I just started riding and I'm interested in getting a speedomater. I see there are many types to choose from. The main question I have is do I want wired or wireless? I like the idea of wireless, but do they work well and what brands and price range should I be looking at.

my only advice. don't get a sigma. I had one, hated it. I have a wired cateye on one bike and a wireless cateye on the other. No major difference that i can see... depends on how many wires you want wrapped around the stem.

Heart rate and cadence are much more important than speed. Do you have a heart rate monitor now?

Unless I'm on the front of a group ride pace-setting, I don't really pay attention to my speed. Heart rate is much more important (and knowing what your zones are).

my .02

Jon

No, I don't have a heart rate monitor. Sounds like a good thing to have. Most of the riders I met last week on my first group ride seem to have a speedometer and they seem to have many more functions then the ones I remember from back in the day. So, the wireless speedometers work well? I will look into the heart monitors for sure. Thanks

Speedometers are so 20th century

Today, it is a cycling computer . Wireless works well, but unless you want to go with a Garmin 305, Garmin 705, or Cateye V3, it is difficult to find a reliable wireless that does heartrate, cadence, and speed/distance. Other alternatives are the Cateye Strata Double Wireless or the Cateye Strata wired) that do speed/distance and cadence, and get a separate heartrate monitor. I have never had any problems with the Cateye products I have used.

Don't forget about the newer version of the Shimano computer -wireless HR,Speed and Cadence. Ricks advise on correct --HR and Cadence is more important than speed. For training and beginners you want to focus on your power zone. If you are not "training" for anything and just want to ride for pleasure --consider just getting speed and cadence. Look to send $150 for the best cheap computer that gives you speed,cadence,heart rate and it will go up from there. The wireless systems work nice (even Sigma-but you get what you pay for) it is a matter of $$$.

My Polar worked well for years (except when needing a new battery) for heartrate, cadence, speed, distance. My Garmin 705 works well too. I actually like the Polar software better than the Garmin for some things, such as splitting rides into different parts post-ride (versus using the lap button during the ride).

Having something that tells you how far you rode and your average speed for < $20 is worth it. If you can get a wireless version for a little more and want less wires, it's worth it. Performance has some deals and sales on Cateye that you may find worth your money.

If you're training for something in particular, I suppose you may want more info on HR and cadence, but you really do want something to log your mileage just to satisfy your own curiosity. I had one that would rotate through the readings for ODO, trip, ave speed, and max speed, and liked that. My current one does not, so I just leave mine on trip mileage and keep a cue sheet to know when to expect the next turn.

If you start MTBing, you'll lose it anyway, so don't spend much money. I've found two or three on trails and finally lost mine last year.

If you have the $$$ then go for the jugular and get a power meter. Wattage is by far the most important metric. Hopefully some day they will be so common that rides can be setup by avg wattage output instead of avg speed (which is pretty much a useless metric because you have very little control over it). Every thing else (except for maybe cadence) is a function of your wattage output. The good thing about them is that they really do not have to be extremely accurate in order for them to be an effective tool. It's not like a speed-o-meter where if it's calibrated wrong you get crazy numbers like averaging 34 MPH over 100 miles when you just rode up to store and back home. You just need a base number to start from.

However, I would agree with Pugsly, the next best thing to track is your heart rate and then cadence.....and how many beers you need to replace all those calories you burned.

Wattage is useful for serious cyclist (in my opinion a overkill tool for the casual rider). For the $1500 for the Power Tap hub (not including rim/spokes etc.) you will receive far more information than you can can use (unless you have a professional coach or you are a serious cyclist with a lot of experence). CatEye Strada w/cadence for $35 (@TLC4Bikes) or CatEye V2 wireless $115(TLC4Bikes) and the V3 for $140(TLC4Bikes). CatEye has set a high standard for years. Polar goes for more. The CS100b Polar for $75(TLC4Bikes) and the CS100 for $105(TLC4Bikes) and if you want cadence it will run you $150(TLC4Bikes) for the CS200CAD. The CS600 w/power will go for $625(TLC4Bikes) and is 1 of the cheapest good power meters going. You do the math but first do some soul searching and find out what you really want out of cycling. The simple $20-25 wired computer is good enough to start just be careful of the brand you purchase.