Got me a cheap counter/7 seg display kit from Maplin, uses a switch to count with an onboard up/down selection, I ordered a blue 7 seg display to replace the green one that comes with the kit, the circuit alone won't count gear changes, going to have a play around with long reach microswitches and an additional circuit for switching, I did think about putting a disk onto the gear shaft, it is possible but a lot of faffing about, will see what I can come up with :-)