Best way to time intervals on a bike?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 35
Bikes: 2016 Fuji Ricer LE, 43 pound vintage Raleigh, Gary Fisher MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Best way to time intervals on a bike?
My HRM is dead, my watch has a dead battery (and no interval timer) and my road bike has a computer - but not a timer. But I still need a way to time intervals, having recently joined the Church of Friel.
I remember the Gym Boss from my Crossfit days - but I'd have to zip ties it to the bike. I'll be replacing the HRM and putting a new computer on my new road bike, but that's a few months down the road, and i need something in the interim.
Is there an inexpensiveish watch that has a function I can use- like an Ironman? I'm not comfortable strapping my phone to the bike, so that option is out for now. ( if I break it I could lose all my important science photos and documentary movies stored on it.)
So what are my options?
I remember the Gym Boss from my Crossfit days - but I'd have to zip ties it to the bike. I'll be replacing the HRM and putting a new computer on my new road bike, but that's a few months down the road, and i need something in the interim.
Is there an inexpensiveish watch that has a function I can use- like an Ironman? I'm not comfortable strapping my phone to the bike, so that option is out for now. ( if I break it I could lose all my important science photos and documentary movies stored on it.)
So what are my options?
Last edited by RetroDork; 08-29-15 at 09:54 PM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,972
Bikes: Habanero Titanium Team Nuevo
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 399 Post(s)
Liked 185 Times
in
121 Posts
Do not time intervals as such. Count your cadence and increase the time you spin faster. I normally ride high 80's so increasing the cadence for say 100 times or 200. Find a measure loop of maybe 1 mile and go for it.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Long Beach
Posts: 765
Bikes: Fitz randonneuse, Trek Superfly/AL, Tsunami SS, Bacchetta, HPV Speed Machine, Rans Screamer
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 100 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
Smartphone app that beeps and or vibrates, keep it in your back pocket or use single ear piece.
#7
Senior Member
Some of technology used is more expensive than others and some of the less expensive approaches seem pretty smart (e.g., building it into the pedals) but, that's what you need to incorporate into the program --> watts.
Last edited by McBTC; 08-29-15 at 06:49 PM.
#8
1/2 as far in 2x the time
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Northern Bergen County, NJ
Posts: 1,746
Bikes: Yes, Please.
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 499 Post(s)
Liked 285 Times
in
222 Posts
That is elegant looking. Did you make/modify it or are they for sale. I would like to follow your example, having finished restoring my bike. They even sell my exact old stopwatch on ebay. about $20...
BITD I used black electricians tape to hold my stopwatch, I thought it might help with shock absorbsion, and the watch case was black (a Meylan) wd-40 took residue off in a snap.
BITD I used black electricians tape to hold my stopwatch, I thought it might help with shock absorbsion, and the watch case was black (a Meylan) wd-40 took residue off in a snap.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
https://www.amazon.com/CASIO-F91W-1-Casual-Sport-Watch/dp/B00006I551/ref=pd_sim_sbs_107_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0AYBWXWPA4EJZEWXRQQW&dpSrc=sims&dpST=_AC_UL160_SR132%2C160_
#10
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,843
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
612 Posts
I'd worry that the road shock would hurt a mechanical watch's innards.
I think we need a side view of that bike
I think we need a side view of that bike
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
#11
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,452
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3151 Post(s)
Liked 1,715 Times
in
1,035 Posts
Yeah, that Heuer stopwatch mount cannot be real, because that thing wouldn't last a day.
#12
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 35
Bikes: 2016 Fuji Ricer LE, 43 pound vintage Raleigh, Gary Fisher MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do the Polar HRM's come with timers?
edit to add:
Did find this $20 Casio that has 9 countdown timers, so I may grab one of these in the interim.
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-Mens-W75...ountdown+timer
Last edited by RetroDork; 08-29-15 at 10:10 PM.
#13
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 35
Bikes: 2016 Fuji Ricer LE, 43 pound vintage Raleigh, Gary Fisher MTB
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#14
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,539
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3891 Post(s)
Liked 1,940 Times
in
1,385 Posts
These have been my standard wristwatches for decades:
Amazon.com: Timex Men's T5K6089J Ironman Traditional 10 Lap Watch: Timex: Watches
Mount it or similar on one of these:
Amazon.com : Polar Universal Bike Mount, Black : Bike Brake Mounts And Adapters : Sports & Outdoors
Amazon.com: Timex Men's T5K6089J Ironman Traditional 10 Lap Watch: Timex: Watches
Mount it or similar on one of these:
Amazon.com : Polar Universal Bike Mount, Black : Bike Brake Mounts And Adapters : Sports & Outdoors
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18380 Post(s)
Liked 4,512 Times
in
3,354 Posts
Do you want it for real-time, or post analysis?
You could program your course into Strava. Then you'll create a record of your activities. I think it even allows comparisons of speed over time.
I have a $10 Bell cyclecomputer. Not the best in the world, but it has basic stop, start, reset, speed, distance, time functions.
Actually, it doesn't have a pause activity function, but sometimes I'll just yank it out of the cradle which effectively pauses it.
You could program your course into Strava. Then you'll create a record of your activities. I think it even allows comparisons of speed over time.
I have a $10 Bell cyclecomputer. Not the best in the world, but it has basic stop, start, reset, speed, distance, time functions.
Actually, it doesn't have a pause activity function, but sometimes I'll just yank it out of the cradle which effectively pauses it.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 92
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Way back in the old days before bike computers, hill repeats worked, and on flats, one just chose a telephone pole, tree, or mailbox up the road to wind it up.
#17
.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rocket City, No'ala
Posts: 12,763
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 29 Times
in
14 Posts
That is elegant looking. Did you make/modify it or are they for sale. I would like to follow your example, having finished restoring my bike. They even sell my exact old stopwatch on ebay. about $20...
BITD I used black electricians tape to hold my stopwatch, I thought it might help with shock absorbsion, and the watch case was black (a Meylan) wd-40 took residue off in a snap.
BITD I used black electricians tape to hold my stopwatch, I thought it might help with shock absorbsion, and the watch case was black (a Meylan) wd-40 took residue off in a snap.
Time trialists used analog stopwatches for decades; the Classic and Vintage forum probably has more sources for them and their mounting hardware.
Here's one on eBay: Vintage Retro Style Time Trial Stopwatch Pocket Watch Bicycle Clip L'Eroica | eBay
__________________
#18
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,452
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3151 Post(s)
Liked 1,715 Times
in
1,035 Posts
Check out this thread: DIY Terrys Stopwatch Holder | Retrobike
Time trialists used analog stopwatches for decades; the Classic and Vintage forum probably has more sources for them and their mounting hardware.
Here's one on eBay: Vintage Retro Style Time Trial Stopwatch Pocket Watch Bicycle Clip L'Eroica | eBay
Time trialists used analog stopwatches for decades; the Classic and Vintage forum probably has more sources for them and their mounting hardware.
Here's one on eBay: Vintage Retro Style Time Trial Stopwatch Pocket Watch Bicycle Clip L'Eroica | eBay
And which decades are we talking about?
Please, do disabuse me of my notions, because I admittedly don't pay any attention to stopwatches at all, so perhaps theres a whole branch of horology that I'm just ignorant of.
#20
.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rocket City, No'ala
Posts: 12,763
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 29 Times
in
14 Posts
Terry's stop-watch clip
Condor cycle
1953 Condor
I don't have any idea how shock resistant their stopwatches were; only that you see them on a lot of time trial bikes, particularly British ones, from the 30' through the 60's. Mass road races were illegal in Britain for a long time so the cycling clubs held clandestine time trials. They used their stop watches to check their intervals while the race officials kept race times.
Condor cycle
1953 Condor
I don't have any idea how shock resistant their stopwatches were; only that you see them on a lot of time trial bikes, particularly British ones, from the 30' through the 60's. Mass road races were illegal in Britain for a long time so the cycling clubs held clandestine time trials. They used their stop watches to check their intervals while the race officials kept race times.
__________________
#21
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,843
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
612 Posts
Still works
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
#22
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,452
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3151 Post(s)
Liked 1,715 Times
in
1,035 Posts
@bbattle Thanks for the additional info and putting me right. I guess I didn't know what I thought I did.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
True. Even though I have a garmin that can be programmed to give me count downs and alarms, I just write my workout on a piece of tape stuck to the stem and look at the elapsed time. For sprints I still use traffic signs or trees.