Gilbert and Sullivan suggested that pirates – specifically the Pirates of Penzance – may have had “Cat Like Tread” but CatEye is providing a cycling light for those who have eyes that aren’t quite as good as our feline friends. The Padrone computer is for those riders with aging eyes and provides larger numbers.
In addition it has seven basic functions that include current-, average- and maximum-speed, as well as trip distance, total distance, elapsed time and clock.
Bicycle component maker SRAM has introduced its new QuickView Computer Mount Adaptor that allows riders to use its handlebar computer mount with Garmin computers that offer a slide mount or quarter-turn twist mount. For just $5 this is an ideal solution to getting the Garmin devices to work with SRAM’s mounts.
We didn’t think “bar flies” tend to leave the bar, but in the case of the Bar Fly handlebar mount for cycling computers the company has looked to change things up. To date Bar Fly has been focused on computer mounts for the road, where the mount put the computer out in front of the bar so as to be better seen. This isn’t quite so ideal on mountain bikes, and now the company appears to be developing a MTB-specific Garmin mount – one that holds the computer securely to the handlebars while making it easy to see.
The “soul” of a cycling computer these days could just be the GPS functionality that connects with a higher plane. The Soleus Draft , which is the sport watch maker’s first foray into cycling, can track current/average/max speed, calories burned and distance. It isn’t compatible with heart rate monitors so we could say this one is lacking “heart” but with its ability to provide the data via GPS in a $99 device who needs heart?
Even in non-electrical powered bicycles there are more and more electrical gizmos and gadgets, and these include GPS devices and cycle computers. The “controls” for gear shifters and brakes are positioned within finger’s reach, but typically the controls for those electrical devices are not.
German sports electronics maker o-synce looks to change that, and has introduced a control interface that can be positioned next to the grips making it easier for riders to switch views, toggle through information and take full control of their ANT+ enabled devices.
Early adopters to the iPhone 5 don’t have to go without a cycling computer. iBike will have the iBike Dash CC 5 Cycling Computer and iBike Phone Booth 5 Case & Mount available next month and the end of the year. Continue reading iPhone 5 gets iBike Dash and Phone Booth Case
Timex – the company know to take a licking and keep on ticking – was back at Interbike last week with its Cycle Trainer 2.0 GPS Bike Computer, which includes five screens of real-time cycling data provided by GPS. It can track speed, distance and grade all in real time, while also providing barometric altimeter readings and temperature. Continue reading Interbike 2012: Timex Keeps Ticking with 2.0 Cycling Computer
At last week’s Eurobike Trade Show in Germany Mio introduced several new bicycle computers, including the Mio Cyclo 100 (above), which can record cycle times, speed, distance and calorie burn. The device features 1.8-inch display and has a waterproof casing so you don’t need to worry about getting caught in the rain – or at least you don’t need to worry about the bike computer. Continue reading Mio Goes Full Cycle
Earlier this week we reported on the new 3T Integra stem that allows for an aerodynamic seating of Garmin Edge devices, but if the thought of replacing the whole stem is too much, the Quarq Low Pro 500 mount ( MSRP: $35) might be worth a peek. Designed exclusively for the popular Garmin Edge 500, the mount offers a sleek seat for the cycle-computer that puts the device front and center of the steam. The mount will be out this summer.
Gadget blogs are buzzing — or should we say spinning their wheels — about an Android-based cyclocomputer in development by Pioneer. It wasn’t openly on display at CES earlier this month, and Pioneer doesn’t have anything posted on its US or Japan sites, however this video from DigInfo has an interview with one of the developers in Japan and some operational footage of the unit itself.
It will measure the typical speed, distance and cadence. Expect it also to have navigation and other typical read outs. A sensor on the crank, or pedaling meter will measure the force vectors of their left and right feet on the pedals and crank.
The computer will be Ant+ compliant, which is a wireless sensor network solution, so it will be able to talk to other devices. We expect for starters it will talk to your Android-based phone.
Last summer Apple filed a patent for a cycling app, though there haven’t been any announcements on when that will come out or if it will have even half of the functionality of this Pioneer computer.
via [Engadget and Android Fanatic]
Garmin, maker of GPS devices, acquired MetriGear last month. The newly-acquired company based in Silicon Valley creates solutions for improving athletic performance in cycling and other sports. One of MetriGear’s products is Vector, a power meter built into a bike pedal’s spindles. This meter calculates a cyclist’s power by measuring force applied to the pedals.
“Power is becoming the must-have information for cyclists who want to improve their performance,” said Cliff Pemble, Garmin president and COO.
Continue reading What the Garmin Acquisition of MetriGear Means for Cycling, Fitness Computers
This past week we had the chance to test out the Garmin Edge 500 GPS-based cycling computer. With this on my bike I’m feeling like I’m ready for the Tour de France – that is if women actually were allowed to race in the most famous of cycling classics. But it helped me on my way for my local training rides.
The very first impression was that this one could be difficult to setup and calibrate. The problem with technology is the more it can do, the more complicated it is to use. But I was more than pleasantly surprised with the ease of the set-up and the versatility that this device offered out of the box. While not the most notable, but certainly appreciated is the fact that this device comes with several rubber loops for securing the computer’s mount to the bike. This is such a small thing, but it is so welcome, especially for anyone who can’t decide the best placement for the mounts, and only realized this after tightening the zip ties.
But the more notable point is that this is a wireless device. So there is no wire to run, making for a cleaning line on the frame, and more importantly making for one less thing to worry about. The Edge 500 can be used without a heart rate monitor, without the sensors. But the version I’m testing came with those items, and all this set up very easily and quickly too. Continue reading Hands On: Garmin 500 Edge – First Impressions