How to Calibrate a Schwinn Bike Speedometer

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One of the most important cycling accessories you can buy is a cycling computer. This is sometimes called a speedometer but is moreso a combination speedometer, odometer and timer. Cycling computers come in many styles and brands, but all of them provide at least basic information about your speed and distance traveled--useful information to have, whether you're riding for fun, or training to ride faster and farther. Proper calibration of your cycling computer is essential if you want accurate readouts and records of your rides.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Note your tire size by examining the sidewall of your tire for a combination of two numbers separated by an "x." For example, most road bike tires are 700x23 or 700x25.

Step 2

Press and hold both buttons of the computer for several seconds--this switches the computer to the wheel size input screen.

Step 3

Enter the wheel size by multiplying the diameter of the wheel--in millimeters--by 3.1416 or referring to a circumference chart. Press the left button to select the digit and the right button to change the digit.

Step 4

Hold the right button down when the last digit has been selected.

Step 5

Press the left button to select whether your readout is in miles or kilometers to finish calibration.

Tips & Warnings

You'll need to reset tire size every time you change the battery on your computer.

Resources

Sheldonbrown.com: Cyclecomputer Calibration

Article Written By Nichole Liandi

Based in Virginia, Nichole Liandi has been a freelance writer since 2005. Her articles have appeared on various print and online publications. Liandi has traveled extensively in Europe and East Asia and incorporates her experiences into her articles. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from West Virginia University.

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