CatEye Astrale

Price Paid:  $30.00 at nashbar

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in Utah

Bike Setup:
Motobecane Sprint, typical upgrades to seat and wheels, Speedplay pedals. I rode about 6000 miles last year, finishing the National 24-hr Challenge, RAIN (almost, blew a spoke at 151), and LOTOJA.

Summary:
A fine cyclometer with wired speed and cadence. Rugged, lasted 6000 miles last year, same battery.

Strengths:
Simple, works.

Weaknesses:
Plastic tab on handlebar mount broke, but electrical contacts keeps unit in position and functioning. Would rate a 5 if tab hadn't broken

Similar Products Used:
a cheapo bell unit

Price Paid:  $20.00 at Ebay

Summary:
I loved this computer for its first 2000 miles. From then on, it became a fickle little beast. The speedometer and cadence continually shut off requiring me to adjust the computer in its cradle until it sits perfectly. This adjustment works until I hit a bump. Now at about 5000 miles, it does not work at all. I cannot convince the thing to read anything. Even after cleaning all of the connections and whatnot, the computer remains worthless for anything but the current time. My room mate has had similar troubles, the cadence completely stopped working on his so he ended up cutting off the cadence wire. His speedometer still works.

Strengths:
I loved the cadence on it, other then that the features are all pretty standard.

Weaknesses:
It did not last like I would have liked. I wanted an accurate reading of my mileage for the year, but no such luck.

Similar Products Used:
Planet Bike 9

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Blue Ribbon Trail - Norwich VT

Bike Setup:
Trek 5200, Record, Rolf

Summary:
I've used lots of computers - from very basic to the Hac4 but keep coming back to the Astrale. I'm not sure why the one reviewer couldn't get auto-off to work - does for me. Also, these things keep working and working and working. The one on my commuter bike is 15 years old and has gone through heat/rain/snow. Keeps working. True, the wires are a bit annoying but for the money these can't be beat.

Strengths:
-Reliable
-Inexpensive
-Doesn't have above/below arrows - I hate those little tyrants.

Weaknesses:
Wires I suppose.

Similar Products Used:
Many

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Palomar Mountain

Bike Setup:
Gios Super-Record! Steel is real!

Summary:
This product has max speed, average speed, actual speed, elapsed time, trip distance, persistent odometer (for those of you who like to keep track of the total miles on your bike), and cadence. I think there might be a clock in there too, but I never look at that.

Strengths:
I love the simplicity. Only two buttons - one to start & stop, and one to cycle through the different pieces of info.

Weaknesses:
The one major weakness I see in this product is its lack of auto-stop (i.e. stops the timer when you are not moving, like at a traffic light). I would like an altimeter too, but I don't expect that on a unit in this price range. Also, I got caught in a thunderstorm once, and it has never quite worked properly since.

Similar Products Used:
avocet, a long time ago

Price Paid:  $30.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in the Black Hills

Bike Setup:
Motobecane Champion SL

Summary:
I've just bought this computer, but I used the CatEye Astrale for 4 years on a previous bike.
The ONLY reason I bought this computer is that my PlanetBike 9.0 didn't have cadence.

Well, that's the only redeeming feature of the new Astrale.

Once you get all of the information at once from the Planet Bike you are spoiled.

It's so annoying to have to scroll through screens just to see your elapsed time, distance, and average.
With the Planet Bike 9.0 it's all there at once.

Plus, the cateye doesn't even have an above or below average indicator???

For now I'm going to run both computers at the same time, but the only reason I'm keeping the cateye on is for cadence, period. Otherwise it's the exact same Astrale they've made for years.
A different display would make this computer a knockout, but as it sits I can't stand it.

Strengths:
Dependable
Cadence

Weaknesses:
Only 2 pieces of information shown at once.