a good speedometer?

[metalzombievi]

ive bought 2 different speedometers, less than $20 for both with shipping. one was analog and other was electronic. the electronic one never worked well (kept jumping to different numbers, id be going about 15, it would say 15 then 46 then 80 then 0 and would jump around.) the analog one i broke because i was going too fast. i had the needle doing full circles

does anyone know of a realy good and reliable speedometer/odometer that hopefully is less than $50?

 

[butterbean]

Yep, buy a smartphone handlebar mount, preferably a waterproof one, and download one of many free speedometer apps to your smartphone.

 

[crassius]

I think the smartphone thingie exceeds the $50 target.

 

[2old2learn]

I'd suggest going to a local well known bicycle store thats been their for 5 years or more, and tell them the issues you've had with the other units you've tried. Get them to select the one you should get and let them install it. You'll pay more, but you'll get a much better unit, that works, and that they will stand behind. Then if they solve your issue, try and support them with your parts purchases from time to time and refer others to them so they can stay in business for all the cyclists in your area. I personally practice this and from time to time I'll ride with them on one of my road bikes and also ride with them as a Domestique on my motorized bike by dropping back to the support vehicles to load up on water or food to hand out to the riders on some of their century rides, vs having a car try to get in close enough to hand off things to riders in a crowd. Much safer for a bike to be riding among bikes to do this. This promotes cycling in general and introduces MAB's to people who already have a love of cycling. We should not try to alienate ourselves from the spandex crowd, they are potential advocates for our sport and possible future MAB owners.

 

[metalzombievi]

do any of those speedometer apps work with out any internet or wireless data being used? my data is limited so i save it for emergencies like if i get lost.

 

[darwin]

Check out German bicycle speedometers. They run from the axle but are accurate and long lasting.

 

[2old2learn]

do any of those speedometer apps work with out any internet or wireless data being used? my data is limited so i save it for emergencies like if i get lost.

Try turning off your cellular connectivity and load your mapping software and see if it can provide you with speed and timer data.

You might shop around for a GPS unit or a GPS watch as they can provide you with speed data very accurately and they don't need any data access

 

[butterbean]

I think the smartphone thingie exceeds the $50 target.

Not if he already has a smartphone, which many people do. I got a waterproof cellphone mount on eBay for $10 with free shipping from a US seller, and the speedometer app I downloaded was free. You just have to remember to take the phone off the bike when not riding so it doesn't get stolen.

 

[butterbean]

Try turning off your cellular connectivity and load your mapping software and see if it can provide you with speed and timer data.

You might shop around for a GPS unit or a GPS watch as they can provide you with speed data very accurately and they don't need any data access

The mapping software doesn't provide speed or any other data besides location, directions and estimated time of arrival, requires a data connection to work. Cellphones actually have two different gps chips in them, one is hooked to the phones radio and thus only works with a data connection. This is the chip that is accessed by the mapping software, thus mapping software does not work without a data connection. The other chip is a standalone gps chip, which is accessed by the speedometer and other 3rd party gps apps, works without a data connection.

 

[butre]

find an air speed meter instead of a land speed meter. don't have to worry about calibration, vibration, or emf interference then