Is there a cyclocomputer that would work with a trainer? I'm not looking for anything fancy...just something that would show time/distance/speed. Perhaps a wireless computer with enough range to read magnet/receiver attached in the rear?

K-Zero

Cateye Astrale 8 has rear pickup and cadence for around 24.00, i love mine for that reason, can use on trainer.

The Cateye Astrale 8 would be great on a trainer. I got mine on sale for $24 at Nashbar about 6 months ago, no problems.

The older Astral (not 8) can be found for <$20 and aslo has a rear (wired) pick up. - TF

This thread needs one "odd-man-out"! Instead of a computer, which doesn't do much for you on a trainer, substitute an HRM and a clock. You get better workouts, and the only thing missing is the ability to record "miles" in your log.

Use this on trainer along with hrm. Able to watch cadence as well as time of workout. Especially good if doing intervals on the trainer.

This thread needs one "odd-man-out"! Instead of a computer, which doesn't do much for you on a trainer, substitute an HRM and a clock. You get better workouts, and the only thing missing is the ability to record "miles" in your log.

You need a computer because the only way (within reason) to calibrate your trainer is to measure the spin down time from one speed to another. Then the miles (and mph) are relative to the miles you did in previous sesions. - TF

Turbo: I don't understand the need to calibrate. I train with CTS, and every workout is defined by cadence, HR, and time. I measure those with a Cateye Astrale8 (just as the prior post mentioned) and an HRM. No need for anything running off the rear wheel. As long as you keep the cadence & HR in whatever range the workout specifies, you don't need to know anything about speed or distance. Calibrating would give you some sort of comparison to speed and miles on the road, but most workouts that I'm aware of aren't defined by speed and distance. The closest I can think of is the "2 x 20" workout, which is 2 intervals of 20 minutes at TT effort (technically it is a lactate threshold workout done based on watts) so again, not speed and distance.

...but does anyone make a wireless computer that works off of a rear wheel? Doesn't running a wire all the way to the back look messy?

K-Zero

Turbo: I don't understand the need to calibrate. I train with CTS, and every workout is defined by cadence, HR, and time. I measure those with a Cateye Astrale8 (just as the prior post mentioned) and an HRM. No need for anything running off the rear wheel. As long as you keep the cadence & HR in whatever range the workout specifies, you don't need to know anything about speed or distance. Calibrating would give you some sort of comparison to speed and miles on the road, but most workouts that I'm aware of aren't defined by speed and distance. The closest I can think of is the "2 x 20" workout, which is 2 intervals of 20 minutes at TT effort (technically it is a lactate threshold workout done based on watts) so again, not speed and distance.
Good for you. Not everybody has your goals. Believe it or not, some don't even race. - TF

...but does anyone make a wireless computer that works off of a rear wheel? Doesn't running a wire all the way to the back look messy?

K-Zero

The Astrale 8 has one wire most of the way, then splits into two for cadence and speed, I don't think it looks bad. (Wireless would be better though)

Cateye has a double wireless computer, one sensor on the chainstay that picks up cadence and wheel speed, and sends the info to your handlebar computer. I tried to pick one up when they first came out last spring, but they were backordered forever, and by the time I got tired of waiting and looked for other products, I realized I didn't really need a computer on the trainer anyways.

They're around 150 by the way, quite a bit to have a cleaner look on the bike.

Silas

Is there a cyclocomputer that would work with a trainer? I'm not looking for anything fancy...just something that would show time/distance/speed. Perhaps a wireless computer with enough range to read magnet/receiver attached in the rear?

K-Zero
with wireless cadence can be had for $95 from Beyond Bike. Very 'user friendly' setup and install...It's an excellent unit; my only complaint is that it will go into Sleep Mode after 5 minutes of non-riding time; after which you will have to manually restart it (some group ride breaks sometimes take a little longer, depending on # of riders, etc.) and if the conversation is good, then you (I sometimes do) can easily forget to start the computer (unlike my Flight Deck on my other bike)...and loose some time/distance....other than that it's one heck of a unit.

http://www.beyondbikes.com/BB/ItemDesc.asp?IC=AC%2DCOM%2Dcy8729

it's damn slick i have to say... i got one recently bundled with a kurt trainer. i think kurt's discouraging such practices to maintain msrp, etc. but in any case the cateye double was a great bonus/free gift.

don't think i'd ever pay >$100 for a bike computer... liked my $20 cateye mity 8. unfortunately figured a rear wheel/cadence option would be nice with trainer workouts. it's got reliable pick up... i was worried after reading stories about the cateye wirless 7 problems.

backlight feature is nice too... seems the newer cateyes displays are darker though during the day, fine under bright sunshine but at dusk the double wireless has a nice backlight.

nice to have the extra info...current speed, current cadence at all times...then the bottom part of the display is toggle'able between max speed, time, distance, etc.

john

Cateye has a double wireless computer, one sensor on the chainstay that picks up cadence and wheel speed, and sends the info to your handlebar computer. I tried to pick one up when they first came out last spring, but they were backordered forever, and by the time I got tired of waiting and looked for other products, I realized I didn't really need a computer on the trainer anyways.

They're around 150 by the way, quite a bit to have a cleaner look on the bike.

Silas

Instead of a computer, which doesn't do much for you on a trainer, substitute an HRM and a clock. You get better workouts....

Speed/Trainer can be a poor mans power meter. If you maintain a constant speed, you are maintaining a constant power on a trainer only.