AeroPod, PowerPod and Newton

Hi,

I wanted to share some of my recent experiences with PowerPod, which I hope will make it even better in the future. Overall I have really enjoyed using it and think it works well.

One of the key features for me was to be able to easily move a power meter between bikes, since I have 3 that get ridden regularly. In general, the GoPro style mount seems like a good idea, but I have the following feedback:

1. Not all GoPro mounts are the same. A K-edge works fine, but a Raceware mount does not fit, nor does a generic GoPro handlebar mount from a camera shop, because the slots are not deep enough for the square tab on the PowerPod. These mounts cost about 4GBP each, but I had to order the specific PowerPod TT combo mount, which cost me near 20 times as much with shipping and import duty. I now have to try and get a refund for the other mounts too.

2. The plastic surrounding the mounting hole is starting to wear away. If you do not align the holes exactly, which is quite difficult, the thread of the bolt eats away at the hole each time you remount. So the hole is getting bigger, and it is getting harder to consistently remount into the same position using the push up and rotate forward technique because there is more play from the large hole. Perhaps this part should be made from a more durable material? I'm going to start using a thin rod to align the holes before screwing in the bolt.

3. In general, I feel that sometime when I move the PowerPod over, and the alignment is just off, no recalibration occurs, but things don't seem right. The main effect I notice that on a long, quite shallow downhill, I cannot sustain the power I could on other occasions. Then, when I take it off and put it back on again, all is well. Is it possible that the PowerPod is slightly misaligned, yet does not recalibrate?

I hope these comments can be useful in improving PowerPod.

Thanks for your feedback!

1. We agree that not all GoPro mounts are the same, and we do not say that any GoPro mount will work with PP. Specifically, the mount needs to be made of machined aluminum, for sufficient stiffness, and there are very few mounts that meet this standard. Plastic mounts, such as the Raceware mount, won't work.

2. I've been using my PP for over 1 year now, without any sign of wear of the center hole. I DO look visually at the alignment of the hole and the mount, before inserting the bolt.

3. Please post a ride file for your comment #3. Remember, it takes 8 minutes at the beginning of each ride for PP to check/correct its internal calibration.

Hi John,

Here is a ride file where I see the behaviour mentioned in #3 above. They are the same route.

If you compare between miles 4 to 5.5 (average power 280 ish at a heart rate of 175 ish) with miles 12.5 to 13.5 (average power 200 ish heart rate of 177 ish), this is the behaviour I see all the time on this route (my commute).

Both efforts felt the same - pretty much threshold heart rate.

My bike profile was obtained with an out and back calibration ride.

Any feedback welcome

Tom