Spoke sensor for bicycle...

[Don Y]

On 6/15/2022 9:24 AM, Don wrote:

Addendum: My own links need to be read by me /before/ they\'re posted. It
seems GPS sensors replaced magnets.

Addendum 2: It\'s unknown what role, if any, GPS plays with bicycle
cadence/speedometer sensors. May your own Inet search discover reality,
as my own Inet searches for quick answers are now a thing of the past.

GPS-based \"distance traveled\" figures tend to overestimate the
actual distance traveled. Even a beginner is taught to always
reference measurements from a common point (instead of stacking
measurement errors).

 

[Jan Panteltje]

On a sunny day (Wed, 15 Jun 2022 11:45:56 -0400) it happened Joe Gwinn
<joegwinn@comcast.net> wrote in <dhvjahhi98bc6se5ft4rmphtc0co0kbq8b@4ax.com>:

On Wed, 15 Jun 2022 06:52:43 GMT, Jan Panteltje
pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:

On a sunny day (Tue, 14 Jun 2022 17:56:50 -0400) it happened Joe Gwinn
joegwinn@comcast.net> wrote in <4a0iahhpmhi9ocv7ig0k1nidjn95mqbbg1@4ax.com>:

Well, there is also Wiegand-wire sensors:

.<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiegand_effect

.<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiegand_Sensor

But as others have noted, the spokes may be non-magnetic. This can be
solved by adding a bit of zinc-plated mild steel tubing (automotive
brake line) glued to at least one spoke with a silicon rubber
adhesive. The spoke would pass through an inch of tube, with silicon
rubber filling the gap between tube and spoke.

Joe Gwinn

Just thinking, use a camera looking down
The speed can be derived from the moving pattern it sees
Almost like a computah mouse...

Second answer: Ignore spokes. Looking down at the street surface
flying by? How does this work on featureless concrete or tarred
blacktop? Or a painted surface?

Concrete is not that \'featureless\' at all.
As to the software, if you look up any open source mpegX encoding (X for 1, 2, whatever have you these days)
you will see it, among other things, calculates a motion vector, remember using that long long time ago...
Given fixed frames per second (30 or 25 depending on where you are), lens angle and hight,
calibration would only take a short time.
I use my puter mice on a white table and it never had a problem.
Maybe shine a light or laser down to the ground.
Its just a possible solution, not saying its better than other ones, but fun for experimenting.



>Or if it\'s raining or snowing?

I do not go biking in weather like that, I look at the rain-rader here first for what\'s coming.

 

[Dimiter_Popoff]

On 6/15/2022 12:29, Clive Arthur wrote:

On 14/06/2022 18:09, Dimiter_Popoff wrote:

snipped

Hmmm, but will that work at really low speed (like when pushing the
bike uphill)? It is an idea to do it this way (I did not even know the
name of the method so the idea is more than welcome), yet what I was
thinking was more in the line of changing some oscillation frequency
(thus detecting the spokes also  \"at DC\").

A former colleague used a clever method for an impeller type flow
sensor.  He used a small unshielded inductor with a parallel capacitor
connected to a PIC pin.  Set the pin to be an output, kick the LC with a
pulse, then set the pin to be an input and count oscillations.  In air,
you get a few counts, near metal, you get fewer counts.  I don\'t know
details, but he was able to sample sufficiently quickly for it to work.

My guess is that it wouldn\'t be practical over the clearance distance
you\'d need for a spoke, but it\'s a neat method.

The method is neat indeed. I think I could make that work, I\'d say a 3mm
maximum distance from the spokes is achievable mechanically. Hmm. Might
not give up the idea yet after all. Especially after trying out so far
3 apps for the phone, each useless for one reason or another.

 

[a a]

On Wednesday, 15 June 2022 at 18:39:57 UTC+2, Don Y wrote:

On 6/15/2022 9:24 AM, Don wrote:
Addendum: My own links need to be read by me /before/ they\'re posted. It
seems GPS sensors replaced magnets.

Addendum 2: It\'s unknown what role, if any, GPS plays with bicycle
cadence/speedometer sensors. May your own Inet search discover reality,
as my own Inet searches for quick answers are now a thing of the past.
GPS-based \"distance traveled\" figures tend to overestimate the
actual distance traveled. Even a beginner is taught to always
reference measurements from a common point (instead of stacking
measurement errors).
you are not correct

you can easily switch GPS receiver in your smartphone into exact RTK GPS mode to get 20 cm accuracy

so bike computer is an ancient stuff, no more hot

 

[a a]

On Wednesday, 15 June 2022 at 18:44:04 UTC+2, Jan Panteltje wrote:

On a sunny day (Wed, 15 Jun 2022 11:45:56 -0400) it happened Joe Gwinn
joeg...@comcast.net> wrote in <dhvjahhi98bc6se5f...@4ax.com>:
On Wed, 15 Jun 2022 06:52:43 GMT, Jan Panteltje
pNaonSt...@yahoo.com> wrote:

On a sunny day (Tue, 14 Jun 2022 17:56:50 -0400) it happened Joe Gwinn
joeg...@comcast.net> wrote in <4a0iahhpmhi9ocv7i...@4ax.com>:

Well, there is also Wiegand-wire sensors:

.<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiegand_effect

.<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiegand_Sensor

But as others have noted, the spokes may be non-magnetic. This can be
solved by adding a bit of zinc-plated mild steel tubing (automotive
brake line) glued to at least one spoke with a silicon rubber
adhesive. The spoke would pass through an inch of tube, with silicon
rubber filling the gap between tube and spoke.

Joe Gwinn

Just thinking, use a camera looking down
The speed can be derived from the moving pattern it sees
Almost like a computah mouse...

Second answer: Ignore spokes. Looking down at the street surface
flying by? How does this work on featureless concrete or tarred
blacktop? Or a painted surface?
Concrete is not that \'featureless\' at all.
As to the software, if you look up any open source mpegX encoding (X for 1, 2, whatever have you these days)
you will see it, among other things, calculates a motion vector, remember using that long long time ago...
Given fixed frames per second (30 or 25 depending on where you are), lens angle and hight,
calibration would only take a short time.
I use my puter mice on a white table and it never had a problem.
Maybe shine a light or laser down to the ground.
Its just a possible solution, not saying its better than other ones, but fun for experimenting.
Or if it\'s raining or snowing?
I do not go biking in weather like that, I look at the rain-rader here first for what\'s coming.

excellent
laser/optical mouse can be easily turned into $10 3D LIDAR scanner

 

[Dimiter_Popoff]

On 6/15/2022 9:02, Don Y wrote:

......

I\'ve been looking for an \"alternate\" form of transportation for the
little jaunts -- to the library, post office, etc.  Just a couple of
miles, likely off-road.

Things like bicycle, Segway, one-wheels, etc. come to mind.  But, none
have really checked all the boxes (e.g., carrying a bag of groceries
on a bike or Segway is really not ideal).

I manage to carry a 5-6 kg backpack biking from the nearby (4-5 km)
shops. And the way back is uphill (not dramatic though). If it is
reasonably flat in your area you will just need a backpack similar
to mine - Lucy gave it to me when I got the bike, she had used it
years ago when she was walking up the mountains. Very light but
strong enough.

But, recently, I\'m liking the idea of a small gas powered generator
tucked in the battery compartment of my electric wheelchair (!).
This would eliminate the maintenance issue of the batteries
($400/set) as well as increase the possible RELIABLE range of
the chair.  (of course, you couldn\'t use it indoors but that\'s fine)

Building on that idea, a gas powered Segway?  <grin

I have seen \"normal\" bicycles with a battery and some electric
motor... I was told the motor just helps you, they are made not
to move on their own, you have to pedal but you get assistance
(making life easier uphill I suppose). Some nonsense that, why
would I bike if I didn\'t want the exercise.

 

[Don Y]

On 6/15/2022 10:01 AM, a a wrote:

On Wednesday, 15 June 2022 at 18:39:57 UTC+2, Don Y wrote:
On 6/15/2022 9:24 AM, Don wrote:
Addendum: My own links need to be read by me /before/ they\'re posted. It
seems GPS sensors replaced magnets.

Addendum 2: It\'s unknown what role, if any, GPS plays with bicycle
cadence/speedometer sensors. May your own Inet search discover reality,
as my own Inet searches for quick answers are now a thing of the past.
GPS-based \"distance traveled\" figures tend to overestimate the
actual distance traveled. Even a beginner is taught to always
reference measurements from a common point (instead of stacking
measurement errors).
you are not correct

you can easily switch GPS receiver in your smartphone into exact RTK GPS mode to get 20 cm accuracy

So, I can move 8 inches to the left of where I am and your app will tell me
that I\'ve (1) moved, (2) which direction I\'ve moved, (3) that it was 8 inches?

Wow, so you can RELY on having a good constellation available to you,
at all times, in all places? What world do YOU live in?

<https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/12/why-new-york-times-gps-running-article.html>

<https://spectrum.ieee.org/why_every_gps_overestimates_distance_traveled>

<http://gpsinformation.net/articles/tripdistanceerror.htm>

And, of course, your statement applies to ALL smartphones, right?

> so bike computer is an ancient stuff, no more hot

 

[Phil Hobbs]

Joe Gwinn wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jun 2022 06:52:43 GMT, Jan Panteltje
pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:

On a sunny day (Tue, 14 Jun 2022 17:56:50 -0400) it happened Joe Gwinn
joegwinn@comcast.net> wrote in <4a0iahhpmhi9ocv7ig0k1nidjn95mqbbg1@4ax.com>:

Well, there is also Wiegand-wire sensors:

.<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiegand_effect

.<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiegand_Sensor

But as others have noted, the spokes may be non-magnetic. This can be
solved by adding a bit of zinc-plated mild steel tubing (automotive
brake line) glued to at least one spoke with a silicon rubber
adhesive. The spoke would pass through an inch of tube, with silicon
rubber filling the gap between tube and spoke.

Joe Gwinn

Just thinking, use a camera looking down
The speed can be derived from the moving pattern it sees
Almost like a computah mouse...

Need to also block the view beyond those spokes, or nearby scenery can
affect speed readings.

Joe Gwinn

Trying to keep any optical surface clean enough is a challenge. A
theremin would be a fun way to do it, if not necessarily the most practical.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

 

[a a]

On Wednesday, 15 June 2022 at 19:08:41 UTC+2, Dimiter Popoff wrote:

On 6/15/2022 9:02, Don Y wrote:
......

I\'ve been looking for an \"alternate\" form of transportation for the
little jaunts -- to the library, post office, etc. Just a couple of
miles, likely off-road.

Things like bicycle, Segway, one-wheels, etc. come to mind. But, none
have really checked all the boxes (e.g., carrying a bag of groceries
on a bike or Segway is really not ideal).
I manage to carry a 5-6 kg backpack biking from the nearby (4-5 km)
shops. And the way back is uphill (not dramatic though). If it is
reasonably flat in your area you will just need a backpack similar
to mine - Lucy gave it to me when I got the bike, she had used it
years ago when she was walking up the mountains. Very light but
strong enough.

But, recently, I\'m liking the idea of a small gas powered generator
tucked in the battery compartment of my electric wheelchair (!).
This would eliminate the maintenance issue of the batteries
($400/set) as well as increase the possible RELIABLE range of
the chair. (of course, you couldn\'t use it indoors but that\'s fine)

Building on that idea, a gas powered Segway? <grin
I have seen \"normal\" bicycles with a battery and some electric
motor... I was told the motor just helps you, they are made not
to move on their own, you have to pedal but you get assistance
(making life easier uphill I suppose). Some nonsense that, why
would I bike if I didn\'t want the exercise.

by global legislation
you can\'t turn your bike into scooter

 

[Phil Hobbs]

Joerg wrote:

On 6/14/22 10:16 AM, John Doe wrote:
Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com> wrote:

I started cycling again (used to as a kid...) some 4 years ago. And
while I know there are plenty of super cheap \"bicycle computers\" I have
been thinking of making my own. Thus so far 4 years no speed/mileage
indicator for me, obviously. While this may likely remain the case
forever I am still thinking about it - not the obvious things like the
MCU, display etc., just the rotation sensor. They all use a magnet
placed somewhere on one of the wheels and some sensor, I have used a
Hall sensor for pretty precise positioning of the rotor of our TLD
reader etc., but I only still keep on thinking of making the thing
because I imagine it sensing just the spokes, i.e. making some inductive
sensor.

I know what I will try out etc., I may even get to designing one before
the millennium is over but well, these thoughts seem to be on topic and
I am sure there are people with more experience making inductive sensors
than I have.

This might be blasphemy, but...

Speed and mileage indication is easily done with a smartphone these days,
at least here in America.


Then, later in the afternoon during an all-day ride, there will be a low
battery warning, followed by a dark screen.

Why do we always have to make things so complicated? When I grew up
speedometers didn\'t even need any electrical power. They just worked.

And then pissed transmission oil on your pant cuffs when the oil seal
failed.

Plus the nanny software didn\'t prevent one from putting the top down
while rolling, even turning round in the driveway.

I really wish there were a \"nanny disable\" button next to the one for
traction control.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

 

[Don Y]

On 6/15/2022 10:08 AM, Dimiter_Popoff wrote:

On 6/15/2022 9:02, Don Y wrote:
......

I\'ve been looking for an \"alternate\" form of transportation for the
little jaunts -- to the library, post office, etc. Just a couple of
miles, likely off-road.

Things like bicycle, Segway, one-wheels, etc. come to mind. But, none
have really checked all the boxes (e.g., carrying a bag of groceries
on a bike or Segway is really not ideal).

I manage to carry a 5-6 kg backpack biking from the nearby (4-5 km)

Yeah, that would work. Often, I\'m not carrying anything more than
something that needs to be mailed (at the post office) or returned
(to the library). So, getting my body mass from here to there is
the bigger issue.

[I\'m not afraid of the exercise but the time required can be
annoying. E.g., at 4MPH, it takes me a little over an hour
to do the 4.5mi round trip to the library (using shortcuts
accessible to a pedestrian). OTOH, driving that same distance
takes almost half an hour as the route is slightly longer,
there are traffic signals to contend with, the car has to be
parked and locked up, etc. So, I \"discount\" the time spent
walking by the time it would take by car and figure I got
an extra half hour of exercise \"for free\" -- in terms of
time expended]

> shops. And the way back is uphill (not dramatic though).

The trip to the library is a long SLOW climb. My pace *going* is
a fair bit slower than returning (despite the fact that I\'m more
tired on the return trip).

I\'ve also noticed this within the neighborhood; traveling in
one direction requires more exertion than the other. The differences
in elevation aren\'t big but they take a toll on progress.

If it is
reasonably flat in your area you will just need a backpack similar
to mine - Lucy gave it to me when I got the bike, she had used it
years ago when she was walking up the mountains. Very light but
strong enough.

My purchases are usually tied to a trip that had some other goal.
E.g., stopping in at the grocery store adjacent to the post
office for a few small items. Or, the hardware store on the
way BACK from the post office. Ditto at the library. I\'d
not be inclined to buy anything heavy or bulky -- or *frozen*
(as it would *thaw* on the trip).

On a bicycle, I\'ve carried the (one) bag in my hand while
also piloting the bike. It\'s not that difficult. But, avoiding
traffic is a challenge (pedestrian and cyclist \"accidents\" are
fairly common, here. Often fatal -- though rarely for the driver
of the CAR! :-/ )

But, recently, I\'m liking the idea of a small gas powered generator
tucked in the battery compartment of my electric wheelchair (!).
This would eliminate the maintenance issue of the batteries
($400/set) as well as increase the possible RELIABLE range of
the chair. (of course, you couldn\'t use it indoors but that\'s fine)

Building on that idea, a gas powered Segway? <grin

I have seen \"normal\" bicycles with a battery and some electric
motor... I was told the motor just helps you, they are made not
to move on their own, you have to pedal but you get assistance
(making life easier uphill I suppose). Some nonsense that, why
would I bike if I didn\'t want the exercise.

I think the motor will propel you but doesn\'t have enough torque to
get you moving from a dead stop (?). We also have a lot of gas-powered
bicycle assist units in use, here as a cheap form of transportation for
folks who don\'t want the cost/inconvenience of a car (e.g., students).
There is no licensing requirement nor requirement for insurance as
there is with a car.

But, they need to be driven on roadways. So, the marginally safer
use of sidewalks is out of the question. And, in many places, there
are no sidewalks so you\'re riding in the ~3 ft shoulder of the roadway.
(having cars pass within feet of you at 50 MPH is a disconcerting
feeling! \"I wonder if the next guy has his eyes on the road -- or
on his phone???\")

[Folks who ride recumbant bikes often have a tall \"flag\" attached
tot he bike frame to increase visibility. I\'m not sure I\'d rely on
that as a protective measure! :< ]

 

[Phil Hobbs]

Clive Arthur wrote:

On 14/06/2022 18:09, Dimiter_Popoff wrote:

snipped

Hmmm, but will that work at really low speed (like when pushing the
bike uphill)? It is an idea to do it this way (I did not even know the
name of the method so the idea is more than welcome), yet what I was
thinking was more in the line of changing some oscillation frequency
(thus detecting the spokes also  \"at DC\").

A former colleague used a clever method for an impeller type flow
sensor.  He used a small unshielded inductor with a parallel capacitor
connected to a PIC pin.  Set the pin to be an output, kick the LC with a
pulse, then set the pin to be an input and count oscillations.  In air,
you get a few counts, near metal, you get fewer counts.  I don\'t know
details, but he was able to sample sufficiently quickly for it to work.

My guess is that it wouldn\'t be practical over the clearance distance
you\'d need for a spoke, but it\'s a neat method.

A digital theremin!

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

 

[Don]

Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

On 6/15/2022 9:24 AM, Don wrote:
Addendum: My own links need to be read by me /before/ they\'re posted. It
seems GPS sensors replaced magnets.

Addendum 2: It\'s unknown what role, if any, GPS plays with bicycle
cadence/speedometer sensors. May your own Inet search discover reality,
as my own Inet searches for quick answers are now a thing of the past.

GPS-based \"distance traveled\" figures tend to overestimate the
actual distance traveled. Even a beginner is taught to always
reference measurements from a common point (instead of stacking
measurement errors).

FWIW, my bicycle is not electric. (Apparently some or all of those 15
cadence sensors cited by me earlier pertain to electric bicycles??) The
whole idea behind my spins is to get a good workout.

People sometimes ask me about my bicycle\'s fat tires. The tires are
fatter than those found on small motorcycles. They help me navigate
through light, dry snow. Fat tires are also ideal to yield three feet
over on the gravelly shoulder of the paved highway through the foothills
when a big pickup truck with extra wide mirrors screams past. If you
look closely at the left handlebar of my bike, you can spot a rear-view
mirror to keep me situationally aware of things going on behind my back.

My bike needs rear taillights and turn indicators more than a cadence
counter. The bike\'s NiteRider headlight battery ought to provide plenty
of juice as-is. But the rear lights will probably end up as DIY for lack
of any viable alternatives.

Danke,

--
Don, KB7RPU, https://www.qsl.net/kb7rpu
There was a young lady named Bright Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day In a relative way And returned on the previous night.

 

[Don Y]

On 6/15/2022 11:04 AM, Don wrote:

Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
On 6/15/2022 9:24 AM, Don wrote:
Addendum: My own links need to be read by me /before/ they\'re posted. It
seems GPS sensors replaced magnets.

Addendum 2: It\'s unknown what role, if any, GPS plays with bicycle
cadence/speedometer sensors. May your own Inet search discover reality,
as my own Inet searches for quick answers are now a thing of the past.

GPS-based \"distance traveled\" figures tend to overestimate the
actual distance traveled. Even a beginner is taught to always
reference measurements from a common point (instead of stacking
measurement errors).

FWIW, my bicycle is not electric. (Apparently some or all of those 15
cadence sensors cited by me earlier pertain to electric bicycles??) The
whole idea behind my spins is to get a good workout.

I\'m looking for options when I *don\'t* want a workout. There\'s a
difference between \"going out for some chores\" and \"going out
for some execise\". The former has a (immediate) purpose while the
latter\'s purpose is more long term.

People sometimes ask me about my bicycle\'s fat tires. The tires are
fatter than those found on small motorcycles. They help me navigate
through light, dry snow. Fat tires are also ideal to yield three feet
over on the gravelly shoulder of the paved highway through the foothills
when a big pickup truck with extra wide mirrors screams past. If you
look closely at the left handlebar of my bike, you can spot a rear-view
mirror to keep me situationally aware of things going on behind my back.

Yes, my wheelchair\'s drive wheels are good enough for packed dirt
and firm lawns (and asphalt, concrete, etc.). But, tend to \"spin\"
in the decomposed granite that is common in place of lawns, here.

I\'ll mount more aggressive wheels if I take this approach:

<https://www.grizzlycentral.com/attachments/img_20161231_145627-jpg.42386/>

(Disabled) Folks who really go into this sort of thing can get
really aggressive in their solutions:

<https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b1/c4/b9/b1c4b9ede3aeeee5e134762c980db6d0.jpg>

<http://www.automotivenews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/10497961_526645007463753_6858744401557386684_o.jpg>

<https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/suncommercial.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/fb/bfbbc882-a630-11e3-ba40-0019bb2963f4/531a21b2150ce.image.jpg?resize=400%2C240>

But, they are truly looking for ATV-style solutions to ATV-style
problems. I\'m just looking for a non-driving, non-walking way
to cover reasonably short distances (I\'d never rely on walking
OR this sort of kludge if I wanted to travel a dozen miles)

My bike needs rear taillights and turn indicators more than a cadence
counter. The bike\'s NiteRider headlight battery ought to provide plenty
of juice as-is. But the rear lights will probably end up as DIY for lack
of any viable alternatives.

My wheelchair already has headlights, tail lights and turn signals.
And a horn! :-/

And (I think) a BT tie-in for \"remote control\". Battery isn\'t a problem
as there\'s ~100 pounds of them under the seat!

 

[rbowman]

On 06/15/2022 09:33 AM, Don Y wrote:

Bikes won\'t work well as I\'d want to be able to take the \"shortcuts\"
over dirt/gravel/grass. Something more \"ATV-ish\" is called for.
Hence the Segway option. (The Segway \"egg\" looks do-able)

https://www.montaguebikes.com/product/paratrooper/

Any mountain bike will be at home off the pavement. I\'ve got a Montague
because I wanted a full-sized folding bike I can put in the back of the
Yaris. Bike racks and hatchbacks don\'t play well together.

I also have to be wary of the laws regarding where you can operate
said \"conveyance\". E.g., I don\'t think bicycles are allowed on sidewalks.
And, the rules for ebikes might be different.

I don\'t think sidewalk riding is illegal here but I wonder about the
people who ride on sidewalks or the shoulder of the road when there\'s a
perfectly good bike path six feet away.

Ebikes are up in the air. They\'re banned on quite a few trails but
there\'s no blanket prohibition. There\'s an attempt to distinguish
between electric assist and outright electric drive.

Years ago, I tried the bike approach. Driving on the roads is just too
perilous. Having to cross 4 lanes of 45+MPH traffic several times on each
\"short trip\" left my nerves jangled.

Forty tears ago I\'d ride on Boston streets. Over the years I gotten much
more paranoid. I gave up a favorite route because it\'s a narrow two lane
road with no shoulder. The fog line is the edge of the pavement and
there\'s only a ditch past it. Most people are good but it is frequented
by F350 dualies pulling stock trailers.

The other route is on a very wide shoulder for about three miles and
then a bike/pedestrian path.

 

[rbowman]

On 06/15/2022 09:42 AM, Joe Gwinn wrote:

Somehow I associate those with the Sturmey-Archer
three speed hubs.
A blast from the past. I got very good at adjusting and repairing
them.

It took me a year to figure out why, when pedaling strongly the foot
crank would abruptly come loose, free-rotate a half-turn or so, and
then reconnect, as if nothing had happened.

I was very please when I moved from a balloon tire coaster brake model
to my first \'English\' bicycle. I bought it used and abused with my 8th
grade graduation presents. I learned quite a bit about springs, cogs,
pins, and the other internals.

After that experience there was close to a 20 year gap before I bought a
10 speed. Derailleurs have their moments but nothing like a SA.

I recall similar things from the 1960s as well. Was never tempted. I
bet they sounded like an infuriated bumblebee, only higher pitched.
And LOUD.

I was tempted but moved on to a real motorcycle, a \'55 panhead. It was
loud but not to be mistaken for a bumblebee.

 

[rbowman]

On 06/15/2022 12:04 PM, Don wrote:

People sometimes ask me about my bicycle\'s fat tires. The tires are
fatter than those found on small motorcycles. They help me navigate
through light, dry snow. Fat tires are also ideal to yield three feet
over on the gravelly shoulder of the paved highway through the foothills
when a big pickup truck with extra wide mirrors screams past. If you
look closely at the left handlebar of my bike, you can spot a rear-view
mirror to keep me situationally aware of things going on behind my back.

They must be a joy to pedal. Some I\'ve seen are actually bigger than the
front tire on my DR650 and that has a 650cc thumper to do the pedaling.

Definite yes on the rear view. I have one bike without a mirror and I
keep glancing at the hole where it\'s supposed to be. I\'ve never come to
terms with those mirrors mounted on your glasses.

 

[rbowman]

On 06/15/2022 11:08 AM, Dimiter_Popoff wrote:

On 6/15/2022 9:02, Don Y wrote:
......

I\'ve been looking for an \"alternate\" form of transportation for the
little jaunts -- to the library, post office, etc. Just a couple of
miles, likely off-road.

Things like bicycle, Segway, one-wheels, etc. come to mind. But, none
have really checked all the boxes (e.g., carrying a bag of groceries
on a bike or Segway is really not ideal).

I manage to carry a 5-6 kg backpack biking from the nearby (4-5 km)
shops. And the way back is uphill (not dramatic though). If it is
reasonably flat in your area you will just need a backpack similar
to mine - Lucy gave it to me when I got the bike, she had used it
years ago when she was walking up the mountains. Very light but
strong enough.


But, recently, I\'m liking the idea of a small gas powered generator
tucked in the battery compartment of my electric wheelchair (!).
This would eliminate the maintenance issue of the batteries
($400/set) as well as increase the possible RELIABLE range of
the chair. (of course, you couldn\'t use it indoors but that\'s fine)

Building on that idea, a gas powered Segway? <grin

I have seen \"normal\" bicycles with a battery and some electric
motor... I was told the motor just helps you, they are made not
to move on their own, you have to pedal but you get assistance
(making life easier uphill I suppose). Some nonsense that, why
would I bike if I didn\'t want the exercise.

Some do not require any pedaling. Locally they\'re trying to find a way
to legally differentiate between the two.

 

[rbowman]

On 06/15/2022 11:41 AM, Don Y wrote:

n 6/15/2022 10:08 AM, Dimiter_Popoff wrote:
On 6/15/2022 9:02, Don Y wrote:
......

I\'ve been looking for an \"alternate\" form of transportation for the
little jaunts -- to the library, post office, etc. Just a couple of
miles, likely off-road.

Things like bicycle, Segway, one-wheels, etc. come to mind. But, none
have really checked all the boxes (e.g., carrying a bag of groceries
on a bike or Segway is really not ideal).

I manage to carry a 5-6 kg backpack biking from the nearby (4-5 km)

Yeah, that would work. Often, I\'m not carrying anything more than
something that needs to be mailed (at the post office) or returned
(to the library). So, getting my body mass from here to there is
the bigger issue.

I tacoed a wheel while carry groceries in a backpack. Not a good idea,
getting slammed with a few cans of tunafish.

 

[server]

John Dope <always.look@message.header> wrote in
news:t8aiai$34s$1@dont-email.me:

On Android? Can anybody name one such Android app (with a decent
rating) that DOESN\'T work off-line (at least after you have paid
the 1 or $2 for it)? There are plenty of hiking apps, obviously
all of them work off-line.

There are a lot of games that do not work offline for obvious
reasons.

Cant play Euchre with a worldwide set of opponents offline.

D\'Oh! John Dope is not very bright.