Bicycle display unit with backlight

A bicycle display unit 12, 112, 212, 312 is provided for displaying information to the rider. The bicycle display unit is preferably part of a bicycle computer that is battery operated. The bicycle display unit 12, 112, 212, 312 has a display panel 28, 128 with a front display surface and a backlight 30 arranged to illuminate the front display surface for viewing the information displayed thereon. The battery is electrically coupled to the backlight 30 to supply electrical energy thereto. The bicycle display unit also has a backlight switch command 52 operatively coupled between the backlight 30 and the battery to selectively turn the backlight "on" and "off", and a control unit 32 that extends the life of the battery by controlling the illumination of the backlight 30. The backlight switch command 52 turns "on" the backlight upon receiving a predetermined operational command. The predetermined operational command can be a pre-selected time period, a shifting operation, a mode change, etc. Also the control unit 32 is operatively coupled to the backlight switch command 52 to automatically turn "off" the backlight 30 upon lapse of a predetermined time period after switching the backlight 30 to be turned "on". The backlight 30 is preferably turned "on" for predetermined time period of less than 30 seconds. Preferably, the control unit 32 prevents the backlight 30 from being turned "on" that during selected hours, such as daylight hours, even if a predetermined operational command is received. A measuring device 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 is preferably connected to the display unit 12, 112, 212, 312 to output the information on the display panel 28, 128, such as bicycle speed, distance traveled, lap time, running time, current time, rider cadence, torque applied to the bottom bracket axle and shift position of the shifting mechanism.