole lot of people racing IM distance, for example, would be well served by a perceived exertion pacing scheme.)
I raced Eagleman this year without a computer and had one of my best bike splits ever. Having said that, it would have been nice to have an odometer for executing my nutrition plan. Not such a big deal in this race because course was marked every five miles, but there are plenty of courses out there where you might run into some trouble without a computer.
it’s nice to know how far you’ve gone on the bike. mph isn’t always all that useful, if you’ve got a good sense of what’s in the tank. but to know how quickly to spend what you have left in the tank it’s nice to know how much farther you have to go.
i raced devilman w/out a watch, but w/a bike computer. it went fine. it wasn’t my a race, though. the watchless thing was a last-minute decision, and i wasn’t going to yank the computer off my bike.
Remember that situation is different on race day, more adreanline, pumped up, whatever it may be. The numbers will be different on race day. And the numbers could go both ways, there are alot of external factors as well. You’re racing with hundreds of people, trouble in the swim, crowding on the bike, slow transition areas, all these can have an effect on your race, which could be reflected in numbers on that little thing mounted on your handlebar.
Bottom line IMO, training is not racing. Using computers for training is a great way track your training/progress. You need to trust yourself on race day, you know what your body is capable of.
I don’t use a computer on race days, if I am feeling good, I step it up.
Dang… and I thought that there was going to be a pic. 
I even choose to use a cadence count. Although, without looking, I could tell you within a few rpms what cadence I am spinning, when I hit a constant speed at a given effort, I’ll watch the cadence and try to “relax into” another rpm or two. By that, I mean, I try to expend less energy fighting the cranks or the wind or the position, and see if I can be more relaxed in order to be more efficient. MPH isn’t sensitive enough, as an rpm or two, or three or four, doesn’t necessarily result in a change of MPH. However, there are times when a battery is dead or something, and I do like to ride with just PE. I probably don’t do any better or worse with a computer, it’s something to keep my mind busy. Although during a race, I use the computer to determine if I’m going more than about 30 mph, I have a rule to rarely pedal, unless it’s to hold momentum to hit the upcoming roller hard. Why 30? It’s a WAG as to when it costs me more energy than it’s worth due to wind resistance. Heck, I know several people that can hold over 30 mph for at least 10 miles, so, with my strategy, I’ll never get as fast as they are. Actually, it’s not my strategy that will keep me from going that fast…it’s my training/genetics!
And yet we all do it.
not sure about that. i don’t use a computer for racing or training. sometimes i use a watch for training, but i never wear one racing.
Most of the time, I don’t have a computer on when I race. I just go by PE and every time I’ve done that, I’ve set a PR. However, my race yesterday, I was trying something different and the HRM was very valuable. I usually hammer the bike and have a crappy run that just feels like my legs are going to explode. Yesterday, I used the HRM to keep my HR on the bike slightly lower to make sure that I dialed it back just a bit. I then went out and ran 7:09 miles for a 3 mile run which for me is freaking blazing and I felt awesome the entire run. Oh, I haven’t had a bike computer since I did IMFL last year. I’m actually going to put it back on this weekend though. It is fun to mix up and every once in awhile have a race without a bike computer or an HRM.