Whatever happened

[tyred]

The only thing I really want to know is how far have I travelled. The rest is irrelevant nonsense. I'm not racing anyone.

 

[totallyfixed]

Nothing against cycle computers, it's when it goes beyond that, I suppose the phrase "all the gear and no idea" sometimes comes to mind. Somewhat ironically I was watching the torch relay come through Oakham today, my bike gets knocked over and I realise later that my computer must have got knocked off, no use to anyone else so hopefully it will be handed in.

 

[buddha]

My cycling has been more enjoyable since not fitting the computer back after its last service. Probably safer too, as I was always trying to beat the latest top speed etc. I don't even use a watch, and my phone is in the saddebag - switched off.
In any case, I can't use the bike-computer on the bike now, as the reed switch + magnet are fitted to my turbo/exercise bike, and to the laptop via an old xbox controller. And with a few lines of javascript on a suitable browser I can ride anywhere in the world! - Well, only virtually on google maps, that is.

 

[MrJamie]

I like to think of it as different kinds of rides to keep it interesting...

Sometimes im just out for a fitness ride and I like to use a route I know is optimised to avoid bad roads/junctions and race my previous bests or strava segments, or go hill hunting.
Sometimes (usually in good weather) ill go for a more scenic route on different roads and get lost.
Sometimes its a utility ride to go to a shop or visit someone.
Sometimes I take my nephew out for a short slow ride.

I always keep the rides logged on my phone because im a numbers geek, but each kind of riding is different and keeps it interesting.

 

[Andrew_P]

My cycling life would be so empty without Strava confirming how old and inept I am

 

[growingvegetables]

I would be a bit lost without my cycle computer - tells me how far I've gone and it gives me the time. All I need it for since I don't wear a watch, don't have a mobile phone, and that wonderful tradition of public clocks is (sadly) gone.

All the rest on the computer is a waste of time - and as for that silly stupid flashing symbol that tells me the bike is in motion ............ honestly - what the **** use is that!

 

[Pennine-Paul]

No computer,gps or apps ( all they seem to do is flatten your battery quicker,then if your late home
you cant let your better half know cos your phones flat )
Are all public phone boxes now not taking cash?? all the ones I tried a couple of weeks ago
say"No cash calls" on the screen,
I use a map (remember them??) occasionally ,never loses signal or runs flat

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I gave up using a computer a few years ago. I measure my rides by time and how much effort they took, distance and speed don't mean a lot.

Makes it easier to clean the forks too.

 

[rollinstok]

I like to know how far I have cycled and use a basic cateye computer for this
Cant see the need for a gps if on roads or cyclepaths

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Etrex for route plotting finding duty.

But I think computers are a phase all new cyclists go through along with thinking tyres are puncture proof and that the gears on their bike shift like those in their car. As for understanding quite how many of those gears are duplicates....

...but, even if all the gear and no idea, the more folk on bikes the better.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

All I have on the bike is a basic computer, all I do when I'm out on a Sunday is put my cycle gear on wheel my bike out of the house get on it and ride to where I'm going. I preferred it in the past when bikes were simpler, and most of the bikes I rode were either second hand or cobbled together from bits, now both my bikes are expensive and there's a little bit of concern about them when they are left parked up.

 

[totallyfixed]

All I have on the bike is a basic computer, all I do when I'm out on a Sunday is put my cycle gear on wheel my bike out of the house get on it and ride to where I'm going. I preferred it in the past when bikes were simpler, and most of the bikes I rode were either second hand or cobbled together from bits, now both my bikes are expensive and there's a little bit of concern about them when they are left parked up.

A good point there Dave, back in the day there was very little bike theft that I can remember but then the range of bikes was quite small and certainly cost much less relatively than what many do today. One of the riders on the Fridays Tour LonJog that I met on the way through Rutland was sporting a pair of Zipp 404's on her road bike [sorry, I did chat to you but didn't get your name], so at a cafe stop it's not unusual to see bikes stacked together costing many thousands of pounds and not locked.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

A good point there Dave, back in the day there was very little bike theft that I can remember but then the range of bikes was quite small and certainly cost much less relatively than what many do today. One of the riders on the Fridays Tour LonJog that I met on the way through Rutland was sporting a pair of Zipp 404's on her road bike [sorry, I did chat to you but didn't get your name], so at a cafe stop it's not unusual to see bikes stacked together costing many thousands of pounds and not locked.

My problem years ago was that I had a young family, a mortgage and didn't earn much, this meant most of the time I had no spare cash to spend on cycling. The thing was that it was much more relaxed back then, the bikes were reliable most of the time and I wasn't too worried if the bike got knocked or I had a minor crash, it just added to the scratches and chips the paint work already had. The same with maintenance and keeping the bike clean, mostly they were already a bit tatty and a bit worn so I wasn't as bothered about cleaning them and though I kept them in good shape I wasn't to particular or exact on the maintenance.

 

[Hacienda71]

Cycling is a diverse thing where you can choose to opt in or out of innovation as you see fit without affecting your ability to take part. I view the arrival of gps as a natural progression from the last cycling aid. I remember 30 years ago attaching one of those mechanical milometers to the front wheel of my racer and looking at how far I had gone each ride then bike computers took their place. I don't use sat nav but do like looking at the gps plot via my phone when I get back in from a ride. Sometimes I will just head into the country and ride, other times I will look at a map and plan a route.

The one thing I find a little more disconcerting is the arrival of electrical gear shifting Di2 and the like, imho this is more of an issue than a bike computer or gps unit, I know it is wonderful for gear shifting but for me it takes away from the purity of man and mechanical machine a little.

 

[totallyfixed]

Nowadays a newbie cyclist is often middle aged with a fat wallet and middle aged spread to match [I always get controversial late at night after a glass of red wine] who thinks nothing of spending a couple of grand on a bling carbon bike. If he or she joins CC they then ask lots of questions that start with "which bike" and weeks later gravitates [pardon the pun] to "how do I climb hills" or "what should my cadence be" or even "how do I fix a puncture" There was a time when you learnt your art by riding with someone more experienced, not, buy the expensive bike, fit it out with every gadget and gizmo known to man then belatedly remember that you still have to ride it.
Don't get me started on compact chainsets..........