Customer Reviews

Planet Bike Protege 9.0 9-Function Bike Computer with 4-Line Display and Temperature

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

There's a lot to like about this cycle computer. The "buttonless" design works well and allows a large display with most everything you'll need on one very readable page. I was especially pleased to find that, unlike my old CatEye, you can preset an odometer reading. I was also pleased to find that it has a 2 bike capability. You set wheel circumfrence and can preset an odometer readings for each. A single button on the back toggles between bikes. All that's needed is another wire/sensor harness which is relatively cheap. Modes are selected by pressing up on the entire computer and will show an odometer reading for the selected bike or an accumulated reading for both. The clock feature is also welcome.

The only negative is the temperature reading, which proved to be wildly inaccurate. I think sunshine causes a greeen-house effect inside the sealed unit. Whatever, it reads much higher than actual air temperature although tucked away in the garage the reading is reasonably accurate. Temperature reading wasn't a big issue with me anyway.

I couldn't be happier with it!

Like others have reported, the thermometer only reads correctly in the shade. The only other problem is that when I ride in the rain, which I try to avoid, it turns off. That said, it comes back and works great when dried off. Everything else is awesome. It has a really nice big display, so you can easily read everything and get a lot of data at once. The whole unit acts as the button to toggle between screens, so that is easy to do as well. This thing has taken a lot of abuse and kept going. Combine the great display, ease of use, super price and thermometer that does work well in shade and the Planet Bike Protege 9.0 is a real deal.

I bought this unit because I wanted a temperature read out, and I didn't want to spend a bundle for a wireless cyclometer -- I found no other choices meeting these requirements. I think this bike computer has some serious drawbacks. 1. Don't get caught out in the rain. When the computer gets wet, the display disappears, it stops working and doesn't return to normal for hours. 2. To switch between screens you press the unit from the bottom, but if held for a second, this zeros out the current ride data. I found the computer sometimes zeroed out the data, when I only wanted to switch screens -- most annoying. 3. After about a year the display faded, and after I put in a new battery, many of the segments in the numerals never recovered properly and remained dim.

If, like me, you want temperature information on your rides it appears this the best available at the price.

What's not to like? Bike data, time, temp, low cost, this unit has performed very well. So well I bought another one for my mountain bike. My road bike has had one for 2 years and over 4,000 miles. This spring the display started to fade in and out... still functional, but almost a slow dim/regular warning. So I bought a common CR2032 battery, changed it, reset the data (make sure you copy your mileage if you want to re-enter it into the newly erased unit. The battery change wipes it out) and all was well.

Regarding the temperature reading, it's fairly accurate when NOT in direct sunlight, but goes bonkers when in the sunlight. This is more comical than anything... you've GOT to understand how a thermometre works and take into account the environment this unit operates in. Plus it's not exactly an expensive unit... the temperature is a bonus, not the primary feature! (DOH!)

I'm glad it's there, but I'm not really counting on it for critical readings. Am much happier with the units features, the clock, etc. Switching displays requires a simple tap... not a long push (will reset data from the current ride.)

All I want at a can't beat price!

Everything works well and is well designed about this computer except the thermometer. It is only accurate in the shade. When it hits the sun it will be 5 to 10 degrees too warm. Otherwise having so many functions on one screen is wonderful. Everthing else works flawlessly! For the price, you can overlook the temp problem and park the bike in the shade to get good readings or use the readings for better war stories.

Would be nice to create a wireless version and make the sensor less sensitive to sun.

I have had this computer for two weeks now and am extremely satisfied with it. I have not had any problems with the thermometer and find it to be both accurate and rugged. I have been really using it every day and find no bad things to say. I must admit that I have not rode in the rain or any inclement weather. Definitely, well worth it!

I've used many cyclocomputers over the past 25 years, but when it came time to purchase one for my 12 year old daughters first "real" road bike the Planet Bike Protege stood out. The multi-line display eliminates the button clicks necessary to view information on other units, which makes it much easier to use for a beginner. This feature aids safety as well, since the rider need not reach out to push one or more buttons to access information.

This is the third unit I have purchased -- I have one on my wife's recumbent and my 14 year old son's road bike as well. From a design perspective, I believe the wire from the receiving unit to the mount is a bit thick and more difficult to work with, making a clean installation somewhat more challenging. Also, I have always been a fan of Avocet's excellent multipulse pickup system and I prefer it to all the single pulse units on the market.

Aside from those two minor quibbles, I think the Protege is an excellent value among cyclocomputers, offering all the key information a rider might want in an easy to use format and at a very competitive price.

I really like the speed comparator function of this computer. I've found that I always try to keep my speed above my average speed which has significantly increased how fast I ride.

The installation was easy, though I had to read the instructions twice to figure out how to set the wheel circumference. I didn't have any problem getting the magnet to work and the included shims fit my handlebars perfectly.

The display shows a lot of information and what isn't shown can be accessed very easily by simply pressing on the unit. As other reviews have mentioned, there is no backlight, so you can't use it in the dark, but it is very easy to read in any other lighting condition I've tried.

The only complaint that I have is that the average and max speed functions are ride data which means that they get zeroed out when you reset the computer. I would really like for them to be persistent.

I got this cyclocomputer to replace my Schwin 17-function computer. The Schwin was ok, especially for the price, but this computer is so much more user friendly. It has a simple one button control and you can easily reset the tripodometer. With the Schwin, I had to completely reconfigure the unit to reset the tripodometer.

I was a little worried about one reviewer that had problems with rain. I took the computer out last night and rode 28 miles in misty/drizzle conditions. It wasn't a full-on rain, but the computer worked flawlessly. Another really nice feature is that the trip timer stops when you're speed goes to 0.0 (so you know your actual ride time).

Also, the magnet that came with the Schwin was so weak, the sensor had to be shimmed to within 1 mm of the magnet. The Planet Bike magnet is much stronger; I have the sensor about 1/4" from the magnet and it works without fail. This is a great product and is extremely easy to use.

I've owned several including cateye, vetta, sigma and I have to say this is the best design I've seen. I've paid over $100 for one, and for the price ($22)it is even more outstanding. Simple to use, well made with a sturdy cable. Rode in the rain yesterday - no problem!

It was unclear from some of the reviews how it works. Most of the display except the bottom line reads all the time. It slides forward in the bracket (spring loaded) to toggle thru the 4 versions of the bottom display. If you hold it forward for a few seconds it resets. That's it. No buttons. As noted in some reviews you need to be careful not to reset it accidently if you hold it too long