Bicycle Odometers

Review by The Grumpy Hacker : Great entry level wireless cycle computer!

I got a great deal on this on sale--more than half off--but it's easily worth twice what I paid. The packaging is really nice, making it seem like a high-end product, with an instruction book in like 10 languages. Installation and configuration was a cinch. It mounts easily on either the bars or stem. Took it out for the first time and after 46 miles had no problems at all. I used my cell phone near it and I rode by plenty of other riders with computers too. The transmitter I mounted on the fork even wiggled a bit farther from the magnet than the 11mm it says it has to be, but it kept on working. (It mounts with zip ties and I apparently didn't pull them very tight.) The only minor "quirk" I noticed is that it only measures speed in one-half mph increments (e.g. 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, etc.) rather than tenths. Also, there's no backlight for people who ride in the dark. Bottom line, I love it and I can't wait to get the VDO C Series DS Wireless Cadence Kit.

Review by Nathaniel Allen : Great! High quality, strong transmitter, excellent customer service.

I've been using various bike computers for a while, and have had VDO's elevation-measuring MC1.0+ for about 5 years. More recently, I needed a more basic computer for my commute bike that could do double duty on our tandem, mounted on the stoker's handlebar.

At first it appeared wireless wouldn't cut it for the long transmission range needed for the tandem, but then I found a few folks who reported success with the digital transmission of VDO's DS-series computers. Sure enough, this computer works like a charm! No ugly wires running half way across the bike, either.

The functions are basic (no altitude, cadence or heartrate on this model), but it features 2 wheels sizes for use on two bikes (I've since moved it off my 16" folding commute bike and onto my wife's 29"er, since she's the primary user of it on the tandem), plus all the usual average / max speed / timing features.

A word about VDO's customer service: Excellent. I've had no problems with this unit, but had an off-trail experience with my MC1.0+ which caused a small button part to become lost. I emailed my problem to VDO, and within a couple of days, I had an envelope in my mailbox, postmarked from Germany, that MORE than took care of my problem. Truly awesome!

It's good to have the option of a quality product such as this. It truly stands out among the usual brands, and is superior to the $20 and $30 "house brand" computers sold by many online retailers.