Since Apple started allowing other programers to create software for the iPhone, applications have been created for everything. To the extent that Apple’s “There’s an app for that” campaign is fairly literal. Wired’s Gadget Lab highlighted five applications that can replace bicycle hardware. They are the CycleMeter, Brake Light, Back Light, Gear Calculator and Speed (we wrote about the Gear Calculator in THIS post earlier).
We found this article via Cyclelicious.
Here’s a recap of the apps…
CycleMeter: This app works like a cycle computer, giving you your speed, distance, average speed and trip time. It works on the iPhone and the non-GPS iTouch. For this app to work you have to attach a small plastic tab on a spoke, and run your earbud microphone down the frame. The mic will listen the tapping sounds of the plastic tab and do the calculations just like a magnetic cycle computer would.
Brake Light: Brake Light turns your iPhone or iTouch into a brake light. Hence the name. An accelerometer knows when you are slowing and will flash red as you stop. I have checked out the creator’s site via iTunes and wasn’t able to get much info from it. If you test this app out let me know.
Back Light: The full name for this app is Bicycle Back Safety Flashlight. It’s another light app, but this one stays on the whole time you ride. It also has an option for writing messages to the people following you. The suggestions is the word “STOP”, but you’re free to express yourself. This app is potentially a real battery drainer, but if you forget your back light and want to be safe, just down load a new light.
Gear Calculator: Check out our earlier review of the Gear Calculator app. The application works out gear ratios for you, based on crank lengths, wheel sizes and cog/sprocket sizes. It’ll even tell you what ratio you should ride to maximize tire wear based on the pattern of skid patches on the tires themselves.
Speed: Speed also is a speedometer app. This one however, uses the iPhone’s GPS to calculate speed as opposed to the plastic spoke tab and ear bud system. It has a good looking interface and works in both kilometers and miles per hour.
