I came home from my morning ride and found that my bike computer (a VDO C10 - wired, not wireless) had registered a max speed of exactly 369.00 kph (the C10 reads to 2 decimal places). Normally, I see a figure in the 40's or 50's.
I got to wondering about the cause, and thought that I might have ridden close to a strong AC magnetic field at mains frequency. Since the Australian mains frequency is 50 Hertz, this could have switched the fork-mounted pickup at either 50 or 100 times per second (depending on whether both half- cycles did the switching, or only one - an AC electromagnet reverses polarity with each half-cycle). Given that the computer is configured for a wheel circumference of 2050 mm, that gives me a switching frequency of 50 Hertz exactly (to 3 decimal places) for 369 kph.
So I think I've found the cause, and it got switched only on alternate mains half-cycles. Alas it wasn't a sudden, dramatic increase in my fitness. Still, it's nice to know the C10 is capable of registering pulses at that speed.
Originally posted by John Henderson I came home from my morning ride and found that my bike computer (a VDO C10 - wired, not wireless) had registered a max speed of exactly 369.00 kph (the C10 reads to 2 decimal places). Normally, I see a figure in the 40's or 50's.
I got to wondering about the cause, and thought that I might have ridden close to a strong AC magnetic field at mains frequency. Since the Australian mains frequency is 50 Hertz, this could have switched the fork-mounted pickup at either 50 or 100 times per second (depending on whether both half- cycles did the switching, or only one - an AC electromagnet reverses polarity with each half-cycle). Given that the computer is configured for a wheel circumference of 2050 mm, that gives me a switching frequency of 50 Hertz exactly (to 3 decimal places) for 369 kph.
So I think I've found the cause, and it got switched only on alternate mains half-cycles. Alas it wasn't a sudden, dramatic increase in my fitness. Still, it's nice to know the C10 is capable of registering pulses at that speed.
John
Dear John,
I believe you, even if no one else does.
Still, I'm sure that you won't mind stepping down the hall and providing a sample in this cup, just a routine test, nothing to worry about, won't take a moment . . .
Good Lord! Burned a hole right through the cup!
[Another amphetamine-crazed Australian biker blaming his obviously enhanced performance on--get this!--the electric company and his speedometer after the cops clocked him at 230 mph!]
[Another amphetamine-crazed Australian biker blaming his obviously enhanced performance on--get this!--the electric company and his speedometer after the cops clocked him at 230 mph!]
It would be sort of fun to be booked for speeding on a bike here in Canberra. You see, there are no speed limits applying to bicycles (reference pedalpower.org.aulaw.htmOpen ↗).
[Another amphetamine-crazed Australian biker blaming his obviously enhanced performance on--get this!--the electric company and his speedometer after the cops clocked him at 230 mph!]
It would be sort of fun to be booked for speeding on a bike here in Canberra. You see, there are no speed limits applying to bicycles (reference pedalpower.org.aulaw.htmOpen ↗).
John [/B]
I got breathalysed on my low racer recumbent at 5.30am last Sunday in Canberra (Northborne Avenue). Police must have been very bored. Would have been better to have been pulled over for speeding though. Pete Heal
Had a similar thing happen with a Vetta C-500 (wireless). Had a max of 45 mph until we emerged from lunch. Then we found out we had been up to 158 mph-during lunch!!! Raised the average quite a bit too. Speculate that the magnet was situated just close enough to the sender to be intermittent. Bob
"John Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I came home from my morning ride and found that my bike computer (a VDO C10 - wired, not wireless) had registered a max speed of exactly 369.00 kph (the C10 reads to 2 decimal places). Normally, I see a figure in the 40's or 50's.
(o: I'm not sure what it says about you that you feel the need to clarify that you weren't actually travelling at 369km/h, but it is amusing!
Pity you didn't go past a speed camera. It would have been worth the fine to get the ticket and frame it :-)
"John Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I came home from my morning ride and found that my bike computer (a VDO C10 - wired, not wireless) had registered a max speed of exactly 369.00 kph (the C10 reads to 2 decimal places). Normally, I see a figure in the 40's or 50's.
I got to wondering about the cause, and thought that I might have ridden close to a strong AC magnetic field at mains frequency. Since the Australian mains frequency is 50 Hertz, this could have switched the fork-mounted pickup at either 50 or 100 times per second (depending on whether both half-cycles did the switching, or only one - an AC electromagnet reverses polarity with each half-cycle). Given that the computer is configured for a wheel circumference of 2050 mm, that gives me a switching frequency of 50 Hertz exactly (to 3 decimal places) for 369 kph.
So I think I've found the cause, and it got switched only on alternate mains half-cycles. Alas it wasn't a sudden, dramatic increase in my fitness. Still, it's nice to know the C10 is capable of registering pulses at that speed.
I came home from my morning ride and found that my bike computer (a VDO C10 - wired, not wireless) had registered a max speed of exactly 369.00 kph (the C10 reads to 2 decimal places). Normally, I see a figure in the 40's or 50's.
I got to wondering about the cause, and thought that I might have ridden close to a strong AC magnetic field at mains frequency. Since the Australian mains frequency is 50 Hertz, this could have switched the fork-mounted pickup at either 50 or 100 times per second (depending on whether both half-cycles did the switching, or only one - an AC electromagnet reverses polarity with each half-cycle). Given that the computer is configured for a wheel circumference of 2050 mm, that gives me a switching frequency of 50 Hertz exactly (to 3 decimal places) for 369 kph.
It may not have been switching the reed switch at all; it could have induced enough voltage in the lead wires to fool the computer into thinking the reed switch was closing. On the other hand, 50 Hz isn't out of the question for a reed switch. The one on my Flight Deck can handle about 30 Hz max.
-- Ray Heindl (remove the Xs to reply to: [email hidden])
They probably don't think a cyclist is capable of going fast enough to exceed the speed limit.
I still wish there had been a cop waiting on San Fransisquito Rd on that windy day. It would have be nice to have a valid "certificate" of my 62.3 mph (100 KPH) speed. That's valid speed, not "electronically induced".
- - "May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills!"
Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
"Chris Zacho "The Wheelman"" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
John Henderson wrote:
I still wish there had been a cop waiting on San Fransisquito Rd on that windy day. It would have be nice to have a valid "certificate" of my 62.3 mph (100 KPH) speed. That's valid speed, not "electronically induced".
I lived in Germany for a while which has those speeding cameras peppered all over the place. There was this one descent into a town in the black forest that had one right at the base set at 80kph. If you had the stones to break hard enough right afterwards (there was an intersection shortly afterwards - the reason for the speed trap) you could get it to trip. You'd know because it's got this bright strobe which goes off to let the driver know he's been nailed.
I came home from my morning ride and found that my bike computer (a VDO C10 - wired, not wireless) had registered a max speed of exactly 369.00 kph (the C10 reads to 2 decimal places). Normally, I see a figure in the 40's or 50's.
I got to wondering about the cause, and thought that I might have ridden close to a strong AC magnetic field at mains frequency. Since the Australian mains frequency is 50 Hertz, this could have switched the fork-mounted pickup at either 50 or 100 times per second (depending on whether both half-cycles did the switching, or only one - an AC electromagnet reverses polarity with each half-cycle). Given that the computer is configured for a wheel circumference of 2050 mm, that gives me a switching frequency of 50 Hertz exactly (to 3 decimal places) for 369 kph.
So I think I've found the cause, and it got switched only on alternate mains half-cycles. Alas it wasn't a sudden, dramatic increase in my fitness. Still, it's nice to know the C10 is capable of registering pulses at that speed.
John
The fastest I've been able to get my Polar up to is 121 mph. (Probably the same time I managed 256 bpm).
I got a similar problem by passing through an alarm gate in a shop. But my bike computer only reaches 99 km/h. I have to train me more to reach you 369 km/h...
"John Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I came home from my morning ride and found that my bike computer (a VDO C10 - wired, not wireless) had registered a max speed of exactly 369.00 kph (the C10 reads to 2 decimal places). Normally, I see a figure in the 40's or 50's.
I got to wondering about the cause, and thought that I might have ridden close to a strong AC magnetic field at mains frequency. Since the Australian mains frequency is 50 Hertz, this could have switched the fork-mounted pickup at either 50 or 100 times per second (depending on whether both half-cycles did the switching, or only one - an AC electromagnet reverses polarity with each half-cycle). Given that the computer is configured for a wheel circumference of 2050 mm, that gives me a switching frequency of 50 Hertz exactly (to 3 decimal places) for 369 kph.
So I think I've found the cause, and it got switched only on alternate mains half-cycles. Alas it wasn't a sudden, dramatic increase in my fitness. Still, it's nice to know the C10 is capable of registering pulses at that speed.
I got to wondering about the cause, and thought that I might have ridden close to a strong AC magnetic field at mains frequency. Since the Australian mains frequency is 50 Hertz, this could have switched the fork-mounted pickup at either 50 or 100 times per second (depending on whether both half-cycles did the switching, or only one - an AC electromagnet reverses polarity with each half-cycle). Given that the computer is configured for a wheel circumference of 2050 mm, that gives me a switching frequency of 50 Hertz exactly (to 3 decimal places) for 369 kph.
I also have a VDO computer (wireless) and yesterday I managed to ride 565.65 km/h. Can you explain this too? The wheel circumference is 2095 mm.
I also have a VDO computer (wireless) and yesterday I managed to ride 565.65 km/h. Can you explain this too? The wheel circumference is 2095 mm.
That corresponds to a switching frequency (at the wheel pickup) of exactly 75 Hertz: 565.65 / 3600 (to km / second), * 1000 (to metres / second), / 2.095 (to wheel rotations per second). That's too neat to be plausible as just coincidence. But what "signal" do you have in your area that might be 75 Hz?
I also have a VDO computer (wireless) and yesterday I managed to ride 565.65 km/h. Can you explain this too? The wheel circumference is 2095 mm.
That corresponds to a switching frequency (at the wheel pickup) of exactly 75 Hertz: 565.65 / 3600 (to km / second), * 1000 (to metres / second), / 2.095 (to wheel rotations per second). That's too neat to be plausible as just coincidence. But what "signal" do you have in your area that might be 75 Hz?
Beats me. Electricity is 50 Hz here as well, and I didn't really pay attention to my surroundings when it occured, so I don't know what might've triggered it. Perhaps it was my EKG?
Beats me. Electricity is 50 Hz here as well, and I didn't really pay attention to my surroundings when it occured, so I don't know what might've triggered it. Perhaps it was my EKG?
I had a vague recollection that 75 Hz might be used in some rail systems. Google shows that the Netherlands uses 75 Hz for railways signalling. Perhaps it's used elsewhere in Europe too.
I had a vague recollection that 75 Hz might be used in some rail systems. Google shows that the Netherlands uses 75 Hz for railways signalling. Perhaps it's used elsewhere in Europe too.
That should be it then. My route went alongside and passed a railway several times.
That should be it then. My route went alongside and passed a railway several times.
We really must keep quiet about all this now. Otherwise the Americans, led by Carl Fogel himself, will take the competitive edge in the next TDF by closely tracking all available power lines and railway easements.
