Bicycle Computer #9 -Mounting the Hardware on the Bike

This is the 9th in a series of articles demonstrating how someone with modest .NET programming capabilities can now write applications for embedded devices using the .NET Micro Framework and Visual Studio.  To jump to the initial article, click here. The full project source code can be found on www.netmfbikecomputer.codeplex.com.  Remember, you can help determine what we cover in the series with your questions and suggestions.

We are deep into the finishing up of Version 4.1 due to launch in about a week.  So, to lighten my load this week, I am going to focus not on code but on the process of getting the computer on the bike which is progressing.  Here are some pictures.  Jim has been helping with the mounting brackets for the sensors and the computer itself.  Here is what it looks like now.

We mounted some aluminum brackets with hose clamps lined with rubber to protect the handle bars.

The lower plate of the plastic enclosure is then screwed on.

Then the dev board (the GHI Cobra), and the sensor board, and the Wi-Fi radio are mounted onto that base. The top of the enclose with the display mounted is also attached to the processor board.

All buttoned up and ready to run.  My old bike computer (below and a little to the right) is clearly a lot smaller but this is still a prototype and can get much smaller (within the limits of the display of course).

And we are working on getting the switch sensors mounted.  The plan calls for mounts to tubes and pedals using zip ties.  There are still some placement challenges because these magnets are so large.  

We lucked out and the reflector that I use on the wheels has a center that we could drill out to fit the magnet.

That’s all for now.  In the coming weeks, I see articles on saving the ride data off to the SD card, writing an application to run (a long time) on batteries, and setting the date and time on the device when I start it up from the network at my house.  Anything else you want to hear about?