This is part of the main review for the MIO Cyclo 505HC which just covers the less interesting unboxing, contents, weights, dimensions & installation of the components.
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The box is nice looking and everything comes well packed. We get our first sight of the sleek-looking Cyclo 505.
There are rather a lot of bits in the box. These bits include all the stuff for charging and linking to a computer as well as the accessories and all their mounting apparatus. On the left, we have the mounting pads and ties. To the bottom right is the speed+cadence sensor.
There must be at least 20 bits. So here they are sort-of part assembled so you can see what joins to what. The UK adapter comes along with the one for your country, note which way around it goes.
There are 2x bits of rubber for the handlebar/stem mount each of a subtly different height.
As you can see the speed+cadence sensor looks non-trivial to install.
Speed + Cadence Sensor.
I’ve installed these sensors before and I know it’s probably going to take at least 15 minutes to do. I already have a very similar one on my bike from a different manufacturer, so apologies for not doing it again.
Although the instructions, below, look tricky this installation will actually be EASIER than the equivalent one for the Garmin’s GSC-10 speed+cadence sensor. The Garmin sensor is more compact in that everything is in the one square box component. That sounds great; however, placing it in the correct position for BOTH the pedal crank and the chainstay+wheel is non-trivial. The MIO implementation does not look as tidy BUT WILL be easier to install; mostly because there are two separate sensors that can be arranged independently of each other. Note the distance of the magnet from the sensor, this will be important.
Any strong magnet will do the job if you lose one. There are special small ones you can buy from ebay for a couple of pounds that attach themselves magnetically to the spokes.
NOTE: Cable ties need to be tight. TIGHT !! got it? Probably best you do that with a pair of pliers as your hands will not be strong enough to get it tight enough. Some other reviews bemoan this. It’s not a problem with the MIO it’s a problem with getting the cable ties TIGHT – exactly the same with Garmin.
Sensors like Garmin’s GSC-10 will not fit on some bikes (eg one of mine) because of the MIO’s construction I would imagine it will fit nearly all bikes.
Typically the purchaser of a 505HC will use 1 bike most of the time. Moving the speed+cadence sensor from bike to bike will take time. You could quite easily buy another sensor for your other bike or, probably more sensibly, purchase a sensor that can be moved from bike to bike (the link is to a Garmin accessory but any ANT+ sensor should work).
The speed sensor is on the wheel and really won’t be of too much use when you are cycling as you will get your speed from GPS. Indeed when cycling it’s often not that useful to know how fast you are going as speed is dependent on many other factors. As we will see later more useful info like the ETA at your destination is given by the MIO.
If however, you plan to do indoor cycling on a ‘turbo’ trainer then the speed sensor may well be of some use. (If you get bored then read this post on how to convert speed to power for your turbo trainer).
Handlebar Mount.
Again, the cable ties need to be TIGHT and you NEED to use one of the rubber cups to go underneath the plastic twist-mount. If you don’t, it won’t work and will slip.
Other companies use rubber bands for the mount. Bands ARE certainly easier but rubber degrades and at some point will fail. That sounds expensive if your cycling computer falls and breaks! Cable ties will NOT degrade or break.
Having said that I used an extended mount rather than the one that is held on with cable ties. It’s held on by a nut/bolt and guess what? They need to be TIGHT, otherwise, it will slip.
Some of the mounting options are shown below along with the out-front option.
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