some techy nerdout info:
each bike has a Bela Mini inside, running a custom Pd patch.
i mounted 6 magnets on the bike's axis, with a magnetic sensor to determine speed.
funny thing is: there already was a magnet mounted in there for the Speedometer, but having only one magnet per revolution was way too low of a resolution, since it takes two full revolutions to even calculate speed. good enough for exercise maybe, but not for scratching.
mapping pedal speed to playback speed is rather trivial.
difficulties were determining when the pedaling has stopped and what slow-down-to-stop curve felt natural, and determining pedaling direction.
the first was a matter of trial and error - did a lot of pedaling during the heatwave. hah.
the second was another challenge alltogether. in the end, i mounted two sensors right next to one another along the magnet's travel- that allowed me to check which one fires first, and therefore in which direction you're pedaling.
seems simple enough now..
i actually think if you were to write some custom music files for them, you could do great shows with them 🙂
now.. well, it's a concept, haha.
it does tie in with his other work, though. in his official will, there's a clause that when he dies, there has to be a Beer Bike (you know those horrible party bikes with a beer bar inside them?) riding around Antwerp playing only the chicken dance in a loop.
he'll be screwing over his mates from beyond the grave, basically. artists. 🙂
