Cycle Computers

A cycle computer is a vital piece of equipment for the serious cyclist because it will help him maximize the benefit of riding the bicycle. It is usually affixed to the bike and its main purpose is to compute the distance travelled, speed, and the elapsed time. Its display unit, which is called the head unit, is usually mounted on the handlebars for the rider’s viewing convenience. However, some models have emerged that use wearable devices or mobile phones for display instead of the head unit.

While the display unit of a basic cycle computer shows the distance travelled, maximum speed attained, current speed, current time and total time elapsed, more sophisticated units can also display the heart rate, incline, altitude, temperature and power output. They can also show other functions such as pedalling cadence, a stopwatch, average speed and GPS navigation. The head unit is usually provided with a number of buttons to turn on a back light, shift to other values, or reset the distance travelled or time elapsed.

The cycle computer often has a cadence sensor that is often affixed to the crank arm using a magnet. However, more modern systems utilize accelerometers that are usually found in mobile phones. When the rider straps this phone to a leg, the VeloComputer application determines cadence by noting the up and down motion of the leg.

The wheel sensor is another important component of the cycle computer. The usual sensors have a magnet that is affixed to one of the spokes of a wheel. The sensor calculates distance and speed by detecting the time intervals between one passage of the magnet at a certain point to the next passage. Others have a sensor connected to the wheel hub and speed and distance are calculated by counting the number of rotations. The more recent models use a magnetic field to measure the angle of wheel rotation for certain time duration.

The cadence function is essential because it tells the cyclist the speed at which he is pedaling. This will ensure that he selects the proper gear to avoid too much pressure on the joints and muscles. If the rider is able to minimize the strain, he may be able to pedal for a much longer time.
The heart monitor is another vital feature of the cycle computer because it shows the cyclist when he has attained his optimum heart rate. This equipment comes with an integrated heart rate monitoring system to eliminate the need for carrying a heart rate monitor on the body. Meanwhile, the cycle computer can also show the particular gear that the cyclist is in and this will allow him to indirectly gage his cadence.