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Planet Bike Protege 9.0 Wireless Review

A very basic wireless cycling computer, similar in function to the Cateye Strada Slim, but larger in size.
Planet Bike Protege 9.0 Wireless
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Price:  $55 List | $53.86 at Amazon
Pros:  Stem mount, good display size, multiple modes displayed
Cons:  Setup is complicated, phantom speed readings
Manufacturer:   Planet Bike
By David Mackey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 26, 2016
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52
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#13 of 14
  • Ease of Use - 30% 6
  • Ease of Setup - 20% 4
  • Features - 20% 4
  • Versatility - 20% 6
  • Water Resistance - 10% 6

Our Verdict

The Planet Bike Protégé 9.0 is a simple cycling computer that allows you to monitor just the basics. It has a good-sized display and provided four different data fields on the screen at the same time. However, the setup is more difficult than with other computers we reviewed, and the Protégé is not as reliable. This computer has no GPS functionality, so if you're interested in tracking more than speed, distance, and time you're better off looking elsewhere. If you are looking for a designated bike computer that keeps track of the basics but doesn't take over your handlebars, we recommend some of the other non-GPS enabled models as well.


Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Top Pick Award  
Price $53.86 at Amazon$399.99 at Competitive Cyclist
Compare at 3 sellers		$380.00 at REI$199.90 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$249.99 at Competitive Cyclist
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Pros Stem mount, good display size, multiple modes displayedAwesome features and app environment, Bluetooth Smart and ANT+, good battery life, touchscreen, radar and bike light controlExcellent battery life, reliable, multi-color screen, tons of GPS navigation features, robust phone appReasonably priced, great companion app, offline maps and navigation, long battery life, can be used in landscape or portrait orientationCompetitive price, aerodynamic, GPS and GLONASS, ANT+, Bluetooth smart, WiFi, maps, large screen, easy to use and set up, zoom feature
Cons Setup is complicated, phantom speed readingsSystem might crash, navigation glitches, Strava Live Track integration issuesNo touchscreen, head unit relies on phone a bit too much, app setup and syncing can be a pain, routing can be clunkyHeavier, no preloaded maps, button layout isn't incredibly intuitiveNo color screen, slower to startup
Bottom Line A very basic wireless cycling computer, similar in function to the Cateye Strada Slim, but larger in size.A fantastic bike computer with super useful functions and features, if you can handle the growing pains for this next-gen. GPS computer.You’ll get more out of this bike computer with its great battery life and broad array of easy to use features.The Mega XL is the biggest and best Lezyne cycling computer we've used with a long battery life, offline maps, and excellent smartphone integration.Wahoo Fitness' BOLT is a fully featured GPS cycling computer thats easy to use and setup, offering ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart sensor compatibility and seamless smartphone integration.
Rating Categories Protege 9.0 Wireless Garmin Edge 830 Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT ROAM Lezyne Mega XL GPS Wahoo Fitness ELEMNT BOLT
Ease Of Use (30%)
10
0
6
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
8
Ease Of Setup (20%)
10
0
4
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
9
Features (20%)
10
0
4
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
8
Versatility (20%)
10
0
6
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
8
Water Resistance (10%)
10
0
6
10
0
10
10
0
10
10
0
10
10
0
10
Specs Protege 9.0 Wireless Garmin Edge 830 Wahoo Fitness... Lezyne Mega XL GPS Wahoo Fitness...
GPS enabled? No Yes - GPS, Glonass, Galileo Yes - GPS, Glonass, BEIDOU Galileo, QZSS Yes - GPS, Glonass Yes - GPS, Glonass, BEIDOU Galileo, QZSS
Cadence Sensor? No Yes, any ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart Yes, any ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart Yes, any ANT+, Bluetooth Smart Yes, any ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart
Heart Rate Monitor? No Yes, ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart Yes (strap sold seperately) Yes, ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart Yes, any ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart
Weight 57g 81g 95g 82g 62g
Dimensions 1.5" x 1.8" x 1" 1.9" x 3.2" x 0.8" 2.3" x 2.3" x 0.7" 2.3" x 3.1" x 1.05" 2.9" x 1.8" x 0.87"
Display Size 1.4" x 1.1" 1.7" x 2" 1.35" x 2.25" 1.4" x 2.3" 2.2"
Battery Type CR2032 Re-chargable lithium ion Re-chargable lithium ion Re-chargable lithium ion Lithium Ion
Battery Life 1+ years 20 hours 17 hours 48 hours 15 hours
Touchscreen? No Yes Yes Yes No
Phone App None Garmin Connect ELEMNT Lezyne Ally V2 ELEMNT
Accessory Interface ANT+, BTLE, BT. Analog Wireless Bluetooth Smart, ANT+ Bluetooth Smart, ANT+ Bluetooth Smart, ANT+ Bluetooth Smart, ANT+
Strava Segments No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Text, Email, Call notifications No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Navigation No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

This simple computer is inexpensive and gives the rider basic data: speed, distance, and time.

Performance Comparison


Reviewing a ride on the Protégé 9.0
Reviewing a ride on the Protégé 9.0

Ease of Use


To be blunt, the setup for the Protégé 9.0 was a hassle. A flathead screwdriver is needed for the battery, and once the battery is in, the computer goes through a series of prompts to set miles, wheel size setting (WSS), odometer, and trip distance. In order to set these, you must find something small enough to hit a button recessed into the plastic back of the computer. We found that a Q-tip cut in half did the job, but that was after trying various other items.

Planet Bike provides a chart to find the WSS for your bike. We changed it from the default of 2096 to 2105, which is what the chart shows for 700x23c wheels. For the first two rides, the speed and distance varied from what another GPS computer showed. Only after changing back to the default WSS did speed and distance match the GPS.

The Protégé is wireless, which greatly reduces installation time. However, we had issues of phantom speed and time right before our first ride. Before we even got started, the Protégé registered 30mph and the timer had begun. It stayed a little screwy for a few minutes after starting the ride but calmed down after registering a max speed of 73.0 mph. (In our dreams!).

The size of the computer is quite a bit larger than the Cateye Strada Slim, which allows more information to be displayed at one time. Current speed, ride time, and distance are all fixed on the screen. You can then scroll through odometer, average speed, max speed, temperature, or clock. This cuts down on how often you have to hit the mode button on the computer to see the different metrics. The mode button is similar to the one on the Cateye Strada, where it is actually a button on the back of the device that is engaged when you push the whole computer down.

Planet Bike Protégé 9.0 Wireless bike computer a computer that provides basic features such as speed distance and time.
Planet Bike Protégé 9.0 Wireless bike computer, a computer that provides basic features such as speed, distance, and time.

Features


The Planet Bike Protégé tracks current speed, ride time, distance, average speed, max speed, and temperature for each ride. It also has an odometer that tracks overall miles ridden with the computer, which can be reset if so desired. The timer only records while the wheels are moving, so the time spent taking a rest or sitting at stoplights is not factored in.

The Protégé also has a speed comparator setting, which gives an "up" arrow if your current speed is faster than your average speed, and a "down" arrow if you are slower than your average speed. This is helpful when you are trying to maintain a certain speed over the course of a workout or ride.

Attachment Method


Unlike the Cateye Strada, the Protégé requires tools to get everything in place, making setup time longer. It clips securely into a mount that is zip-tied to the handlebars, and there is an option to mount it to the stem by unscrewing and rotating part of the mount, which is a very nice feature. It is a little difficult to unclip the computer, but it eventually comes loose with enough force.

The Protégé 9.0 on the handlebars.
The Protégé 9.0 on the handlebars.

The spoke magnet is screwed onto a spoke with a Phillips screwdriver. The spoke sensor is zip-tied to the fork and can be rotated and locked into position to maintain the 2mm distance needed to keep a signal between the two. Planet Bike did provide extra zip ties, which was beneficial since one of their ties was faulty.

Value


In the lower-cost range, the Protégé 9.0 is similarly priced to the other comparable wireless computers we tested, like the Cateye Strada Slim, but didn't offer the same reliability. Your money is better spent on another computer.

Conclusion


The Planet Bike Protege is a reasonably priced wireless cycling computer. Just looking at the specifications would lead the consumer to believe that it is a bargain compared to the more expensive Cateye Strada Slim which has a similar set of features and functions. Unfortunately, reliability issues and tedious set up plague the product and we would recommend you invest a few extra bucks and opt for the more reliable Cateye Quick.


— David Mackey