Test: The Japanese manufacturer Cateye is still best known in this country for its bicycle lighting products. But actually the core competence of the company lies in the bike computers. With the Cateye Strada CC-RD430DW, we took a close look at one of the top models.
The small packaging of the just as small Strada is full to bursting: In addition to the computer itself and operating instructions in every imaginable language, there is also a combined cadence and speed sensor and a chest strap for heart rate measurement - exemplary! This means that everything that the little Strada can do is actually in the box - there is no way to communicate with power meters, nor is there an interface to the PC to read out the data. For training world champions who meticulously evaluate all data, the Strada is probably the wrong choice. In addition to the usual functions such as average speed, total distance, etc., the computer itself also offers an altitude measurement function.
Installation
The Cateye Strada CC-RD430RW is fixed to the handlebars or stem using the bracket supplied. The principle is wonderfully simple: the fastening strap is integrated in the holder and can be screwed on without tools. Even if the overall construction looks a bit cheap because of all the plastic, it works without any problems. The commissioning itself caused us a few difficulties. While it's a good idea to combine the cadence and speed sensors, it took a while to find the right position and setting to get both sensors working properly. Setting up the computer itself is not trivial either – the instructions are detailed, but rather taciturn. The images used are not always very clear and so it took a few attempts before everything worked as desired. The two buttons on the back of the computer are also very small and have no real pressure point, which makes operation even more difficult. There is clearly room for improvement here.
Practice
First of all, of course, you notice: The Strada is small, very small - especially for the lush range of functions. Nevertheless, there is room for up to three measured values on the small display at the same time, without losing the overview too much. In general, Cateye goes its own way both in terms of operation and display: Although the Strada has a total of three control buttons, only one of them can be reached during use - the other two are on the back and are only used for setup. However, the latter plays a decisive role, because the display can be completely adapted to the user's wishes. Which values are displayed where can be freely defined. Once you have understood the operating principle with a single button, you can set up the Strada the way you need it. This may limit some people too much, but it worked very well for our tester. Otherwise, the little black one was positively inconspicuous: Once set up and adjusted, all sensors worked without any problems - only the chest strap has to be placed a little more precisely than we are used to from similar products.
At a glance – the Cateye Strada CC-RD430DW:
- Very compact dimensions
- Operation with just one button
- Cadence sensor and chest strap included
- Manufacturer site
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