Futura X Cyclocomputer Review Reviewed By:Tim Cameron Reviewed On: February 27, 2004 Product Page:Sette USA Price: $110.00 retail
Programming
First, you must program your wheel factor into the unit with the chart included in the instruction booklet or you can determine the factor by multiplying your wheel diameter in millimeters by 3.1416. Next you need to select between km/mile by pressing the right button to select between the two. Press the left button to confirm and advance to the clock setting. Select between 24 or 12 hour clock using the right button and the left to confirm. Next you will be at the maintenance program which is pretty neat. You can select a time up to 600 miles to give you a message that it is time for bike maintenance. You can now spin the front wheel to see if you have a speed registered on the cyclocomputer. If not, check your distances between the magnet and transmitter and between the transmitter and cyclocomputer.
The Ride and Test
I put the chest strap on so that I could see if my heart rate would register before I set out for a ride. I noticed my heart rate was 72. I loaded up the bike and headed for the trail head. It was a beautiful day for riding with a temperature of 57 degrees and a mild wind. There was a lot of bikers at the trailhead today as expected. I was going to about 7 miles today to see what the FuturaX would perform. The heart rate was now 76 and I expect it would rise the next few minutes. I started out and the FuturaX stopped functioning. I stopped and found that the fork transmitter had moved a little. I moved it closer to the magnet and off we went. The speedometer seemed accurate as compared to my other reviewer who was riding along with me. The heart rate was climbing since we were climbing some pretty steep hills at the time. I noticed the odometer at mile two was off a little maybe by one tenth mile or so. This was probably a fault of mine for not properly programming in the right wheel factor. I will check this out later when I return to the shop. The heart rate monitor worked well even when I dismounted and took a couple of steps away from the bike, very impressive. I rode for an hour and returned to the shop for a final inspection. The Futura X held up well but I am still a little worried about the mounting bracket for the computer. I don’t think it would take to much of a blow to break it. I had programmed in the wrong wheel factor so the odometer being off was my fault. I adjusted it and rode again just to make sure.
Conclusion
The FuturaX seemed to be a great bike cyclocomputer for roadies or mountain bikers. The only recommendation that I would have for the manufacturer is to improve the computer mounting bracket, one that is more stable or made with thick plastic. I would recommend a back lit screen for night time usage and also cadence option. Overall, this would be a good choice for a bike computer especially those looking for one with a heart rate monitor.
