Vetta RT 77 Cycle computer mini-review

Ever since my old cycle computer fell off on my commute home in the middle of winter I've been on the lookout for another cheap cycle computer to replace it. This time I wanted cadence as well as apparently this is an area that newbie riders should focus on a bit.

I bided my time so for a computer that came along in my price range but unfortunately no free ones presented them selves so I eventually settled on an a Vetta RT 77 which I picked up from Torpedo7.com for the princely sum of $17 and it is still avaliable for that price.

It is basic but has the following features:

1. Current speed
2. Average speed
3. Maximum speed
4. Speed comparator
5. Cumulative odometer
6. Trip odometer
7. 12/24 hour clock
8. Ride timer
9. Service timer
10. Cadence
11. Average Cadence
12. Maximum Cadence
13. Freeze frame memory
14. Auto start/stop

 Which are pretty much all that a person needs. Mounting ti was easy, just a matter of liberally applying the cable ties that came with it to fasten it all the the appropriate places and keep the cables nice and tidy, the only annoyance is that the cadence lead was quite a bit longer than required so I've had to curl it up and tie it to the down tube, but other than that its pretty good. The manual is a little confusing but really how much do you need it for installation if you know how the computers work, a simple sensor mounted on the frame/fork that is triggered by a magnet mounted to the spokes/pedal.

I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and its pretty good, although I must have missed the average cadence feature, will have to have another play with it when I get home to see where it is. Up until now I've just been leaving it on the cadence display that shows current cadence and current speed. This is great for me as I am working on increasing my cadence.

Also, this seems to have a better clip arrangement than my last computer so it shouldn't fall off as easily.

Overall I am very happy with my purchase and I hopefully this one won't fall off in the dark where I can't find it.

The problem with Cycling in Melbourne

Having cycled to work most days for the best part of a year I figured it was time to vent. There are plenty of articles and discussions floating around that discuss the problems with cycling in Melbourne and for the most part they raise legitimate concerns, the lack of interconnected cycle paths, cyclists slowing motorists down on major roads etc. As a cyclist once you've worked out a good route that minimizes the time spent on major roads and maximizes the use of cycle paths and quiet side streets these issues aren't so bad. You get used to the conditions on the route etc and it fades into oblivion.

Inner Melbourne, for the most part should be an awesome place to cycle, the streets are wide and have wide lanes and for the most part their are few hills, there are also some good paths along the rivers etc. The problem is that there are plenty of streets with tram tracks that should be perfect for riding on, the curb side lanes are wide enough to accommodate parked cars with plenty of room to spare, a few meters, for cyclists to ride in but there is a significant portion of drivers that find it difficult, if not impossible to stay in completely in the middle lane.

On at least half of my weekly bike trips I encounter a car that is so far into the curb side lane that there simply isn't enough room for me to fit past on my bike. I am not counting cars that may be double parked just cars that fail to stay in the middle lane to such an extent that I can't even ride past. What makes this doubly annoying and concerning is that often these cars have just driven past me to get to where they are, so either they are doing it deliberately or they are completely oblivious to the fact that they are sitting a good two meters into the other lane. Aren't they concerned about some one in a parked car opening a door?

When I have to stop completely I will often tap on the window and gesture for the driver to move over. This is greeted by a couple of different reactions, complete shock which tends to indicate a complete lack of awareness of surroundings or anger. Now, I always try to be polite when doing it, could you please move over etc, but I guess some people are just angry.

Just this morning I had an amusing encounter with a father driving a Land Cruiser that, drove past and almost side swiped me and then proceeded to stop with the car more in the curb side lane than in the actual driving lane. When I tapped on the window I got the finger and a big f*** off. When I pointed out that perhaps his wife wouldn't approve of him using such language in front of his children he went a particularly lovely shade of red and then sped off.