strava vs new computer?

[Waldo]

Hi All,
After a year or 5 (or more?) of spending my cycling on the trainer in the shed for various reasons (some beyond my control) I have ventured out into the wide world once again.

Have been running a Bryton Rider 30 which has done the basics just fine with HRM and cadence but the HRM has been a bit iffy for a while and now the strap is buggered so have been pondering either:
a) grabbing a new HRM to pair with the old Bryton.
b) grabbing a complete new computer with HRM and cadence.
c) grabbing a new HRM and paring with Strava on the phone.

Only downside with the strava option is from my googling while strava pairs with HRM it doesn't currently pair with cadence but I could run my old Bryton just for the cadence?

Am I missing anything by running the strava and not going with a dedicated cycling computer upsec'd from my old Bryton which is probably due given its age to die anyway?
Cheers.

[Andy01]

Hi All,
After a year or 5 (or more?) of spending my cycling on the trainer in the shed for various reasons (some beyond my control) I have ventured out into the wide world once again.

Have been running a Bryton Rider 30 which has done the basics just fine with HRM and cadence but the HRM has been a bit iffy for a while and now the strap is buggered so have been pondering either:
a) grabbing a new HRM to pair with the old Bryton.
b) grabbing a complete new computer with HRM and cadence.
c) grabbing a new HRM and paring with Strava on the phone.

Only downside with the strava option is from my googling while strava pairs with HRM it doesn't currently pair with cadence but I could run my old Bryton just for the cadence?

Am I missing anything by running the strava and not going with a dedicated cycling computer upsec'd from my old Bryton which is probably due given its age to die anyway?
Cheers.

The Rider 30 is a pretty old computer, so it has done well. If it is still working fine and reliable enough, and has enough display fields / larger enough screen etc, keep using it.

Have you considered a armband style optical HRM ? I have been using Polar OH1+ and Polar Sense HRMs (wife & myself) for nearly 3 years now, and while there has been a couple of issues with them (randomly staying at a low rate for the first 90 seconds or so of the ride and then increasing to what it should read - no idea why, doesn't always do it), nothing major. For cycling they are plenty responsive/accurate enough, and more comfortable to wear than a chest strap. I think they cost around $130 now (less on sale or eBay deal).

I have used Brytons for a few years now (Rider 10, then 410, and for the wife, second hand 330, and new 420) - I find that they are reliable, pair with anything easily, and just work. The app has just been updated significantly and seems better than before. Skip the basic ones (15 I think) - the lowest I would go for now is the 320, or probably 420 because it has a bigger screen with more fields (up to per page (I usually run 7 on my 410, and my wife runs 5 on her 420 - speed at the top by itself so it is easy to read).

Sometimes you can get a good deal on a complete kit (computer + cadence + HRM), but often the sales are just on the basic computer only kits. As above, it depends on whether you want the chest type HRM or armband style.

I have bought a couple of Magene cadence/speed sensors and they work well. Cost about $30 on eBay.

I have not used Strava but I do use the Wahoo app on my iPhone X with a Magene cadence sensor on my old exercise bike and it works OK. It was the only app I found that could pair with a cadence & HRM sensor - the Polar Flow app reads HRM, but not cadence. There was someone on here who was going to try the Wahoo app on a road bike instead of a bike computer, but I don't remember seeing any feedback as to whether it worked or not ?

[Waldo]

Thanks Andy,

No I hadn't considered the armband style HRM but after having a quick google will certainly consider them, pricewise they are quite reasonable too.

[warthog1]

I like to be reading my data and have a long run time. A phone is far less suitable for that purpose.
It will also chew the phone battery at a rapid rate if you plan on using it as a display.
Nobody I know who cycles regularly uses a phone as a bike computer. Not that I've seen anyway.
Garmin, wahoo, bryton and others make various computers that are designed with cycling as the purpose use.
Hunt around online and uou should be able to get one for a very reasonable price.
With respect to HR, I just use a giant brand chest monitor and an ebay strap (thanks Tim ). Very reliable over thousands of hours. I just lick the plastic contacts before I put it on. Has worked faultlessly

[g-boaf]

I would suggest a new Garmin - the 1030 or whatever the current version is. In my experience this is trouble free and easy to use with long battery life.

It isn’t cheap but it does what is claimed.

[trailgumby]

I have a Garmin 830 and I'm using the Wahoo Tickr optical HRM on my arm. After having too many chest-mounted units fail due to salty perspiration either finding its way in or corroding the press-stud contacts, I'm really liking the arm-mounted unit.

It is fully sealed with no external openings, and has an internal rechargeable battery. It charges by sitting on a magnetic cradle, and does not require the user to open a rubber seal and insert a charge lead, so that's a significant source of damp ingress eliminated.

Due to being less sweaty and having better evaporation, I expect it will last a decent amount of time before the battery reaches end of life. It only needs charging once every few weeks based on my 10-12 hours a week riding and training. So if the battery is good for 300 cycles, that's 5 to 10 years.

[warthog1]

I would suggest a new Garmin - the 1030 or whatever the current version is. In my experience this is trouble free and easy to use with long battery life.

It isn’t cheap but it does what is claimed.

Ditto.
I recently got a 1030+ off ebay which is a refurbished unit with warranty.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/16530912383 ... media=COPY
Excellent battery life, 10 parameters displayed on the screen, great mapping for gravel. Very happy.

[Waldo]

For those using the Tickr Fit or Polar OH1/verity sense armband style HRM are there any issues when generously applying sunscreen? It gets damn hot here!

At this stage leaning towards getting one of the above then replacing the old Bryton when it dies.

[Mr Purple]

For those using the Tickr Fit or Polar OH1/verity sense armband style HRM are there any issues when generously applying sunscreen? It gets damn hot here!

At this stage leaning towards getting one of the above then replacing the old Bryton when it dies.

No, it's optical so uses a light to measure the pulse. I've had fewer issues with the optical HRM than I did with the chest one.

The strap does get mighty stinky, but you can just stick it in the wash. The only issue I found was in winter they're not exactly compatible with arm sleeves (which only applies for about three days a year in Brisbane).

[trailgumby]

For those using the Tickr Fit or Polar OH1/verity sense armband style HRM are there any issues when generously applying sunscreen? It gets damn hot here!

At this stage leaning towards getting one of the above then replacing the old Bryton when it dies.

No issues for me at all with the Tickr Fit, except for forgetting to turn it on sometimes at the start of the ride.

Then I turn it on and thumb through the menu on the first climb to pick it up. It helps that my Garmin 830 has the capacity to assign names to devices rather than having to remember ID numbers.

[Andy01]

I wear my Polar armband on my bicep, rather than forearm, so it is positioned just under my t-shirt sleeve. I generally ride for less than an hour around 7am, so even in Brisbane I never bother about sunscreen.

The only thing I would be concerned about with sunscreen is that it is awful stuff when you get it on plastic. Many years ago I lost the plastic coating on my (then) Rav4 manual's gearknob - the silver coating just peeled off. Toyota replaced the knob under warranty, and some time later I put a bit of effort in trying to find out what caused it - narrowed it down to a "beachy" weekend in Byron Bay where I was using sunscreen a lot. Several people on the camera forum I visit have complained about a similar thing on camera gear after using sunscreen. I have no idea if sunscreen would damage the printing etc on the HRM, but it might - probably wouldn't stop it working, but it could affect it cosmetically.

The other thing that is really bad for plastics is the DEET in insect repellents.

The Polar Sense (and older OH1+) are both 100% submersible as they are designed for clipping to swimming google straps - completely sealed.

I have forgotten to turn on my Polar but that probably applies with any HRM, chest or arm. My Brytons automatically pick it up as soon as it is turned on (no need for menus), so if I notice it is not reading heart rate, a quick button press on the Polar and it connects and records (on the Bryton) the rest of the ride.

[Waldo]

Looks like I may have jinxed myself, jumped on the trainer this morning and with the old Bryton 30 the cadence while seeing the sensor was not giving a reading

I'll play around with it later on but looks like it may be terminal.

[Andy01]

Cadence sensor battery ? Generally the CR2032 only last about 9-12 months (usage dependent).

[Waldo]

Cadence sensor battery ? Generally the CR2032 only last about 9-12 months (usage dependent).

This morning when I jumped on the unit was recognizing the sensor when I rescanned it but gave no readings, just checked it again and the unit would not find the sensor. Pulled the battery out, cleaned it a bit and it is now recognizing and reading it so all good there

Strangely enough pulled the battery out of the HRM and man it was a bit yucky in there, I'll check the shops downtown today and see if anyone has either the Polar Verity or Wahoo TickrFit in stock to grab

Oh yeah, I'll grab some spare batteries for the cadence sensor too

[Waldo]

Tried unsuccessfully to support a local retailer and ended up ordering a Wahoo Tickr Fit online. Looking forward to testing it out when it arrives, hopefully quickly
The old Bryton can serve the purpose till it eventually dies, then I may look at the various options available then.

[Retrobyte]

I have a Garmin 830 and I'm using the Wahoo Tickr optical HRM on my arm. After having too many chest-mounted units fail due to salty perspiration either finding its way in or corroding the press-stud contacts, I'm really liking the arm-mounted unit.

It is fully sealed with no external openings, and has an internal rechargeable battery. It charges by sitting on a magnetic cradle, and does not require the user to open a rubber seal and insert a charge lead, so that's a significant source of damp ingress eliminated.

Due to being less sweaty and having better evaporation, I expect it will last a decent amount of time before the battery reaches end of life. It only needs charging once every few weeks based on my 10-12 hours a week riding and training. So if the battery is good for 300 cycles, that's 5 to 10 years.

I have a Tickr arm HRM as well - I am very happy with it for the same reasons you mention.

[Retrobyte]

I have forgotten to turn on my Polar but that probably applies with any HRM, chest or arm. My Brytons automatically pick it up as soon as it is turned on (no need for menus), so if I notice it is not reading heart rate, a quick button press on the Polar and it connects and records (on the Bryton) the rest of the ride.

The Wahoo Bolt also picks up the HRM automatically once the HRM is turned on

[blizzard]

I like bike computers over Strava on the phone as 1) I like looking at data as I ride. 2) I don't want to risk my phone going flat on longer rides as its a safety device.

[Mububban]

I was using a smaller sized iPhone 6 with a Quadlock mount initially, running Strava with the screen on would kill the battery very quickly. It also overheated easily in direct sunlight on midday rides.

I found connecting it to a powerbank stored in a top tube bag solved the battery drain problem, as it only drawing a trickle from the powerbank vs cooking the internal battery, it didn't overheat. However the glare from the screen made it hard to read.

I bought a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt and have been very happy with it. Never overheats, the matt screen doesn't suffer from glare and battery life is longer than my body could ride in one day Good for navigation when paired with the phone app too.

[Waldo]

FYI the Tickr fit arrived this arvo, have successfully paired with both the Bryton and smart phone

Cadence sensor was playing up so changed the battery and it came back but then no cadence again last night on trainer, time for a new cadence sensor now.

This thing is gradually becoming like grandads old axe . When the Bryton fails which seems inevitable (given its age) I'll get a new computer that will link with a varia or similar, not sure what that will be but I'll keep an eye out for specials in the interim.

[gregausit]

Here is some different thoughts for all.

I like phones, cause they can do many things, anyway, I have power banks too & now ebike, it has USB out, so can run 2 or 3 phones if I want, I use 2.

Have a few fitbits between us, have strava and other apps like map my ride etc, anyway with fitbit and strava etc, you can share the fitbit data, it suits people like me who will never compete or train & none of these things existed when I did race bikes

[john_most03]

Hi guys,

I'm new here.

Just got back into cycling after a 15 year hiatus.

Just bought a Specialized Rockhopper Sport 29 mountain bike...

I also bought a XOSS Azur bike computer, which is the cheapest one they had at 99 Bikes, because I was looking for something really simple..

It's surprisingly good for the $75 I paid for it...

It can be linked to ANT+ sensors...

It has a number of different "GPS" systems built in...like the Russian GLONASS, the Chinese one, etc..

Here is the link: https://www.99bikes.com.au/azur-commute ... e-computer

It links to a mobile app via Bluetooth and can automatically push your rides onto Strava...

- John

[Andy01]

Since the question was raised over 12 months ago, and the OP doesn't appear to have been active here in over 6 months, the decision may have been made.