Cateye Velo Wireless cycle computer review

In a world where the latest Garmins and other high-end computers are constantly receiving new updates to make them ever more complicated and expensive, the Cateye Velo Wireless cycle computer has remained all but unchanged for years, and is all the better for it.

When I first got into cycling a decade, the most scientific my training got was smashing it round a local 10-mile loop as hard as I could in an attempt to edge my average speed up that extra kilometre per hour or so. In order to record this, I of course needed a cycle computer, and although I can’t remember if that computer was this exact same Cateye Velo Wireless model that I am reviewing here, it was certainly very similar.

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With a price tag that is just a penny under £35, the Cateye Velo Wireless isn’t the most complicated cycle computer on the market, and certainly doesn’t come with the GPS tracking that would let you upload your ride to Strava but will do the job if you’re just getting into cycling.

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Included in the box is a speed and cadence sensor that attaches to your bike’s seatstay, and a couple of magnets that you strap to the crank and a spoke of the rear wheel. From this the Cateye Velo Wireless can measure your current, average, and maximum speeds, ride time, total riding distance, time of day, and calorie consumption (although this is a rather rough estimation based solely on your average speed, not taking into account the terrain or your physical condition).

I’ve used this computer alongside more expensive computers for a number of months, and have found that the time, speed and distance are all very accurate.

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Using the Cateye Velo Wireless is also an absolute doddle. You have your speed at the top and then another metric on the bottom, which you can alter by pressing the good-sized button on the front of the unit. I was also impressed by the mount, which is easy to attach to the bars and holds the computer very securely in place.

However, if I had to find a couple of faults it’s that the computer is powered by a CR2032 coin cell battery, rather than being rechargeable, meaning that at some point down the line it will probably run out of juice mid-ride, and that the screen isn’t backlit, so you won’t be able to see your stats when riding at night.

For more details visit the Zyro website.