CatEye V2c

Price Paid:  $136.00 at Norcal Bikesport

Favorite Ride:
Sonoma/Mendocino County coastal hills

Bike Setup:
Carbon wrapped Landshark frame, SRAM Red components, Mavic Ksyrium ES wheels, FSA Wing handlebars, Look Keo pedals, Michelin Pro tires.

Summary:
I bought this computer because it's the only wireless one on the market with the rear wheel sensor. With the proliferation of indoor trainers hooked up to the rear wheel, I don't understand why more companies haven't gotten on this way sooner. Seems like a no-brainer.

I previously used a Cateye Astrale wired computer with the rear wheel sensor, but switched to Specialized wireless last spring, not thinking about the recurrence of the dreaded winter indoor workouts.

Connecting this unit was very easy, and managed to do it late at night without screwing things up. The setup squence was documented reasonably well in the manual and easy to follow. Understanding the operating conventions between manual and automatic operation was also straightforward.

I love the Cateye wheel magnet too, because they don't gouge your spokes the way some others do, and don't look clunky. I was also able to mount a magnet to my Mavic R-Sys wheel's carbon (oversized) spoke with no problem.

All functions work very well. There doesn't seem to be an unusually long delay in data transfer from the sensors. The V2c even seems to be a bit quicker than my Specialized Speedzone wireless computers.

The display might be a little on the small side for some folks who are used to larger models. However, as I become more familiar with this unit, I can pick up data more at a glance than when I first started using it. The display light is a really nice feature too.

The buttons are a bit harder to operate since they're so small,and also seem to require more force to activate. On the flipside, you get a very solid feeling of this computer when pushing the function buttons.

Overall this is a very nice computer, and is solidly compact. The stem mounting system also allows you to place the computer more forward which makes viewing easier when in the standing position.

I've always been very satisfied with Cateye computers and other products. I rated this a 5 in spite of the minor inconveniences, because this unit delivers all that I'd want from a bike computer of this style.

Strengths:
Easy installation and sturdy construction. Quick data transmission. Nice mounting system. Seems very water resistant (maiden voyage was in VERY WET weather!)

Weaknesses:
Slightly small display and buttons a little harder to operate.

Similar Products Used:
Cateye Astrale, Vetta, Specialized (Turbo and Speedzone models)

Price Paid:  $100.00 at Ebay

Favorite Ride:
Polhemus loop

Bike Setup:
cervelo r3 sl with dura-ace, easton ea90 slx wheels, fizik aliante saddle, syntace seatpost

Summary:
I bought this computer from an Ebay user that was selling it because he had an SRM. The V2c is easy to set up. I have been having some problems with the transmitter hanging. To restore service, you need to reset the transmitter and set the computer to rediscover the transmitter. I called Cateye tech support and described the problem to them. They had not heard of many problems and determine the problem to be a faulty transmitter. They are sending me a new one. What great customer service! We'll see if the replacement fixes my problem. I have been a cateye fan for many years.

Strengths:
ease of setup, clear display.

Weaknesses:
faulty transmitter, need to turn on computer everytime you stop for an extended period of time. buttons are somewhat difficult to push

Similar Products Used:
cateye astrale (original one), cateye cd300dw

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Purchased this a couple of months back. Although settings were correct and in Auto mode, the transmitter often stops transmission to the computer unit so halfway through a ride, the speed and distance measurements stop completely. I had to reset the transmitter, and resync it with the computer, before things start running again. Annoying..

Hopefully the exchanged unit will work better, which is taking a while to get to me too.

Strengths:
Better display unit, bigger numbers to see compared to the Cateye Double Wireless. Smaller and compact unit.

Weaknesses:
Unreliable unit. The Cateye Double Wireless didn't give me as much trouble.

Similar Products Used:
Cateye Double Wireless, Ciclosport (rubbish)

Price Paid:  $150.00 at University Bicycles

Favorite Ride:
n/a

Bike Setup:
'06 Motobecane Le Champion SL

Summary:
I've only used this computer for one 90-mile ride. Installation and synchronization took a few minutes on the sidewalk outside the bike shop. The instruction book is a bit cryptic, and has a small, hard-to-read font.

At the end of the first ride I found that the unit had not recorded my average speed or cadence, or my elapsed time. I took it to the dealer, whose mechanic and manager told me they weren't familiar with the unit. So I used a cell phone to call Cat Eye from the shop.

Cat Eye's main number gave me options for technical support, and for someone "calling from a bike shop." I tried the tech-support extension and got a message telling me to send Cat Eye an email. I called back and tried the bike-shop option, and got a Real Live Person right away. The Real Live Person eventually explained that you have to turn on auto mode to record elapsed time and compute averages.

At any rate, the documentation on page ENG-16 is wrong. Make sure you've turned on auto mode to get your elapsed time and average speed and cadence.

Otherwise, the display's main numbers are clear and big enough, and the wireless functionality worked great. Hopefully the system won't be too hard on batteries. . . .

Strengths:
great wireless functionality; only one sensor unit (rear mount) for both speed and cadence; clear display of main data; simultaneous display of speed, cadence, and time or distance; very adaptable handlebar mounting system

Weaknesses:
incorrect and hard-to-read/follow documentation; differential support for dealers and customers; tiny, hard-to-press buttons; rear-mounted menu button that requires removing the unit from its mount

Similar Products Used:
Specialized pro (not wireless, but very feature rich: speed, cadence, distance, altitude, temp. etc.)