Mechanical odometer

[Kizibu]

Can you still get those little milometers with the star shaped wheel that count the revs of your front wheel? My LBS says not (except perhaps in Pound shops) and that they are no good - but I like simple mechanical things.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

http://www.amazon.com/Retro-26-wheel-Speedometer-NEW/dp/B000CSKBBS

That's the closest I can find. I know exactly the ones you mean, I used to have one on my Dawes Kingpin when I were a lad.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I think the ones Kizibu is on obout had a little peg which was attached to a spoke and which engaged with a little star shaped cog mounted on the forks.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I think the ones Kizibu is on obout had a little peg which was attached to a spoke and which engaged with a little star shaped cog mounted on the forks.

I used them on a touring hols in France. They were... annoying as they constantly ticked. Being mounted where thwy were meant they were a pain when you needed to remove the wheel and they got damaged very easily.

As a kid I also had a cable operated speedo with a big dial on the handlebars and a proper needle, I recall hitting 30mph down South street in Exeter or some such place.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The devices were called Cyclometers and were pretty useless compared to today's computers. They came pre-set for 26" or 27" wheels and could never be relyed on to be accurate as they could not be programmed for different tyre profiles. You were also advised not to ride over 21mph as the star would be knocked too far each time the striker hit it.

It is indeed a simple mechanical thing, but so is a mouse trap and that would be about as much use on a bike.

 

[Alan Frame]

I used them on a touring hols in France. They were... annoying as they constantly ticked.

Mine must have been faulty because it never ticked fast enough.

 

[Kizibu]

You were also advised not to ride over 21mph as the star would be knocked too far each time the striker hit it.

.

Not much danger of that happening in my case I fear.

Thanks for all your responses - glad I'm not the only one who remembers them...with affection or otherwise.

Kizibu

 

[andrew_s]

As well as the ones with the spoke peg and star wheel, there were belt drive (O-ring) Sachs-Huret cyclometers. These had the advantage of being quiet, and had two counters so you had a trip distance.

 

[Kizibu]

As well as the ones with the spoke peg and star wheel, there were belt drive (O-ring) Sachs-Huret cyclometers. These had the advantage of being quiet, and had two counters so you had a trip distance.

Thanks Andrew. How do these work?

 

[andrew_s]

I never had one, though there used to be someone in the club who used one.
Purely looking at the pictures on the ebay link, there was a pulley that attached to the hub via zip ties or whatever on the spokes, which drove a pulley on the side of the cyclometer via an O-ring. It looks like the pulley on the cyclometer has two grooves - presumably one would be for 26" wheels and the other for 27"/700c. The cyclometer pulley will drive the counters via bog standard gear cogs.

The cyclometer itself mounted at the dropout. It looks like it was intended to fit between the dropout and the wheel locknut, but I dare say it could also be put on a mudguard bolt.

 

[Dave5N]

I have new unused one in a box somewhere.

 

[gzabik88]

I had one and it was the star wheel with the spoke attachment. I still have the star odometer part but not the mounting or the spoke part. I am looking for one for my brother who is 86. It is all he wants. Any ideas?

 

[phil_hg_uk]

Can you still get those little milometers with the star shaped wheel that count the revs of your front wheel? My LBS says not (except perhaps in Pound shops) and that they are no good - but I like simple mechanical things.

I remember them had one back in the 70's similar to this

click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click !!!!!!!

 

[ianrauk]

I remember them had one back in the 70's similar to this

click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click !!!!!!!

Wow, long time since I saw one of those.

 

[Hacienda71]

My brother got one for my father within the last few weeks. I will see where he got it. 27 and a quarter inch wheels only.