Computer with Altitude
Jerry Gardner
has served me well for 9 years, but it's getting long in the tooth and I'd
like a replacement with more features.
Altitude is a must, so this narrows my choices down considerably. I'd also
like temperature (hopefully reasonably accurate) and a timer that can count
above 2:00:00. A second elapsed timer that stops when the bike is not
moving would also be nice.
The only computer I've found that seems suitable is the Ciclosport CM 414.
Does anyone have any comments on this model? Is the altitude function
reasonably accurate? I'm more concerned about the accuracy of altitude gain
than I am about absolute altitude. The old Avocet 50 has an algorithm that
ignores slight gains in altitude, such as when going over a freeway
overpass. Does the CM 414 have something similar? I've heard that Avocet
may have a patent (developed by Jobst??) that precludes others from
implementing this.
There is also a "memory" model of the 414 that stores ride data for later
download. Is this a useful feature, or is it a gee-wiz feature I'll only
use once?
--
Jerry Gardner
w6...@hotmail.com
Bill
Ciclomaster 414 on the UMCA web site. I have had a Speedzone for about a
year and was delighted until the mode button died last week. The upside is
that it has a two year warranty. The only operational drawback for me is
that it has 10+ screens and you have to cycle through them all to get back
to where you were. I believe the 414 lets you go both directions. Both
units use the same chip. They look at altitude a little differently. The
Speedzone accumulates in 7 ft increments and the 414 is closer to 15.
http://www.ultracycling.com/equipment/altimeters_update.html#top
Bill Brannon
remove the nospam stuff to reply
"Jerry Gardner" <w6...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns925B87A578A6...@127.0.0.1...
caravan
http://www.cateye.com/detail_mod02.php?products_id=52
Gene
/snip/
Jeff in Ottawa
that will actually graph the altitude changes over distance a la tour on TV.
They also will generally give you current speed, average speed and max
speed. Definitely no cadence, although after riding with a unit with cadence
for a long time you'd have a pretty good feel for that.
Jeff Richardson
"caravan" <car...@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:qCE19.1511$PZ6...@nwrddc04.gnilink.net...
WBtobal
and didn't see all of the original post; however, seems that
an altimeter and thermometer are wanted...look into the
Specialized Speedzone Pro...it has both plus. That GPS
suggestion is also recommended...you can purchase the
basic Garmin eTrex for about $89.00 U.S. (and that's 11
dollars less than the Speedzone Pro!!!). Software for
dowloading the GPS data allows overprinting on USGS Topo
maps, and elevation profiles can be printed right along with
the maps....plus the GPS has most of the "normal" cycle-
computer functions; Speed, Max Speed, Avg Speed, Trip
Distance, Trip Time, etc. Good luck in your search.
Regards,
Bill Tobalske
Freewheelin'
In article <20020730225116...@mb-fl.aol.com>,
Dave Wyman
>
> I'm looking for a replacement for my venerable Avocet 50 computer.<
I like my Specialized Speedzone Pro Classic- and I think an updated model with wireless cadence will
be out soon. It does most if not all of what you want. The 2001 model might be in short supply at
this point.
My only objection is that it all starts over after 10 hours of riding. I lost my data this past
weekend on the Climb to Kaiser ride, although the distance and altitude gain were of course already
known. Maybe the new version will correct that problem.
Dave
--
http://www.davewyman.com
http://www.ibikebackroads.com
This mail is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual
character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.
Mike Bales
news:look-099AE4.2...@netnews.attbi.com...
> Where can you get these for $89... seem like they are a lot more ;-)
Your not going to get one that has good accuracy on the altimeter part of it
for $89.
Altimeter is the most inaccurate part of a GPS. Unless you get an aviation
style.
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Meters) and is relatively accurate. It also has a thermometer. The
timer does count to more than 2 hours; it goes to 9h59m59s (and then
wraps or stops. Dunno). The timer and all can work with the
Start/Stop button (elaped time and average speed are computed when the
bike is stopped) OR using the auto feature (only when the bike is
moving). It doesn't do both total elapsed time and total trip
(moving) time. No downloadable data. Replacing the battery doesn't
lose the odometer.
In my experience the altimeter is pretty accurate. It does fluctuate
with the weather, since it's a barometric. But if you set it to a
known altitude at the start of the day's ride, it'll be pretty close
at the end of the day, unless you are riding across a major storm :)
Some people complain about the total elevation gain as being
inaccurate, but you have to keep in mind that it's only counting
elevation gain, not the sum of all gains plus losses. It seems to work
like this: Start at the bottom of a hill Ride up 100 feet to the top.
Then down 100 feet on the other side. Your elevation gain will show
100 feet. It's a ratchet effect -- it counts UP but not DOWN. It
seems good for telling people that the total elevation gain on a trip
will be so many feet.
If you can live with that, I'd recommend the cateye. You can get one
for around $90 (US).
Here's the URL to the manual:
http://206.168.112.121/Manuals/AT100.pdf
Good luck!
GW
Jerry Gardner <w6...@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<Xns925B87A578A6...@127.0.0.1>...
DirtRoadie
> Your not going to get one that has good accuracy on the altimeter part of it
> for $89.
> Altimeter is the most inaccurate part of a GPS. Unless you get an aviation
> style.
If that is true, it is fairly meaningless. Before actually getting and
using a GPS receiver I was under the misguided impression thast a GPS
unit could not provide accurate elevation data. That isn't true. I
have been using an Avocet Vertech altimeter for years and recently
acquired a Garmin Etrex Venture GPS receiver (one which has more
memory than the basic Etrex unit).
My older Vertech is probably accurate to about 10 feet as long as it
has been recently calibrated AND the barometer has not changed. If the
barometer HAS changed it can easily be off by several hundred feet.
On the other hand I have been blown away by the accuracy of the Etrex.
It's almost always within 50 feet or so of the correct altitude and
NEVER varies as the barometer fluctuates. So if you don't know where
you are and don't know what the barometric trend has been, the Etrex
actually gives more reliable elevation information.
The Etrex also has a trip odometer function built into it and could
actually serve as a cyclometer since it has pretty much any function
that a normal cyclometer does. In fact it makes any ordinary
cyclometer look pretty primitve by comparison.
There are problems - battery life is poor, pretty much using up 2 AA
batteries per day. And to function well it must have a good "view" of
the sky (but it can tell you how many satellites it can "see"). And
while it is quite small, it is much larger than a typical cyclometer.
It does fit nicely on the stem of a mountain bike (using a bracket I
made).
DR