The bike computer is a handy tool for measuring and displaying data relating to riding, such as altitude, speed, distance traveled, and occasionally heart rate or heart rate.
You could be thinking that smartphones can accomplish everything as well, so why not use one instead? The following are some of the most typical benefits of a bike computer.
1. Benefits of Bike Computer
A bicycle computer is a smart piece of hardware that uses a link to your bike to measure a number of data relevant to your health. They exist just to keep track of numerous statistics and to allow you to evaluate them both in real time and later.
Price and utility
Many elite cyclists struggle to keep track of how fast they're going, how far they've ridden, and how long they've been out on the road. The cheapest bike computers will provide you with all of this information and more, in addition to power. For less than 200 dollars, you can have a full-featured product.
Durability
The durability of a bicycle computer is the next benefit. Most bike computers are designed to withstand water, dust, and crashes. Because they will be dropped, crushed, shook, and banged during insane bike rides, their displays and frames are intended to be extremely robust. When a phone is dropped, on the other hand, it is frequently destroyed or rendered useless.
Battery Life
Low-power screens and readily rechargeable or replaceable batteries are common features of bike computers. That means you won't run out of power in the middle of a long journey.
Bicycle computers, in fact, may survive for years before the battery has to be replaced. Meanwhile, you won't be able to keep up with this on a smartphone. A black-and-white LCD calculator will survive longer than a color LED calculator or a calculator with GPS.
Accuracy and precision
Ordinary bicycle computers merely keep track of how many times your wheel spins. As a result, it seldom loses GPS satellites or takes shortcuts because updating your location takes too slow.
The computer knows exactly how fast and far you've gone as long as you don't sit about letting the wheel spin and calibrate your computer appropriately. GPS gadgets, on the other hand, have a higher rating. As a result, in comparison to battery life and other factors, this issue is frequently neglected.
2. How to Choose a Bike Computer
When it comes to getting feedback on your riding, you have a lot of alternatives. Furthermore, the rapid rate of technology advancement implies more options.
GPS functions
GPS should only be enabled on the most basic (cheap) riding computers. A comprehensive variety of data, including distance, speed, altitude, and navigation features, is based on GPS. For quick, precise tracking, the most advanced gadgets (the most expensive ones) link to several GPS satellite systems.
Cycling functions
The majority of gadgets give basic information such as speed and distance. Altitude, cadence, and power are all tracked by advanced equipment. The inclusion of additional features enhances accuracy, and many bike computers come with those sensors included in the box.
Navigation
Basic monitoring is generally included in higher-priced devices, and you'll be notified if you get off course. The most advanced gadgets work similarly to a car navigation system, allowing you to enter your location and receive turn-by-turn directions.
Wireless
It's incredibly easy because almost all bike computers these days are wireless (with additional sensors or your power meter, phone, fitness tracker, or laptop). for the user.
Mountain biking functions
Trailforks, a prominent program that offers trail information and navigation data, is integrated into this product. As a result, the system captures important mountain bike metrics including jumps, time in the air, and flow. As a result, it is much simpler to locate you, especially if you go missing.
Display quality
One of the weak aspects that influences your purchase selection is display quality. Black and white displays are common in low-cost items, but color touch screens are common in high-end products. You may modify the display in most of the brand's bike calculator applications, including what data is presented and how it is displayed.
3. How Does a Bike Computer Work?
These devices record the frequency of each wheel rotation using tiny sensors connected to the wheel and fork (or, in the case of cadence sensors, the wheel and pedal crank).
A tiny magnet is often connected to a spoke on the front wheel, while a sensor is linked to one of the fork legs. Riders must first calibrate their computer to their specific wheel size (instructions are included in the manual), so that each time the magnet passes the sensor, the computer recognizes the distance traveled by the wheel (in terms of diameter) and can calculate speed based on the wheel's rotational frequency.
These devices record the frequency of each wheel rotation using tiny sensors connected to the wheel and fork (or, in the case of cadence sensors, the wheel and pedal crank).
A tiny magnet is often connected to a spoke on the front wheel, while a sensor is linked to one of the fork legs. Riders must first calibrate their computer to their specific wheel size (instructions are included in the manual), so that each time the magnet passes the sensor, the computer recognizes the distance traveled by the wheel (in terms of diameter) and can calculate speed based on the wheel's rotational frequency.
While most cycling computers display real-time data (such as speed and heart rate) on the screen, the findings are generally returned after the bike has been used for a while.
You may spend hours studying your route and performance if you connect your bike computer to your laptop. You may simply and plainly examine the indications from there.
4. Can We Use Smartphone Instead?
You can replace it entirely, but smartphones have limited capabilities. Cycling computers, for example, are significantly more precise in monitoring speed, cadence, and acceleration since they are developed particularly for bikes with specialized sensors.
Bike computers may preload sets of programs and displays tailored to riders because they are developed and constructed particularly for them. As a result, you will be able to access your computer and obtain the information you want. They may frequently be modified to provide you with the most relevant information for that particular trip.
However, one of their most significant advantages is their exceptional weather resilience. Because the chassis is generally more durable, it has less issues when it rains. They're also built to withstand involuntary disembarkation (* an event), unlike the smartphone.
The manner the computer kit communicates to the sensor used to be the dividing line between low-end and high-end bicycle computers, with cheaper computers frequently being wired and more complex versions transferring information wirelessly, allowing for easier installation and a less cluttered look.
Even the simplest bike calculator will tell you how quickly you're moving (speed), how far you've ridden (distance), and how long you've been cycling.
It is, nevertheless, resistant to the effects of the weather. As a result, having your own bicycle computers will not let you down, especially if the weather changes.
Conclusion
The bicycle computer was created with a specific purpose in mind. They're designed to be more crash-resistant, water-resistant, and aerodynamic. The main goal is to capture GPS data, but it also considers battery life and, of course, it will provide additional safety for the user, especially in inclement weather.
A phone with GPS, on the other hand, can do virtually everything a cycling computer can do - but it's not the best - therefore it's better in many ways. We recommend utilizing a bicycle GPS bike computer for people who pedal 2-3 hours per week or who need to use cycling data in addition to speed, distance, and time because of some benefits of the bike computer we mentioned above. They're made for riding and recording all of your data, not to mention utilizing cycling applications, because your data logger drains your phone's battery.
