I really like my Vetta wireless bike computer that I have had for 6 years now and over the years I have learned a few things about bike computers and specifically about wireless models that I thought I would take a moment to pass along here.
Vetta Wireless Bike Computer
If you’ve visited the Bike Computers page on this site or some of the other related bike electronics pages (like the Bike GPS page, etc.), then you know that I am really into bike electronics and I think these things are fantastic. I can’t imagine riding without one anymore. Actually when I’ve had problems with my cycle computer, I usually end up postponing my ride until I get it working again.
I had a regular wired Vetta for 15 years (when bike computers (cyclocomputers as they are sometimes called) were first coming out as we know them today). This computer still worked after 15 years but the fork mount was a specific size (not the tie wraps that most use these days) and when I got my new bike it would not fit on the fork so I had to replace it.
So 6 years ago I bought my then new wireless bike computer and it is still working but I have had a couple of problems that I thought that I would mention.
First of all, what I like about the wireless models is the installation is even easier than wired models (which aren’t that hard either), the cleaner look (no dangling wires) and no fragile wires to break (and splice back together (which does seem to happen occasionally no matter how careful you are).
What I don’t like about wireless models are that they do take more batteries and more battery power. In addition to the computer battery itself there is the battery in the transmitter on the fork and, if you get the cadence model (which I did) there is the battery on the transmitter on the crank. Also, the computer itself (the head unit) may still look like it has power because it has enough power for the display and functions but it may not have enough power to pick up the signal. So I have had to replace the head unit battery even though it still looked like it had power.
I started having a problem with my bike computer about a year ago where it would stop working (not receive a signal) intermittently even after I replaced all of the batteries. I actually thought it was time for a new one when I discovered a little trick that has been working ever since I had this problem.
Of course, I would check the alignment of the transmitter on the fork and the magnet on the spokes and make sure that they were perfectly lined up and as close to each other as possible but this did not always get it working again. What I discovered is that if I move the transmitter so that it actually hits the magnet on the wheel (you hear a little click each time the magnet passes the transmitter) it would start working again and then I would just lean over and pull it back just enough so it no longer hit as it went by and bam! it kept working!
It just seems like the transmitter might just need to be tapped a little to wake it up or something. Of course, this may not work in all cases, but this has worked for me for well over a year now and it works every time so if you have a similar problem it may be worth a shot (unless you really just want a new bike computer… or better yet GPS unit).