Company Comes Out with Speedometer for Inline Skaters

Product News > Electronic Speedometer

How Fast Are You?
Company comes out with electronic speedometer for inline skaters
Planet staff

A New York company has come out with a non-GPS gadget that it says "accurately" gauges speed and distance while inline skating.

Hammacher Schlemmer calls the $140 device the First Inline Skate Speedometer.

It consists of two parts: a wristwatch and an electronic wheel. You swap the wheel with one on your skates, assuming your skates have 76 or 80mm wheels. (The electronic wheels only come in those sizes.)

As you're skating, the wheel sends wireless data to the watch. Aside from speed and distance, the watch tells the time and how long you have been skating. It also includes a stop watch.

It's not clear what you do when the wheel wears out (or whether wheel wear affects accuracy). The company makes no mention of replacement wheels.

Two CR1632 (watch) batteries power the device.

Hammacher Schlemmer is a 158-year-old company that specializes in innovative and unusual products. It also sells a speedometer for skiers. The company had a big hit in 1930 when it came out with the first pop-up toaster.

(Posted on March 8, 2006)