i decided to start with the speedometer. after a little reading, i realized i could probably retrofit a common bicycle speedometer to suit my needs. i found a relatively simple one, the cateye velo 5, on sale at the bicycle sport shop on south lamar. first i strapped the unit onto the inside edge of one of the trucks

i then drilled a hole into one of the wheels, and planted the magnet the sensor uses right in there. after that, i measured the distance the sensor needed and mounted it as well

the finished unit did in fact pick up on the speed of the wheel, although it is calibrated for a bicycle wheel, a good bit larger than the 33cm (at best) i was working with on a skateboard wheel. no matter, the computer display wouldn't be used in the final product, it was a temporary installation to make sure the sensor was functional.

vile beast! i was tricked! actually, i probably should have looked more closely. what i thought i was buying was some sort of level with a digital readout, as pictured above. and it came with a stud finder! great! what i didn't realize was that although it was in fact a level with a digital readout, the display was for the stud finder. the level was all-too analog. this, along with sandy's subsequent assertion that levels were designed to be used in static, motion free settings, was to become the first of a few setbacks