Does anyone know of a bike computer that can be set to sound an audible alarm at set distances? I'd like to have an audible reminder that I'm getting close to the mile marks.
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Mark, check out "Dilbert" strip the past week - maybe you could get a "service monkey" that would call out when you approached a split point 
And, it will keep your coffee warm as you ride!
Spoken like one who has inadvertently blown by a split or two in his measuring days, Mark - from one who has done this too many times. My worst was missing a split while measuring next to the U.S. Capitol one sunny morning. With several Capitol Hill Police, motorists and pedestrians and security cameras staring quizzically , I had to back up the bike about 50 yards. I'm lucky they didn't snatch me up and haul me off to the Looney Bin.
If you find something that works, animate or inanimate - especially if it also keeps your coffee warm, let me know.
If you find something that works, animate or inanimate - especially if it also keeps your coffee warm, let me know.
buy a handle bar mount GPS.
I have one and set the numerials to the largest font!
I have one and set the numerials to the largest font!
Or, calibrate your cyclometer based upon your calibration course. Then, re-set it at an even mile, so as you near your split, your cyclometer is warning you. While I sometimes get lost in other thoughts, having my cyclometer getting close to an even mile is my reminder.
Or, as Dave says, a GPS. I place my splits prior to measuring, so I can see when I am nearing my anticipated split location.
Lots of tools available, but an alarm on a cyclometer would still be nice. A GPS may also be able to be set for an audible reminder. I am half-deaf (okay my wife says "nearly deaf), so I don't rely on sounds from my GPS, even when they are available.
More choices to ponder!
Or, as Dave says, a GPS. I place my splits prior to measuring, so I can see when I am nearing my anticipated split location.
Lots of tools available, but an alarm on a cyclometer would still be nice. A GPS may also be able to be set for an audible reminder. I am half-deaf (okay my wife says "nearly deaf), so I don't rely on sounds from my GPS, even when they are available.
More choices to ponder!
I use a Garmin 500 bike GPS. It has a laps feature that can be set to a desired distance, say 1 mile. It will beep every time a mile is elapsed. Helps to "keep one in the moment".
For all you iPhone users i just seen an app for a cyclometer for your i phone. It gives miles 0.000, speed and even has a picture of a map on it. I do not have an iPhone but for anyone that does and wants to check it out and best of all it is free.
What's the name of that iPhone app?
My GPS will SHOW me when I'm close to a mile mark. The key is the audio cue.
John, I can set it so my GPS will beep when it gets close to a waypoint, but I don't think it can be set to beep every mile. I'll check to make sure.
John, I can set it so my GPS will beep when it gets close to a waypoint, but I don't think it can be set to beep every mile. I'll check to make sure.
Mark, I think the basic Garmin watches have an auto-split function that will beep every mile. I've been in races where you start hearing the distinctive tone near every split. And since GPS almost always measures "long," the beep occurs before the actual split point.
Thanks Jim. I use a bike mounted GPS when I measure, not a Forerunner. But we do have one. I just have to remember to take it when I measure. I guess the trick is to start it about 100m before you start measuring so it beeps 100m before each mile.
I appreciate this discussion.
My issue,and I suspect for many of us, is safety. We are out there keeping a lot of measuring stuff in our heads while we are riding tangents or just riding at the curb among irritated drivers whizzing by. I would guess at least several folks reading this have had close calls while measuring. In my 25 or so years measuring, I have gone over the handlebars twice when motorists swerved in front of me at high speeds and I was forced to grab the front brake.
Safety must be paramount. I know that this concern while measuring has caused me to forget where I am on the split count momentarily, thereby blowing by a split. Obviously, this can be thoroughly annoying to deal with if the overshoot is more than a few feet. I like the Garmin 500 idea. An audible alarm a few yards before a split may be very helpful to me.
It appears that my wife and I are going to have a discussion about the budget - but $249.00 seems well worth it. Thanks to all.
My issue,and I suspect for many of us, is safety. We are out there keeping a lot of measuring stuff in our heads while we are riding tangents or just riding at the curb among irritated drivers whizzing by. I would guess at least several folks reading this have had close calls while measuring. In my 25 or so years measuring, I have gone over the handlebars twice when motorists swerved in front of me at high speeds and I was forced to grab the front brake.
Safety must be paramount. I know that this concern while measuring has caused me to forget where I am on the split count momentarily, thereby blowing by a split. Obviously, this can be thoroughly annoying to deal with if the overshoot is more than a few feet. I like the Garmin 500 idea. An audible alarm a few yards before a split may be very helpful to me.
It appears that my wife and I are going to have a discussion about the budget - but $249.00 seems well worth it. Thanks to all.
Lyman, Timex has just come out w/ a GPS watch that retails for $99. I tested it on a run and know it has an "auto-split" function, but not sure if it's audible (I would think so, since a runner in a race doesn't want to keep looking at his wrist any more than we want to keep checking a JOR Counter). The Timex rep will be at a local running store this weekend, and I'll check that out.
The iPhone app is just called cyclometer
Mark - If the GPS has the audible tone, why not place your split waypoints at what you believe to be the split locations, before riding? I look at MapMyRun, and hand-place the splits into the same file as the track, so they are all on the GPS. When I get to the split, I just "Reposition Here" for the waypoint. They are normally within 100 feet of being correct (I don't take the time to download imagery of the course onto the GPS, so I don't place them precisely. I mostly put them in so I can simply relocate them without typing the waypoint name).
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
I have a Garmin Forerunner 935 on my wrist and a Garmin 010-12103-00 Bike Speed Sensor mounted on my front hub. I set the watch for one mile laps and start it running 20-30 feet from the start of the course. Every mile you can get audio or vibration alerts or both. You can also show lap distance on the screen. The speed sensor means that the watch is measuring distance based on wheel revolutions instead of GPS and—properly calibrated—this is far more accurate than GPS particularly in situations where you are doing a lot of stopping and starting.
I might not have bought such an expensive device just for measuring but I already had it for intentional exercise. You can probably find a much less expensive model that does the same thing. Their Edge 500 cycling computer will also do this for <$200 but it won't keep your coffee warm.