e-Bike computer?

[morphix]

Ok a little off-the-wall this one.. I spotted this neat project to launch a fully operational credit-card sized computer called the Raspberry Pi for £16 by a UK-based group. I was thinking, if ever for some reason you wanted to install a computer on an e-bike, this surely must be it! It can run off 4xAA batteries and is capable of running several Linux distros.

Great to see British innovation is alive and well anyway.

 

[z0mb13e]

Ok a little off-the-wall this one.. I spotted this neat project to launch a fully operational credit-card sized computer called the Raspberry Pi for £16 by a UK-based group. I was thinking, if ever for some reason you wanted to install a computer on an e-bike, this surely must be it! It can run off 4xAA batteries and is capable of running several Linux distros.

Great to see British innovation is alive and well anyway.

I've been waiting patiently to get my hands on one of these (Was hoping to get my hands on one for xmas but they are currently testing the first test production run). Probably over kill for a bike computer though - I think you could acomplish most of anything you would need from a bike computer with an Arduino Uno!

 

[morphix]

I have a Nokia N810 which is better for bike because it has a built-in transflective screen and sat nav.. I'm waiting for a waterproof holder to arrive so I can mount it! But I will definitely buy one of these Raspberry PI's to play around with, maybe hook it up to a solar panel and rechargeable battery..

 

[yselmike]

I have a N810 sitting in a drawer somewhere how does it work on a bike? considering its sat-nav was not so hot.
dont get too geeky on me please.

 

[morphix]

I have a N810 sitting in a drawer somewhere how does it work on a bike? considering its sat-nav was not so hot.
dont get too geeky on me please.

You should get it out and mount it up! There's a waterproof GPS holder for a bicycle on eBay for around £8 delivered..it just clamps to the handbar. I'm still waiting for mine so will do some pics and a review when its here so you know the size is ok, but looks fine from the description.

Once it's mounted up you can use the GPS and also use the USB port (with an adapter) to mount up a camera or anything. I'm planning to use mine as an electric rear review mirror with a tiny camera.

I've seen mixed reports of the GPS but I think a lot of n810 owners don't fully understand how to use the GPS. You have to leave it for a few minutes when you first start it so it can track and lock onto the satellites its a little slower than some GPS devices at first.. once its locked on its fine and works reliably on my bike.. it does use up a lot of battery power and you can only use it for maybe an hour so having spare batteries would be handy but they're only cheap anyway.

 

[yselmike]

cheers for that i will see if i can find a mount.

 

[morphix]

cheers for that i will see if i can find a mount.

Here is the one I bought:

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

Still waiting for it to arrive so can't say if it's any good yet but I will let you know if you want to wait a day or two.

UPDATE: Within 10 mins of posting this, the thing arrived (from Guernsey)! I can confirm it's EXACTLY the right size for the n810 (more or less the same size as the n810 itself)..lovely snug fit so it won't jiggle about when riding (hopefully). It's even possible to use a USB lead with it with the rear stand opened out just a little bit. Nice clear unobstructed full view of the screen.

Looks the business. I will do some pics of it mounted up later.

 

[10mph]

Ok a little off-the-wall this one.. I spotted this neat project to launch a fully operational credit-card sized computer called the Raspberry Pi for £16 by a UK-based group. I was thinking, if ever for some reason you wanted to install a computer on an e-bike, this surely must be it! It can run off 4xAA batteries and is capable of running several Linux distros.

There are 6 Raspberry-Pis in a charity auction on ebay raspberry pi | eBay
Such is the eagerness one has been bid up from £20 to £1900!

 

[yselmike]

iBike Powerhouse to be unveiled at CES 2012, a cycling computer to shed your holiday excess -- Engadget

This looks promising though my N810 is for free so to speak,how is that waterproof case holding up with the rain and wind lately?