Cheap Timer

I've been looking around for a while for a cheap and wireless timing system for practice and taking to slalom days to just get some idea of the times i might be running with different boards etc. For a more informal sessions setting up the full timing system with the tape switches etc seems alot of work and so normally no-one wants to bother or volunteer to not skate and man the timer.

So.. I was thinking about the Equine timing system which is like a wired timing system with wireless connection and IR triggers (look at slalomskateboarder.com timing forum for links to this and other systems) but it is expensive ($300+) and still a hastle to set up and run.

So I got onto motor racing laptimers which some skaters have used successfully. They are basically a stopwatch which is triggered on and then off everytime it passes an IR beacon. For laptiming you only use one beacon but for straight line racing like slalom or downhill you just need 2 beacons one to start the timer and one to stop it. There are a few of these for semi pro motor racing priced again around $200-$300 but thanks to Chinese manufacturing genius (genius for copying anyway). I found one for about $65US- shipped with an extra beacon (extra beacon was $10!)

Firstly the whole system is tiny with the beacons being slightly bigger than match boxes while the timer is super light and very easy to velcro to a board. I think i'll velcro the beacons to the side of cones to stop them getting stepped on.

I have yet to use it in anger but testing it with my 4 year old running around the local bike track it seems to trigger over a least several metres. Given it's intended use outdoors at a motortrack I can't see it havig too many problems. The manufacturer also says that the timer and beams are compatable with the standard pro IR beacon frequencies (940Nm I think)**EDIT - word from slalomer in US is that it is not cross compatible with other systems***. So at a session different riders could have different brand timers all triggered off the same beacons.

Here is the link to the manufacturer site but I got mine through an US ebay listing http://www.sumomoto.com/ezlap_lap_timer.htm

I'll bring it to the next church session to give it a proper test.

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Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on March 14, 2011 at 9:16

Update

I've tried the timer at my local short slalom spot and in short WTF are you doing running slalom without a timer! With a timer slalom makes sense! I mean you do one run get a time of 10.52 seconds and what is the first thing you think? I want to run below 10 secs.. and so on. I did more runs and got faster each run. Normally I'm just walkin up and running down and it all gets old pretty quick.

Anyhow while I suspect this timer is not quite good enough for an official race, all my runs were within .5 of a sec with the variation likely due to my skating rather than the timer. The small timer unit velcroed to the bottom of my board just in front of my rear trucks so I could switch it to another board in seconds. I do worry about all the dust and crap that ended up coating the timer after a few runs and I might look into wrapping it in plastic or something.

Set up is quick but I did need to take my environment into account to avoid false triggers, I was set up in full daylight in an industrial estate with lots of reflective windows so considering this it should not prove any problems in a more open environment. The timer has a minimum seven second retrigger limit (not adjustable) which is good for avoiding false triggers but means you need at least 25-30 cones in a tight course.

The timer gives lap times and total time so with a third beacon I can see it being useful at longer courses like pump station for getting split times to check the slower top section vs the faster bottom section. So far so good.

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by nathan on March 14, 2011 at 9:41

Looks good Marek, especially for 75 bucks! could make solo slalom more inviting then it currently is

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by PC on March 16, 2011 at 9:33

Nice little gizmo mate. Practice with a timer is the way to get quicker.

Hope to be out for a slalom sesh again soon myself.

Whats the website where you purchased it from ?

Is there a reason you have the timer infront of your rear truck, copping dust etc ?

would it be better behind your front truck, as your front wheels start & stop a regular timing switch setup.

Have you thought of a small plastic housing attached to your deck for the timer to slip into, maybe a small

food container or similar ? Just some thoughts.

Did you know the "slalom season" has started & there are no races planned yet ?

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on March 16, 2011 at 13:11

Cheers fellas it seems like a good thing, I recon it would have uses in downhill too.

PC I wanted to put it behind the rear truck in case the velcro failed and I ran it over but there is no room there on my boards. Also at the back there is less chance of the timer triggering before you take off and pass the first beacon, which was a bit of a problem until I got the hang of positioning the beacons. I thought of a housing but you have to press the reset button quite a bit so I would still need access that before and after runs. I thought of shrink wrap plastic to protect it a bit, I think you can but this somewhere?

Yeah we need to keep slalom going with more regular days and races. I think there is the interest out there. Slalom will only die if we don't feed it. As an easy to put on race I recon bringing back an outlaw at Allawah could be a start.

ASRA AdminPermalink Reply by bernie on March 16, 2011 at 13:37

Marek.

Nice timer. Really changes your attitude to practice when you can measure your performance, and definitely makes it more interesting.

Will it fit on the top of the deck just in front of your foot stop?

On the slalom racing thing....

Same thing is happening down here. Seems to be good interest but few interested in organising events.

Trying to get something for 15th May.

Scoresby or Monash Slalom, Springvale Ditch, and possibly Melton.

Once I get concensus with ramp and cone wranglers will let you all know.

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by sean meaney on March 16, 2011 at 13:43

hey bernie, i am looking to run boardercross/slalom cross in late july early august.

could you link me to where you got the timer marek, i have been looking at something for the smaller events in melb that doesnt cost a fortune and i can run over a 1km+ distance

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on March 16, 2011 at 14:10

This is the link to the manufacturer, http://www.sumomoto.com/ezlap_lap_timer.htm

but just search Ebay (include US Ebay) for "Lap Timers" (not Lap Dancers as that will get you another kind of good time). Keep looking as some auctions have very cheap shipping and sometimes it's alot dearer. They do sometime list the kits (one timer one beacon) in lots of 5 or 10 which might make it cheaper if you have a few people who want one.

If your running an event I recon you would need 2 or 3 timers to cycle between riders, still not too expensive at $35US per timer, I'm thinking of getting another just for a spare!

Bernie, it is very small and would easily fit on the nose of the board (and would be good to look down and instantly get you time) but I know eventually I will crash, flip the board and while I may be in hospital, at least my timer will be safe down there tucked in next to the truck.

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on April 20, 2011 at 11:34

BTW I ran my timer at the latest Allawah session and it worked great (once I got the Beacons on the correct side, thanks Bozac!) It was consistently between 0.3 and 0.5 of a sec faster than the Tag Heuer timer with the beacons basically slightly inside the official beams. The faster time on my system was likely due to the slightly shorter distance between my beams (about 30cm or so). I was worried that my beams might interfere with the official beams but it was fine.

It was good to be jumping straight off my board and checking my time while the last run was fresh in my mind and I could think about where i went well and where I could improve while walking back up the hill. Also I got to time all my runs which included about 5 or 6 before the official timer was set up. I might see if I can get hold of another beacon and do sector timing next time I run the long course at pumpstation.

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Dave M on July 19, 2011 at 19:07

Rosco bought some of these also and they work realy well.

purchased a set myself after trying his out.

five timers for $180. was a bargain i think.

Would recomend them.

Would be good for small groups at pump station or ditch sessions as it so simple to set up.

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on July 20, 2011 at 16:56

Glad to hear that the timers are working well. I really should be getting a commission from that manufacturer, I think slalomers all around the world are buying them.

For anyone else who is interested I am going to order another set for myself (just as a spare and to lend out on slalom days). So if anyone else wants one we can share postage costs. Let me know.

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Marek on November 8, 2011 at 22:49

These are still available but the mark 2 (which spookily now recommends them for use with skateboards!) has a messy cord to separate the timer and the receiver. The simpler mark 1 version is apparently still available if you ask for it. More discussion here http://www.slalomskateboarder.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=7849

Premium MemberPermalink Reply by Fitz on March 1, 2012 at 16:29

I just got one on ebay with a 2nd transmitter for US$59.99 shipped for free.

It will take quite a while to ship from China but can't complain with a price like that!

Cheap Timer

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