Right-mounted counter

Nice. This may impel me to get one for my next bike purchase - with disc brakes.

I have difficulty reading my Counter sometimes - especially when it collects water vapor inside. Excuse my ignorance, but is there any impetus for a reliable handlebar-mounted display?

You can get a handlebar-mounted Oerth counter, according to the website.

Are the Oerth handle-mounted counters now reliable? I tried one years ago. It fell apart after 4 rides. I never used it again.

The right-side-mounted counter is now on the market. Check out the "special sale" tab on www.jonescounter.com

This might get Newt Gingrich & Paul Santorum to join the ranks of measurers, overcoming their aversion to using anything that is mounted on the left

Are handlebar mounted counters available anywhere? Does anyone out there use one? My eyesight is not getting any better. The hub-mounted counters can be hard for me to read with or without glasses. (I know, new glasses would help).

Lyman, I use the Protegé electronic method Neville developed several years ago to give me a "heads up" when I'm approaching split points. In fact for many courses it's all I use to locate intermediate splits, using the JOR Counter as a double check of the overall distance.
One thing I wish for is some way to illuminate a hub-mounted counter for some of the nighttime measurement Dave K. & I are (in)famous for. One of Gene's measurement buddies from NJ had an LED mounted on a wire just above the counter that seemed to work really well when we rode the 2008 Men's Olympic Trials Marathon course in NYC.

As I have mentioned in the past, for nighttime/lowlight measurements, nothing beats the video scope I have been using. I have been using it for almost a year now. Have used on about 15-20 courses including two marathons/half-marathon. Besides being able to see the counter easily, with just a push a button, the video scope save a picture of the counter with date/time to a memory card.

Hi Ken,
I have been thing about getting a video scope can you tell me what kind and model number you have? Thanks Ken

J.A.,
I bought the Voyager Video Borescope. Below is the link.
Video Scope

Ken, the Video Scope sounded like a fine solution until I saw the $349.00 price tag. Maybe I'll save up for it. In the meantime, if Jim can tell me where to find the Protege, I am interested in checking it.

Jim?

Lyman, Now that sounds like a RD who doesn't want to spend $350 to get a 5K course measured and certified. Assuming the video Scope last 10 years...thats only $35 a year....
For me, the $350 has been a very good worthwhile investment. Not sure if it will last 10 years though.

Lyman, looks like Planet Bike has the Protegé.

Protegé bike computers

Check out the section on electronic measuring on the Measurement BB for many threads on the method. I'd be glad to offer advice if needed, maybe even conduct a seminar if I'm in the DC area this summer.

quote:

Protegé bike computers

Thanks Ken for the web site. I am wondering though how long the batteries last (could always carry extra batteries)? Will the batteries last for a marathon & how do you have it attached to your bike?

I use a Protege for getting close to the mark too. My batteries last for over a year.

It mounts on the handlebars with a magnet on a spoke which passes a fork-mounted sensor every revolution of the wheel. Works great.

Ken, it is more like "a measurer who cannot justify a $350.00 measuring gadget to his wife" who would prefer we spend that on a nice B&B in the mountains...(hah hah)

Jim, thanks for the Protege link. The cheap one I tried from another manufacturer was practically useless. If this one is good enough for you and for Pete, it must be fine. I will give it a try.

Nevertheless, if Tom or anyone comes up with a good handlebar-mounted JOC design, I will be first in line to purchase it.

I've had excellent luck w/ the 2 Protegés I have. I usually have to replace the battery each spring (sitting in a cold garage all winter doesn't do them much good) but for >$3 for 2 at Staples it's not a bad yearly expense. Plus you can switch between programmable "wheels" and use if for normal riding, too (although it will be in metric units, due the constraints of Neville's protocol - not a bad thing as I feel as if I'm going faster when the readout is in km/h rather than MPH).

quote:

Originally posted by J. A. Wilhelm:

quote:

Protegé bike computers

Thanks Ken for the web site. I am wondering though how long the batteries last (could always carry extra batteries)? Will the batteries last for a marathon & how do you have it attached to your bike?

J.A.,

Someone on this forum had recommend the Sanyo eneloop AAA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries. I bought and use these. They last a fairly long time..maybe 1.5-2 hrs. But, of course, I carry a backup set just in case. Also, for longer course, I turn the video scope off between splits. With my Garmin GPS, I know when I am approaching another split and just turn on my scope then.

As someone had suggested on this forum, I purchased and install aerobars on my bike. Took off the arm pad and replace with a velcro covered metal sheet. By using velcro, I can quickly change around what I want to use. Clipboard with velcro. Or, my small printing calculator with velcro. Have not put velcro on bottom of my video scope but, of course, could do so. As per the picture below, I have the video scope tied down with a velcro strap and with a plastic tie down through the hole at end of scope.



For the camera, I use a rubber coated twist-tie. These are great to have around for mounting/holding various items to bike.

I gotta say, I am really impressed with all of these improvisations and inventions that Ken and others have worked out for measuring on a bike! I enjoy being inspired to try to do things in a better way-- I'll probably keep on with awkward old habits, like using a notebook and a flashlight that I hold in my mouth, and using a gut feeling for knowing when to check the counter-- but it's nice to dream that one day I would actually improvise something better.

Ken,
All of these improvisations are really impressive, thanks for sharing them!
Even though I'll probably keep on with old awkward habits, like writing in a notebook and using a little flashlight that I hold in my mouth, it's fun to think that one day I might improvise something a little more reasonable!