VDO computer

[rocky rode]

Chris P used a VDO bike computer on the TD.  Kurt R told me about it and then I totally forgot to ask Chris about it while he was here.  Anyway, it is resettable in either direction, apparently, by any amount?  This sounds like a really, really good thing if you are following a que sheet to keep your mileage agreeing with the sheet or to reset the milage after missing a turn, buying supplies off route, etc.  Motorcycles have had this forever and I've always wondered why bike computers don't.  Should we buy one?  Are they reliable and do they do what we need them to do?  Any particular model?  Thanks!

Gary
 

[rodar y rodar]

I have a VDO (MC1.0, wired) but I`m not quite sure I understand what you`re asking by "resetable in either direction".  Are you talking about the mount?  In any case, I bought mine for the altimeter functions and I love it, although I don`t know how accurate it is except that it`s accurate enough for me and my personal trip notes.  A downside is that the buttons seem to be easy to activate by mistake.  Twice I`ve reset mine accidentally in midride, probably by leaning against it at a rest stop.  Also, I don`t use most of the functions, so I may not be able to answwer even if you explain the question again, but I`ve got the manual handy so I`ll look it up if you want.

[rocky rode]

I have a VDO (MC1.0, wired) but I`m not quite sure I understand what you`re asking by "resetable in either direction".  Are you talking about the mount? ay not be able to answwer even if you explain the question again, but I`ve got the manual handy so I`ll look it up if you want.

Thanks for responding.  By resettable I mean that if your que sheet, map, etc. says a turn should be at, say, 31.6 miles and when you get there your odometer reads 32.4 miles you'd have the ability to reset your odometer to 31.6 miles.  Then you'd know that when the mileage for the next turn shows on your que sheet you ought to be pretty close on your odometer.  Make sense?

We have been riding the GDMBR in sections this summer on the weekends and where we start isn't where the map starts at zero miles.  If we could set our odometer to the miles on the map at (our) start it would make the route finding much easier.  We'd also have the option to fine tune it to the route miles if the odometer mileage was off from the map/que sheet miles.

[rodar y rodar]

Sort of.  The 1.0 has three levels of odometer: Odometer (pretty much non reseting), Trip Distance (resetable to zero daily or whenever), and Navigator.  The Navigator function can be reset to zero or preset to any given distance whenever you want, but it only counts up from the starting point, not both ways.  In otherwords, you can set it to start counting up from 5.8 or whatever, but you can`t do a countdown from that point down to zero.  Doing anything to the Navigator has no effect on the Trip Odometer, but you can only monitor one at a time.  Does that answer your question?  I`m pretty sure the MC 1.0 (wired) has been replaced by the MC 1.0+ (wireless).  For what it`s worth, the biggest complaint I have against mine is that it`s too danged complicated for my feeble mind and when I screw something up or get it to the wrong mode somehow I`m pretty much SOL until I get home to my manual.  Due to that, I`ve never used the Nav function on purpose, so I had to look it up.

[rocky rode]

Thanks Rodar!  That's just the info I wanted.  Too bad you can't set it backwards too.  It sure seems that the computer makers are missing the boat on this useful feature, it wouldn't be too hard for them to incorporate, I'd think.

Gary

[Pivvay]

Mine actually will "count backwards" as well. I will see what kind it is, the box is somewhere.

[Pivvay]

See if VDO C3DS will do anything for you? That's what the box says.

[rocky rode]

Thanks Chris!  Unfortunately the reviews on MTBR show this model to have questionable reliability.  I assume yours worked fine all through TD?  I'll have to do some research and see if any of the wired, not wireless, VDO models have the mileage adjustment feature, maybe they're more reliable?

Gary

[Pivvay]

Mine has maybe 5k miles on it by now. It stopped working halfway through the tour divide this year when it got rainy/cold and would work again when it warmed back up. I figured it had water in the housing considering how nasty the weather it was this year. It worked flawlessly until then.

A lot of people don't like wireless but I'm pretty happy with wireless computers on all my bikes. Of course I always have GPS back up these days as well. I hate being lost.

[bmike-vt]

Old post I know but I've been using the wireless VDO with alt for 3+ years for randonneuring and other long road rides. The navigator works well. Never wanted to set it to countdown - so don't miss that feature - but super handy in the middle of an event to cancel out any bonus miles or discrepancies when you get to a known cue. Be careful though with you're lighting - some highpowered LED systems can mess with the signal.