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Planet Bike
Planet Bike Protege 8.0 Cyclocomputer
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Submitted by
Ron
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Strengths: | None as I never got the chance to use it. No buttons seemed like a good design. | | Weaknesses: | The tiny rubber program buttons on the underside started sticking rendering it impossible to program correctly. Their FAQs state to use a paper clip to free them up. Didn't work. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye | | Bike Setup: | Marin Attack Trail, 2002 | | Bottom Line: | Waste of time. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jean Marie Linhart
a Cross Country Rider
from College Station, TX
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | Lake Bryan | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | online somewhere | | Strengths: | Nice display | | Weaknesses: | Quit working after a few months. So did the 5.0. I was very disappointed with this product. | | Similar Products Used: | Planet Bike 5.0 | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR w/pink flower decals! | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerry Payne
a Cross Country Rider
from Largo, Fl.
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Street | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$17.00 | | Strengths: | Big display, Easy to read, four lines od data at once. | | Weaknesses: | The LCD screen will get dark if the air temp is way lower then the computer temp. | | Similar Products Used: | Bell Bike computer. | | Bike Setup: | GMC Denali, 1989 Peugeot PB-14. I have used the Planet Bike 8.0 computer on both of these bikes. I have not had any problems with the computer at all in the past year. I commute 34 miles a day to and from work. I have a test track that I ride that is 1.01 miles and the computer is dead on with the milage and speed if set up right. To date I have put 7015 miles on the computer without a problem. | | Bottom Line: | If you want a computer that is easy to read and be dead on then get the Planet Bike 8.0 computer. And at $16.99 it is hard to beat. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marc
a Cross Country Rider
from New Joisey
Date Reviewed: August 17, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Its accurate and well priced. It displayes all the info you need. It takes seconds to switch it from bike to bike. Its water/mud proof. | | Weaknesses: | The battery came out once off a jump eraseing all my data. It must have fallen off on a jump and the company replaced it no questions asked. | | Bike Setup: | Giant xtc composite xtr drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | Great overall value, no need for anything better or the 9.0 model | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Christopher Krenz
a Cross Country Rider
from Stevens Point, WI
Date Reviewed: June 4, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Standing Rocks (Portage County, WI) | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Purchased At: | Hostel Shoppe | | Strengths: | Continuously displays speed, mileage, and trip distance. Offers one of three other measurements while displaying the previously mentioned info. You can choose from the time of day, total mileage, or ave. and max speeds per trip. Easy to change from total mileage to time of day with a simple click. It records info for two different bikes if you choose to use it that way. It's a great training tool and I recommend it to all my friends. | | Weaknesses: | The cord should be about a foot shorter so I wouldn't have to wrap it a dozen times around my front brake line. | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Trek 4500. Selle San Marco Arami Saddle. Panaracer Cinder Rear Tire (26 x 2.25). Specialized Handlebar Bar Ends. | | Bottom Line: | If you are looking for a reasonably priced Cyclocomputer with everything you really need...GET THIS. You will be very happy you did. You can e-mail your THANK YOU to cdkrenz@yahoo.com. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, Il. USA
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Paved bike trail's in Northern Il. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Local Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Price, display, easy to install. No buttons to change display mode. Show's four line functions at one time. | | Weaknesses: | Display darkens when using sunglasses. | | Similar Products Used: | Vetta | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Hybrid Comp. | | Bottom Line: | A good unit, at least for paved riding. I have put 600 miles on this unit and have not had any problems. However, I do not do any off road riding and have not had it out in wet weather either. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
James
a Racer
from Charlotte
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | jensonusa.com | | Strengths: | PRICE, buttonless design, easy to set up, basically everything | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | fisher tass w/ zocchi mx pro | | Bottom Line: | this computer really has held up for me thus far. hopefully, i wont get problems like the other reviewers mentioned. i had a race when the computer was literally covered in about a centimeter of mud (my whole bike was), and it has been fine ever since, never had any problems or anything with it.
Highly recommended | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scotty B
a Cross Country Rider
from Coarsegold, CA
Date Reviewed: November 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bike | | Strengths: | One Screen. No buttons. | | Weaknesses: | Computer will stick,resetting inadvertently. | | Similar Products Used: | Vetta, Cat eye | | Bike Setup: | Santa Cruz Superlight | | Bottom Line: | The computer body itself started to stick about a month after use. I have to push it back AND forth to avoid resetting data. There is no second trip distance feature which is about the only feature I miss from my Cateye. I like to buttonless feature and being able to tell 5 readings w/o scanning through screens. Bottom line,this computer is adequate. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike English
a Weekend Warrior
from Iowa City, IA
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | RAGBRAI | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | No buttons to push, easy to read and use. | | Weaknesses: | Sometimes I can bike all day and not have any problems. Then other days, it just goes blank for a few minutes or a few hours. When it eventually decides to start working again, all of the settings are scrambled. I liked the design of this thing so well, I bought two of them. One with temperature and one without. They both have the same problem with going blank and then resetting. The temperature readings never were accurate, even when the rest of the computer was working. | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye | | Bottom Line: | It's a shame this thing is so poorly made because the concept is great. I have finally given up on these. I am hoping Cateye or somebody else makes one like this that works. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J
a Racer
from Bay Area, CA
Date Reviewed: September 6, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | corte madera | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Purchased At: | universalcycles.com | | Strengths: | displays 4 lines at one time, several modes | | Weaknesses: | reset switch is overactive | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye Enduro | | Bike Setup: | Low buget racer- XTR RD, Truvative Stylo cranks/BB, custom front shock. Avid Ti brakes, SRAM Attack shifters, Cane Creek Aeroheat wheels | | Bottom Line: | Worked great for about 1 month. After that, every time I rode in the dirt the computer would reset two or three time. Reset during a race, during easy rides. Almost all the time. Computer has buttonless design, you push unit forward to change modes. If you hold it forward it will reset. If you ride anything other than flats and pavement it will eventually reset when you hit bumps. I removed mode switch from bottom w/pliers and now I use it on freeride bike. Out of the box it will be worthless in less than 1 month if you ride agressive/technical trails. Since I removed mode/reset button I can't change mode, but at least is get ride time, current speed, distance and time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alfonso
a Cross Country Rider
from Oakland
Date Reviewed: August 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Planet Bike | | Strengths: | lots of information in one screen; simple easy-to-use operation | | Weaknesses: | weather resistant -- i think NOT! | | Similar Products Used: | Cateye Enduro 2, Topeak Panoram | | Bike Setup: | irrelevant | | Bottom Line: | LOVE: amount of information on screen at any given moment -- unparalleled; accuracy is good as any other
HATE: fact that I've had to replace it after a long rainy ride (I use it on road bikes). It just does NOT hold up to any sort of wet weather -- I've already gone through THREE of them for this reason.
Dilemma: should I now bother buying a fourth one? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George
a Cross Country Rider
from Midland, MI USA
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | rail trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Compact, weather-sealed, easy to mount, sturdy wire, lots of info. on a single screen, easy to remove the computer unit, clock, good instructions. Accurate/easy to calibrate. | | Weaknesses: | Back-light would be kind of nice. Maybe just a wee bit bigger display would be nice, too. Neither is required, though. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | comfort bike | | Bottom Line: | Another very nice product from Planet Bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rock Magnet
a Weekend Warrior
from East Hartford, CT
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything on Case Mtn | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$18.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson USA | | Strengths: | Easy to install, has a clear display and is easy to switch between the 3 different screen just by pushing on the entire unit - no buttons to fumble with. I like that it has a built in clock; I can leave my watch at home. | | Weaknesses: | I haven't noticed any yet. I do need to spend a bit more time recalibrating the wheel diameter (either that or it isn't measuring the distance exactly right). | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock '03 Stumpjumper | | Bottom Line: | Sleek rig, weighs next to nothing and is easy to install and use. It would be nice to see this in a wireless setup, but I can't complain for $18. It would be nice if you could mount the unit in a location other than the top of the handlebar. I have a feeling it is going to get mashed first giant wipeout I have. So far, I am completely satisfied. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
2man
a Weekend Warrior
from 5022 53rd Street
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Alfred E Bike | | Strengths: | price, quality, ease of use. | | Weaknesses: | none yet. | | Similar Products Used: | bell junk. | | Bike Setup: | 2003 Giant Rincon stock. | | Bottom Line: | This was easy to install. I love the thick wire, seems like it will be very durable. Has all the extras and none of the stuff I didn't want, such as temperature. Sometimes it's better around here (Hot West Texas) if you don't know the temperature. Anyway, awesome cpu for the money. I recomend it to anyone not wanting to go broke just to find out how far,how fast etc. etc.!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
smokey strodtman
a Cross Country Rider
from gilliam, MO USA
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | landahl trail, rhett's run | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | performance website | | Strengths: | large, easy-to-read display with lots of info. ease of use. good instructions, easy to mount and set up. | | Weaknesses: | handlebar clamp has to be very tight to keep from moving. | | Similar Products Used: | vetta RT-55 (had terrible luck with that one, see my review). | | Bike Setup: | lemond poprad cyclocross bike set up for road riding. | | Bottom Line: | this computer ROCKS! one of my biggest complaints with other computers has been the small buttons that are hard to use while riding. with the planet bike model, you just give it a gentle tap forward in the bracket and the display changes. most of the important info is always there on all screens, but you can also find out your trip average speed, highest trip speed, and time very easily. it's also easy to remove from the bracket, just push it back and it pops out. i only use it on one bike, but it is set up so you can use it on another one with one easy adjustment. i don't run a computer on my mountain bike, wouldn't have that much time to look at it anyway. fortunately, i have not tested the crash-worthiness of the planet bike (yet, anyway!). i also have a planet bike cable lock, and have been impressed with it, also. after seeing how well this computer is designed, it's apparent that the people running the company are all riders and know what we need. five BIG flamers! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manny
a Weekend Warrior
from Sun Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | sycamore | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Large screen with exactly the data that I want to see at once. | | Weaknesses: | computer mount and zip tied sensor. So whats even worse?! My computer popped off after riding off a curb to avoid pedestrians. The horror I witnessed as it slid on the blacktop and was smashed repeatedly by incoming traffic. :( | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | specialized p3, mrp world cup 2 | | Bottom Line: | An awesome computer! I'm a techno geek and like lots of data all at once. This does the trick! I just start riding, push UP 3 times and my screen gives me the numbers. GREAT!
5 chilis if u ride like a wimp because it'll never fall off.
3 chilis if u ride like a maniac. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg
a Cross Country Rider
from NE Ohio
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Century Cycles | | Strengths: | Large display. Good Quality. Visible display. Thick durable cable. | | Weaknesses: | It's strength is its weakness. Its larger for mountain biking its probally prone to breaking. I have this computer hooked to a cross trainer and its great for this application. Cross training is rather boring and I'm always looking at the computer and its nice to have all those display lines to look at. | | Similar Products Used: | Avocet 45, Specialized wireless. | | Bike Setup: | Cross, Road and Mountain bikes | | Bottom Line: | Its worked every time and no problem to date. Several of my buddies have this computer and they all like them. I would not use it for mountain biking, but for cross training its super. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
næstep
a Cross Country Rider
from SF Bay Area, California
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Wow! Huge display, shows almost all your data at once. Speed, Average Speed, Ride Time, Trip Distance, Speed Comparator all at once! No button, simply shove the unit forward with your thumb in it's spring loaded mounting bracket and it changes mode, but this isn't something that need's to be done often during a ride — most of the data is there already.
Thick, abuse-resistant cable.
Modes to select two wheel sizes. | | Weaknesses: | Handlebar mounting bracket has some play in it, especially evident when pressing on the base of the computer to change modes. If you don't press on the unit "squarely" with your thumb, it won't always register the press.
Cheesy zip-tie installed sensor bracket. I like Cat Eye's screw-on band style better. The zip-tied sensor hasn't presented any problems, but it's not as secure as I'd like. | | Similar Products Used: | Cat Eye AT-100, ATC & Mity, old Avocet. | | Bike Setup: | Installed on a riser bar with Grip Shift. | | Bottom Line: | Cool idea. I hope to see this display adopted by more manufacturers, or for Planet Bike to include an Altimeter function in a future model (not likely, they tell me).
While I'd hope to see a better, more secure sensor mount adopted, the one they use now isn't a deal breaker.
The sensor is a bit peculiar: It has two "dots" on it. Not reading the instructions, I assumed the wheel magnet should pass between these two dots, and set it up accordingly. I ended up getting a lot of erroneous readings — too high, too low, rapid speed changes. I emailed the Planet Bike, and they wrote back that the magnet should be aligned with one dot or the other. I made this change and after that it worked like a charm.
The handlebar bracket is a little wimpy and needs to be beefed up with a more rigid clamp. Normally the slight side to side play wouldn't bother me or even be noticed, but it becomes apparent when the computer is pressed (as a button) and the whole thing rotates slightly.
5 Value chilis because the price is right, especially for the features.
4 Overall chilis for the mount and the sensor. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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