I always thought I was the first to use a cyclocomputer as an electronic counter, but I now must yield that honor to Pete Riegel. I was rereading a report by Pete in Measurement News in 1998 in which he evaluated a cyclocomputer for course measurement using the maufacturer's operating instructions.

At one point though he checked accuracy of the cyclocomputer counting by setting the wheel circumference to 2000 mm, so as to yield 5 rev/0.01 km. He then observed that after each 5 rev the computer incremented 0.01 km and after 100 rev it indicated 0.20 km. This type of computer setting is the basis of current electronic counters.

My 1998 efforts did not achieve what Neville achieved – count each single revolution of the wheel. Close but no cigar.

Way back in the early days there was a “star wheel” counter. This counter had a star-shaped cam mounted on it, and was fixed to the fork. Each time the wheel made a rotation, a little metal peg would give the star cam 1/5 of a revolution, and the counter would indicate one count.

Measuring wheels today use a similar arrangement, with a striker hitting the counter lever each time the wheel covers a certain angular rotation.

Because a full revolution is too big to be a useful measure, rim marking or spoke counting was used to get the finer readings.

This mechanical approach worked just fine. Today we are beginning to replace the mechanical counter with the electronic one. There are bugs to work out, as in any new technology.

The mechanical odometer is going the way of the dodo, and when it does Paul Oerth may have trouble getting a way to drive the counter. We are fortunate to have another way to go.