Looking for a certain type of sensor...

liudr:

retrolefty:
A simpler method might be to mount a small magnet on the wheel and have a fixed hall-effect switch sense the magnetic field as it passes by.

Lefty

The circuit will rotate with the hall effect sensor switch and a magnet (small and strong, what are they called?)

the small magnects are called neodymiun, are very strong and with a hall effect sensor, its enough for your project