Review of Blackburn Delphi 3.0 Bicycle Cyclometer

Blackburn Delphi 3.0 Bicycle Cyclometer
By: Blackburn Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 6
More Information

You won't love it, but you won't regret it. U get what U paid for.

On: 2009-05-17

Ive been using the product for 3 weeks (5 - 10 uses, 80 miles).

PROS: Price, Cadence, Layout, User interface & Controls.

Cons:

Tough install;, Have a handy clever McGyver type around to help with the install

The wires are thick and nasty, they look like a science experiment is taking place on your bike.

The software is a little buggy, but nothing unacceptable (again, because of the price)

Not designed for popping the computer on and off the mount.

If you want to see cadence for cheap, this gets the job done as long as you can handle the install and the Frankenbike look.

Good computer, but hard to get on curved handebars

On: 2008-09-13

Computer works great, but I have a Giant with curved and flared handlebars. having a hard time getting it mouned to that still.

Better products out there.

On: 2008-09-13

I bought the Delphi 3.0 because a local sporting warehouse was having a sale - I thought $11 for a new cyclometer with a cadence function sounded like a good deal, so even though my Cateye Mity 8 was working fine, I switched. I wish I hadnt.

My main gripe with my Blackburn is the delay - my Cateye (now on another bicycle) reacts instantaneously to changes in speed, starting and stopping. That instantaneous feedback is crucial - you know exactly when youve started to slack and can pick up the pace to get back on track. My Blackburn, on the other hand, has a delay of at least two seconds. Every time I come to a stoplight and put my feet on the ground, my Blackburn will read 8 mph or the like.

Other problems:
Even with the magnets properly aligned I often get erroneous readings. Ill be going 25 mph and all of the sudden it will show me going 14 and then jump back to 25.

The buttons often dont react or overreact. Either you press a button and nothing happens or you press a button and it jumps 2-3 screens (making you have to rotate again.) This is especially aggravating because a lot of functions require you to press and hold the button. I still cant figure out why you have to press and hold to display cadence - a.) the button doesnt do anything but turn the cadence display on or off and b.) its ridiculous that the default is to not display the cadence, that area of the screen isnt used for anything else, which brings me to my next gripe...

The cadence display often disappears. It just decides to turn off every now and then. Again, it wouldnt be so much of a problem if you only had to tap the button to get it back on (instead of pressing and holding) or if the buttons just always worked to begin with.

It freezes. Its frozen on my twice while switching from the A to the B bike. Ive just decided to that this feature is no longer usable unless I want to risk losing all of my data again.

It only has one trip feature. I really miss the two trip features from my Cateye.

The wire is ridiculously long. Youd have to be riding a 65 cm time trial bike to use up all the wire here. I have the wire wrapped around my cable housing as much as it will go, my Cannondales thick downtube twice, and it still gets bunched up around my chainstay. It looks terrible and whats worse is that it adds unnecessary weight. The wire is also considerably thicker (and heavier) than my Cateyes.

It does have two advantages over my Cateye:
1. The cadence feature.
2. The ability to program in your odometer. This is especially useful for when it crashes.

Its still on my bike and I dont have any plans to take it off, but I certainly wont be buying another Blackburn in the future.

Find it at your local bicycle shop -- well worth it!!!

On: 2008-01-27

FINALLY one of the lower-priced cyclometers that delivers everything one of these should, and IT WORKS.

After being fed up and frustrated with other cyclometers that had magnets that worked only intermittently, or had difficult non-intuitive function navigation, or had wireless connections that seemed to lose their connection, this one was a joy!

The setup was simple. It comes with a HUGE users booklet (really multiple languages in one, but each section is about 1/4" thick). The downside is, the print is really small and sometimes creeps into the binding area. But its loaded with good info and lots of step-by-step picture diagrams.

The cyclometer includes 2 magnet sensors (for odometer/speed and cadence), and CAN BE INSTALLED TO WORK OFF THE REAR WHEEL (great for trainers). In fact, Id recommend that, the wires are perfect length with no need to tie up excess. I installed it on a mountain bike that Im using indoors with a trainer (its wintertime), but it will install just as nicely on a street or racer bike.

Watch out for the flat magnet that goes on your pedal, the glue isnt that good and it will pop out. I used cloth "gaffer tape" to tape all the wires down, and even put a small piece right over that sensor magnet. (The gaffer tape does not interfere with the magnetic pickup.) (Get gaffer tape from any theatrical supply place, much better than electrical or duct tape.)

The LCD panel is big and easy to read, and after familiarizing yourself with the manual, youll find the 4 buttons (3 front, 1 on top) become intuitive.

This one is a great bargain for under $40. If Amazon doesnt have it in stock, FIND IT. Its well worth it.

On: 2007-10-13

Ive owned this for 4-5 months now. Ive been challenged in getting the cadence and speed sensors to pick up and cant seem to figure it out. First of all, the cadence sensor has to be real close to the magnet on the crank, but they dont give you enough rubber padding to make this work, so I had to rig my own thing--then I lost the magnet on the crank and it hasnt worked for months. I suppose I could replace it, but it kind of ticks me off. Lately, the speed sensor is going in and out and I cant seem to figure out why. The magnet on the wheel is right next to the sensor, but it doesnt pick up and then when Im riding, it will just start to work. Maybe its the cold weather, because this wasnt a problem all summer. Anyway, this computer is OK, but Ill probably buy a different one next spring.

On: 2007-10-12

Ive owned this for 4-5 months now. Ive been challenged in getting the cadence and speed sensors to pick up and cant seem to figure it out. First of all, the cadence sensor has to be real close to the magnet on the crank, but they dont give you enough rubber padding to make this work, so I had to rig my own thing--then I lost the magnet on the crank and it hasnt worked for months. I suppose I could replace it, but it kind of ticks me off. Lately, the speed sensor is going in and out and I cant seem to figure out why. The magnet on the wheel is right next to the sensor, but it doesnt pick up and then when Im riding, it will just start to work. Maybe its the cold weather, because this wasnt a problem all summer. Anyway, this computer is OK, but Ill probably buy a different one next spring.

Works Great! Installation Instructions need some work though...

On: 2007-05-08

I had to find clearer instructions from a competitors website, because the Blackburn instructions were just too vague.

Once installed though, the 3.0 gives me (a novice/casual rider) everything I need. (Speed, Miles, Time...)