Having cycled for a number of days (I think 5, but I'm loosing track) without my bike computer, I can say that I kinda prefer not having it (it got stolen with my bike).

Don't get me wrong. My computer was great. It told me how fast I was going downhill, how slowly I was crawling uphill, riding time and average speed. Since it was a super smart computer, it also told me the altitude, gradient, and total meters climbed. I had a wealth of information at my fingertips that I would flick through when I got bored.

It was also great for guessing and checking how long until the next town, or checking whether I'd ridden 'enough' to justify a break.

I occasionally miss being able to work how far until the next town. Apart from that, not having a computer feels surprisingly freeing. It contributes to the fatalistic feeling that there's nothing you can do but pedal on. It removes the worry about factors beyond your control. There's no underlying urgency to pedal faster and harder in order to reach a 'decent' speed or maintain your average. Rather than looking down, boredom turns your senses outward and leaves your thoughts to roam. You feel even more drawn to observe everything around you rather than checking your computer reflexively to see how fast you're going down this hill.

Indeed, even the need to know when the next town should appear isn't particularly strong. In fact, that knowledge isn't particularly helpful. After all, you reach the town when you get there. Knowing when you should reach it doesn't change anything aside from adding pressure about how fast or far you have to go.

All in all I like touring without my computer. It's reminded me of the things I think are so great about bike touring: the freedom, lack of pressure, and getting to watch the world go by.