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Cateye Strada Digital Wireless Bicycle Computer CC-RD430DW Review

With the Cateye Strada Digital CC-RD430DW computer, simplicity and digital reliability unites with heart rate and cadence. Weighing a minimal 20 grams, the Strada Digital Wireless combines all the functionality of the popular Strada Wireless computer with the additions of the digital heart rate and cadence tracking.

Using 2.4GHz digital wireless speed, cadence, and heart rate sensors, this device is now virtually free of any interference. It also features automatic sensor recognition, so that you can track your riding sessions; it doesn’t matter which bike you choose!

They have included a new detachable fabric HR sensor, too. It is designed to be more comfortable than most other chest straps on the market. And to top it off all the standard cycling functions, the Strada Digital Wireless features an alarm for the computer head and sensor when there is a low battery.

This product has an easy-to-use forefront design. With a single button operation system, you can navigate through metrics like trip distance, current speed, average speed, elapsed time, maximum speed, heart rate, and cadence.

A CatEye’s ISCTec sensor mounts to the chainstay of your bike frame, and with it, you can track both speed and cadence of your ride. A very useful inclusion is that the communications are now transmitted through 30 different ID codes, so that there’s no intermixing of your readings between your device and others.

The HRM chest strap is sold separately, but with it, you can maximize your training sessions by tracking your heart rate and learning your sustainable outputs within your heart rate zones.

The price for the Cateye Strada Digital Cadence Wireless Computer is currently $129.89 on Amazon. It is available in the color black, and with the purchase, you will also get a CR2032 battery, FlexTight mounting, and an ISCTec sensor.

Cateye Strada Digital CC-RD430DW computer – What Can be Improved?

A few buyers of this product seemed to have trouble with their heart monitor feature. It lagged some during rapid changes for about 15 seconds before finding its place again.

There were also some issues with the cadence magnet staying on the bike and with the visual instructions being unclear during set-up.

Product Overview and Features of Cateye Strada Digital CC-RD430DW computer

Speed, cadence, and heart rate capability
Runs on a CR2032 watch battery
Includes wireless cadence sensor
Weight: 20 grams
Size: 3 x 3.5 x 4.25
Price: $129.89
Only comes in black color
4GHz digital wireless
New fabric heart rate sensor (sold separately)
FlexTight mounting bracket
30 different ID codes prevents interference
Low battery alarm

The Verdict

The Cateye Strada Digital Wireless Bike Computer has all the basic functions of a bike computer with some added features. With 30 different ID codes, there’s no way your device can get tangled in a passing rider’s and cause interference.

Now with heart, speed, and cadence monitoring capabilities, you can track any important data that could later be used to improve your ride. Cateye Strada included helpful add-on features, like the low battery alarm and CR2032 watch battery, which makes their device more convenient to the user.

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Timex T5K615 GPS Bike Computer Review

TimeX Group B.V. is one of the best-known watch companies in America. They have produced a comparable bike computer to the Garmin Edge 500 with their Timex T5K615 GPS Bike Computer. It is a high-end alternative to the Garmin models because of its sleek design, accuracy, and included features. It also helps that it’s lightweight at around 2 pounds, with the dimensions 5.5 x 6.5 x 2.8 inches.

The Timex bike computer comes with a heart rate monitor to track bodily changes as your ride. In the display screen, you get to view five “screens” at once, each one displaying relevant information to your ride. The convenience of this feature is that there’s no need to hit a button and switch screen while riding.

Timex T5K615 GPS Bike Computer Review

Timex T5K615 GPS Bike Computer have five screens are customizable, too. You can monitor so many aspects of your ride at once, such as your current speed, distance, altitude, heart rate, etc., all with just a single glance.

Something that is very rare to find in bike computers is a magnetic compass, and this product includes it in theirs. What’s good about this? It’s old-fashion, but it’s reliable.

So if your GPS connection happens to fail, you will still be able to navigate yourself because of the compass. It is a helpful back up features for riders who like to take their training sessions into heavily wooded areas or just places where they are unfamiliar with the landscape.

The Timex T5K615 device also contains SIRFstarIII GPS technologies, so that you can monitor your speed and agility, all within real-time. With the USB charger, you can connect your device to your computer and upload all tracked data for later review. You can monitor your progress online, or compare and contrast your ride with your past rides or with other riders.

What Can be Improved

Current users do not like the older style mounting provided for this product. Some had to resort to using their own wire-tires or hot glue to secure their device in place on their bike. A lot of similar devices on the market have upgraded mounting systems that work more efficiently.

Some buyers experience GPS failure while riding with the device or said the GPS chip inside the device with bad within a month of use.

Product Overview and Features of Timex T5K615 GPS Bike Computer

Quick and easy recording of speed, distance, and map data
Magnetic compass included
Barometric altimeter
Backlit display
Limited power meter support
Poor mounting system
GPS failure
Battery life is up to 18 hours
Weight: 2 pounds
Size: 5.5 x 6.5 x 2.8 inches
Online upload capabilities
Customizable display
5 screens/data readings

The Verdict

The Timex T5K615 GPS bike computer is a handy little device. It didn’t make our top three, but it is still a comparable option to have. It offers some smart and helpful features, like its five screen display that allows you to track five different aspects of your ride with one glance.

It may not have an organized Internet network like Garmin does, but it does have Internet uploading capabilities. For the low price, you are still getting a product that is lightweight, small, and easy to use with advanced features.

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Garmin Edge 200 GPS-Enabled Bike Computer Review

This tiny, 2.1 ounce GPS-enabled bike computer tracks your distance, speed, time, location, and calories burned.

The Garmin Edge 200 GPS-Enabled Bike Computer isn’t just for training like most bike computers on the market. No—this little computer is ideal for training, everyday joy rides, and any fun-filled adventures you want to relive later one the interactive Internet network, Garmin Connect.

Garmin Edge 200 GPS-Enabled Bike Computer Review

The Garmin Edge 200 GPS-Enabled Bike Computer is a small device, only 0.8 x 1.9 x 2.7 inches. And it’s easy to use. The Garmin company designed this product for those who want to enjoy their ride and not have to fuss over required set-up gear or electronics. There’s no set-up required. All you need to do is pop it onto the bike mount, which is included, and you’re ready to ride. It even allows you to use it on multiple bikes.

The Edge 200 also features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver. The advanced HotFix satellite prediction calculates your position faster, so that you can get on with your ride and not have to worry about recalibrating anything. It also has the ability of alerting you if you’re moving but the timer is failing to run.

Edge 200 has an Auto Pause feature, which is handy because it will stop the timer on its own whenever it sensing that you’re not moving. Then it will restart automatically when you’re moving again. You can set alerts for whenever you meet a distance, time, or calorie goal. It’s a fun way to stay motivated.

This device stores up to 130 hours of your ride data and sorts all your activities, so you can quickly look review them at another time.

Like other Garmin products, this one also includes Garmin Connect, a worldwide network of cyclists. When you’re done with your ride, you can connect your device to your computer, upload all your collected data to the site, view it in more detail, and share it with other cyclists.

What Can be Improved

Users reported that they lost GPS signal once they were riding under tree coverage. Data wasn’t tracked once signal was lost. This can be a big problem for those who like riding in heavily wooded areas.

Some customers complained about the device stopping working after a month of use or losing its connect ability with the computer and Garmin Connect.

Product Overview and Features of Garmin Edge 200 GPS-Enabled Bike Computer

10 hour battery life
Size: 0.8 x 1.9 x 2.7
Weight: 2.1 ounces
Bike mount included
AC charger included
USB cable included
Garmin Connect
HotFix satellite prediction
130 hours of ride data storage

The Verdict

For such a tiny device, the Garmin Edge 200 is still a fully functioning bike computer. It lacks the more advanced features of some other models, but this product was designed with all types of bike riders in mind—not just for the competitive cyclist.

Garmin wanted a device that was easy to use and served its purpose, and that’s just what the Edge 200 does. There’s no need to fuss over electronics and overly complicated features. With this bike computer, you’ll simply enjoy your ride with the added benefit of GPS tracking and data collection.

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Third Pick: Cateye Strada White Double Wireless Computer Review

The Cateye Strada Double Wireless computer is our third place holder for best bike computer. Why? It is a simple, clean, easy to use, little computer that takes care of all the necessities sought after by cyclists looking to up their training sessions.

The Cateye Strada Double Wireless computer is small but slightly heavier than the Garmin devices at 4.8 ounces. The couple of ounces won’t slow down your ride by any means. It has a large, readable display with a one-click operation, so that you can cycle through all the available functions with only one button.

For this product, there is an innovative ISC Tec™ sensor that combines speed and cadence into a convenient single unit. It also has a digital wireless system with more than 30 ID codes to prevent cross-talk interference between nearby computers.

Don’t worry. The Cateye Strada Wireless computer is a breeze to set up and install, too—only takes about 10 minutes. A FlexTight™ bracket makes installation possible without the use of any tools. It fits most bike handlebars (from 22-31.8mm).

There are multiple parts need with this product, though, like a wheel magnet that mounts to the rear wheel of your bike and a cadence magnet that mounts to the crank-arm in order to track your ride performance.

For the low cost on Amazon, you get the Cateye Strada White Double Wireless Computer, along with batteries (one for each head unit and sensor), and a built-in clock feature.

What Can be Improved

Of course, it would be a nice feature to have to be able to download your data onto your computer for later analysis, but that might be a little too much to ask for with a device at this low price point.

Some current users say that they don’t care for the multiple parts needed, like the back wheel sensor and cadence magnet. Also, the mounting capabilities aren’t as reliable, and they had to resort to using tape or wire-ties to secure the computer onto their bike.

The product does not come with advanced features, like the barometric altimeter to pinpoint elevation changes, or a heart-rate monitor to track bodily changes. It does not include an Internet support network like the one used by Garmin.

Product Overview and Features of Cateye Strada Double Wireless Computer

Easy to setup and use
Weight: 4.8 ounces
Sale on Amazon
No data download capability
Cadence
Clock
Digital wireless system (ID coded)
ISCTec™ sensor combines speed & cadence in one unit
ClickTec™ button interface
FlexTight™ universal bracket
Multiple parts (cadence magnet and back wheel sensor)

The Verdict

The Cateye Strada White Double Wireless Computer takes our third place spot because its easy to use design, speed and cadence abilities, and low price. It gets the job done, without some of the more advanced features included in other products.

There is no data download capability which may or may not be a deal breaker for you. If you want a reliable device that’ll do its job of tracking your training sessions, this may be the right choice for you.

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Second Pick: Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS Review

In late 2009, Garmin introduced their new model, the Edge 500, and soon after, it became a top contender of the bike computer market. It stands as our second choice on our list of best bike computers because of its lower price point, high quality features, and small, lightweight design.

The Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS is very similar to our number one spot (the Garmin Edge 500 with cadence and heart rate monitor). The only difference between the two is this model lacks the cadence and heart rate features. It’s a slight exclusion, which is why the two Garmin models hold such high places on our list.

Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS Review

Like its product-brother, the Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS is one of the smallest cycle computers on the market. It weighs only 2.1 ounces and has a 4.5 centimeter diagonal screen. You don’t have to worry about the product’s weight or size slowing down your ride in any way. It also includes a lithium ion rechargeable battery with about 18 hours of battery life to it.

This model has all the important features you need in a GPS-enabled cycling computer. It shows your speed, ride trip time, distance traveled, elevation, and even more, all in real time.

You can also pair the Edge 500 Cycling GPS with ANT+ power meters and use it to detect your power output in terms of wattage. This means you can train smarter by constantly monitoring your training levels and making sure you are working at efficiently.

The Garmin Connect feature is a helpful tool to track progresses pre-ride and post-ride. You connect your Edge 500 Cycling GPS to your computer with the provided USB cord, and it automatically uploads all the recorded data it has collected over your training sessions.

With the Garmin Connect feature, you can also join a worldwide network of fellow cyclists. Share your progress with a click of a button, compare your adventures to other cyclists’, and set new goals for yourself.

When it comes to price, this product is currently listed on Amazon.

What Can be Improved

With the Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS, some current users complained of the mount not fitting their bike, even though they were told it would. It wasn’t as secure as they were led to believe and had to be held on with tape or wire-tires.

Some users also said they experienced instances where the data collected was mysteriously wiped off the device. They were unable to recover the information afterwards.

Product Overview and Features of Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS

High-sensitivity GPS receiver
Easy-to-read display
Barometric altimeter
Lithium ion battery included with up to 18 hours of battery lift
Small in size: 0.9 x 1.9 x 2.7 inches
Lightweight: 2.1 ounces
Sale on Amazon
ANT+ power meter capabilities
Garmin Connect
Twist mount
USB cable included

The Verdict

The Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS hold the second place spot because of its strong similarity to our top contender and because of its included features and small, lightweight design. If you want the basic GPS inclusions in your bike computer, this may be the product for you.

Because of its concentration of the much needed features and its lack of more luxurious ones, such as color options and heart rate monitoring, the price of the Edge 500 Cycling GPS is lower than its competitor. This product is for the serious cyclist who just needs the basics in their bike computer and doesn’t need frivolous add-ons.

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