I stopped using a computer after my second year of randonneuring. I found it just became too much of a distraction. Besides, while riding brevets it wasn't uncommon to be riding with others and usually someone in the group would have a computer. Besides, you've got the cue sheet, just follow the directions. It adds to the fun. The idea of having everything laid out for me by a computer just isn't appealing. Also, I generally ride with my iPhone and so I can usually consult that for directions. When I'm touring/bike camping in the National Forest I usually have a good old fashioned map.
All that said, the new basic Garmin computers that work off GPS seem nice as you don't have to calibrate for wheel size and it's easy to switch the device between bikes with different size tires and/or wheels. --mike On Thursday, May 2, 2013 4:23:24 PM UTC-7, Deacon Patrick wrote: > > The thread asking about computers got me thinking -- I bet there are > others here who intentionally do not ride with a computer. I was curious > your experiences. Here are mine… > > I ride without a computer. Why? Because I am too stupid to control the > gadget rather than unwittingly allowing the gadget control me. For > instance, rather than riding to effort, I found I rode to speed. It is > much, much harder to listen to my body and what it needs with the allure of > the utterly irrelevant speed number out in front of me. So, like an idiot, > I try and keep a certain speed going up a hill or on a flat or in a > headwind, rather than sensibly listening to my body and pedaling at a > consistent effort. > > The idea here is that horses and other animal powered locomotion go by > effort. They go slower up hills and in headwinds and with heavy loads. But > I think my mindset living with a car and driving one for so many years > became based on speed. I'm going 75 on the highway and sure there is a hill > here, so I put the gas pedal down and maintain 75. This mentality ended up > driving my cycling experience when I had a computer in front of me. I know > it's idiotic, but there you are. WIth that number out there my mind could > not let go the idea that I should maintain speed. But that is no fun > (unless I choose it). So back in my pre-Riv days, when I rode > a recumbent trike, I ditched the computer and have been much happier ever > sense. > > I don't track or log milage, times or any other data (I don't for running > either). I use maps (including my iPhone) for navigation, and that's it. No > computer, for me, makes it much easier to "Just Ride." > > With abandon, > Patrick > > *www.MindYourHeadCoop.org* > *www.OurHolyConception.org* > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en-US. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
