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Submitted by
Geoff Duncanson
a Cross Country Rider
from STRATFORD, CT, USA
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | none yet | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | NashBar? | | Strengths: | Setup is pretty good, I agree with other reviewers that the instructions could be better translated; but with a simple computer like this one doesn't need to refer to them once you have the basics.
I like the simplicity of the rubber o-rings, granted I'm not thrashing through the woods or careening downhill where they might be alot of harms way but I've never had a problem with them.
I tend to like trail riding in the rain, and these haven't fogged up or quit working. | | Weaknesses: | this computer has two buttons, fore and aft of the display area. I sometimes have trouble cycling through the menus to get to the one I want and also resetting the trip time and mileage while I'm riding becuase you have to hold the secondary button in for several seconds to do so. It's probably me, but that's my only complaint. | | Similar Products Used: | sigma 800, sigma 1600 | | Bike Setup: | rocky mountain stratos | | Bottom Line: | clear large display-shows all the important data in one screen. very reliable, I've used it now for over seven years without a problem. price is low for it's longevity. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc
a Weekend Warrior
from Spain
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything goes | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Mammoth - Madrid | | Strengths: | Simple to use - simple to set up - clear and legible under any conditions - no fiddling necessary to pull out all useful functions. A great first unit (so I thought) that will not detract from the pleasure of riding. | | Weaknesses: | O-rings to hold the sensor? That's a bit bold (almost lost it on day 1 because of that) | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Trek 6700 - stock. | | Bottom Line: | This unit could deserve top rating - if only they had thought about another way of holding the sensor. I see some reviewers mentioning they fixed their units with zip ties - and I'd love to understand how since there is no holes drilled-in for that. The o-ring that was provided with mine (42 diameter) broke on the first day of use. Pretty disappointing. Might upgrade that review when I figure out how to mount the sensor safely (if I have not changed product before that). | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Phil
a Weekend Warrior
from Fort Smith, AR
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Springhill Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Purchased At: | JensonUSA.com | | Strengths: | Easy install. Instructions weren't perfect English but close enough. I bought the wireless model - didn't take a lot of fiddling to get things working. | | Weaknesses: | Mounts to bike with rubber gasket or rubber-band type things. Looks cheap but does the job & should be easy to replace if necessary. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye Cordless 2 | | Bike Setup: | Hardtail, Thudbuster seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | Works for me. Pretty easy to install & callibrate. So far so good . . . | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Abel Lopez
a Weekend Warrior
from Fontana, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$12.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Simple, Easy to use, full featured computer. The 1600 has two-bike features, but I didn't need them, so the 1200 was the best choice for me. | | Weaknesses: | No backlight | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper FSR | | Bottom Line: | This is an awesome bike computer. If you want the most bang for your buck, the 1200 is your best bet.
It's got every feature you need, none you don't | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Louise LABORTE
a Cross Country Rider
from Surrey Hills - UK
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | labtec@btconnect.com | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Pedalon | | Strengths: | Sigma make the most advanced, affordable cycle computers I have ever owned. In the last 20 years I have used Avocet, Cateye, VDO, Specialized, wired and wireless. I was so impressed I have three of them, all RDS wirelss. MTB, Road + 1600 Cadence on my trainer. All are still on the original long life CR2023 cells. I particularly like the dual read out with an indicator tp show if you are + or _ average speed. Great for enduro's or 12 hour races. 2 tyre sizes can be stored for summer + winter. At last the ability to manually set the Total distance of the Odometer (so when the battery does need to be swapped you can punch in your lifetime mileage ... sweeet. No tools required, screwless design is fitted to fork and bars with large O rings
Tip+ Put a small dab of BP petroluem jelly on both terminals of the head unit and you could ride under water. No probs even in the worst driving rain.
Tip* Take the head unit off the bike when not in use which seems to prolong the Cell life. Tip# The EMF from bar mount HID lights interfere with Wireless reciever. Follow these tips and Sigma will NOT let you newbies down. That's a promise ... | | Weaknesses: | Buttons can be a bit sticky + fiddly at speed. | | Similar Products Used: | Cate eye, VDO, Avocet, Specialized | | Bike Setup: | Sworks epic, Fox Fx, Mavic X-max, Conti double fighters | | Bottom Line: | Tip+ Put a small dab of BP petroluem jelly on both terminals of the head unit and you could ride under water. No probs even in the worst driving rain.
Tip* Take the head unit off the bike when not in use which seems to prolong the Cell life. Tip# The EMF from bar mount HID lights interfere with Wireless reciever. Follow these tips and Sigma will NOT let you newbies down. That's a promise ... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Weekend Warrior
from Tustin, CA
Date Reviewed: January 17, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | Excellent display, easy to use, good price | | Weaknesses: | Handlebar bracket has cracked twice | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | I decided to try out a computer when I bought my new bike and went with the Sigma 1200. As for the computer itself, it has worked flawlessly. I like the display better than the Cateye computers. It's easy to read and moving between modes is no problem. The rubber O-rings that hold the handlebar bracket and the fork sensor have given me no problems at all.
My only problem has been with the handlebar mounting bracket. I like the fact that it's small and has a low profile on the bar, but I've cracked it twice on crashes. I also tore the wire once; it must have snagged on a branch. Each time it broke, however, I was given a free replacement bracket, either by Sigma or REI.
Despite the bracket problems, the computer itself has worked just fine and I've been happy with the product overall. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Tourangeau
a Cross Country Rider
from Gatineau
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Pecco's | | Strengths: | Simple design, good interface, availability of wireless upgrade | | Weaknesses: | Strange instruction manual, but well detailed | | Similar Products Used: | Numerous computers w/o cadence feature | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Stumpjumper 2004 | | Bottom Line: | I had been using a Cateye computer on my Rocky Mountain, and I couldn't stand it's strange interface. I picked up this computer after comparing the various models on display (love the display, by the way, with a small wheel mounted. It allows the user to spin the wheel to see how well each function is accessed and displayed by the computer.)
I was also tired of cables getting torn, pulled out, twisted and so forth and sprang for the wireless upgrade kit. I like how the wireless kit integrates, and although I ran into a couple issues during the installation (for a while, I couldn't undertand why the computer would not pick up the signal from my spinning wheel, until out of frustration, I gave the wheel a spin in the opposite direction and the computer registered. I had the wireless received backwards...) Finally got everything mounted correctly (with the wireless receiver mounted facing the front of my fork). And so far, I have found this computer to be very accurate.
I have read a few reviews that indicated that some issues were encountered with rain and humidity, and I can state that I have had no problems so far in this regard. Great computer, with a very straightforward interface and controls. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keith
a Weekend Warrior
from Albany, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | Aerostich.com | | Strengths: | Price, accuracy, functions, weatherproof | | Weaknesses: | Can't store unique data for multiple wheel sizes | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Triumph TT600 (motorcycle); Trek 3700 | | Bottom Line: | I actually bought this to replace the failed digital speedometer on my motorcycle. At $23 it was a lot cheaper than the Triumph parts. Contrary to claims by the "experts" at the local bicycle shop, I've found the BC1200 to be accurate up into triple-digit (MPH) speeds (closed course only; professional rider shown; don't try this at home; read your owners manual; don't drink and ride; etc. ;-). Supposedly most bicycle computers aren't accurate above ~40mph or so, but that's not the case with the BC1200.
The unit can be programmed for two wheel sizes, and since I have an extra mounting kit I was hoping that I could easily use it on both my motorcycle and mountain bike. I can, and the BC1200 can store two wheel sizes so switching back and forth takes mere seconds. However, all of the riding data (max speed, avg. speed, trip meter, total odometer, etc.) is shared by both wheel sizes. I was hoping that on Wheel 1 I could keep the running odo total accurate for the motorcycle, while running a unique odo total on Wheel 2 for my bicycle. Alas, it doesn't work this way.
Other than this admittedly obscure problem, it's been great so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$16.00 | | Purchased At: | Tesco's - Budapest, Hungary (July 1997) | | Strengths: | Cost me a mere $20/CAN back in 1997. It still works and only needs new batteries once a year. | | Weaknesses: | The comp. itself nothing, I got the wireless upgrade for it and it died a few Km's into my 2nd ride with it. | | Similar Products Used: | Vetta C-10, Sigma Sport BC1400, Planet Bike Protege 9.0. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek Fuel 90 Disk/stock - tires changed for slicks.
1996 GT Ricochet/stock - tires changed for slicks. | | Bottom Line: | After 8yrs of useage, changing the batteries only six times from 1997-2005(1 pair/yr.) and 1 cordless upgrade that didn't work on the 2nd ride it was well worth the $20.
Bottom Line: Best money spent on a bike comp. to date. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Emily
a Racer
from Northern KY
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Smitty's (the bomb) | | Strengths: | Rain Proof, easy to use, accurate, easy to install, and yes i can read the inst | | Weaknesses: | The rubber seals look a bit chincy, after a while i can see them detriorating, no biggy just get replacement seals from home depot | | Similar Products Used: | cateye mity 3 (R.I.P) it was ran over by a truck. excellent though | | Bike Setup: | this comp is on my road bike, haven't gotten one for my s.a.s.s. yet | | Bottom Line: | This comp rocks. I commute to work nearly every day, in the pouring rain, sleet, snow, "wintery mix" you name it, i'm in it. it hasn't fogged, died or gone blank with no reason. when it is below frezzing the display is a bit slow, but it is Liquid crystal display. I really have nothing bad to say about this computer, all of you guys complaining about the instruction manual should perhaps look at you reading comprehension scores to explain any difficulty in understanding it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Richard Martin
a
from Hilton Head Island, SC
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Long Cove Drive | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Link | | Strengths: | Large easy to read display, ease of use, comprehensive features, accurate, quality. | | Weaknesses: | It would be nice to have a set of operating instructions to help understand some of the display information such as what the black dot represents and how it's calculating data. | | Similar Products Used: | First computer. | | Bike Setup: | Trek road bike | | Bottom Line: | Excellent value for the money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
specterss
a Weekend Warrior
from Slovenia
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | bmx | | Strengths: | One cheap battery last long, compatibile to all sigma, cadence, functions, dual bike, set up start total distance for each bike. Good value - compared to others availabel. | | Weaknesses: | rain no proff, can't be disassembled (so hard to dry it).
Can't set total time. Lost data in rain many times.
| | Similar Products Used: | BC1400 (2000), BC1600 (2003) | | Bike Setup: | 2 MTBs (one alivio complete no suspension & cadence, the other deore complete) | | Bottom Line: | Seems that SigmaSport reduces functions on new models. My friend has BC1200 (1996, 2 batteries) with EL display but it stopped (rain, fall appart), my computer (year 1998) lost EL but has just 1 batterie and is small. Later models (BC1400) has the same functions, added for me useless funct. name in 7 languages. This years BC1600 has the same f. as BC1400.
Worked fine for about 4 years. I changed battery +2 times in that time, but this year rain kill it and now it neeeds batteries. Seems that it is time for new computer.
This years models are not back compatibile.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marco
a Racer
from Hanford, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$22.00 | | Purchased At: | Visalia Cyclery | | Strengths: | Cheap, easy to use, easy to setup. | | Weaknesses: | the sensors have to be really really close took me a while to get it right!! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | '02 Specialized HardRock | | Bottom Line: | Well its good for what i use for just simple things like commuting to and from work and maybe the occasional weekend when i go trail riding i have yet to do that. Although took mw a while for me to just get the damn thing to be properly set up. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darrell McMillan
a Racer
from Round Mountain, NV USA
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Flume Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$23.00 | | Purchased At: | T-Rix Mountain Bikes | | Strengths: | Easy to read, easy to use, easy to setup. | | Weaknesses: | Cadence kit wires don't like to stay attached to the computer posts. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek (model unknown) | | Bike Setup: | Actually, we have BC1200's set up on 7 bikes, road, freeride and XC racing. | | Bottom Line: | It's a great computer. I haven't had any problems with the installation or the mounting hardware, although I did replace the rubber bands on the wireless kit with zip ties. It works great, was easy to set up and works for 2 bikes. Another reviewer mentioned that you had to individually reset each display after the ride, that's false. All you do is hold the top button and the bottom right button in for 2 seconds and it resets for the next ride. Also it was very easy to enter the wheel sizes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh DeWeese
a Weekend Warrior
from Sandy Oregon
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$29.00 | | Strengths: | Good bang for the buck and easy to use for the people who know how to read. It is totally water and mud proof. | | Weaknesses: | The sensor and magnet need to be really close together. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Hardrock A1 Comp FS with many upgrades. | | Bottom Line: | If you live in a wet climate and want a good bang for the buck get this. I wash my bike with this computer on it and I love mud and riding in the rain, this computer has 700 miles on it and is a little under 2 years old, I still have not had to replace the batteries and have had no problems | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Guilhas maluke!
a Downhiller
from Lisbon, Portugal
Date Reviewed: January 7, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | harcore rullez | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Sport zone | | Strengths: | Streghts?What do ya mean? | | Weaknesses: | Everything..The cable had brokes about 5 times, the transparent plastic brakes really easely, IT JUST DIED YESTERDAY WITH NEW BATTERIES.. | | Similar Products Used: | all sigma..i'm going to try the targa one...I think it's better for harcore use.. | | Bike Setup: | Marin quake 9.0, almost about stock...I have it for a very short time | | Bottom Line: | Well, I think this is more for roadies, any fall and you'l scratch the case, in fact it has lots of functions witch I liked..but no way..this product sucks and it was a bit expensive for its short life.. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin Hojgaard
a Racer
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: July 4, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Denmark | | Strengths: | Price. Durability. Lotsa functions. Easy-to-use buttons. Large and easy-to-read figures on the display. | | Weaknesses: | Cadence kit connectors fall off/break/rust etc. | | Similar Products Used: | Vetta, Polar | | Bike Setup: | road bike | | Bottom Line: | Basically this is a fine computer with all the necessary functions. It works great (apart from the cadence kit) and I've never experienced any problems with this model after more than 3 years in all kinds of weather (mostly bad - I live in Northern Europe) and more than 30000 kilometres. The rubber bands never gave me any problems, the buttons never malfunctioned and the unit has remained 100% water tight. The cadence kit is joke though - the connectors are of a poor quality. The best option is in my opinion to forget about the cadence option and buy the Sigma BC800. Nor do I see any reason to go wireless as the wired system works just fine! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jose Rodriguez
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$28.00 | | Purchased At: | El Corte Ingles, Spain | | Strengths: | Small size, 12 functions. | | Weaknesses: | Ruber bands to hold base and sensors. Mine have been already broken (c'mon... this computer is used in a bicycle, not inside a car). Computer conectors very weak. Set up complicated. Bottoms? Maybe nails!!! | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F400, XT drivetrain, Avid Arch Rival 50 brakes | | Bottom Line: | This computer has a good look, but after you try to set it up, you will find several problems in order to set the wheel diameter and magnet position in the wheel. The buttoms are too hard to be used while riding. The conectors are so weak that if you are not very careful you will bend them ruining the base. The ruber bands are easy to mount, but after a season riding in the elements, you will find how easy they break. Sorry, but this product deserves the worst of the qualifications. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marcelo Iannini
a Racer
from Brasilia, DF, BRAZIL
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$42.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | none I could find. | | Weaknesses: | mounts are really bad, the sensor mount did disconect every time.
Cadence sensor conectors did disconect every time
Did get water in
Screen gets dark in sunlight even while riding! | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye, Vetta | | Bottom Line: | I bought this computer to replace my cateye enduro that has been running 3 years on my road bike. With the sigma, the first thing I noticed was the poor quality of the sensors mountings. They are quick-release, but that happened to be an every-time-released! The cadence sensor is conected with an small plug on the computer base, and needless to say, these conectors did not stay in.
I was already very sorry for this choice I made, and then, the screen becames blacks when exposed to sunlight even while riding at 30mph+ speeds, and when I got my third rain, the computer screen has flooded!!
That was enough! I went to my LBS, and luckly he replaced it for me with a cateye enduro 2. I lost $10, but that's better than losing the whole $40 of the sigma junk | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Geoffrey
a Weekend Warrior
from DC
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Lotsa functions, not too expensive. I also got the cadence kit, which works well. | | Weaknesses: | None yet--hasn't malfunctioned or anything. Installation was a bit confusing. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Irrelevant. I'd rather declare that I'm not a weekend warrior, I'm just a dude who rides his bike. But there's no category for that. | | Bottom Line: | OK price, lots of functions, no problems, installation is easy once you decipher the symbols. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Morten
a Racer
from Hønefoss, Norway
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | cheap and OK if you dont have to look at the other functions, fiddling with a hard button at 40kph is not actually very fun, cadence function | | Weaknesses: | many; the spoke magnet makes this terrible noise, the buttons is hard, sometimes it just dont want to work and more | | Similar Products Used: | bc 600 & basic 100 | | Bike Setup: | DBS Racing | | Bottom Line: | I would not buy this one for my next bike; next time will I buy a Flightdeck or an Ergobrain.
I am a bit disappointed as this is the computer riders like Jalabert & Ullrich use, but they can get one each week, so :-) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Victor Kan
a
from Morrisville, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$28.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Simple, reliable controls.
Lots of functions and options (including wireless and cadence) available.
Inexpensive.
| | Weaknesses: | Documentation could be much better.
The mounting hardware is a little cheesy, but it works.
My particular unit was missing parts, but Nashbar sent them when I complained. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye Mity 3
Cateye Vectra
| | Bike Setup: | Wicks Trimuter tadpole recumbent tricycle | | Bottom Line: | It just works, and is easy to reset the trip counters and change the display mode.
It totally blows away the Cateye Mity 3's mushy, unreliable, hard to use buttons. It has more functions, and costs just a little more than the Mity 3.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A. Gore
a Weekend Warrior
from Fayetteville, NC USA
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | the road | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Ease of use, reliability. | | Weaknesses: | Can't calibrate wheel sizes | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye Mity 3 | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale R600 (the green one!) with mixed 105, RSX | | Bottom Line: | Compared to the Cateye, I have found this to be an extremely easy to use product and bought the 600 for my wife's bike. The cadence function is nice, but I dig it's easy to use capabilities. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: November 28, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$52.00 | | Purchased At: | pricepoint.com | | Strengths: | The speedometer/odometer seems really acurate and the price was great for a dual bike computer and wireless kit. Even with the poor instruction sheet it was pretty easy to set up. | | Weaknesses: | Rubberbands are rediculous but easy to replace with tie-wraps. The sensor should also be stronger so the reciever dosn't have to be placed so close to the spokes. | | Similar Products Used: | Vetta | | Bike Setup: | Trek Y w/Manitou Xvert and full XT | | Bottom Line: | I bought the 1200 and the wireless kit to use on both my bikes. Not much rain in SoCal so the wireless seems to work fine on my Trek Y. I'm using the wire kit on my 7000 which is ridden mostly on the road.
I've attached all of the components on both bikes with tie-wraps and ditched the rubberbands, everything seems stable. The price I quoted is for the 1200 and the wireless kit. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a
from Santa Rosa, California
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Wine Country roads | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | Easy to use
Cadence function
More reliable than others I've had
Good customer service | | Weaknesses: | Don't go witeless - heard bad things - hard wire it.
Can malfunction in heavy rain. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye, Gary Fisher, several SIGMA 800's, Specialized | | Bike Setup: | Kestrel road bike, Campy (of course), SIGMA 1200 hard wired | | Bottom Line: | Every computer I have tried has had failings of some sort - some because the operation is just too complicated to fiddle with at 20+ mph!
I once had a Cateye Mity 2 that reset itself every time you accidentally touched it, and killed all the data for the ride.
I had a Secialized that went haywire every time I went through a shallow puddle.
My other bikes have Sigma 800's which have been more reliable than others I've used. For this bike I wanted cadence, to I got the 1200 plus cadence wire. It's excellent. Easy to read and easy to switch functions. I get constant speed and plus/ minus average and time or distance on one screen - that's all I need.
The rubber band fittings are very europoean, and it's easy to move computer by using 2-sided tape.
This computer does all I want - a good road computer.
If you're a mountain biker you should be using a heavy duty model like the Sigma TARGA. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
L T
a
from Buffalo, NY
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$27.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | Easy to read display, reliable readings, wireless option | | Weaknesses: | rubber band mounting system | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye computers | | Bottom Line: | Unit set up with wireless option and functions flawlessly so far in almost daily road use. No problems with several rain exposures so far. I am not certain that fork rubber band mounting band is secure enough for off road use. Difficult to mount sending unit to aero fork with rubber band supplied. Wireless signals screw up HRM readings in earlier generation Polar monitors. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
biknebn
a Racer
from Robbinsville, NJ
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | L.L. Bean | | Strengths: | Able to set two different wheel circumferences. I thought instructions were a breeze. | | Weaknesses: | Mounts are a little weak and move on fork leg | | Similar Products Used: | A bunch dating back to a Cateye Mity 2 | | Bike Setup: | GT I-Drive, Full XTR, etc. | | Bottom Line: | It's OK stuff. Nothing great...nothing terrible.
A few words of caution: I bought the wireless mount and the computer broke off the handlebar mount during a crash on the first ride. It happened to be a race and when I passed the crash site on the next lap I found my computer laying in the grass. Apparently, there are two tabs that stick up and look the computer in place. The force of the crash broke the tabs and sent the computer flying. Didn't realize it was gone till a few minutes later. Good thing I found it or my review would have been real bad.
Since the crash I just use it on my road bike where it is fine. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ToddM
a
from ND
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Strengths: | Simple, pretty cheap, works, lot of features for a $24 computer. | | Weaknesses: | Poor instructions, have to reset speed/trip/max speed etc. all seperatly. | | Similar Products Used: | trek radar, spec. wireless, C15, | | Bike Setup: | Giant atx890 | | Bottom Line: | The computer works fine, instructions could certainly be better. Resetting all the individual things (distance, ave. speed, max speed, ride time) seperatly is kinda a pain. The mount kit seemed a little fragile but so far has not given me any problems. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
digger see above
a Weekend Warrior
from St. John's Nfld Canada
Date Reviewed: August 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | roadie, winter mtber | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | easy to read, easy to install, battery lasts | | Weaknesses: | cable connections to sensor a little fragile | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | marinoni road, triple shimano 105 | | Bottom Line: | got it for christmas, used it during the winter 300km's later the computer quite, got a new one from my LBS (free). 590km's later the wire quite, got new one (free).
I think they both went kaput due to the salt used to de-ice the roads here in winter (you should see my winter bike in the spring, YIKES!!) nothing lasts in road salt and ice.
I have had my replacement for 2 years and no trouble, and no new battery yet. In very cold temp's the screen goes blank, but still seems to record.
The wire connections to the sensor are a bit fragile though.
4 chilli's | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jody Hunt
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Flat Creek Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Full function | | Weaknesses: | Stops working in rain, LCD's conk out make it tough
to read accurately | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Litespeed Tuscany (this computer is too delicate for my MTB) | | Bottom Line: | If you plan on never getting your computer wet, by all means this is the one for you. I rode once in the rain with it and it hasn't been the same since. Even sweat dripping on it causes it to go blank. It takes a week or more to dry out, and then some of the LCD's don't work (is that a 7? 4? 9?) Unusable. 3 chilis for function, 1 overall because I have to buy another one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darrell McMillan
a Racer
from Round Mountain, NV
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Flume Trail, NV | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Easy to install. Easy to use. Works flawlessly. Cadence kit. Great Display. Reliable. | | Weaknesses: | Wireless transmitter kit. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Vetta | | Bike Setup: | Trek 7000 Customized Race Bike. Haro DX2 Full Suspension Customized Bike. Raleigh R600 Road Bike. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great computer. It was easy to install and the functions are intuitive and easy to scroll through. My family owns 5 BC1200's which we use on 9 different bikes. On our road bikes, the cadence kit is easy to install and works great. None of our 5 units has ever given us any trouble in the 2 years we've been using them. My only complaint is the wireless kit, which is an entirely different product, but works with the BC1200. It's unreliable, has a crappy mounting (think rubber band)sytem and is easy to loose. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tine
a Weekend Warrior
from Maribor, Slovenia, Europe
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Easy to use, fairly simple to install, illumination | | Weaknesses: | the sensor doesn't work as it should, a weak handlebar attachment | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Scott Navajo | | Bottom Line: | I bought this computer cuz' it was the best money could buy (in my local bikeshop). It worked as it should (on my old bike), but as i switched, i had problems fastening the sensor on my fork. There was a to wide a gap between the sensor and the magnet. The computer didn't show any movement. I somehow fixed the problem and the computer worked (after i almost went amok because of it). It worked for some time, but after about half a year died completely - everything worked except that it told me that i wasn't moving. The computer was just an ornament on my bike.
In the good old times, whet the computer worked, i was very satisfied. There were occasional glitches, but they were rare (i was standing still and still had the velocity of 50 km/h).
I once tore the wires that connect the computer with the sensor - no big deal. I only needed a screwdriver and patience for the repair. Cherioo for the simplicity.
The handlebar attachment piece is to weak, cuz' i lost the computer after a crash.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Briton Orndorf
a Racer
from Lock Haven, PA
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Great customer support, large readout in the display. Two wheel sizes with total for both sizes. Cadence capability without having to have cadence hooked up all of the time | | Weaknesses: | On two separate occasions it leaked in extremely rainy conditions. Instructions a little vague more information needed.
| | Similar Products Used: | Cateye, Sigma 1100 | | Bike Setup: | GT Zaskar, SID Race, Full XTR Group, Race Face stem Easton Bar, Titec BarEnds, Michelin Tires, Mavic Rims | | Bottom Line: | I have owned three of these things and have never had the problem experienced with the speeds although I have talked to people that have had problems. I owned two that leaked in extreme rainy road conditions both of which Sigma replaced without incident. Customer service was very helpful and willing to do whatever I needed to have satisfaction. Have not had any difficulties with calibration, I check it quite frequently and the model I am using probably has about 4000 miles on it with no trouble. Have recommended this computer to other people who have had some troubles. This computer is very useful for MTB riders who use road riding as a training tool because of the two wheel sizes you are able to switch back and forth with relative ease. The total distance for both sizes is very helpful for logging your total miles.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Accurate when it works. | | Weaknesses: | Reliability, instructions. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek basic, Vetta C-15 | | Bike Setup: | Lemond Zurich (road bike) | | Bottom Line: | The instructions are hard to understand (only images, no text). It worked flawlessly for the first 6 weeks (600 miles). Then the speed occasionally started to go wild, becoming completely random and then returning to normal. It even registered a maximum speed of 172 km/h!!! I checked the connections, the magnet, everything. Never got problem with the other products mentioned above (and used for years). Bottom line: unreliable and therefore, useless. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david
a Weekend Warrior
from daytona beach, florida USA
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | the local loop | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Ease of use, large 2 function display, ability to use on 2 different bikes, no tool mounting. | | Weaknesses: | Installation(on fork), vague instructions | | Similar Products Used: | Avenir, Cateye | | Bike Setup: | Mongoose RX5.5 road bike with: carbon aero fork, Shimano 105 gruppo, clipless pedals, Mavic rims, Hutchinson and Michelin tires | | Bottom Line: | I needed a new computer and since I liked its features and its two-bike adaptabilty, the Sigma was choice for me. The enclosed instruction manual was fairly vague, mainly just pictures, with little written descriptions to go along with them.
After studying the diagrams for a few moments, I had little trouble installing the computer except for one area: The Fork. The supplied O-ring was almost too small to fit. I had to start at the fork's dropouts and inch the sensor mount up from there, fairly tedious, but it was the only way I could install it without risking tearing the ring. Perhaps Sigma could provide a larger O-ring to accomodate the bladed-aero forks that many road bikes have nowadays.
Aside from the instructions and the troublesome fork fit, all else has been quite good. The dislpay is easily viewed from the saddle and the buttons are simple to use, even with gloved fingers. I plan on adding the cadence feature soon and add a mounting kit to my mountain bike as well.
Since it is fairly new, battery usage hasn't come up yet, so I will see how long the first one lasts. I have had no problem with the magnet or sensor, the computer has connected perfectly since day one. Overall very nice, and I'm pleased so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ted
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Nice readout and fairly simple to use. | | Weaknesses: | Using visual instructions for installation are ok, I could follow those but I would like more written instructions on how to use it. | | Similar Products Used: | None. | | Bike Setup: | Cannodale road frame. | | Bottom Line: | I just bought it so too soon to give a practical review but I thought the instructions worthy of immediate comment. I can appreciate cramming 9 different languages on one sheet but get real. Sigma needs to have detailed written instructions as well as visual instructions. I got the thing installed ok but I am basically have to figure out how to use it on my own.
4 chilis because the price is right. 1 chili for the instructions. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jen
a Racer
from VA
Date Reviewed: December 14, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
This computer allow you to set it for 2 different bikes. There is a little button on the back of the computer to switch between bikes. Very easy to install because no tools are required. Alot of functions for the price. Easy to operate while riding road or ATB. | | Weaknesses: |
Little rubber rings used for install break easily. Must by extra equip for the cadence feature, which I was not informed of when I purchased it.(Pissed!) | | Similar Products Used: |
All of the Avocet family and Trek Radar. | | Bike Setup: |
Breezer Jet Stream with Judy SL Set up. Hodge podge of XT/XTR. | | Bottom Line: | Despite the weaknesses listed, I like this computer. It is easy for me to use while riding. I recommend it. I don't know about the battery life as of yet. | | Overall Rating: |
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