Hi,
I'm considering getting an iBike Pro. I've read quite a bit about the product but I still have a few questions.
1. It sounds like a user would download ride data to software, and the software would perform some functions to possibly correct, smooth or otherwise positively change the power data. Is this correct? If so, is the "corrected" data able to be output to a csv file?
2. What are the possible sampling intervals? Is there a 2 second interval (I would like to combine with my HRM, which is 2s interval).
3. I would like to keep the setup basic, I don't think I would need cadence and don't need HR. Wired mount would be best. However, I've read a few things about battery life, cold weather, and optional battery mount. Can someone dumb it down for me and outline the best way to maximize battery life (hopefully doesn't entail a $270 wireless mount).
thanks
What iBike setup would I need?
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
1. Yes, the iBike Pro will download to the software where you can analyze your ride, looking at all your stats and keep track of them for a long term training benefit. The files are saved as a csv file. The iBike software might make a few minor changes to the power data, but with the new generation, the changes will be very minimal.
2. There is 1 second and 5 second sampling intervals. As for importing a HR that has 2 second sampling, you would have to play with the values in excel and then copy and paste to the csv file the iBike creates. If you want heart rate on the iBike and in the power file automatically, you need the wireless mount.
3. The wired speed mount is all you need for the iBike to work. However, if you are coating down a hill and get into an aero tuck, watts will be displayed (you are going faster than your normal riding position while coasting so it thinks you must be pedaling). You can do a wired speed and cadence mount and that will force the watts to zero whenever you are coasting. Because of the nature of CR2032 batteries, they don't last long when the temperature goes below 40 degrees F. They will come back to life in the warmer weather, so don't throw them away. You can buy in bulk and get a great deal on batteries, and there is an optional iMount which will greatly improve battery life, but it requires soldering wires and assembling the mount afterwards.
2. There is 1 second and 5 second sampling intervals. As for importing a HR that has 2 second sampling, you would have to play with the values in excel and then copy and paste to the csv file the iBike creates. If you want heart rate on the iBike and in the power file automatically, you need the wireless mount.
3. The wired speed mount is all you need for the iBike to work. However, if you are coating down a hill and get into an aero tuck, watts will be displayed (you are going faster than your normal riding position while coasting so it thinks you must be pedaling). You can do a wired speed and cadence mount and that will force the watts to zero whenever you are coasting. Because of the nature of CR2032 batteries, they don't last long when the temperature goes below 40 degrees F. They will come back to life in the warmer weather, so don't throw them away. You can buy in bulk and get a great deal on batteries, and there is an optional iMount which will greatly improve battery life, but it requires soldering wires and assembling the mount afterwards.
Boyd Johnson
http://www.boydcycling.com - high performance carbon wheels and accessories
http://www.boydcycling.com - high performance carbon wheels and accessories
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
Thanks Boyd.
Point taken on the downhill, thanks.
As for sampling, it's a tricky one. Right now I'm using a Suunto HRM. It's a great hrm I think, but I do tricks with it to make it work for me. I'm doing indoor workouts on a Kurt Kinetic Pro Trainer, which has a calibrated coorelation between speed and power. So what I do is convert my Suunto (I also have a Suunto bike pod) data to a Polar HRM file (which is just a text file). I then put the speed into spreadsheet, calculate the power, and then drop the power back into the Polar file. So with the iBike, perhaps I would average every 2seconds and the put that into the Polar file instead.
Point taken on the downhill, thanks.
As for sampling, it's a tricky one. Right now I'm using a Suunto HRM. It's a great hrm I think, but I do tricks with it to make it work for me. I'm doing indoor workouts on a Kurt Kinetic Pro Trainer, which has a calibrated coorelation between speed and power. So what I do is convert my Suunto (I also have a Suunto bike pod) data to a Polar HRM file (which is just a text file). I then put the speed into spreadsheet, calculate the power, and then drop the power back into the Polar file. So with the iBike, perhaps I would average every 2seconds and the put that into the Polar file instead.
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
Shmish:
Like yourself, I would track my performance on an Excel spreadsheet and add graphs etc to get an idea of performance including speed, HR, cadence and climbing. My tracking though was end of ride totals and averages - daily, weekly.
When I came across the iBike, I bought the standard wired model and was impressed at how easy the tracking became plus the additional information. Within 3 weeks I was hooked and realised that I needed wireless. It not only makes the IBike more effective, it provides more detail of your performance (watts, wind, HR, altitude, slope, speed and cadence) all at one click. It also downloaded into WKO+ (which has a 14 day free trial), and the performance tracking information is excellent. Others are using the free SporTrack with much success.
I highly recommend the wireless, with cadence and HR. You can use it on your trainer without missing a beat. I am able to use mine without the trainer firmware as I move indoors in the cold. Battery use is perhaps 5-6 units since May.
hope this helps,
Alan
Like yourself, I would track my performance on an Excel spreadsheet and add graphs etc to get an idea of performance including speed, HR, cadence and climbing. My tracking though was end of ride totals and averages - daily, weekly.
When I came across the iBike, I bought the standard wired model and was impressed at how easy the tracking became plus the additional information. Within 3 weeks I was hooked and realised that I needed wireless. It not only makes the IBike more effective, it provides more detail of your performance (watts, wind, HR, altitude, slope, speed and cadence) all at one click. It also downloaded into WKO+ (which has a 14 day free trial), and the performance tracking information is excellent. Others are using the free SporTrack with much success.
I highly recommend the wireless, with cadence and HR. You can use it on your trainer without missing a beat. I am able to use mine without the trainer firmware as I move indoors in the cold. Battery use is perhaps 5-6 units since May.
hope this helps,
Alan
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
A couple of comments... I have a wired unit, and I think it is fine. When coasting downhill the watts will be off but that doesn't seem like a big deal. I have no desire for cadence or heartrate.
The wired unit goes to the front wheel though, so you have to splice in some extra wire to reach the rear wheel. I guess I'll also need to get one of those mounts that allows for hooking up an external battery so I can get decent life in the winter. Note that the iBike will not display watts on the trainer unless you pay for a an upgrade which does the Kurt power vs speed calculation.
The wired unit goes to the front wheel though, so you have to splice in some extra wire to reach the rear wheel. I guess I'll also need to get one of those mounts that allows for hooking up an external battery so I can get decent life in the winter. Note that the iBike will not display watts on the trainer unless you pay for a an upgrade which does the Kurt power vs speed calculation.
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
Are you saying it won't display any watts? I wonder if that is a wireless vs wireled advantage?rruff wrote:Note that the iBike will not display watts on the trainer unless you pay for a an upgrade which does the Kurt power vs speed calculation.
I have no problem with my iBike on my Kurt trainer and I don't use the Trainer firmware. It displays watts, cadence, HR, speed, altitude and wind (when the fan is on).
I downloaded the Kurt formula into an Excel sheet, it calculates the average watts from my avg speed. Then I adjuct the ride results in IBike2 to hit the same average.
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
I use the Kurt computer for monitoring power on the trainer. Another option is to translate your proposed power-based training session into speed and do your workout by speed. For example, instead of doing 2x20min intervals at 180-190W, you can instead plan for 2x20min at 27.8-28.5 km/h (or whatever the calculated speed is). Like I said, I use the Kurt computer for ease of viewing my power. However, I have a wireless bike pod (Suunto hrm) on the rear wheel that also measures speed. I download the speed data and quickly convert it to power and everything goes into wko+
I'm currently not too hung up on wireless other than my concern for battery life.
I'm currently not too hung up on wireless other than my concern for battery life.
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
Of course you can display watts if you have positive wind or tilt, but they won't be accurate. You can use the Kurt formula in Excel as you mentioned, but the only data that is necessary is speed.alback wrote:Are you saying it won't display any watts?
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
With the ibike 'indoor trainer' upgrade, which, I don't have yet, and if I did a sprint(w/upgrade), would maximum amount of watts be according to the maximum speed(maximum speed=maximum watts), or could the ibike show a proportionately high amount of watts due to rate of acceleration(i.e. 0mph-30mph in 5-10 secs.)? In other words, if the highest amount of watts I generate are during acceleration and NOT when I acveive the highest wheel speed, would the Ibike show those watts? Again, does the Ibike, in trainer mode, calculate watts just based on wheel speed? Thanks.
"The vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent."~Dr. Phil on the Tonight Show. John Nash(A beautiful mind) remarried, went back to work, etc. Flying Scottsman was Bipolar(like schizophrenia). myspace.com/ask_about_schizophrenia
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
That's a good question! I think the answer lies in the fact that inertia is much less on the trainer. On the road you have to accelerate all your body + bike weight, but on the trainer there is only a few pounds. If you have a trainer with a big flywheel, it might be significant enough to account for, but it is still going to be small. I think compared to the uncertainties in the power vs speed equation anyway, being a couple % off on 5 sec power isn't a big deal.
Re: What iBike setup would I need?
I have an 8 lb. flywheel, but does the indoor trainer mode on the Ibike measure watts by wheel speed or rate of acceleration?
"The vast majority of people with schizophrenia are not violent."~Dr. Phil on the Tonight Show. John Nash(A beautiful mind) remarried, went back to work, etc. Flying Scottsman was Bipolar(like schizophrenia). myspace.com/ask_about_schizophrenia