Timing chips on bicycles

daymobrew

I took some photos of the Ras Mumhan as it passed my in-law's house near Beaufort, a few miles east of Killorglin.

When I examined the photos I saw that most/all of the bikes had a small red thing attached to their forks, generally beside speedometer detectors.

Are these timing chips?

tomasrojo

I misread this thread title as "Timing Chimps on Bicycles". I thought it sounded a delightful scientific experiment.

Lemag

daymobrew wrote: »

I took some photos of the Ras Mumhan as it passed my in-law's house near Beaufort, a few miles east of Killorglin.

When I examined the photos I saw that most/all of the bikes had a small red thing attached to their forks, generally beside speedometer detectors.

Are these timing chips?

You could post one of those photos here.

mloc123

They usually stick them on the chainstays?

jimbobaloobob

Yes OP these are the timing chips. Each one has a number corresponding to the number displayed on the riders back and bike.
On crossing the finish line it activates the timing for each individual

molequidgallus

Deadly, didn't know such a gizmo existed. Do you know if they've got a GPS kind of thing, incase your bike gets stolen?? I've got a nice new bike ordered en-route from germany & will go f#~kin ape s#1t if it disappears:mad: Any such anti theft/ locator things on the market?

jimbobaloobob

Theres usually no GPS on them as they are just used for positioning in the peleton

Kona i think put markers in their frames that can be tracked google that and let me know what you find

dave2pvd

mloc123 wrote: »

They usually stick them on the chainstays?

Low down on the front forks is the best spot.

daymobrew

dave2pvd wrote: »

Low down on the front forks is the best spot.

That is exactly what they look like.
I will try to remember to post photos later.

daymobrew

http://img848.imageshack.us/g/img0732uf.jpg/

When you zoom in on an image you can see the timing chips on the forks.

C3PO

Funny .... but us "backward" mountain bike lot use timing chips for just about all of our open races! It means that shortly after each race end every competitor gets accurate lap times and position which for me really enhances the experience! Usually wear them around our ankles though!!

jimbobaloobob

I think it's harder to have the volume of timing chips for road racing especially if there are races in each province each week


I know from working on many large races that the cost of using them aren't that cheap

C3PO

jimbobaloobob wrote: »

I know from working on many large races that the cost of using them aren't that cheap

Yep ... about €600 per race I understand! Probably explains why mtb entries cost €20 as opposed to the usual €10 for road races!

blorg

Time just isn't relevant in road racing outside stage races, I think this (and the expense) limits their application in amateur racing here. Most open races will use a camera system which is cheaper and more than sufficient when you only have to pick out the top 6-10 riders over the line in the right order.

Lemag

You having a rainy day or something over there in that part of the world, blorg? As awesome as boards may be surely the Taj Mahal et al would at least be on a par? ;-)

dave2pvd

They're used for RRs and crits over here most of the time.

The chip (an RFID tag) can be rented for $10, or purchased for ~$120.

Their purpose is for timing and scoring. They can only be a backup system, however. The finish line camera is always #1.

Cycling Ireland ought to buy several timing chip race kits then rent them to race organizers. It makes for a much faster/simpler scoring job. Probably too late for that now, as someone else has already thought of it and has the market cornered.

Remember that organizers may neglect to review the camera; they may overly depend on the chips. So, its always a good idea to fasten the chip as low as possible on the forks, so that it is not picked 'late' up by the sensor loop. 10cm above the axle may have you crossing the line 6cm after the guy who you just beat by a tyre width.

blorg

Lemag wrote: »

You having a rainy day or something over there in that part of the world, blorg? As awesome as boards may be surely the Taj Mahal et al would at least be on a par? ;-)

I have been sick the last two weeks! Started with sunstroke after riding 130km in 40C+ on a road that wasn't. Week in bed, visit to hospital. Got back on the bike too soon a week ago for the 200km to get over the border and nearly died, I think quite literally... it was 40C+ again, like every day, the road had disappeared entirely this time and I was pushing my bike through sand to get to a temporary bridge when my heart just completely went manic, up and down, very fast (195) but very weak pulse. Net result: another week in bed over the border in Nepal. Feeling a bit better and hope to be back on the bike in a few days and up the Himalayas where it is cooler. What could go wrong. I saw the Taj, 'tis nice.

Lemag

Jebus/Vishnu! Hope you recover your strength soon. In the mean time, India/Napal's loss is boards gain.