Cadence sensor

[Lpoolck]

I have just bought a bryton 40 with hrm. I am looking to get a cadence sensor for it also.

Does anyone have any recommendations for ant+ ones? Or any experience with what the bryton one.

Any help/suggestions are welcome.

 

[bobones]

You'd be as well getting an ANT+ speed/cadence sensor rather than just cadence. It's more accurate than GPS plus you can use it indoors with a turbo trainer.

Decathlon do one for £16.49 - works fine

I'd also recommend the Motorola Speed/Cadence sensor which appears to be the same as the Bontrager Interchange sensor. These can be easily swapped between bikes and are a bit sturdier than the Garmin GSC10. Cost about £36. Avoid the Garmin as they are prone to breaking after a while.

 

[Lpoolck]

Thanks bobones. Some useful information that I didn't know or even consider. I take it with a duel speed/cadence sensor you can only use it as one or the other at one time.

The decathlon one looks a very good price and it also comes with a decent warranty. Half the price of others I have been looking at.

 

[Chris.IOW]

Thanks bobones. Some useful information that I didn't know or even consider. I take it with a duel speed/cadence sensor you can only use it as one or the other at one time.

.

No they do both at the same time, a magnet on the back wheel and a magnet on the crank and the sensor positioned to read both, or at least that's how the Garmin one works.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

No they do both at the same time, a magnet on the back wheel and a magnet on the crank and the sensor positioned to read both, or at least that's how the Garmin one works.

Generally they all work like that. Some though (IIRC Bryton is one of them) the bundled sensor is cadence or speed only via a switch flicked in the battery compartment.

If you want both then the decathlon sensor above is a good choice unless you care about aesthetics

 

[Lpoolck]

Thanks for all your help. I am up to speed now. I went for the Motorola one in the end as seems a bit more compact than the decathlon one and was only 3 quid more.

 

[Andrew Br]

Damn !
I wish I'd read this yesterday. I've ordered two Garmin sensors.
It never occurred to me that there would be alternatives. Doh !

.

 

[Rob3rt]

At least the Garmin sensor is compact, fairly low key and robust! Mine has lasted 3 years without so much as a change of battery, it has been thoroughly soaked plenty of times and covered in road debris! Good solid piece of kit and worth the ££ IMO.

Don't forget the after sales service from Garmin too, they are very good. They have just offered to repair/replace my Garmin Edge free of charge after the lip on the mount on the back of it snapped off yesterday, the unit is over 3 years old and well out of warranty! That sort of service is what you are paying for!

 

[bobones]

Thanks for all your help. I am up to speed now. I went for the Motorola one in the end as seems a bit more compact than the decathlon one and was only 3 quid more.

Where did you get the Motorola one for £20?

 

[bobones]

At least the Garmin sensor is compact, fairly low key and robust! Mine has lasted 3 years without so much as a change of battery, it has been thoroughly soaked plenty of times and covered in road debris! Good solid piece of kit and worth the ££ IMO.

I certainly wouldn't call it robust. I have had 2 GSC10s break within a year. Same problem: reed switch in speed arm starts working intermittently and eventually fails altogether. Plenty of other reports from other dissatisfied users. The Motorola/Bontrager sensor has the advantage that you can move it easily between bikes because it doesn't attach with cable ties (the Decathlon one is also relatively easy to move). The Decathlon one also comes with a neodymium magnet for the pedal spindle which is a much neater solution for the cadence sensor. The Decathlon one is easier to position on bikes with curvy chain stays, but I would agree that the Garmin is probably the neatest looking unit of the 3.

 

[Rob3rt]

I certainly wouldn't call it robust. I have had 2 GSC10s break within a year. Same problem: reed switch in speed arm starts working intermittently and eventually fails altogether. Plenty of other reports from other dissatisfied users. The Motorola/Bontrager sensor has the advantage that you can move it easily between bikes because it doesn't attach with cable ties (the Decathlon one is also relatively easy to move). The Decathlon one also comes with a neodynium magnet for the pedal spindle which is a much neater solution for the cadence sensor.

Like I said, my unit has been very robust, the battery lasted 3+ years, ridden about 800 miles a month, in all weathers, cleaned by placing the bike in the bath (with the wheels removed) and spraying a shower over the whole thing including the sensor, involved in numerous "incidents", took a good clouting from the wheel magnet a few times. Never missed a beat. Maybe I am one of the lucky ones, but based on my experience, I can't fault it.

Consider the volume of units sold vs those sold by other brands and then consider the relative number of complaints per unit sold. I would guess that they don't come out looking so bad when you take the number sold into account.

And if it does go wrong, Garmin aftersales is very good.

 

[TheKay]

Evans are currently doing half price on Motorola sensors:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/motorola/motoactv-speed-cadence-kit-ec033427

 

[Lpoolck]

Where did you get the Motorola one for £20?

Sorry for late reply it was from ^^^ evans. Got it yesterday. Hoping to get out tomorrow to test it out. It paired so easily with my bryton 40.