The 5 Best Bike Speedometers Suitable for Beginner Cyclists

Cyclists Hub is supported by its readers. We may receive a commission if you buy products using our links.
All content on Cyclists Hub is written by humans, not robots. Learn More

These are the best bike speedometers suitable for beginners and casual cyclists. Remember, speedometers only offer basic features like measuring your speed, distance, trip time, etc.

They don’t offer as sophisticated features as bike computers and are incompatible with 3rd party sensors like power meters or bicycle radars.

Below, I will also guide you through features to consider when choosing a speedometer.

What Are the Best Speedometers?

Best Design

CHECK PRICE

Also available at performancebike.com

Read More

Best Overall

CHECK PRICE

Also available at performancebike.com

Read More

Most Capable

CHECK PRICE

Read More

Choosing the best speedometer depends mainly on your budget. I recommend buying a wireless speedometer for its ease of setup and cleaner look of your bike if you have more money to spend.

Most speedometers can display basic metrics like speed, distance, or ride time and will last for several months or years on one battery (or charge).

Remember, speedometers are not as sophisticated as dedicated bike computers (learn more).

Visit my best bike computers article if you want a head unit with intelligent features, navigation, and compatibility with additional sensors.

Skip to the comparison table…

CatEye Padrone (Best Bike Speedometer Overall)

One of the most popular bike speedometers ever…

I selected CatEye Padrone as the best bike speedometer because of its affordability, ease of use, and simplicity. It’s a wireless speedometer, so it’s more expensive than wired ones. However, this slight price bump pays off in terms of ease of installation because you won’t have to wire the cables.

Padrone has hidden buttons at the bottom of the screen, so it has a nice minimalistic design. It can automatically pause your ride, so when you stop, it won’t continue calculating your average speed, trip time, etc. Furthermore, you can choose multiple colors to match your bike or cycling kit.

Its main disadvantages are its relatively short battery life compared to other speedometers (like the Velo 7) and its sensitivity to cell phones, which may cause inaccuracies.

Also available at performancebike.com

CatEye Velo 7 (Best Battery Life)

Battery life champ…

If you are looking for a bike speedometer that you can attach to a bike and leave without needing to replace a battery for a few years, this one is the one to buy. Its battery life is up to 3 years, probably the longest of all speedometers on the market.

Velo 7 is simple and only measures basic metrics like speed, distance, time, etc. Of course, it can automatically pause measuring once you stop.

You can also use it with stationary bikes if you want. Just ensure you place the magnet where it won’t interfere with the frame.

Also available at performancebike.com

Coospo BC107 (Most Capable Speedometer)

Surprisingly capable, almost bike computer-like speedometer…

The Coospo BC107 speedometer is almost like a bike computer—just a little simpler. It is compatible with ANT+ and Bluetooth sensors, such as power meters and HR monitors. This makes it one of the market’s most capable speedometers (or budget bike computers).

It can display not only the standard metrics but also your heart rate, cadence, or power. Of course, you have to have those sensors. What’s the catch, then?

Due to these features, its battery life is pretty short, so you will have to recharge it more often. Unlike bike computers, it also doesn’t have in-built maps, so it can’t navigate you.

On the other hand, you can use the CoospoRide APP to analyze your rides and track your progress. That’s great value for the money. What do you think? You can learn more about it in my Coospo BC107 review.

Meilan M3

Bike speedometer in a stopwatch body…

Meilan M3 is an affordable wireless speedometer that provides basic ride data. It’s available in multiple colors and has a stopwatch-like body. Maybe it will awaken nostalgia for your school days.

Its internal memory can store up to 30 activities, so you can check your ride history and progress.

The biggest disadvantage of the M3 is its short 8-hour battery life. On the other hand, you can recharge the battery and don’t have to replace it (which incurs additional costs).

iGPSPORT 50S

Bike computer-like speedometer for an affordable price…

iGPSPORT 50s is like Coospo BC107 but less polished. These two speedometers are direct competitors, and it’s up to you which one you like more. Both offer more or less the same features – including connectivity, ease of use, data fields, etc. However, iGSPORT 50s does not support power meters.

On the other hand, it has an edge in battery life, and the packing also includes a screen protector. You can also pair it with the iGPSPORT APP and analyze your rides.

My Verdict

If you are new to bike speedometers and want to learn their differences from bike computers, read my buyer’s guide below.

Speedometer vs. Bike Computer: What’s the Difference?

Basic speedometers (also called odometers) usually don’t offer as sophisticated features as bike computers. They can measure only basic metrics such as speed, average speed, ascent, descent, temperature, and time.

They are often incompatible with additional sensors (like power meters), have limited connectivity, and don’t have maps for navigation purposes.

NOTE: Some speedometers have ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to connect more sensors.

On the other hand, they are more affordable and have longer battery life.

Who are speedometers suitable for?
Speedometers are suitable for beginners, casual riders who want a basic overview of their ride, and people on a tight budget. They are unsuitable for enthusiastic riders and those who want more data from their rides.

How to Choose the Best Speedometer?

Below, I explain the most important features you should consider when buying a speedometer.

Wired or Wireless?

Speedometers have wired or wireless speed sensors. Wired speedometers require routing a wired speed sensor, while wireless speedometers can transmit data wirelessly.

The benefits are clear – wireless speedometers are more convenient but slightly more expensive. However, if you can, buy a wireless speedometer. They are much easier to set up and won’t require additional cables to be added to your bike.

Screen

Speedometers have monochromatic screens. They can have different colors of backlit light and sizes. Depending on your preference, you can buy a speedometer with a larger or smaller screen size. Larger speedometers are easier to read but usually more expensive and heavier.

The following chart shows the screen sizes of the selected speedometers.

Remember, speedometers are button-based (they don’t have touchscreens).

Battery Life

The battery life of a speedometer determines how often you will need to replace (or recharge) its battery. Thanks to their simplicity and energy-saving displays, speedometers will last months or years on one battery (unlike bike computers).

The following chart shows the claimed battery life of the best speedometers.

As you can see from the chart above, some speedometers state battery life in months, and some only in hours. This is because advanced speedometers (which are almost like bike computers) have more features and connectivity, draining more battery. Choose a simple speedometer if battery life is important to you.

Connectivity

The vast majority of speedometers are only compatible with the included speed sensors. However, some are also compatible with cadence sensors or HR monitors, thanks to the ANT+ protocol or Bluetooth. This means they can also display your heart rate or cadence. Unfortunately, basic speedometers don’t have WiFi to seamlessly upload your rides to apps like Strava or other apps.

Brand

There are many brands in the speedometer world. However, CatEye, Sigma, and Coospo stand out. Brands like Garmin, Wahoo, Bryton, Magene, Lezyne, etc., manufacture bike computers.

Other Features to Consider

Water resistance is significant if you live in a rainy area or are unlucky and get wet. Most speedometers have an IPX8 water resistance rating (protection against immersion for 1 hour to a depth of 5 meters). Some have lower protection, like IPX6, IPX7, or IP67. You don’t have to worry about using them in the rain or dropping them into a puddle.

The weight of speedometers varies from around 20 to 70g and shouldn’t be a deciding factor unless you are a weight weenie.

Bike Speedometers FAQ

This post is regularly updated to provide the most up-to-date product tips. If you find a product that is not up to date, please contact me.