Digital inclinometers
- Thread starter Miles
- Start date
Reid Welch
1 MW
What a great topic.
Thanks for starting this up!
When we consider how entirely sensitive our low powered batteries are to the demands of even the slightest gradients, well, how neat it would be to know that the road is at a half percent grade, or whatever.
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Here's a page (link below) just found
for a DIY bike clinometer.
Some of those electronic indicators look interesting.
I wonder, though, that for the electronic types, lack of damping might make them useless while in motion.
Too, rider weight, variable tire pressure, soft bike suspensions might conspire to destroy the practical accuracy of any such meter.
Well, it's not hard to stop and dismount to take an accurate, repeatable reading.
I guess I'm saying that it seems unlikely we can get accurate small-gradient measurements while in motion or while sitting on the bike.
Home brew
http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?AD=1&ArticleID=8355
Thanks for starting this up!
When we consider how entirely sensitive our low powered batteries are to the demands of even the slightest gradients, well, how neat it would be to know that the road is at a half percent grade, or whatever.
---
Here's a page (link below) just found
for a DIY bike clinometer.
Some of those electronic indicators look interesting.
I wonder, though, that for the electronic types, lack of damping might make them useless while in motion.
Too, rider weight, variable tire pressure, soft bike suspensions might conspire to destroy the practical accuracy of any such meter.
Well, it's not hard to stop and dismount to take an accurate, repeatable reading.
I guess I'm saying that it seems unlikely we can get accurate small-gradient measurements while in motion or while sitting on the bike.
Home brew
http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?AD=1&ArticleID=8355
Nimbuzz
1 kW
I have one of these
http://circlecitybicycles.com/inclin.htm
It works magnificiently -- no bouncing, easy to set level, easy to read within a degree or two, very light, easily removeable.
As we discuss climbing etc it would be nice to specify grades.
Al
M750X
http://circlecitybicycles.com/inclin.htm
It works magnificiently -- no bouncing, easy to set level, easy to read within a degree or two, very light, easily removeable.
As we discuss climbing etc it would be nice to specify grades.
Al
M750X
Rassy
1 MW
Thanks Nimbuzz. I ordered the spirit inclinometer last week, and it arrived today. I made a little bracket for it to mount just in front of the seat (underseat steering trike) and it works great. However, the bubble moves quite a bit with any braking or accelerating, etc., so I think where a fairly accurate reading is desired, I will have to come to a stop, preferrably while going down the hill.
Lock
100 MW
GPS? If you already have a PDA onboard, an OEM GPS unit is pretty tiny w/v.low power-requirement. Then you have data logging, "damping" built-in, "live" display with free PDA software, download via Bluetooth or USB also.
tks
Lock
Nimbuzz
1 kW
R, My inclinometer is steady but I never look at it when I am accelerating or braking. From what you say I am inclined to think that rather than stop you simply need to stay at an even speed -- which shouldn't be that difficult.
What do ya think?
What do ya think?
Rassy
1 MW
Thanks again Nimbuzz. So far I have just done a few quick tests where the road surface isn't real smooth, and the grade is constantly changing. I expect on hills where I don't need to pedal (or brake) so much and the grade changes are more gradual it will be accurate while riding. I really like the simplicity and readability. Previously I have played with topographical maps, GPS, and the trusty 4 foot level to try to determine grades. After some longer rides I will report back my experiences, but I don't think anyone would be disappointed with the inclinometer.
Nimbuzz
1 kW
R, My inclinometer is on the handlebars of a suspension bike. Perhaps the placement on your very different bike adds moer vibration etc.
Keep us posted.
Keep us posted.
