Mechanical mileage meter

Chocolatebike
Chocolatebike Posts: 41
edited March 2008 in Workshop
Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a mechanical device which will fit to one of the wheels of a bike (or to the hub) and measure the distance travelled ?
I've seen the type of thing that I have in mind on the hubs of buses/trucks/trailers
I seem to remember something when I was young that fitted to the fork and had a counter on the wheel spokes- it simply moved a gear wheel on the counter.
Reason for wanting one is that I'm getting a new bike soon and I want to measure the total distance travelled without having to rely on a battery powered device (though I will have a computer for speed, time, HR etc as well).

Thanks,

Andrew

Comments

  • geoff_ss
    geoff_ss Posts: 1,201
    They were very common years ago. I found the tick every wheel rev irritating but there was one that was belt driven. However, if you're fitting a computer why do you need anything else? I'm 99.9% certain that they all record distance both overall and a trip display.

    Geoff
    Old cyclists never die; they just fit smaller chainrings ... and pedal faster
  • alfablue
    alfablue Posts: 8,497
    Many (though not all) computers allow you to input the total odometer reading, so you don't have to start from zero again when changing the battery, you just need a note (mental or otherwise) of the previous reading.
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    Batteries last for ages, and you'll probably want to log rides and times on a spreadsheet , so you can see your improvements. :D You'll soon be as mad as us.

    Think you'll find it hard to get a mechanical one - car boot or ebay maybe, as computers are cheap. Stick to something like a cateye and you'll be fine.
  • Smokin Joe
    Smokin Joe Posts: 2,706
    Those mechanical ones were not accurate as you could not input your tyre circumfrence. They used to come in two versions, one for 26" wheels and one for 27". They also had a warning not to exceed 21mph as the striker would knock the wheel on the odometer too far and it would over-read.

    Not a patch on a computer, even if you do have to spend £1.99 on a battery every two years.
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    What a coincidence that these be mentioned now! The old Carlton I got 2 weeks ago has just such a mileometer, fitted when bike was refurbished in 1984! It is EXTREMELY accurate - but yes the ckicking is a little obtrusive!
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • Chocolatebike
    Chocolatebike Posts: 41
    I was aware of some of the possible difficulties with accuracy etc (although I hadn't anticipated the 21mph max. speed).
    The reason that I wanted a mechanical device was that I went to my MTB after not riding it for 6 months to find that the battery in the computer had gone flat. I've no idea how many miles it's done- 2500 ?
    If there is nothing available (as I suspected LOL) then I'll have to start writing down the end mileage after each ride though I hope not to leave the new bike for 6 months between rides.

    Thanks for the replies,

    Andrew
  • pieinthesky
    pieinthesky Posts: 417
    I am fairly sure that the latest Sigma computers remember your total mileage when changing the battery. I dont know how long it remembers with a flat battery but it is worth finding out.

    My sister had one of the mechanical devices on her bike when she was 9. It was annoying unreliable and eventually bent the spoke, she took it off.

    I would say that if it wasnt good enough for a nine year old riding round the garden you might be wasting your time trying to find one!

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