Bike Computers
A Bike computer is an accessory used to calculate and display information about your ride. The main component of the bike computer is called a head unit. The head unit is a miniature computer with a digital display that attaches to the handlebar or stem of your bike so you can easily read information on the screen while riding along, not unlike looking at the dashboard while driving your car.
For recreational cyclists the basic cycle computers provide you with information similar to that of most motor vehicles. Current speed, trip distance, total distance traveled, a stop watch and the current time. While these features cover the basics, if you are riding for fitness more than fun then you'll find it handy to have a few extra functions and additional information at your disposal. Average speed, cadence and heart rate are the most sought after functions for cyclists looking to improve their fitness levels and better measure their progress. If you ride at night a lot then consider choosing a model that has a back light function so you see your screen in the dark.
If you're really serious about your cycling or just like having the latest and greatest gadgets, high tech bike computers have functions like altitude, the incline you are riding up, temperature, power output and GPS navigation and when you get home from your ride you can download all of the information gathered from your ride into your laptop! These programs typically supply you with a diagrammatic breakdown of your ride, which can be good or bad depending on how you think you went. Sigma and Garman are two manufacturers that offer a range of downloadable cycle computers.
The display head is manufactured with a built in LCD display which can show one or more values at a time. Some bike computers only display one function at a time, these tend to be a bit frustrating as you have to keep pressing the scan button to see different functions. Better quality models will display multiple functions at the same time so you can have the functions that most interest you on the screen at the same time and then occasionally scan through the rest if you want to check other information. The integrated buttons also enable you to edit, save and reset information in the computer.
Finally you will need to decide if you want a cordless computer or a standard one. Most people now choose cordless models as they are a lot easier to set up and there are no cables attached to your bike. Cables on the standard models get in the way when you are cleaning your bike and they tend to look messy! Both types use sensors and magnets that attach to your bike and transmit information to the head unit. The data transmission is done through the wires or as a digital signal similar to the Bluetooth system.
