More toys for the training boys

Polygon's cycling odometer (speedometer - to the uninitiated). At £6.99 for a single unit is great - of all the gizmo's out there. This is a great boys toy (based on my girlfriend's less than enthusiatic reaction) what isn't there to love. Not only trying to hit your top speed it'll record it too. For the next time you're out. The real benefits if you want to use it to improve your fitness are:

• On regular rides - taking your average speed & telling you if you are above or below it
• On hill climbs if taking your speed and ensuring you maintain a speed
• A memory to store a ride on race day
• Flicking through the modes for distance, speed and time

If only I had it when we went to Scottish highlands... anyhow... lets get to the basics first. Getting the thing working.

It was actually pretty easy. The initial instruction booklet is a little technical calling things like mountain shoe (bracket). Basically, you just need to tighten the clamp on your left bike fork. Tip: Pull it up a little from the base as you have to attach another little black screw fitted magnet to the spoke and at the bottom of the wheel your spokes leave little space. And the trick is with this is that the bracket (which has a sensor) needs to be literally no more than 1-2mm away to get a reading. Once its close enough no worries.

There's some handy little plastic clips to tighten up the wire to your fork and handle bars and that's it. The cycle computer is detachable and so for security you can take it with you. What you do have to do is figure out how to set the recordings up so you can record distance, speed and trip time, oh yeah and the clock if you want!

Step One: Attach the bracket on to the handle bars. The bracket feeds two wires through and the base connects to the bottom of the cycle computer

Step Two:

The sensor is two part the little black magnet on the spoke mid-insert below and the black sensor on the fork together pick up the speed of the wheel. The one on the spoke just unscrews and attaches either side of the spoke. The on on the fork is a little trickier and has a plastic screw which gets in the way. Just force the black strap through and the plastic screw pops out and then pop it back in when you have it in position. Its best to try and get this on first time as its a little awkward so a little up from the base is a good position.

Step Three:

Don't discard these unassuming little clips as you'll need them to attach the wire to the fork and the handle bar. Otherwise it can get tangled and will be a headache / danger cycling.

Step Four:

Stand back and admire your handy work. Its quite a discreet piece of kit and one that gives a lot of fun... find out how to use the cycle computer itself here