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I am interested to build a bike but I would also like to have free software/hardware. How can I build a cyclometer with open-source software? Would it be possible to find reflashable hardware or open schematics?

amcnabb
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  • @Neil Fein: are you saying that cyclometer has nothing to do with bicycles? lol... start a project, we live in it. We like to have fun with bicycles, why are you so intolerant about fun? I think most of us, repliers and me, won't give a damn to time-limits and such things in so-called projects, let us work. If you cannot understand, look there are many other people who understand, read the replies. Very cool! –  Feb 18 '11 at 01:59
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    Cyclometers are clearly on-topic. This question is simply unclear as it is currently written, and I want to understand it. Stack Exchange, the company that runs these boards, is very clear about what they are to be used for, and that's asking and answering questions. I'm not trying to ruin anybody's fun. However, questions have to be clearly written or at least understandable, and this one, in my opinion, is not yet there. I'm doing my best to help you, not hider you. – Goodbye Stack Exchange Feb 18 '11 at 02:06
  • @Neil Fein: What do you mean? Yes I am asking here, other people are answering and they clearly understand -- notice there is a clearly-defined understandable question about bicycles which already has many understandable answers. If you are going to remove this question, please, remove also [1], [2] and many other software-hardware related questions. [1] http://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/1689/bicycling-apps-for-android [2] http://bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/725/iphone-4-bike-mount-recommendations –  Feb 18 '11 at 02:25
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    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's an extremely broad question that's primarily about electronics, rather than cycling. (Rule of thumb test: would it be easier to explain the necessary cycling information to an electronics expert or to explain the necessary electronics to a cyclist? Clearly the former and by a very, very long way.) – David Richerby May 29 '18 at 15:45
  • @user652 does this go in the direction you're interested in? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-5V7s0GflU – pseyfert May 29 '18 at 16:11
  • I understand this is late, but... if you don't understand a question, please don't change it. – ojs May 29 '18 at 16:34
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    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it belongs on http://electronics.stackexchange.com/ – Criggie May 30 '18 at 07:28
  • I’m voting to close this question because its old, and no project was started in the last 12 years. – Criggie Nov 18 '23 at 03:00

3 Answers3

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The most detailed account/details I've come across for building your own bike computer is here on PIClist.

Those pages contain detailed instructions for building a bike computer using a PIC microcontroller linked to a Hall Effect Sensor (it detects the magnet attached to a spoke as the wheel spins). In addition to the build details it also features a detailed discussion of the design process which the creator undertook whilst creating the computer.

Amos
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Easiest platform is probably arduino - nearest bike thing I can find is this

Gary.Ray
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mgb
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  • +1 cool so I don't need to buy a closed code cyclometer, had actually some arduinos around. –  Feb 16 '11 at 23:44
  • At the speeds things happen on bicycles it's very easy to just count the inputs from a magnet+switch with an interrupt. Hardest part is probably a suitable cheap display – mgb Feb 17 '11 at 00:02
  • Can I slice up the arduino so that it's thumb-sized, weather resistant, and mounts on the handlebars? –  Feb 17 '11 at 00:36
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    @wdypdx22: I have used this beast [1]. Very small and now planning an automatic chain lubricating thing but unsure of your requirements. Check the specs. [1] http://www.pjrc.com/teensy/ –  Feb 17 '11 at 00:57
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    There are surface mount nano versions http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoNano, or there is this http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardLilyPad – mgb Feb 17 '11 at 02:42
  • @mgb: cool. Are they on the same non-restrictive license as Arduino? The Teensy is apparently not so these beasts may be better options. –  Feb 18 '11 at 01:30
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    @hhh all the arduino variants are free and open source, they also use the same very simple IDE and language. You can also get arduino clone boards from local makers, some smaller and cheaper. – mgb Feb 18 '11 at 06:10
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I tried to get real time ANT sensor data from a Garmin watch to a PC. But this is difficult. BLE is easier. The following bike computer is very basic, but can be modified by the user:

Pyloton: CircuitPython Cycling Computer. Open Source cycling computer that displays heart rate, speed, cadence, and song playback info.

https://learn.adafruit.com/pyloton

Peter Gamma
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