GPS – SheldonBrownBlog

First cyclecomputer?

Our cyclecomputer database goes deep. We have found, scanned and posted a PDF of the manual for what is probably the first cyclecomputer, the Veltec Pacer 2000. We also have manuals for early Cateye, Avocet and Vetta computers, and rare brands.

Modeling bicycle dynamics

We publish another paper by Osman Isvan. He uses a simplified model with only 3 degrees of freedom and simulates system frequency response under steady-state and transient conditions. He investigates the effects on vibration isolation of several key parameters including tire pressure, frame compliance and riding position. The graph below from his paper, one of several, shows results when tire pressure is changed.

Graph from Osman Isvan’s paper on bicycle dynamics

GPS not working right on your smartphone?

Older smartphone no longer maps bicycle routes well? Rides are recorded as 173,000 hours long? (Really!) New article by our friend Mark Sevier explains these problems and offers some solutions.

Osman Isvan on Ride Data

Osman analyzes data from over 1000 of his own bicycle rides to see what they show, and describes what might be discovered by mining the huge troves of data held by Strava, RidewithGPS and other GPS-based mapping services. Osman makes a particularly trenchant suggestion for e-bike design based on his analysis, and discusses issues of data privacy. Find this along with Osman’s other articles at https://www.sheldonbrown.com/isvan.html

Figure 1 from Osman's article — Figure 1 from Osman’s article

Gear calculator updated

The Gear Calculator has been updated with new Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo cassettes, and the new Shimano Steps 5-speed internal-gear hub for E-bikes. French and German versions of the Calculator have been updated too.

Addition to post about 360-degree video

Thanks to Philip Carlson, our article about 360-degree video now includes a video clip illustrating the nighttime performance of the Garmin VIRB 360 camera. As expected, there is camera-motion blur, but it looks much different from that with a conventional camera.

Cyclecomputer and GPS database updated

Sheldonbrown.com has compiled links to more cyclecomputer and bicycle GPS manuals, old and new, than you will find anywhere else on the Internet. We have once again added information on new models and re-linked when a brand has discontinued support, left the cyclecomputer business (Blackburn, Cannondale, Pro, Topeak…), or gone out of business entirely (Avocet, Vetta…). And … if you have a manual which is not in our database, please feel free to scan it for us , or send it to us!

Gear Calculator updated!

Our gear calculator is now updated to cover the newest cassettes from Shimano, SRAM and SunRace. — Still to update: the French- and German-language versions.

Cyclecomputer and GPS database update

Our cyclecomputer and GPS database is undergoing a major review. We’re not all done yet but we have fixed a number of bad links where manufacturers dropped support — thanks to the Internet Archive and our backup copies. And then there are the new models…many of them. We thought that cyclecomputers were passé, what with the advent of GPS, but this is still a strong product category. We found a number of new brand names as well.

Tag: GPS