Message-Id: <TFSJUQIM@enet.com>
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 12:17:51 -0800
To: bikecurrent@cycling.org

MIME:MARTYGOODMAN@delphi.com on 05/18/99 11:34:00 AM
Subject: Inclinometers and Altimeters 

 
The Avocet 50 had merely an ordinary barometric altimeter, NOT an
inclinometer.    The Avocet 50 is also now off the market, and has been
for years, and justly so:  It had HORRIBLE reliablity problems.  The
Avocet VerTec wrist watch reflected many improvements (I own two) based
on Avocet's horrendous experience with the Avocet 50.  I know some of
the consultants who helped develop the VerTec.  But the VerTec is hard
to find, for Avocet seems to be having problems getting back in
business.  I keep hearing rumors that they will have out an Avocet 55
cycling odometer and altimeter, and the even exhibited prototypes some
years ago at a bike show, but... I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for
it.   If you need a good altimeter for use on a bicycle, I'd recommend
the Sunto Altimeter ($200 at REI currently).  It offers a very big,
readable display and ability to show cumulative feet gaine, and
important feature for cyclists.  Only negative:  It just came out, and I
know of no field-use reports on the Sunto.  DO NOT waste a DIME on the
HORRIBLY engineered Casio altimeters!!!  Tiny displays, worthless
confusing bells and whistles, and lack of ability to display cumulative
feet gained make the Casios really poor choices.
 
Affordable GPS units are essentially worthless for measuring altitude,
and likely will be for rather a while.  I doubt that if and when ones
suitable for measuring altitude with accuracy even approaching that of
barometric altimeters are available to us, they will be remotely
affordable to most cyclists.
 
I suspect the main reason we don't see inclinometers on bicycles is that
you get so much acceleration and deceleration on a normal bike ride
that you can't get an accurate reading for more than occasional moments,
and you will never know WHEN those moments are.  Thus, to the best
of my knowledge, affordable inclinometers (costing from a few dollars
for a mechanical one to one or two hundred dollars for the better
electronic ones, both of which varieties I own) can be used ONLY when the
bike is STATIONARY.  I suppose one could add an accellerometer sensor
that provided real time information to compensate the inclinometer
reading, and a fast incline sensor as well... but I know of no product
that does so in the under $300 price range.
 
  ---marty