Introduction: Add Cadence/Speed/Odometer to Your Spin Bike.

By www.aspencountertops.com

The problem with most spin bikes is that there is no cadence function and you have to calculate cadence by counting your pedal strokes (which I find irritating). The other problem is the bikes that do have this functionality cost about twice as much as a normal one. (I know, the CylceOps is nicer for other reasons also, I would love one).

Now you can have cadence, trip distance, average speed, total distance, etc. on your bike without having to pay the extra $800.

Step 1: Materials:

Cyclecomputer with cadence.- I used a cateye because it was inexpensive. You could use a wireless one and the whole process would be cleaner.

1/2" copper tubing 1.5 - 2" long

Black Electrical Tape

2 Zip ties

Clear silicone caulk

Step 2: Mount Computer to Handlebar

This is pretty straightforward... it is in the instructions to the computer.

Step 3: Mount the Speedometer Sensor

The speedo sensors are designed to wrap around the small tubing of a front fork, not the 1.5" square tubing on the spin bike. so I took the piece of 1/2" copper tubing and snipped a "v" shape at the bottom ( see the call-out)so I could slip it behind the existing screw in the chain guard.

Next I Put some black electrical tape on so that the copper wouldn't stand out... It would have been better to paint it

Next I mounted the speedo sensor to the copper tube like you would on a bike.

Then I slipped the notched tube in behind the allen screw and tightened it to the chain guard.

THE FIRST PHOTO IS SHOT FROM BELOW LOOKING UP. YOU CAN SEE HOW THE NOTCH IN THE TUBING IS TIGHTENED UNDER THE SCREW. THE SECOND PHOTO IS MORE OF A SIDE VIEW

Step 4: Run the Cadence Sensor and Attach

Ok. Now had to get the cadence sensor mounted. I am still not satified with this solution in terms of it being a clean install but it works. ( happy for any constructive ideas ).

Basically i coiled the cable down one of the forks like usual. But as you can see I just used electrical tape to hold it in place. (lame I know ) I was not sure that I wanted to drill into the chainguard and run it inside ( mostly because I did'nt want to cut the cable )

I mounteed the sensor/reed switch first so that I could get it in the right spot so the magnet on the crankarm would work.

I used clear silicone to glue it into position and put some black electrical tape on after it had dried.

Step 5: Attach Magnet to Crankarm

Due to the placement of the sensor, I had to mount the magnet further down the crankarm (nearer the pedal axle) than normal.

This caused the problem of the ziptie inching the magnet toward the bottom bracket and moving the magnet away from the sensor causing it not to pick up the cadence (note the crankarm gets smaller)...

I solved this with... You guessed it...some silicone caulk on the magnet and ziptie and a second zip tie below.