How To Install Bike Computer

You may not know how to setup and install bike computer properly or you may just want to make sure everything was done correctly.

It’s not always easy to install bike computer, and there may be several obstacles in your way of doing so for your road or mountain bikes.

Small computers that you may attach to your bicycle to measure the rotation of your tyres are called bicycle speedometers. Your speed is determined by the computer using data from sensors that are installed on your bicycle tyre. Other details like your mileage, the time, your heart rate, or the altitude are frequently provided by these computers. Even if you are not a bike mechanic, installing a speedometer is simple. However, in order for the sensors to accurately measure speed, your computer needs to be properly programmed. Bring your bike and computer to a bike shop if you are unsure of your abilities to install a cycling computer.

Table of Content

In this guide we have covered the following areas to properly install bike computer:

1. Tools you need to install bike computer
2. Instructions and tips to install bike computer
3. Sensor Alignment to correctly install bike computer
4. Front Mount Cable Routing
5. Rear Mount Cable Routing
6. Bike Computer Installation FAQs

Tools Use To Install Bike Computer:

You need simple tools to complete this small and easy task.

• Wire cutter
• Soldering iron
• Stripper or knife
• Solder
• Bicycle tools
• Cable Ties

Instructions And Tips To Install Bike Computer:

Although attaching a computer can be challenging, we’ve attempted to make the process below as simple as we can. You’ll be cycling with your new little computer in no time if you follow the instructions. A wireless computer can be a better option because they are considerably simpler to set up.

Sensor Alignment

1. Depending on the spoke arrangement of the wheel, you typically have a choice of numerous locations on the wheel to attach the spoke magnet with one-magnet cycle computers. In general, mounting the magnet as close to the hub as possible is recommended. It will travel by the sensor more slowly the closer in you attach it, allowing the magnetic switch on the sensor more time to react. The computer may provide unpredictable results at greater speeds if the magnet is too far away.
2. Attach the sensor to the fork or stay once the magnet has been fitted. Before securing the wire or fastening the mounting shoe to the handlebar, test the computer and make any necessary adjustments to the sensor or magnet position.
3. Plastic tie-wraps are typically included with cycle computers to fasten the wire to the frame. These function reasonably enough, however unless they match the color of the frame, they look awful. If you secure the wire with clear plastic tape, your work will look better and be more professional. I’ve discovered that clear mylar package-sealing tape works the best. It is often offered in 2-inch broad rolls with a convenient dispenser / cutter. Before taping the wire down, wash your hands and make sure the essential frame and fork components are clean.
4. Turn the bike over in the repair stand with the sensor magnet and magnet placed before removing the front wheel. The wire can be secured more easily as a result.

Front Mount Cable Routing:

1. The wire should incline slightly inward as it climbs the back side of the fork blade. This makes the wire less obvious while also making it more aerodynamic. Make sure the wire crosses back on the inside of the fork blade if the sensor is installed in front of the blade. Just in case later modest sensor adjustments are required, leave a very small amount of slack between where the wire exits the sensor and where you start to tie it to the fork.
2. The most typical error in wire routing is to fasten the wire to the frame’s head tube. With a front-mount cyclometer, you should never do this since it forces you to leave two sizable loops of slack where the wire enters and exits the head tube so that it won’t be pulled as the handlebars rotate. The front brake cable should always be followed by the wire. The wire can be secured all the way along its length because the fork, brake, and handlebars always move simultaneously.
3. Typically, I like to run the wire up the back of the brake cable and attach it to the cable securely. The extra wire can be wrapped and tucked into the steerer tube’s bottom if it is longer than is necessary.
4. It is more convenient to wrap the wire around the brake cord in a spiral for bikes that are likely to be serviced frequently. This makes it simpler to unplug the cable for tasks such as replacing handlebars or servicing a headset. The spiral wrap method has a drawback in that it can be unsightly, especially on bicycles with brightly colored brake cable housing.
5. Install the magnet and sensor on the left side, if possible, when mounting a front-mount cyclometer on a bicycle with cantilever brakes. This enables you to run the wire in along the left side of the transverse cable and out along the back of the cantilever to the main cable. It will still be possible to release the brake for wheel changes by unhooking the transverse cable because the transverse cable is often fixed on the left side of front cantilevers.
6. Cyclometer mounting is actually simpler on suspension forks. Follow the cable housing to the handlebar after running the cable up the slider to the brake bridge.
7. Some cycle computer sensors won’t fit the suspension forks’ large-diameter legs. You were right to keep any old, useless front derailers in a box if you have them. Instead of the hinged clamp found on more recent models, many older front detailers were fastened to the frame using two bolts that passed through a “pillow-block” type clamp. To secure the sensor to the fork blade, two of these clamps placed back-to-back can create an extremely sturdy, tasteful-looking clamp. You must need a tiny shim if the fork blade is less than 1 1/8″ in diameter.
8. If all of that bothers you, a rear-mount kit is a simple method to mount a cycle computer on a suspension bike.

Rear Mount Cable Routing:

1. To keep them hidden, wires from rear-mount cycle computers or cadence pickups should be run under the free hub, the bottom bracket, and the down tube.
2. Attach the wire to one of the gear-change cables that run from the down tube to the handlebar-mounted shift lever on hybrid or mountain bikes.
3. It is typically best to run the wire from the down tube directly to the bottom of the front brake cable on bikes without handlebar-mounted shifters, and then proceed as with front mounts. The wire must have enough slack to allow the handlebars to turn as far as they can without being pulled in either direction, otherwise the wire will break.
4. Keep the slack loop away from the tyre. If the wire is able to touch the tyre, it will, and it will quickly wear away to nothing.
5. The rider could unintentionally tug on the wire while trying to shift if the slack loop is not kept out of the way of the down-tube mounted shift levers’ regular operation.

Additional Information, if needed:

If you need additional information on setting up the bike computer, watch this video tutorial on youtube.

Install Bike Computer FAQs:

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What Is A Bike Computer And How Do Bike Computer Work?

Have a new cycling computer, or are you simply unsure of your setup? We’re here to assist you in determining the ideal method to configure your cycle computer for the types of riding you do because it can be challenging to precisely know the metrics you need to have in front of you to maximize the functioning of the device.

Even if it’s just how long or quickly they ride, many bikers are intrigued about their data. A handlebar-mounted bike computer may provide you with a wealth of information about your ride, including performance information like cadence and power, much like the dashboard display in a car. Numerous websites also provide navigational tools, such as turn-by-turn directions for your journey.

Table of Content

In this article we have covered the following areas on Bike Computers:

How Necessary Is a Bike Computer?

The answer is “yes” if you’re truly into cycling, especially at a competitive level, or if you routinely go on long training rides and want a full range of data on those trips. This is because you’re the target market for bike computers. The object in your hand—your phone—or the device on your wrist—if it’s a fitness tracker—can, however, also offer input regarding your rides. Both of those solutions can help you save some money and may provide all the information you require.

Features Of Bike Computer:

CURRENT SPPED

The speed at which you are moving. Maximum speed is the top speed you’ve ever reached.

Measures the average speed, during a journey. Choose again if you like miles per hour or kilometers per hour. In addition to showing, you your speed, it can assist you in curbing your overconfidence when riding in a group or simply provide you a little extra motivation when riding alone.

WEATHER INFORMATION

Provides you with updates on the present and upcoming weather

ELAPSED TIME

This one seems self-explanatory, but it’s simple to mix up the timer, elapsed time, movement time, and, come to think of it, all the other times. The timer, unlike the elapsed time, only runs in tandem with the activity; for instance, if you enable auto-pause, the timer will pause when you are not moving. We advise utilizing the timer because it displays the real amount of time spent pedaling rather than how long you were out and about or sitting at the bar.

ODOMETER

Determines the distance covered.

CALORIE COUNTER:

Estimates the number of calories you have burned.

TURN BY TURN NAVIGATION

Like a car in that it provides real-time location updates.

GPS LOCATION

Provides maps of your current position and your destination.

CLOCK

If you set a timer, this displays how long you have been riding or how much time is left.

COLOUR DISPLAY

Instead of appearing in black and white, your display will be in color.

WIRELESS COMPATIBILITY

Not operating with a wired connection (most units are wireless)

BACKLIGHT

When it’s dark, keeps your display well-lit.

BATTERY LIFE

How long the bike computer can operate before the battery dies.

CADENCE COMPATIBLE

Your pedal revolutions per minute are indicated by your cadence. Putting cadence on your primary screen can be a little kick in the pants to change gears and get those legs spinning at a more efficient speed if you tend to spin your legs a little slowly.

STRAVA INTEGRATION

Fitness tracking with social network integration.

ELECTRONIC SHIFTING INTEGRATION

Instead of using metal wires to shift the gears, use miniature electric motors.

ALTIMETER

Determines your elevation or altitude above sea level.

MOXY SENSOR

A small, wearable sensor that monitors oxygen levels in the muscles.

TOUCH SCREEN

May use touch to control bike computers.

HEART RATE

If you genuinely own and use a heart rate monitor, only add this one. This is an excellent one to have on your main screen whether you’re doing training to heart rate zones or just want to see how much deeper you can go. Just be careful not to make it too enormous so that your riding companions can see how much work you’re putting in.

WI-FI

May use Wi-Fi to access the internet for updates.

RIDER TO RIDER CONNECTIVITY

Enables remote communication with other riders.

How Does A Bike Computer Work?

Most bike computers measure how long it takes for your wheel to rotate using a magnet and a sensor. The size of your tyre can then be used to determine data like your current speed; distance travelled, and average speed. They can, however, communicate with a variety of sensors to monitor your cadence, power, GPS location, and even your heart rate.

A bike computer’s ability to inform you how fast you are moving and how far you have travelled is its most crucial feature. There are primarily two ways they will make that happen.

Use Of Magnet And Sensor:

On either the front or rear tire’s spoke, the magnet is mounted. Here is an article I wrote about placing your sensor correctly if that is more of your focus.

Simply put, the sensor is a unique type of switch. Every time it comes in contact with a magnet, it completes a circuit and transmits a signal to the computer.

The most prevalent magnetic switches are reed switches. The typically open leads become polarized and attract one another when a magnetic field approaches. By doing so, the circuit is closed and the signal is sent to the computer. The least expensive magnetic switches are reed switches.

Use Of Orientation Sensors:

Some businesses, like Garmin, provide speed sensors that use wireless orientation sensors in place of a magnet and a magnet switch. The sensor may be attached to the hub of a wheel and will signal your computer as the wheel revolves.

Additional Resources For A Bike Computer:

POWER METER:

Cycling involves applying a force across a distance to generate power. When using a pedal power meter, the amount of pedaling you are doing is multiplied by how hard you are pedaling. The majority of the sensors that gauge these factors are built into your pedals or cranks. They use ANT+ or Bluetooth Low Energy to send their results back to the bike computer.

CADENCE SENSOR

Almost identical to speedometers are cadence sensors. Instead of monitoring the rotation of the wheels, they time how long it takes for your pedals to rotate. They can do this by using magnets, orientation sensors, and occasionally pressure sensors.

HEART RATE MONITOR

One of two methods is employed by heart rate monitors. They either detect your blood flow using LEDs and sensors or they sense the electrical signals that your heart sends out when it beats. Your heart rate monitor is most likely measuring electrical signals if it wraps around your chest. The LED approach is usually used for tracking heart rate with a smart watch though.

Top Recommended Brands For Bike Computers:

When you purchase a bike computer, you’re making an investment in the product’s brand and interface in addition to the actual equipment. Numerous companies have their own websites, user interfaces, applications, and UIs that connect to your bike computer and gather data from it.

Similar brands to those that dominate the vehicle GPS market dominate the cycling GPS market. The leading company is Garmin, but other names including Wahoo, Polar, Bryton, Suunto, Lezyne, and CatEye also make GPS-enabled products.

Computerized Training Programs For Cycling:

Cycling computers can help with training primarily and most commonly by connecting to a power meter or heart rate monitor and providing real-time data on your power output or heart rate while you cycle.

Setting Up Your Bike Computer:

ON WHEEL:

Unless you have a wired sensor, it won’t make much of a difference whether the sensor is on your front or back wheel. Then there are a few things you might want to think about.

First off, placing the sensor on your front tyre will require the least amount of setup because it is simpler to feed a cable through it. The disadvantage of this is that you will always have extra wire that needs to be wrapped around your fork because it is always long enough to reach the back wheel.

As we’ve already stated, it makes no difference to you or the performance of your bike computer whether you route the wire to your back wheel or not if you want it to seem a bit neater.

EDGE AND CENTRE:

The magnet on the spoke goes past the sensor much more slowly when it is mounted closer to the rim than when it is mounted towards the hub (the centre of the wheel). As a result, the sensor will have to travel over it more slowly, giving it a better chance to read the changing magnetic field. This improves reading accuracy, especially at faster speeds.

The propensity won’t be as strong, though, if the magnet is placed close enough to the hub; instead, it will be much farther away and fly out to the rim. Therefore, mounting it as near to the rim as you can could be best.

If you need additional information on setting up the bike computer, watch this video tutorial on youtube.

How To Handle A Non-Working Bike Computer:

Your issue is most likely caused by the magnet not approaching the sensor close enough. The magnet frequently moves up and down the spoke or rotates around it.

Other frequent issues include a broken cable or screen, in which case visiting a bike shop is usually the best option to have it fixed.

Another possibility is that your battery is dead. Bicycle computers frequently employ inexpensive batteries, which have a limited lifespan. Fortunately, replacing them doesn’t cost a lot of money.

Bike Computer FAQs:

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How To Hang Bike On Wall

It’s practical to store your bike on wall to conserve space and protect it from harm. You should use a bike rack or a bike hook to safely hang your bike on the wall. You’ll have more free space and simple access to your bike anytime you’re ready for a ride after using a drill to correctly install the mount for your bike.

Table of Content

In this article we have covered the following areas on how to mount a bike on wall:

Effective Way To Mount A Bike On Wall:

Hanging a single road bike by the front wheel in your home, garage, or shed is the ideal approach to place it on a wall. This is the most affordable and practical option, and it should save you room while protecting your prized possession from dents and scratches.

Why it’s crucial to understand how to hang bike on wall:

You make the decision one day that the bicycles need to be hung in the storage space. They take up a lot of space and if you unintentionally knock them over, you risk damaging them or possibly hurting yourself. You can’t keep resting them against the wall.

Although safety and making the most of limited space are frequently the driving forces, with the right application bicycle hooks can even turn a bike into a feature of your home’s interior design.

Procedure 1: Installing A Bike Rack:

1. Purchase a bike rack for the wall either online or at your neighborhood hardware store. Depending on how you wish to keep your bike, pick a vertical or horizontal wall mount. If you want to save wall space, a vertical bike rack is an excellent choice. If you want your bike to hang flat against the wall, pick a horizontal bike rack. If you want, you could even construct one.
2. Take a tape measure to the bike. If you’re using a vertical bike rack, measure the bike’s length; if you’re using a horizontal bike rack, measure the bike’s height.
3. Place the bike rack in the desired location on the wall. If the rack is too high, the bike may hang so that it touches the ceiling. Once the rack is in place, make a mark where each screw hole corresponds to a wall stud. Two screw holes are common on bike racks.
4. Make sure the space between the floor and the horizontal rack, if you’re using one, is greater than the height of the bike.
5. Make sure the space between the floor and the vertical rack, if you’re using one, is greater than the length of the bike.
6. At the locations you marked, drill into the wall with a drill. Make sure the holes you drill are big enough to accommodate the entire length of the screws. Use a drill bit that is just a little bit smaller than the bike rack’s included screws.
7. Power drills are available online here.
8. Use a 5mm drill bit, for instance, if the bike rack comes with 6mm screws.
9. Each hole you drilled will now have a wall plug in it. The wall plugs will provide something to hold onto for the screws you’ll use to mount the bike rack. Use wall plugs with the same thread size as the bike rack’s included screws. Wall plugs are available at your neighborhood hardware store.
10. Screw the rack into place after positioning it over the holes. Put the bike rack’s included screws into the wall plugs using a screwdriver. As soon as the screws stop spinning, keep turning the screwdriver.
11. On the bike rack, hang your bike. Hang the bike by the front tyre if you’re using a vertical bike rack. Put the top tube of your bike’s frame on the rack if you’re using a horizontal bike rack.

Procedure 2: Using A Bike Hook:

1. Purchase a bike hook that can support the weight of the bicycle. The maximum load capacity should be indicated on the packaging of the hook. Use only hooks designed to support the weight of the bike; otherwise, the hook may pull out of the wall.
2. Bike hooks are available online here or at your neighborhood hardware store.
3. If you’re unclear of the bike’s weight, weigh it on a bathroom scale. Weigh yourself alone first, and then weigh you while holding the bike. Your bike’s weight is determined by deducting your weight from your combined weight and the weight of the bike.
4. To find a stud in the wall, use a stud finder. A stud finder is available at your neighborhood hardware store. When the stud finder shows that a stud has been discovered, place it on the wall and slowly move it around the surface. When they are near a stud, stud finders typically emit a beeping sound or light up. For detailed instructions on how to use your stud finder, read the instructions that came with it.
5. Measure the bike’s length with a tape measure. From the front tire’s farthest tip to the rear tire’s farthest tip, measure the distance.
6. Where you want the bike hook to be screwed into the wall should be marked with a pencil. Make sure it’s along the stud you discovered. Make sure the distance between the floor and the bike hook is more than the length of the bike because it will be hanging vertically.
7. Make a mark, and then drill a hole there using a 3/8 inch (.95 cm) drill bit. Make sure the hole is large enough for the bike hook’s whole screw end to fit.
8. Once you’ve drilled the hole, tighten the bike hook into it with a screwdriver. Turn the bike hook clockwise until it can no longer be turned after inserting the screw end into the hole. The hook itself should be parallel to the ground.
9. On the bike hook, hang the bike. Place the bicycle’s front tyre on the hook with the tyres in contact with the wall and the seat facing away from the wall.

Conclusion:

Whether you ride a road bike or a mountain bike, a wall mount is a need for bike storage. Bike racks are among those basic tools for each cyclist.

If you have a small area inside which to store your bike, it is ideal. Only some mounting hardware, drill holes, and screw holes are required to install it to the wall, whether you support it by the front or back wheels.

Mount Racks for bike on wall FAQs:

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Smartphone Vs Bike Computer – Which Should You Use

Cycling enthusiasts used to record their rides using specialized equipment, which by today’s standards was quite primitive and could only measure speed and distance.

These days, you can record what seems like every measure imaginable to gain a staggering amount of knowledge into your riding performance. The days of using a paper map while driving seem to be long gone for the majority of us. With GPS bike computers and the most recent route-building software, navigation is a breeze.

Which device—a Smartphone or a bike computer—is preferable for recording bike rides? I’m not the only one who simply adores bike computers. Given that the majority of us carry Smartphone that can record bike rides with the correct apps, it is reasonable to wonder whether anyone actually needs a bike computer any more. When you already have an expensive, multifunctional smartphone in your pocket, why would you want to spend additional money on a bike computer? This is a great question, and in this piece I’ll compare recording your rides on your Smartphone versus a bike computer. Which device—a Smartphone or a bike computer—is preferable for recording bike rides? I’m not the only one who simply adores bike computers.

WARNING:

I won’t claim that one is superior to the other. I firmly believe that the decision is based on your own needs and, of course, your financial situation. In light of this, I’ll weigh the advantages and disadvantages of both strategies so you can make your own judgment.

Table of Content

In this guide we have covered the following areas for Smartphone vs Bike Computer:

EIGHT THINGS TO CONSIDER:

There are heaps of factors to consider before making comparison between smartphone and bike computers. Such as following:

1. PRICE:

Bicycle computers range in price from $40 for simple speed and distance recorders to over $300 for feature-rich GPS computers that can do anything from record rides to recommend rest periods.

Given that Smartphone are frequently among the most expensive items we own and do many of the same tasks as smart watches or bike computers, purchasing a second gadget may seem like a needless extravagance. On the other hand, purchasing a specific cycling accessory and protecting your Smartphone from danger may seem like a worthwhile investment.

2. SIZE:

Typically, a smartphone will weigh a little bit more and occupy a little more space on your handlebars than a bike computer. On the other side, if you are elderly, a smartphone’s screen might be easier to read than a tiny bike computer.

However, a lot of more expensive bike computers enable you design a screen that only displays the information that matters to you, including speed and power. It’s actually simpler to view those kinds of personalized data displays than a Smartphone app.

3. DURABILITY:

If you ride a bike frequently enough, you’ll eventually find yourself biking through snow and rain. Bicycle computers and specialty cycling watches are made to endure inclement weather.

If you plan to use a Smartphone while riding, you can put it in your pocket, but hiding it won’t do anything to aid with navigation. Of course, a specific bike smartphone mount can be used to attach a Smartphone to the handlebar.

Resilience is another consideration, and bike computers are made to endure potential shocks. Nothing compares to rummaging through stinging nettles to recover your bike computer after a fall.

4. BATTERY LIFE:

If your smartphone’s brightness is set to a high level to combat sun glare, it generally won’t last more than 4-5 hours without a portable charger. If you’re a distance rider, the battery life of a smartphone just won’t cut it, so you should instead choose a GPS bike computer. If you’re going on a long ride far from home, you’ll also need your smartphone battery to be high in case of emergencies.

5. SENSORS:

While some of the essential information is provided by cycling apps, sensors are essential in providing you with data on your speed, cadence, and other variables.

While there aren’t any sensors that can measure power, speed, cadence, or heart rate when using Bluetooth and Smartphone, if you already have ANT+, your smartphone won’t support this either.

Your options are restricted because platforms like Strava disabled third-party support, so you won’t have any of that data to utilize there. You could possibly buy a third-party dongle to put into your smartphone and receive the data that way.

But if you don’t care about ANT+ much and can use Bluetooth, this is a good option for your sensors. You’ll need to locate an app that shows data while you’re riding and lets you export it for analysis afterward.

Since a dedicated bike computer would automatically connect and display the data on many screens that can be easily interpreted, using a smartphone with sensors is possible but not as simple as it is with a dedicated bike computer.

6. NAVIGATION:

A Smartphone with a specific cycling app, like Komoot or Strava, can be used to navigate while biking. The greatest bike computers frequently feature extensive maps preinstalled that resemble topographic maps and include specific routes, trails, waypoints, and facilities.

Some bike computers let you drop a pin and will automatically guide you to your destination, while others need you to create routes via an app and send them to the bike computer.

It’s important to keep in mind that many computers only have a limited number of map territories installed onto them, so if you plan to travel to new areas, you might need to buy additional maps.

7. ACCURACY:

When comparing a trip recorded on a cycling computer using GPS to a ride recorded on a smartphone using GPS and an app, it’s not uncommon for people to notice discrepancies in average speed and even distance. The quality of the GPS data is mostly responsible for the variations.

Computers typically determine average speed within the device itself, but after the file is uploaded, Strava performs its own analysis of the data, taking into account both the overall activity distance and the observed movement time.

Whichever is more accurate, according to Hawkins, “depends on the electronics inside the bike computer and the GPS signal from your smartphone.”

The GPS system, which combines the chip in your device and the satellites above the Earth, may function differently from day to day, according to a statement made by Strava in its help pages.

Cycling computers typically use barometric altimeters to measure atmospheric pressure to determine height; accuracy can be impacted by the weather, among other things.

8. COMPATIBILITY:

Functional Threshold Power (FTP), VO2 max, power-to-weight ratio, and training zones can all be discovered by pairing your bike computer or smart device with a power meter or heart rate sensor.

You can monitor and manage your indoor training using a variety of gadgets that can link to a smart trainer. Most of the time; Bluetooth will be used to link supplementary devices to your smartphone, bike computer.

Even while connecting devices has become simpler over time, it’s important to note that some power meters only use ANT+ and won’t work with certain Smartphone.

However, a lot of bike computers and smart watches use Bluetooth to connect to Smartphone. Companies like Wahoo and Garmin have apps for your smartphone that allow you to update and manage their products. These companies also provide push notifications to your bike computer or watch for incoming calls and texts.

BIKE COMPUTERS:

Bike Computer Pros:

1. Bicycle computers excel where other smart gadgets fail because they are weatherproof, crash-resistant, and engineered to fit on handlebars.
2. For certain riders, recording GPS data is also crucial, and bike computers have plenty of battery life to accomplish just that. Also easy to use are today’s huge touch screens.
3. It’s doubtful that there will be any compatibility concerns if you want to take your training to the next level with a power meter or cadence sensor because bike computers can connect to almost any other smart cycling gadget.

Bike Computer Cons:

1. Bike computers don’t really have any drawbacks when it comes to cycling, but there are a few things that can discourage you.
2. The price of a bike computer may be deterring if you’re just starting out, shopping on a tight budget, or don’t intend to go on long rides given that your Smartphone can do many of the same functions.
3. A wristwatch might be a better use of your money if you run or engage in any other sports because a bike computer is also only made for riding.

SMARTPHONES:

Smartphone Pros:

1. Since the vast majority of people already own a Smartphone, using one instead of a bike computer is far more practical.
2. It is much simpler than looking around for a bike computer to just download a Smartphone app that tracks a lot of the same bike ride data as many bike computers.
3. It’s now simpler than ever to learn more about your performance because so many heart rate monitors and power meters can now link to recording devices via Bluetooth.

Smartphone Cons:

1. The impact GPS usage has on battery life is the largest disadvantage of using a Smartphone to record your journeys. Your battery will be completely depleted after just a couple of hours of installing and using a GPS programmed, preventing you from taking extended trips.
2. A Smartphone is an expensive item, and they aren’t made to endure extreme weather conditions or drops. Therefore, mounting it on your handlebar exposes it to various weather conditions. Furthermore, there is a considerable probability it will fall off and crash if it is not adequately fastened.
3. While many of the important parameters seen on GPS bike computers, such as average speed, distance, etc., can typically be matched by smartphones. They don’t go into detail on some of the more sophisticated cycling data that might be useful if you take your biking seriously.
4. Some gadgets can link to cell phones, but not all of them. So if you wish to purchase any additional gadgets, like a speed sensor, relying solely on a Smartphone can cause some problems.

Victory Between Smartphone Vs Bike Computer

Now that we’ve examined cycle computers and Smartphone, it’s time to say for sure which the right approach is.

You don’t need to worry too much about spending a lot of money on a top-of-the-line bike computer only to acquire the data you need because the majority of bike computers come with all the functions you’ll need, from speed and time to turn by turn navigation.

With a dedicated bike computer, you can go on all kinds of road excursions without having to worry about running out of battery life. These computers are made to handle the tough terrain you’ll probably experience on your mountain bike.

Smartphones are undoubtedly more practical and do provide the same information as bike computers, but if you’re serious about cycling, they’re simply not the best option.

They require far more frequent battery changes and are much more prone to damage than a bike computer. Therefore, a cycle computer is an essential piece of equipment if you routinely workout or participate in cycling events, trails, etc.

Alternatively, if you only bicycle once a week for 30 minutes or to work, you probably don’t need a bike computer and can check your data on your smartphone instead.

In general, a cycling computer is the best option and will be more useful to you than a Smartphone. Thus, the bike computer is unquestionably the winner in the Smartphone vs. bike computer comparison.

Smartphone vs Bike Computer FAQs:

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