I saw these accessories – http://www.hokeyspokes.com – and thought, “Way
cool!” They’re computerized lights that are timed to display patterns or
text messages on your spokes.
A bit pricey, in my opinion, but I can imagine having fun with them. Says
you need to hit at least 7 mph to make it work. I have no idea how that
gauges against normal, ride-around-the-neighborhood speed.
David
stiller ( at ) quip ( dot ) net
When I’m just cruising around my new cycle computer usually says 7 or 8 mph, though I’m sure wheel and crank size will make a difference. I ride a 700c with 125mm cranks. Hope that helps.
testing these things in Germany found that you can JUST make the writing work on a 24 but on a coker it’ll rock!
the patterns look good whatever
I put a cycle computer on my muni briefly; after my first ride it said 56mph, due to the sensor being next to the magnet in a stillstand… 
Either way, the average was above 7mph; I think it was 10-12 or so, for a 24" with 150mm cranks and a fireball tyre.
Presumably it needs a fairly constant speed to look right?
Either way they look quite nifty…
Phil
Re: Tyipcal neighborhood ride speed?
Speed sounds good so far, and I’m glad to hear that it worked for somebody,
if barely (see JoeRowing’s reply). I think the constancy issue is resolved
by a speed-sensing device in the product – just a guess – and the website
says they communiciate with each other wirelessly to keep in sync.
I’m getting ahead of myself, though: first I’ve gotta make it around the
block! They look so COOL, though!
David
stiller ( at ) quip ( dot ) net
Re: Tyipcal neighborhood ride speed?
“David Stiller” <stiller@quip.net> wrote in message
news:mbDra.64446$xB4.1516612@news2.east.cox.net…
> I saw these accessories – http://www.hokeyspokes.com – and thought, “Way
> cool!” They’re computerized lights that are timed to display patterns or
> text messages on your spokes.
Some people at BUC tried these out by pedaling furiously
after being lifted off the ground by friends. I saw some nice
patterns but no text. I thought about buying one for the Coker
but spent the dough on beer instead.
Re: Tyipcal neighborhood ride speed?
On Tue, 29 Apr 2003 17:57:45 -0500, JoeRowing
<JoeRowing.mo66n@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote:
>testing these things in Germany found that you can JUST make the writing
>work on a 24 but on a coker it’ll rock!
I believe that it’s the rotational velocity of the wheel that
determines whether it works or not. So I think that on a Coker it is
less likely (if anything) to work than on a 20" (assuming that it fits
in the smaller wheel).
Kermit the Frog is left-handed.
Re: Tyipcal neighborhood ride speed?
Um… at the same cadence, greater radius means greater linear speed.
Isn’t the effect caused by the persistence of fast-moving flickering light
sources on the retina? I suppose it depends on how fast people can
pedal. Roger Cokers like fury on 110 cranks…
Re: Tyipcal neighborhood ride speed?
On Thu, 1 May 2003 10:32:06 +0100, “Arnold the Aardvark”
<aardvark@REMOVEtubulidentata.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Um… at the same cadence, greater radius means greater linear speed.
>Isn’t the effect caused by the persistence of fast-moving flickering light
>sources on the retina?
I think that both observations (one in the form of a rethorical
question) are correct, but then I also think linear speed is not
really important. A 36" wheel at a distance of 36 feet would work
equally well as a 24" wheel at a distance of 24 feet. (The Hokeyspokes
website suggests that 24" is the minimum wheelsize.)
>I suppose it depends on how fast people can
>pedal. Roger Cokers like fury on 110 cranks…
That’s it!
Mosquito repellents don’t repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito’s sensors so they don’t know you’re there.
Re: Tyipcal neighborhood ride speed?
> A 36" wheel at a distance of 36 feet would work
> equally well as a 24" wheel at a distance of 24 feet.
Compare like with like, Klaas! You’re riding down the
road at 50 RPM and someone on the other side sees
you passing. HokeySpokes fitted close to the rim. Which
looks better to the observer, a 24" or a 36"? Actually I
don’t know, but think the 36".
I’ve only seen the HokeySpokes working on a stationary
spinning wheel. On a moving wheel each light moves along
a different curtate cycloid, rather than a circle. I guess the
retina doesn’t care but the patterns might look different to
the careful observer…
Now I wish I hadn’t spent the money on beer!
Arnold the Aardvark
Re: Tyipcal neighborhood ride speed?
On Fri, 2 May 2003 09:12:26 +0100, “Arnold the Aardvark”
<aardvark@REMOVEtubulidentata.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>> A 36" wheel at a distance of 36 feet would work
>> equally well as a 24" wheel at a distance of 24 feet.
>
>Compare like with like, Klaas!
Good point, you may be right that on the 36" it would look better. I
still suspect that angular velocity is the main determinant of success
though. A matter of (i) trying, and (ii) judgment.
>On a moving wheel each light moves along
>a different curtate cycloid, rather than a circle.
That is true with respect to a reference frame fixed to the riding
surface. I downloaded the videos from Hokeyspokes and noticed that I
tend to ‘follow’ the rider. In that case the /circular/ path applies.
"More people are killed by donkeys each year, than in air crashes. "