# Looking for a NON GPS bicycle computer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2021, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335 "2021-08-23T00:19:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/1 "2021-08-23T00:19:44Z")
I hit a bump and my cateye adventure went flying. Spent about an hour looking for it and it is gone. Looking for a replacement. – I like that it did slope calculations, and recorded total climbs. In my search, most models that do that are GPS models. I do not want GPS – I want long battery life. I do not need/want cadence Must have odometer, tripometer (I like that adventure had two tripometers – one I used for daily rises, and the other for multi day tours) (all have speed and most have up/done pace) Other than buying an adventure on ebay, any real options? (the closest I’ve found is the Sigma BC 14.16) Thanks, Brian ETA I do not have smartphone, not would I always carry one on my bike if I had one ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/2 "2021-08-23T01:15:13Z")
I don’t have a rec, but I notice REI has a bunch to choose from. > **[Cycling Computers | REI Co-op](https://www.rei.com/c/cycling-computers)** > > Shop for Cycling Computers at REI - FREE SHIPPING With $50 minimum purchase. Curbside Pickup Available NOW! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/3 "2021-08-23T01:29:32Z")
Thanks, but only two models are not GPS, and none have an altimeter (might have to give up on that) FYI The eBay ones aren’t actually available. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/4 "2021-08-23T02:02:18Z")
What is your objection to having GPS? battery life of the rechargeable vs. battery life of a coin cell battery in a Cateye or something else? Garmins have 12-24 hrs battery life, depending upon model. That’s riding time, not wall clock time. How much are you riding in a day? In a multiday event? Would you exceed that? Are you camping or do you have access to wall power to recharge after the ride? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/5 "2021-08-23T02:26:08Z")
I recently went camping with my bike – there was no electricity available (I suppose I could have used my car) – I like having 6+ months battery life. I have also done (ok, once) a multi day loaded tour with no easy access to electricity (Maybe an outlet in the restroom, but wouldn’t want to use that to recharge) (OK, so on my most recent trip it was only ~11.5 hours of actual riding – still bothers me) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/6 "2021-08-23T09:29:00Z")
Hard to find something without GPS I imagine, it’s a bit like trying to find a mobile phone that only makes phone calls. Have you considered getting one with GPS but leaving the GPS turned off to save battery? I assume bike computers still have a speed sensor to back up the GPS. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/7 "2021-08-23T12:25:56Z")
There are a few basic non GPS bike computers. The 14.16 so far is the only one I’ve found that has a slope display. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/8 "2021-08-23T13:36:27Z")
Altimeter without GPS is going to be hard to find, as most bike computers these days use the GPS for elevation gains. Non-GPS models tend to be the very simple type that just pick up speed/distance/time. The customer base that wants elevation but doesn’t want GPS is going to be tiny. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/9 "2021-08-23T17:13:24Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Hard to find something without GPS I imagine, it’s a bit like trying to find a mobile phone that only makes phone calls. Have you considered getting one with GPS but leaving the GPS turned off to save battery? I assume bike computers still have a speed sensor to back up the GPS. I don’t think they do. I just bought a new bike computer a few months ago. There’s no sensor to detect wheel revolutions; as near as I can tell it uses GPS as its only input source. I haven’t run the battery down, so I can’t really say how long the life is. It’s nice not having to calibrate the computer, or fuss with the sensor and connections. On the down side, it seems like the speed measurement fluctuates as I ride under trees; I think they may be interrupting the GPS signal. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/10 "2021-08-23T17:18:07Z")
Yes, my criteria are unusual, but Cateye did make the Adventure. Maybe at the time GPS was too expensive so they made that unit. Will probably go with the 14.16, at least it is close-ish. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-non-gps-bicycle-computer/949335/11 "2021-08-23T22:13:34Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I don’t think they do. I just bought a new bike computer a few months ago. There’s no sensor to detect wheel revolutions; as near as I can tell it uses GPS as its only input source. They may not necessarily come with the computer anymore, but they are still available, and a lot less fiddly to fit. These Garmin ones mount to the wheel hub for speed and the crank for cadence. > **[Garmin Bike Speed 2 and Cadence Sensor 2](https://www.garmin.com/en-NZ/p/641221)** > > Track your pedaling speed as well as cadence & send live data to compatible training aps or displays using ANT+® connectivity & BLUETOOTH® Low Energy technology.