Cyclometer and Cargo Bikes...

So, I have one of these;

https://www.larryvsharry.com/

and I want a cycle computer, The problem is the standard wired ones
don't have the cable length to get from either the front wheel or the
back wheel to the handlebar. The cheapish radio one didn't have the
range either.

I tried splicing in some bell wire, which worked, but the problem is the
strands in the cable are very fine and hard to solder[1] and eventually
failed. Now I notice I have an old replacement generic handle bar
mount, and the cable coming from the mount is quite thick. I could
solder some bell wire to that and solder...

What onto the other end? Are cyclometer sensors just a reed switch?
Hall Effect? Anyone had one apart to look?

[1] See https://youtu.be/Mzcgyk62cHU?t=10

On Sun, 20 Aug 2017 11:13:39 +0200, Tosspot
wrote:

So, I have one of these;

https://www.larryvsharry.com/

and I want a cycle computer, The problem is the standard wired ones
don't have the cable length to get from either the front wheel or the
back wheel to the handlebar. The cheapish radio one didn't have the
range either.

I tried splicing in some bell wire, which worked, but the problem is the
strands in the cable are very fine and hard to solder[1] and eventually
failed. Now I notice I have an old replacement generic handle bar
mount, and the cable coming from the mount is quite thick. I could
solder some bell wire to that and solder...

What onto the other end? Are cyclometer sensors just a reed switch?
Hall Effect? Anyone had one apart to look?

[1] See https://youtu.be/Mzcgyk62cHU?t=10

What I do for a rev meter to check pedaling rpm is to mount the
wireless transmitter on a chain stay where it can see a magnet on the
crank arm and mount the "read out head" on the top tube. With my road
bikes the "head" is about 15 inches forward of the seat post.

If the magnet were mounted to a rear wheel spoke it could read miles
per hour instead of revolutions per minute.

--
Cheers,

John B.

On Sun, 20 Aug 2017 11:13:39 +0200, Tosspot
wrote:

So, I have one of these;

https://www.larryvsharry.com/

and I want a cycle computer, The problem is the standard wired ones
don't have the cable length to get from either the front wheel or the
back wheel to the handlebar. The cheapish radio one didn't have the
range either.

I tried splicing in some bell wire, which worked, but the problem is the
strands in the cable are very fine and hard to solder[1] and eventually
failed. Now I notice I have an old replacement generic handle bar
mount, and the cable coming from the mount is quite thick. I could
solder some bell wire to that and solder...

What onto the other end? Are cyclometer sensors just a reed switch?
Hall Effect? Anyone had one apart to look?

[1] See https://youtu.be/Mzcgyk62cHU?t=10

Most are a reed switch + magnet. It's cheap and reliable.

Extending the wire - Solder a piece in the middle to make it longer.
Use heat shrink tubing on each of the two wires and then use a larger
size heat shrink tubing over the 2-wire bundle. Fill HST with glue
gun if it's too big. And make sure there isn't a lot of tension on
it.

On Sunday, August 20, 2017 at 5:13:42 AM UTC-4, Tosspot wrote:
So, I have one of these;

https://www.larryvsharry.com/

and I want a cycle computer, The problem is the standard wired ones
don't have the cable length to get from either the front wheel or the
back wheel to the handlebar. The cheapish radio one didn't have the
range either.

I tried splicing in some bell wire, which worked, but the problem is the
strands in the cable are very fine and hard to solder[1] and eventually
failed. Now I notice I have an old replacement generic handle bar
mount, and the cable coming from the mount is quite thick. I could
solder some bell wire to that and solder...

What onto the other end? Are cyclometer sensors just a reed switch?
Hall Effect? Anyone had one apart to look?

[1] See https://youtu.be/Mzcgyk62cHU?t=10

Yes, they're reed switches, not Hall effect. I wonder if a visit to your LBS
would let you scavenge a spare mount. It would allow you to get by with only
one soldering job.

I've soldered those wires when one got broken. I agree, it was a very finicky
operation; but I eventually succeeded. I did the heat shrink thing as suggested
by others.

- Frank Krygowski

On 21/08/17 01:17, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On Sunday, August 20, 2017 at 5:13:42 AM UTC-4, Tosspot wrote:
So, I have one of these;

https://www.larryvsharry.com/

and I want a cycle computer, The problem is the standard wired ones
don't have the cable length to get from either the front wheel or the
back wheel to the handlebar. The cheapish radio one didn't have the
range either.

I tried splicing in some bell wire, which worked, but the problem is the
strands in the cable are very fine and hard to solder[1] and eventually
failed. Now I notice I have an old replacement generic handle bar
mount, and the cable coming from the mount is quite thick. I could
solder some bell wire to that and solder...

What onto the other end? Are cyclometer sensors just a reed switch?
Hall Effect? Anyone had one apart to look?

[1] See https://youtu.be/Mzcgyk62cHU?t=10

Yes, they're reed switches, not Hall effect. I wonder if a visit to your LBS
would let you scavenge a spare mount. It would allow you to get by with only
one soldering job.

I've soldered those wires when one got broken. I agree, it was a very finicky
operation; but I eventually succeeded. I did the heat shrink thing as suggested
by others.

I used the two layers of HS tip as well, but it's still a bit pikey.
Two options on offer seem to be the Sigma rear wheel kit, 165cm and so
far I can't find it in Leftpondia. Edulux coax with my own reed switch,
which currently looks like the way forward.

Tea leafing another one from somewhere so there is only one solder join
was another good idea.

Wiring may include a silicon wire or length is circuitry producing a specific length ohmage

On 2017-08-20 02:13, Tosspot wrote:
So, I have one of these;

https://www.larryvsharry.com/

and I want a cycle computer, The problem is the standard wired ones
don't have the cable length to get from either the front wheel or the
back wheel to the handlebar. The cheapish radio one didn't have the
range either.

I tried splicing in some bell wire, which worked, but the problem is the
strands in the cable are very fine and hard to solder[1] and eventually
failed. Now I notice I have an old replacement generic handle bar
mount, and the cable coming from the mount is quite thick. I could
solder some bell wire to that and solder...

What onto the other end? Are cyclometer sensors just a reed switch?
Hall Effect? Anyone had one apart to look?

[1] See https://youtu.be/Mzcgyk62cHU?t=10


There are some with 6ft cables. Example:

https://www.amazon.com/Sigma-Wired-S.../dp/B003BS7ANS

Though I was never very fond of the Sigma brand. AFAIR Cateye has (had?)
one with a very long cable as well but don't remember the part number.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On 21/08/17 16:50, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-08-20 02:13, Tosspot wrote:
So, I have one of these;

https://www.larryvsharry.com/

and I want a cycle computer, The problem is the standard wired ones
don't have the cable length to get from either the front wheel or the
back wheel to the handlebar. The cheapish radio one didn't have the
range either.

I tried splicing in some bell wire, which worked, but the problem is the
strands in the cable are very fine and hard to solder[1] and eventually
failed. Now I notice I have an old replacement generic handle bar
mount, and the cable coming from the mount is quite thick. I could
solder some bell wire to that and solder...

What onto the other end? Are cyclometer sensors just a reed switch?
Hall Effect? Anyone had one apart to look?

[1] See https://youtu.be/Mzcgyk62cHU?t=10


There are some with 6ft cables. Example:

https://www.amazon.com/Sigma-Wired-S.../dp/B003BS7ANS

Though I was never very fond of the Sigma brand. AFAIR Cateye has (had?)
one with a very long cable as well but don't remember the part number.

That's the 120cm one. I'd be looking for the 165cm.

On 2017-08-21 12:13, Tosspot wrote:
On 21/08/17 16:50, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-08-20 02:13, Tosspot wrote:
So, I have one of these;

https://www.larryvsharry.com/

and I want a cycle computer, The problem is the standard wired ones
don't have the cable length to get from either the front wheel or the
back wheel to the handlebar. The cheapish radio one didn't have the
range either.

I tried splicing in some bell wire, which worked, but the problem is the
strands in the cable are very fine and hard to solder[1] and eventually
failed. Now I notice I have an old replacement generic handle bar
mount, and the cable coming from the mount is quite thick. I could
solder some bell wire to that and solder...

What onto the other end? Are cyclometer sensors just a reed switch?
Hall Effect? Anyone had one apart to look?

[1] See https://youtu.be/Mzcgyk62cHU?t=10


There are some with 6ft cables. Example:

https://www.amazon.com/Sigma-Wired-S.../dp/B003BS7ANS

Though I was never very fond of the Sigma brand. AFAIR Cateye has (had?)
one with a very long cable as well but don't remember the part number.

That's the 120cm one. I'd be looking for the 165cm.


Why? You can mount the sensor to a seat stay, attached to a home-made
boss if too far from the spokes. On some of the pictured Bullitt models
there's already cables running along there so you could neatly tuck that
in. That ought to be less than 6ft.

Heck, you could also get away with a much shorter cable if you mount the
speedometer on the top tube. Some Cateye versions like my Cateye Padrone
have a large enough display for that. That would likely even work
wirelesssly.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On 21/08/17 21:38, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-08-21 12:13, Tosspot wrote:
On 21/08/17 16:50, Joerg wrote:
On 2017-08-20 02:13, Tosspot wrote:
So, I have one of these;

https://www.larryvsharry.com/

and I want a cycle computer, The problem is the standard wired ones
don't have the cable length to get from either the front wheel or the
back wheel to the handlebar. The cheapish radio one didn't have the
range either.

I tried splicing in some bell wire, which worked, but the problem is
the
strands in the cable are very fine and hard to solder[1] and eventually
failed. Now I notice I have an old replacement generic handle bar
mount, and the cable coming from the mount is quite thick. I could
solder some bell wire to that and solder...

What onto the other end? Are cyclometer sensors just a reed switch?
Hall Effect? Anyone had one apart to look?

[1] See https://youtu.be/Mzcgyk62cHU?t=10


There are some with 6ft cables. Example:

https://www.amazon.com/Sigma-Wired-S.../dp/B003BS7ANS

Though I was never very fond of the Sigma brand. AFAIR Cateye has (had?)
one with a very long cable as well but don't remember the part number.

That's the 120cm one. I'd be looking for the 165cm.


Why? You can mount the sensor to a seat stay, attached to a home-made
boss if too far from the spokes. On some of the pictured Bullitt models
there's already cables running along there so you could neatly tuck that
in. That ought to be less than 6ft.

Hmmm...never thought of that mount position. I shall report back after
I've taken some string and a tape measure to it.

Heck, you could also get away with a much shorter cable if you mount the
speedometer on the top tube. Some Cateye versions like my Cateye Padrone
have a large enough display for that. That would likely even work
wirelesssly.

Then I'd crash trying to beat my current max speed :-)