X Advantages

1. Clarity of readings

    The display for electronic counters is mounted at a comfortable distance on the handlebars or stem and read in the normal direction, In contrast that for the Jones is much smaller and mounted far away on the wheel axel at right-angles to the normal reading direction. Moreover, the digits change by a gradual transition and so are difficult or impossible to read at times even from close up. Number changes on electronic displays are only 5% of those on the Jones and this adds to the ease of monitoring.

2. Measurements at night

    Sigma Sport sells a computer night light for $8.99 that makes night readings easy.

3. Road safety

    The distraction of monitoring the display is so much less than that for the Jones that road safety is improved.

4. Instant zeroing

    Instant zeroing on electronic counters is a major advantage since it allows the direct readout of splits. There is no need as with the Jones to take readings at the start and end of a split and perform a subtraction. In laying out many splits repeated use is made of the same value for an individual split. In the case of the Jones a table of individually calculated splits has to be used. Simplification with the use of electronic counters makes data handling software unnecessary, reduces errors, and improves efficiency. Submissions for certification are easier to review. (For example, see XIII-1.)

5. Display does not revert to zero during a measurement (no wrap-around)

The usual version of the Jones has a five-place display which means that when 100,000 counts (about 6 miles) are reached the display returns to zero. Six-place versions are now available which reduce but do not eliminate this minor problem. However, electronic counters do not have this problem.

6. Cheapness

    Excellent cyclocomputers suitable for use as electronic counters have been on sale in recent years for as little as $11. Jones counters cost between $80 and $120.

7. Availability

   Dozens of cyclocomputers suitable for use as revolution counters are likely to be available from a multitude of sources indefinitely. The Jones is available from only one source and this is likely to dry up when the manufacture of component parts ceases.

8. Virtually no drag and noise

9. Can be easily reconverted to an ordinary bicycle computer

    Electronic counters can be easily reconverted for use as ordinary bicycle computers by leaving only one magnet active and changing the active wheel circumference in memory. Some computers will hold two circumferences in memory, so switching is very fast. An accurate circumference for ordinary bicycle use can be derived from the calibration rides done in course measurement. For example, if an average of 192.30 rev is found for a 400-meter calibration course, the wheel circumference is 400,000 / 192.30 = 2080.

10. No need to repeatedly mount and demount the counter