Cycle Computer - Cateye

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AndyBSG
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Joined: 10 Jul 2013, 11:16am

Cycle Computer - Cateye

Post by AndyBSG »

More questions from the noob!

I picked up a wireless Cateye Strada the other day and spent last night fitting it and trying it out. Didn't have too many problems but I'm confused on if i've fitted it correctly.

The instructions are very specific on calibrating your wheel size, where to fit the the sensor on the forks, how far it can be away from the head unit, etc but there is one thing it gave no guidance on at all which I would have thought was the most important factor... Where the magnet should be fitted on the spoke!

I've just stuck it pretty much in the middle of the spoke but I would guess that how high or low it is on the spoke should be quite important. Near the rim and it will take a lot longer to complete a circuit, near the hub and it will complete circuits much quicker.

Read the instructions a couple of times and just can't see anything tell me where it should go.
Mike Sales
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Re: Cycle Computer - Cateye

Post by Mike Sales »

Wherever you put the magnet on the spoke it will pass the sensor once per revolution. The computer counts the revolutions, and since you have told it the size of the wheel and so the distance covered per revolution, it can work out speed etc.
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AndyBSG
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Joined: 10 Jul 2013, 11:16am

Re: Cycle Computer - Cateye

Post by AndyBSG »

Ahh, thanks for that!
Mark1978
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Re: Cycle Computer - Cateye

Post by Mark1978 »

AndyBSG wrote:I've just stuck it pretty much in the middle of the spoke but I would guess that how high or low it is on the spoke should be quite important. Near the rim and it will take a lot longer to complete a circuit, near the hub and it will complete circuits much quicker.


If you sit down and think about it for a while you'll realise that's wrong. When a wheel turns around does the outside turn around less often than the inside? No, that would be crazy ;)
AndyBSG
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Joined: 10 Jul 2013, 11:16am

Re: Cycle Computer - Cateye

Post by AndyBSG »

Yeah, I was thinking that it records how long it takes to complete a circuit, rather than how many circuits it actually makes.
chris3vic
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Joined: 25 Mar 2011, 9:00pm

Re: Cycle Computer - Cateye

Post by chris3vic »

AndyBSG wrote:Yeah, I was thinking that it records how long it takes to complete a circuit, rather than how many circuits it actually makes.


My head hurts thinking about this...

Surely the time it takes is the same :/
Vorpal
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Re: Cycle Computer - Cateye

Post by Vorpal »

But it takes the same amount of time to complete one revolution, wherever it is placed. The difference is in how fast it travels. The closer to the hub, the slower it moves. Things close to the hub have less distance to cover (smaller circle) in the same time as things at the edge of the wheel.

The distance the tyre travels on the road is roughly twice that travelled (circumferentially) by a magnet in the middle of a spoke.
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