Cycling Computers Reviews

Vetta RT288 L SmartLite Wireless Cycling Computer

For cycling enthusiasts who want a bigger picture of their cycling performance. The RT288L includes all the functions of the RT233 & RT255 and adds wireless transmission and NiteLite with SmartLite. Wireless transmission means easy assembly and no wires to wrap and tuck.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Good budget wireless bike computer
I bought this computer because it is wireless and you can see MPH, odometer and time all at the same time. The wireless works well. I question the accuracy of the computer. It seems off at high speeds. Also, the readout has a 3-4 second delay. So when you change speeds, the computer takes a few seconds to update the display. My wired cateye does not seem to have this problem. For a serious competitor, I think you would want to spend a little more. But for recreational biking it works fine.

1 Star Didn’t work- but have had prompt help
I’ve been cycling for years- and have installed plenty of these kinds of gadgets on a multitude of bikes. This one didn’t work.

After carefully reading the manual and buying and changing the batteries, and reinstalling multiple times I came to the conclusion that the sensor was not working. Have emailed Vetta and the retailer. Both have replied; Vetta sent some information and the seller has offered to send me a new sensor at their expense. I rate both for getting back to me promptly, and I hope this fixes the problem. Overall a but frustrating, but gratifying that they are actively helping fix the problem.

4 Stars Good stuff
The product is outstanding. The installation instructions are as you would expect… not thorough! But I love it anyway.

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Cateye TL LD1000 LED Bicycle Tail and Safety Light Red

Not content with producing the brightest front led on the market, cateye complement the EL-500 with the TL-1000, the ultimate rear LED for riders who value their visibility above all else. Cateyes patented Opticube technology is used for the first time in a rear light, combined with 10 ultrabright red LEDS for unparalleled brightness. With 2 LEDS on each side, the TL-1000 also offers unrivalled sideways visibility. Each row of LEDS is independently controlled by a side mounted switch and features 4 different modes, for a total of 16 different combinations. This will surely be the rear light to have this winter. Runtime: 15 hours constant. Batteries: 2 x AA.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Same issue as others, it stops working
I have the same issue as the other reviewers. I like the idea of the side light. I like the brightness of it. I like the length of the battery life. However, it quits while riding, and I ride to work prior to dawn in the spring and fall. I still have this light on my bike, but I have resorted to putting a much cheaper clip-on on my back pack, so that I remain visable.

To restart the light, I simply twist the section where the batteries are inserted, then twist it back. It always restarts. However, the light does not provide the safety I expect of it.

Like others here, This is my second one with the same problem. It is a design flaw I am sure.

2 Stars Great at first then becomes nearly useless
I was impressed by the brightness of this light and also liked the fact that there was some illumination on both ends. The problem was that after a couple months of use, the light would stop working in the middle of a ride. Since it is a tail light, it is hard to stop and monitor it all the time, so for significant amounts of time I would be riding with my primary flasher not functioning. NOT GOOD. Since the other reviewer had the same problem with 2 units, that I had with mine, it does seem that they didn’t get the bugs worked out of this product before selling it.

In addition, if you mount the light on the seatpost horizontally, it is wide enough your legs will probably strike it. Mounting it vertically is difficult unless you have other brackets available.

I’d recommend you pass on this light.

3 Stars GREAT when it works. But does it have a design flaw?
When it’s working properly, the TL-LD1000 is unarguably the BEST rear bicycle light available. I know because I’ve tried quite a few, including other Cateye models.

The light is essentially two very bright, independently controllable, 3-LED taillights in a single package. So, for example, I set the bottom triad of LEDs to blink and the upper triad to strobe back-and-forth. Both of the independently controllable lights are readily visible throughout a wide vertical and horizontal axis.

But note that I’m on my second TL-LD1000. And so I now find myself wondering if the light suffers from a fundamental design flaw.

The first TL-LD1000 I bought lasted a bit less than a year of regular use before it begin to spontaneously extinguish itself in response to normal road bumps. For a while a sharp slap would restore the light to operation, but the condition deteriorated: The light remained operational for a shorter period after each slap.

In response, I tried new batteries. I tried cleaning the battery contacts with a cotton swap and alcohol. I tried wrapping the batteries with some stretchy foam to help hold them tightly in place. None of those steps helped.

So after an email exchange with Cateye, I sent my malfunctioning light in and the company promptly replaced it with a new one.

I’ve used my second TL-LD1000 for just a bit less than a year, and now it too is spontaneously extinguishing itself and I’m once again slapping it to restore it to operation.

So, I would encourage other TL-LD1000 users to report on how reliably their light has worked and for how long.

As I said, it’s an EXCELLENT tail light when it works. But from the standpoint of the light’s long-term reliability, my experience has been zero-for-two…

4 Stars 3 years and still going strong!
This little light has worked great for me for over three years now — has nice front and side flashers, but like one of the other reviewers commented, it’s definitely a bit on the bulky side.

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Cateye HR200DW Double Wireless Heart Rate Bicycle Computer

New segmented, color-blocked screen improves your ability to quickly extract critical data. Lap function provides the ability to track both speed and cadence of intervals. Fully adjustable center mount bracket holds computer in front of the handlebar. Includes a coded transmitter that eliminates “cross-talk” interference.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Save your money – nice idea, poor execution
I wanted a combination HRM /computer for my bike and this seemed to fit the bill. It is a waste of money. First, the HRM is completely erratic. I use electrode cream and keep the strap fairly tight with the electrodes positioned properly. When I get a HR signal – it can go from 45 -> 70 -> 150 -> 60 -> 0 all in a few minutes. I thought maybe they had programmed in a random number generator the way it was going. Totally useless. Most often it just cuts out totally and goes to 0 for 15 – 20 minutes for no obvious reason.

The display itself is the other problem. It is VERY dim and impossible to read if you are in shade with sunglasses on. I’ve been able to read many other bike displays under the same conditions, but this one seems very dim, with no contrast. It reminds me of how other LCDs look right before the batteries die. Except the batteries I have in it are brand new.

The SLEEP function does not work. It is NOT automatic. You need to manually put it to sleep when you want that. There is a description of how to do this on Cateye’s site in the knowledge base. This is ridiculous. Supposedly it goes to sleep if there is absolutely no RF signals in the atmosphere. So I guess if you bike in Antarctica or somewhere desolate like that it might work, but not where most of us ride.

Finally the mounting is clever, but you MUST mount it where Cateye wants you to or forget it. You must mount it to the right of the stem with the unit in front of the handlebars. So if you have aero bars it won’t mount properly.

And Cateye has no real tech support. They only accept email, however those are not answered. (Believe me, I’ve sent them several). So there is no one to talk to or to try to fix things. I’ll NEVER buy Cateye again.

2 Stars Auto-shutoff doesn’t work
This computer has nice display that will show all of the information I’m interested in. However, the sensors are much more prone to interference than the other products I’ve used. The heart rate monitor is very sensitive to power lines — the big lines on the metal towers mess up both this unit and my Polar watch/HRM, but this unit fails in many other places where my Polar has no problems. Also, the sensors hang from the chest strap and get unclipped too easily. The wireless signal from the wheel sensor is also a problem — there are two places on my normal routes where this computer loses the signal for a while. I’ve never had that problem with my other (much cheaper) wireless computer.

A stem mount would have been nice. With my aerobars clipped on to my handlebar, I’ve got nowhere to mount my computer properly.

Finally, the biggest frustration is with the auto-shutoff. Like every other computer I’ve had, this is supposed to turn itself off after several minutes of inactivity. Unlike every other computer I’ve ever had, this one simply won’t shut itself off 9 times out of 10. I’ve tried taking it off the mount and storing it other places, thinking that maybe there’s some source of interference in my garage that’s keeping the computer on, but nothing seems to help. I’ve resorted to removing the batteries at the end of a ride.

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Vetta RT288 L SmartLite Wireless Cycling Computer

For cycling enthusiasts who want a bigger picture of their cycling performance. The RT288L includes all the functions of the RT233 & RT255 and adds wireless transmission and NiteLite with SmartLite. Wireless transmission means easy assembly and no wires to wrap and tuck.

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star Didn’t work- but have had prompt help
I’ve been cycling for years- and have installed plenty of these kinds of gadgets on a multitude of bikes. This one didn’t work.

After carefully reading the manual and buying and changing the batteries, and reinstalling multiple times I came to the conclusion that the sensor was not working. Have emailed Vetta and the retailer. Both have replied; Vetta sent some information and the seller has offered to send me a new sensor at their expense. I rate both for getting back to me promptly, and I hope this fixes the problem. Overall a but frustrating, but gratifying that they are actively helping fix the problem.

4 Stars Good stuff
The product is outstanding. The installation instructions are as you would expect… not thorough! But I love it anyway.

4 Stars Good budget wireless bike computer
I bought this computer because it is wireless and you can see MPH, odometer and time all at the same time. The wireless works well. I question the accuracy of the computer. It seems off at high speeds. Also, the readout has a 3-4 second delay. So when you change speeds, the computer takes a few seconds to update the display. My wired cateye does not seem to have this problem. For a serious competitor, I think you would want to spend a little more. But for recreational biking it works fine.

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Cateye CC MT400 Mity 8 Function Bicycle Computer

Intermediate distance feature is perfect for interval changing.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars easier instructions available
Don’t let the instructions scare you. Although it is true, the original instructions are difficult at best, (one large sheet of paper with confusing instructions 12 languages), easier instructions are available in english on the web. Simply Google “cateye mity 8″ and your setup troubles are over. Worked like a charm.

As for simpler instructions in any of the other eleven languages? I Can’t help you there.

Otherwise, a great bike computer.

5 Stars Easy install, easy to read
I installed this on my trail bike. This is my first computer/speedometer, and it works well and is accurate. As a senior, I appreciate the large, easy to read numbers, as I ride the bike paths in our area.

4 Stars Keeps it simple.
I do bike commuting so what I’m looking for is quality and simplicity. I don’t need all the other data, and the resultant complexity, of the more expensive units. I have owned wireless computers before, but had lots of problems with the units not picking up the data from the wheel for one reason or another. Also, my HRM signal would interfere with the computer signal too. So I went back to using a wired computer on my commuter bike. Simple, easy to install, reliable. Since on my commute I’m only looking for basic info… speed, distance, avg speed, this inexpensive unit meets my needs. No problems with crosstalk or low batteries causing signal to be lost. Just one less thing to have to hassle with. Nice price too. Had mine for years. Still doing fine.

4 Stars Good bike computer.
The computer is really good and installs quite easily. The only problem is the setting instructions for the functions (In 11 languages). They are not very good (As noted in another review I read).

5 Stars The Mity 8 has all of the important features except cadence. Recommended.
This is the lightest, most reliable, most commonly used computer on the low end of the market (the $15-25 range). You’re buying what everyone else is (which is both good b/c tells you many consumers who did some research agree with your decision; and bad because, well, you’re not hip and individualistic, oh well). This cyclocomputer is great for what it is. Installation is pretty dang easy even though the instructions are basic at best (really, just make sure the sensor is close enough to the magnet on your spokes and that the wires turn with the handlebars). If you’re in the market for a device to tell you how fast you’ve gone how far and for how long, this is it.

The only negative comment I have is that operation is not intuitive, but the instructions make it clear. Really, this is an issue common to all similar devices and cateye’s mity 8 is no better or worse than others.

The next step up is a similar model that also measures “cadence” (The speed at which the pedals turn, measured in Revolutions Per Minute. Inexperienced cyclists tend to ride in higher gears than they should, pedaling at a slower cadence; experienced riders in the 70rpm range). Again, Cateye is the way to go, and as expected, more features means a higher cost.

Beyond that are devices that include heart rate monitors. This is great, but there is a substantial extra cost and “gadget” factor. A separate monitor may be better (like on the wrist).

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