I am in the market for a lap timer and was wondering if anyone has any recommendations? I am a newbie at the track so not sure what to get? Thanks Jon
Get a transponder instead and grid up. Following faster guys will do more for you than any lap timer could.
For cheap thrills, velcro an old smartphone to your dash and run the Racechrono app. Its within .1 sec of the official transponder based lap times.
transponder is used by the race org. to score/time you, has no display. You must rent or buy one to race. A lap timer is for you to record your laps and has a display. Fancy ones also have data logging built in. The popular one nowdays is the AIM Solo2 at around $400
Theres a way to work around that. You just need to download the track in the app using wifi at home. I dont have a cell connection on the android im using racechrono with.
I got the aim solo 2. Love it. I like using the data to see where I am faster and slower on different laps.
If you're on a budget, something like this is probably the cheapest way to give you a *pretty close to accurate* lap time. Down side is that you have to have a beacon at the side of the track to send a signal to your timer. Not always convenient to do. I can't vouch for this specific model, but there's a whole bunch of variants like this one. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/190689146621
When I was getting started, I used a dedicated timer that relied on an infrared beacon. I had to place one at start finish or rely on the track organization to have one (they all used to). GPS has gotten cheaper and more prevalent and so there are good solutions like apps for your phone that are, "close enough". What's the purpose of a lap timer? To track your progress?
The easiest and cheapest way, in my opinion, is to buy a Garmin 500 series or higher bicycle computer. The Garmin computer can be found very cheap used because cyclists are getting rid of them. They will use GPS to track you and it gives lap times. You may want to research it but you can find used Garmin's for $50-$100 from the Facebook marketplace.
is there any other purpose? it's the very reason you hit the track , having the "luxury" of measuring your competence!
I see a lot of slower guys all by themselves in races though. Even more so then during a trackday. At a trackday you'll constantly be getting passed by people and can try to hang even if for only a corner or two. For myself a big lap timer in my face pushes me, at times a little too much. A lap timer is motivation, it's bragging rights, it's a way of seeing progress. AIM Solo btw is my suggestion.
Faster guys may be evaluating setup changes and their effect on lap times. There are places where accuracy is more or less important. If this is about a newer rider seeing if they're getting faster, the bicycle computer idea is an excellent one. Be aware though, that dumb stuff happens when you think you're being timed.
I missed this "Get a transponder instead and grid up. Following faster guys will do more for you than any lap timer could". I do and don't agree. When you are following a person, it's easy to get towed along and not have to think too much about entry and exit speed because the guy in front of you is doing it for you. But when you are out in no man's land, you have to negotiate the corners on your own experience. I think that having both will benefit you much better than just following a guy in front of you.
