So here's my new problem. In addition to the bike, I've got a rowing machine that I like a lot. I've thought about figuring out how to hook it up to the system I've got here, but with the lengths of the tiny wires and such, I've decided it would be easier just to have an entirely different Arduino setup.

In the meantime, what I'd like to do is set up the bike to be able to both a) pause the exercise entirely including the video ("phone call" mode), and b) pause the exercise, but keep the video going ("other exercise" mode).

This sort of goes against my original thoughts on the project: it should incentivize you to keep going at all times, and at least be annoying enough if you do need a break. However, in the case of the rowing machine, it's a brutal 15+ minute workout with nothing but the sound of my fan to keep me company. I'd like to have the video playing, but have the ability to resume on the bike whenever I'm done on the rowing machine.

So my idea was to add another sensor. Currently, if I leave the wheel over the sensor for 10 seconds, it goes into "phone call" mode, and pauses everything until I start biking again. This is what I've been doing to pause for calisthenics, rowing machine, etc. The second sensor would behave similarly, except if I left it over the second sensor, I would go into "other exercise" mode, and keep the video playing.

Here's where things went downhill.

I tried putting together a circuit that would effectively provide a signal for both the sensors, and another signal that would trigger the controller to say "Hey, look, I've got either signal, I should check to see which one." Apparently, I'm not that great at electronics. I wasn't able to get this working. And in addition, I:

• Destroyed three LEDs
• Fused my last spare magnetic sensor such that it always completes a circuit.

After fiddling for two hours, then spending 45 minutes getting it back to a working state, I went back and read some documentation, and found that an extra port on the Arduino controller actually takes care of this, such that I wouldn't have to provide the "Hey, look..." circuitry myself.

So, it's possible. A little bit more coding, and more spare parts, and I should be able to continue watching while rowing.

Now I just have to wait for everybody's inventories to restock from the Christmas onslaught.