Bike Computer – Another Fun (and useful) Accessory

This accessory has nothing to do with safety.  I got it just for fun. 

I kept thinking I didn’t need it but in the end I wanted it.  I did not go for the fancy one with GPS and heart monitoring.  Or the wireless one.  It’s just a lower end model. But even though it only cost about $30.00, it works great and has several cool features. I got a Cateye CC-RD200 Strada Cadence Bicycle Computer.  Having a son home from college to install it was a bonus.  I don’t think it would have been that hard to install.  I just traded the installation for making dinner.

The one feature is has that is a step up from the lowest models is CADENCE.

This great little gadget can tell you all kinds of fun things while you are riding.  Just push it with your thumb and it moves through each feature.

You get:

• Miles per hour
• an odometer – you can see on mine that I’ve gone 249 miles since I got the computer. 🙂
• the time of day
• how long you’ve been riding on a particular trip
• your mileage (there’s a trip 1 and trip 2 like in your car)
• Average speed for the trip
• Max speed for the trip
• and your CADENCE.

I’ve learned that CADENCE is really important.  CADENCE is just how fast you pedal. It counts how many times you pedal in a minute.  Keeping your CADENCE the same no matter if you are going up or downhill is good.  I try to always keep my CADENCE above 75.  For me that’s good.  It doesn’t always happen but it helps to keep me on track.

Then when I get home I record all the information in a spreadsheet.  I’m trying to increase my average speed.  I can see improvement already.  And its just fun to have all that information.

I think everyone should have a bike computer.  I’m glad to know that I rode 19.27 miles today at an average speed of 15.3 mph.  I’m not ready for the Tour de France but I might be ready for the Waco Wild West Century Ride in September.  My goal is to ride for 50 miles that day.