Bicycle computer maker Velocomp launches iPhone telemetry solution

Florida-based sports tech company Velocomp on Tuesday launched an iOS telemetry solution for cyclists called iBike Dash Cycling Computer. The solution is, in effect, a software version of the company's dedicated bike computers called iBike Power.

It consists of a bicycle mount for an iPhone or iPod Touch, a wireless speed sensor, and an associated software application that gauges speed, heartrate, windspeed, trip distance and time, elevation, and power, and includes programmable workouts, and turn-by-turn navigation.

iBike works with ANT+ wireless sensors, a proprietary low-power wireless technology that operates in the unlicensed 2.4GHz ISM band. This technology is used by a number of comanies such as Adidas, Garmin, and Timex, so there are a number of compatible sensors that can be added to iBike, like heartrate, cadence, and power sensors.

Using these different sensors and the iBike app, users can build a rather powerful bike computer. Velocomp today says the app has 50 workouts based upon user power and heart rate, and includes a calendar feature that keeps track of weekly statistics such as caloric expenditure, miles traveled, and average speed.

The advantage of this iPhone solution is that it is vastly cheaper than the company's standalone product. The standalone units range from $239 all the way up to $759, but the iOS ones cost $199 and $329, depending upon the accessories the user picks.

What's more interesting, though, is that the iOS app is free, and if you feel like building your own bike mount, you can hook it up to any ANT+ compatible sensors, and fashion something even cheaper.