Saturday, April 20, 2013

CatEye Stealth Cyclocomputers: GPS for the rest of us

Have you been thinking about using a GPS-based computer to track your cycling routes, but have balked at the high cost of GPS devices? The new Cat Eye Stealth series of cyclocomputers give you GPS ride data in an affordable, easy-to-use package.

I tried out the new Cat Eye Stealth 10 on a one of my favorite rides called the Sunny Lake Loop last weekend. Getting the computer set up was no hassle at all. It comes with a Quick Start instruction sheet, and you can download a more detailed instruction sheet (both in English only; no poring over 7 other languages to find the one you need) from Cat Eye's web site. To be honest, in both cases, the instruction sheets make it look more complicated than it really is. Just plug the included USB cradle into your PC or Mac to charge the unit. Turn it on, select your time zone and preference for miles or kilometers, and you're ready to go. No sensors or calibration needed!

The Stealth 10 computer mounts using Cat Eye's FlexTight mounting bracket system. If you've got a current model Cat Eye wireless computer already, it's the same mount used by those, and if you need extra mounts for additional bikes, they are inexpensive and easy to install with no tools required.

To test it out and compare the accuracy, I used the Stealth 10 on my Surly Cross-Check in conjunction with my old Cat Eye Micro Wireless computer, as well as the Strava tracking app on my smartphone.
The Stealth 10 had no trouble keeping a connection to the GPS satellites, even on this cloudy day. While riding, it shows you the usual data like any cyclocomputer: current speed, ride distance, average speed, maximum speed, ride time, and time of day. The three-line display shows you your current speed and time of day at all times, and the bottom line scrolls through the other functions.

The final mileage for the ride shown on the Stealth 10 was 31; my Cat Eye Micro Wireless showed 30.3, and Strava showed 30.5. That actually makes sense, as Strava usually seems to report a total distance about a half-mile less than the actual, and I have my Micro Wireless calibrated for a 700x32 tire, but the Serfas Drifter City 700x32 tires I'm using actually ride more like a 700x35.

When you get home, just plug the Stealth 10 back into your computer to download the ride data. You'll need to install the Cat Eye Sync software (PC and Mac versions available). Then, you can upload the data to the web to view your route, track your mileage, and share your rides with friends. The Stealth computers work with Cat Eye's own Cat Eye Atlas web site. If your're already using a ride tracking web site, and don't want to sign up for an account on yet another site, you can also upload to your existing account on Strava or Training Peaks.
The Cat Eye Stealth 10 is in stock at all three Century Cycles stores now. Coming soon, the Cat Eye Stealth 50 gives you all the features of the Stealth 10, plus compatibility with ANT+ sensors for speed, cadence, heart rate, and power; available from Cat Eye and third parties.

11 comments:

  1. Is it possible to upload to Strava directly, bypassing the Cateye site?

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  2. Well, yes and no. Even with the Cat Eye site, it's a two-step process. First, you plus the Stealth unit into your PC and open the Cat Eye Sync software to download the ride from the Stealth to your PC. Then, you upload from your PC to the web site. Whether you're uploading to the Cat Eye Atlas web site or Strava, uploading from Cat Eye Sync on your PC to a web site is the second step in the process. You have to save your Strava user ID and password in the Cat Eye Sync software on your PC.

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  3. Ah, so it sounds like it uploads to both Cateye and Strava simultaneously. And having a login for the Cateye site is probably required?

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  4. No, it doesn't upload to both simultaneously; it uploads to one or the other. So, if you only want to upload to Strava, then you don't need to set up an account on the Cat Eye site.

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  5. great! Thanks for keeping up with the responses!

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  6. Was there a difference between segment times on Strava for smart phone and cat eye?

    Which Smart phone?

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  7. I have a Motorola Droid Razr M smartphone. I'm not sure if there was any difference in segment times between the Cat Eye versus Strava; I didn't try uploading to Strava.

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  8. Can you pause tracking during a ride, say you stop for lunch or something and don't want that time recorded

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  9. Yes; you can turn the unit off. When you turn it back on, it continues recording the same trip. It only starts a new trip when you perform the reset function.

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  10. Can you download set routes from your computer to the device?

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  11. No, the CatEye GPS computers don't have the ability to download routes to the device.

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