Backlit speedometers - Page 2

07-02-2004, 05:24 AM

Problem is that the backlight trashes the battery in the computer. Better
bet is a handlebar mounted "computer light". It has a small LED in it that
provides enough light to read the display but not so much it burns batteries
or causes disorientation at night (as in another light source other than
your headlight, which I assume you use ;-). Costs about $10, and the one I
have is by SigmaSport. Mine was given to me as a gift, but you can get em I
think at Performance or Nashbar. Works great on my pre-dawn rides....

Dave

"Daniel Crispin" <calendyr@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:b75Fc.12575$t55.701399@wagner.videotron.net.. .
> I was out training tonight when I realized that not having a backlight on
my
> speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.
>
> Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye doesn't
> seems to think it's something useful.
>
>

07-02-2004, 07:52 AM

Daniel Crispin wrote:
> I was out training tonight when I realized that not having a backlight on my
> speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.
>
> Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye doesn't
> seems to think it's something useful.

There are several. The cheapest seem to be made by Specialized
but there it's still only on their higher end wireless models.
If you don't like wireless, then these won't be for you. See
the Specialized site for more detail. Cateye also has some high
end models with backlights. Some are wired. Some are wireless.
All are pricey. Their cheapest is the CC-AT100 (wired) which is
their altimeter model for around $90-$100. These high end Cateye's
seem to be hard to find. See their website for details and see
Google to find them for sale. Campagnolo also has a backlight on
their Ergobrain computer and it's also an expensive high end
computer.

Topeak's Panoram used to have a back light and was priced around
$50. Unfortunately, the new 2004 models no longer have a backlight.
If you're very lucky, you may find a place that has stock left of
the old models. If you find a wired one, please let me know, as
I'm looking for one myself.

Topeak, Vetta, Avocet, Sigma Sport, Shimano, Planet Bike, Nashbar
and Performance don't seem to offer backlights in cyclocomputers
at all.

I asked about wired+backlight computers in the r.b.t last week. I
got zero responses.

I don't understand why a backlight is considered an elite feature
to only be put on high end models but that's how the cyclocomputer
makers see it (or at least the few that even bother). My $15 Casio
watch has lots of functions including Indiglo. I don't see why a
bike computer can't offer this feature cheaply.

--Bill Davidson

07-02-2004, 07:52 AM

Daniel Crispin wrote:
> I was out training tonight when I realized that not having a backlight on my
> speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.
>
> Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye doesn't
> seems to think it's something useful.

There are several. The cheapest seem to be made by Specialized
but there it's still only on their higher end wireless models.
If you don't like wireless, then these won't be for you. See
the Specialized site for more detail. Cateye also has some high
end models with backlights. Some are wired. Some are wireless.
All are pricey. Their cheapest is the CC-AT100 (wired) which is
their altimeter model for around $90-$100. These high end Cateye's
seem to be hard to find. See their website for details and see
Google to find them for sale. Campagnolo also has a backlight on
their Ergobrain computer and it's also an expensive high end
computer.

Topeak's Panoram used to have a back light and was priced around
$50. Unfortunately, the new 2004 models no longer have a backlight.
If you're very lucky, you may find a place that has stock left of
the old models. If you find a wired one, please let me know, as
I'm looking for one myself.

Topeak, Vetta, Avocet, Sigma Sport, Shimano, Planet Bike, Nashbar
and Performance don't seem to offer backlights in cyclocomputers
at all.

I asked about wired+backlight computers in the r.b.t last week. I
got zero responses.

I don't understand why a backlight is considered an elite feature
to only be put on high end models but that's how the cyclocomputer
makers see it (or at least the few that even bother). My $15 Casio
watch has lots of functions including Indiglo. I don't see why a
bike computer can't offer this feature cheaply.

--Bill Davidson

07-02-2004, 07:52 AM

Daniel Crispin wrote:
> I was out training tonight when I realized that not having a backlight on my
> speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.
>
> Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye doesn't
> seems to think it's something useful.

There are several. The cheapest seem to be made by Specialized
but there it's still only on their higher end wireless models.
If you don't like wireless, then these won't be for you. See
the Specialized site for more detail. Cateye also has some high
end models with backlights. Some are wired. Some are wireless.
All are pricey. Their cheapest is the CC-AT100 (wired) which is
their altimeter model for around $90-$100. These high end Cateye's
seem to be hard to find. See their website for details and see
Google to find them for sale. Campagnolo also has a backlight on
their Ergobrain computer and it's also an expensive high end
computer.

Topeak's Panoram used to have a back light and was priced around
$50. Unfortunately, the new 2004 models no longer have a backlight.
If you're very lucky, you may find a place that has stock left of
the old models. If you find a wired one, please let me know, as
I'm looking for one myself.

Topeak, Vetta, Avocet, Sigma Sport, Shimano, Planet Bike, Nashbar
and Performance don't seem to offer backlights in cyclocomputers
at all.

I asked about wired+backlight computers in the r.b.t last week. I
got zero responses.

I don't understand why a backlight is considered an elite feature
to only be put on high end models but that's how the cyclocomputer
makers see it (or at least the few that even bother). My $15 Casio
watch has lots of functions including Indiglo. I don't see why a
bike computer can't offer this feature cheaply.

--Bill Davidson

07-02-2004, 07:52 AM

Daniel Crispin wrote:
> I was out training tonight when I realized that not having a backlight on my
> speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.
>
> Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye doesn't
> seems to think it's something useful.

There are several. The cheapest seem to be made by Specialized
but there it's still only on their higher end wireless models.
If you don't like wireless, then these won't be for you. See
the Specialized site for more detail. Cateye also has some high
end models with backlights. Some are wired. Some are wireless.
All are pricey. Their cheapest is the CC-AT100 (wired) which is
their altimeter model for around $90-$100. These high end Cateye's
seem to be hard to find. See their website for details and see
Google to find them for sale. Campagnolo also has a backlight on
their Ergobrain computer and it's also an expensive high end
computer.

Topeak's Panoram used to have a back light and was priced around
$50. Unfortunately, the new 2004 models no longer have a backlight.
If you're very lucky, you may find a place that has stock left of
the old models. If you find a wired one, please let me know, as
I'm looking for one myself.

Topeak, Vetta, Avocet, Sigma Sport, Shimano, Planet Bike, Nashbar
and Performance don't seem to offer backlights in cyclocomputers
at all.

I asked about wired+backlight computers in the r.b.t last week. I
got zero responses.

I don't understand why a backlight is considered an elite feature
to only be put on high end models but that's how the cyclocomputer
makers see it (or at least the few that even bother). My $15 Casio
watch has lots of functions including Indiglo. I don't see why a
bike computer can't offer this feature cheaply.

--Bill Davidson

07-02-2004, 07:52 AM

Daniel Crispin wrote:
> I was out training tonight when I realized that not having a backlight on my
> speedometer is a real pain when cycling at night.
>
> Anyone know of a company that makes backlit models? Cateye doesn't
> seems to think it's something useful.

There are several. The cheapest seem to be made by Specialized
but there it's still only on their higher end wireless models.
If you don't like wireless, then these won't be for you. See
the Specialized site for more detail. Cateye also has some high
end models with backlights. Some are wired. Some are wireless.
All are pricey. Their cheapest is the CC-AT100 (wired) which is
their altimeter model for around $90-$100. These high end Cateye's
seem to be hard to find. See their website for details and see
Google to find them for sale. Campagnolo also has a backlight on
their Ergobrain computer and it's also an expensive high end
computer.

Topeak's Panoram used to have a back light and was priced around
$50. Unfortunately, the new 2004 models no longer have a backlight.
If you're very lucky, you may find a place that has stock left of
the old models. If you find a wired one, please let me know, as
I'm looking for one myself.

Topeak, Vetta, Avocet, Sigma Sport, Shimano, Planet Bike, Nashbar
and Performance don't seem to offer backlights in cyclocomputers
at all.

I asked about wired+backlight computers in the r.b.t last week. I
got zero responses.

I don't understand why a backlight is considered an elite feature
to only be put on high end models but that's how the cyclocomputer
makers see it (or at least the few that even bother). My $15 Casio
watch has lots of functions including Indiglo. I don't see why a
bike computer can't offer this feature cheaply.

--Bill Davidson

07-02-2004, 07:57 AM

David Kerber wrote:
> Specialized does, but it doesn't stay lit continuously; you have to push
> a big button to light it up, kind of light the back light on an LCD
> watch.

The batteries wouldn't last very long if you left it on
continuously. It's acceptable to have to touch it to read it.

--Bill Davidson

07-02-2004, 07:57 AM

David Kerber wrote:
> Specialized does, but it doesn't stay lit continuously; you have to push
> a big button to light it up, kind of light the back light on an LCD
> watch.

The batteries wouldn't last very long if you left it on
continuously. It's acceptable to have to touch it to read it.

--Bill Davidson

07-02-2004, 07:57 AM

David Kerber wrote:
> Specialized does, but it doesn't stay lit continuously; you have to push
> a big button to light it up, kind of light the back light on an LCD
> watch.

The batteries wouldn't last very long if you left it on
continuously. It's acceptable to have to touch it to read it.

--Bill Davidson

07-02-2004, 07:57 AM

David Kerber wrote:
> Specialized does, but it doesn't stay lit continuously; you have to push
> a big button to light it up, kind of light the back light on an LCD
> watch.

The batteries wouldn't last very long if you left it on
continuously. It's acceptable to have to touch it to read it.

--Bill Davidson