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Make a Cadence Meter for Your Bike
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 5:00 AM on July 14, 2008
Instructable user Sailor Bob wanted to track his pedals-per-minute to set goals and get more out of his routine, so he turned a cheap $US10 bicycle computer (found at Wal-Mart, in his case) into a reliable cadence meter using some dollar-store magnets and a few cables. The hardest part seems to be setting up the LCD computer, but it's nothing you couldn't tackle with a little free time and effort. Hit the link for detailed installation and setup instructions.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
joelena
Posted 5:55 AM 14/7/08
For those without a computer, it wouldn't cost much more to just buy one with a cadence function rather than buy 2 cheapo Wal-Mart computers. There are several with cadence for $30 and under at either Performance Bike or Bike Nashbar.
Knowing your cadence is essential for maximum pedaling efficiency. Without a cadence meter, the rule of thumb is to find the balance between tiring your legs and your lungs: pedaling too slowly wears your legs out.
joelena
DMSaruman
Posted 7:04 AM 14/7/08
could you use a pedometer on the pedals and achieve the same thing?
or go on a stationary bike and have someone else get the data, and then crunch numbers.
DMSaruman
Ortzinator
Posted 7:11 AM 14/7/08
@DMSaruman: Pedometers rely on the jolt of your foot hitting the ground.
Ortzinator
wildeny
Posted 9:56 AM 14/7/08
Just as joelena said, it's not expansive to get a bike computer with cadence. The cost for this project would be $22 (two $10 bike computer plus magnets). I bought a brand-new Sigma BC1606L with cadence from Ebay just for $24.95.
However, this is good for people who already have a bike computer and just want the cadence.
wildeny
RevWaldo
Posted 11:58 PM 14/7/08
This takes me back to an old electronics magazine project for building your own bike odometer. It used a magnet, a reed switch (a switch that closes in the presence of a magnet), some wire, and a pocket calculator you didn't mind ruining. You can probably guess the details.
RevWaldo
mrknowitall
Posted 4:02 PM 15/7/08
Waste of time. Buy a decent cyclo-puter.
mrknowitall