Sigma Sport BC14.12 14 Function Bicycle Computer with Altimeter

I am picky, and I give this my highest rating. This is a well designed unit that does everything I want or need. After eight years, I lost my old Vetta V100a (with altimeter) last season. So I bought a simple Sigma BC8 model, which worked just fine. BUT I ride in the mountains, and I found that I really missed the altimeter -- my rides are all climbs. Even when I know the trail, I was used to looking at the altitude gains on the bike computer. So this year, I looked again for a bike computer with altimeter, and found this. Great find!!Bottom line: I love it. Much better than my old Vetta. This model is very easy to set up, and works extremely well. The display is large and easy to read, and includes backlight, if needed. The four function buttons (two on top, two on bottom side) are well designed, intuitive and simple to use "on the move." The newest digital altimeter chips (such as the one in this Sigma) are extremely accurate, and far better than my old Vetta -- the Sigma is accurate to within a meter +/-. Even nicer for me, the BC14 uses the same mount as the Sigma BC8 wired models, so all I had to do was exchange the old model in the handlebar mount for this new model.I did not need or want a GPS; I do not want to mess with recharging batteries, or frequently changing batteries (as in wireless units). I did want something simple that could take the knocks on a hard trail, give accurate readings, and tell me altitudes. And this does all that. In addition, the altimeter function works independently -- so you can take it off the bike and put this one in your pocket for hikes.Will it last eight years, like my old unit? Time will tell. It looks solid.Addendum - May 2017. My unit is still working well, no problems of any kind. I did need to replace the battery last year; it seems like the battery will last about two years. I still highly recommend this.

Bought this model mainly because it is wired -- no more problems with lights interfering with the signal -- and because of the altitude feature. The altitude feature is fun, but I pretty much get the same info from GPS, so not really a strong argument for buying. I also bought the computer interface; it's not that great. I'm not sure how one resets ride data between rides without the computer interface; it's probably in the picture guide that serves as the only manual. It does attach/detach quickly from the mount, but don't ever put it in upside-down -- very difficult to get back out. I seem to have some problem getting consistent distance readings. On my old Cateye, I fine-tuned the circumference number after a few rides, comparing with GPS each time; have tried to do that with this one, but the numbers aren't stable. Unsure why.Lots of reviewers mentioned that their device was DOA. Maybe so. I read such reviews before buying the device. When I got it, I couldn't get it to turn on. Figured I got one of the DOA ones too. My 12-year old daughter then read the manual and turned the device on for me (got it out of deep sleep mode). Not saying that's what happened with the other reviewers, but if you buy one, be sure to read how to turn it on!

I bought this because it has an altitude tracker. However it has a small screen, is complicated to use and has four different buttons. I have another bike with a different computer that is much easier to use and reset every time I ride. I can reset every record (ie max speed, ave speed, dist) for each ride on this computer except the altitude functions, they just won't rest for some reason. The altitude seems accurate while it is working, but good luck zeroing it out at the start of your ride. It also has a thermometer that reads about 20 degrees too hot even when it is in the shade for a couple of hours. If I could go back, I would either buy a cheaper computer without the altitude, or go big and buy a real GPS that tracks 30 different things. I would not recommend this product unless you ride the same bike everyday and can remember what each of the four buttons do individually and in combination. It is not intuitive. On the plus side it is fairly easy to install. When you start to set it up, it may appear dead or broken. You need to take out the battery and push a bunch of buttons to get it to turn on the first time. The instructions do not correctly tell you how to do it, but by luck I was able to get mine to start. I had to take out the battery and put it back in 3 times before it would start, and yes I followed the directions exactly the first two times. There are better choices.

Overall a good computer. There are 2 buttons on the top edge and 2 on the bottom edge. I like the large display which is very easy to read. It has altitude which I also like. It does not display the current grade, as in the percentage of the road you are currently climbing, wish it had that. It also has the current temperature which is good. It is a wired computer and it is easy to mount. The only thing I don't like is the top and bottom button placement. When want to press the bottom right button to scroll through the settings, you tend to put a finger on the top edge in order to press a button on the bottom edge. Because of that, you may activate the top button instead of the bottom button. I have not gotten used to this yet. That is the only knock.

Altimeter tends to gain 15 feet per hour which means I end up returning to a start point at a higher altitude than what when I left which of course isn't really happening, and not really a big deal relatively speaking. But the elevation gain is usually 50% to 100% higher than anything else I compare to which leads me to believe this unit is not accurate. If it were consistently higher (meaning precise) that would be OK too, and I could adjust, but it seems to vary. The temperate reading is not very useful given it is sensitive to sun light, but again not a big deal. Everything else about the unit seems accurate and precise. I specifically bought this over some other computers because of the altimeter so I am a little bit let down.