Static weight calibration of a Quarq S-Works Spider ANT+ power meter.
Wednesday, 27 December 2017
Specialized (S-Works) Quarq Power Meter Calibration
Static weight calibration of a Quarq S-Works Spider ANT+ power meter.
Monday, 18 December 2017
Power Meter vs Smart Trainer Power - Hello Cadence. Goodbye Accuracy? (ERG Mode)
Here's a brief run-down of a day of testing trying to get to the bottom of why I'm seeing some major differences in power numbers (well beyond the maximum combined margin of error) when putting my Garmin Vector 3 Power Meter pedals up against the Tacx Neo Smart Trainer in steady state ERG mode.
Data: https://analyze.dcrainmaker.com/#/pu...9-ffdaaa8cd18c
Test 10 - PowerTap P1 | Tacx Neo
Everything IDENTICAL to Test 9, except for the pedals. I skipped the 2nd 3minute block I used in Test 9 after disabling Cycling Dynamics (showed no change)
Data: https://analyze.dcrainmaker.com/#/pu...0-abf3212b6abe
The raw data files should be accessible on Ray's site for download / further review.
In summary and for clarification - I really want the Vector 3 to work, just as well as the P1, it not better. I won't rule out the Neo, my testing protocol, my wonkyness at higher RPM on L/R, maybe the moon phase.... I just can't explain or resolve what I'm seeing with the readings.
Grabbing at straws...
- Installation torque? I'm snugging them on just as tight as the P1.
- Interface between the pedal and the cranks? I've tried with and without the 2mm washers, no change on the Ultegra 6800 cranks.
- Cleats?.... I'm running 6deg float on V3, 0deg on the P1. I have the 0deg Exustar ones here in a box I'm yet to install.
- Sample rates.... well beyond what I've got access to see/review/know about. I'll leave that for the engineers.
Background:
After receiving my Vector 3 pedals (retail/production) last week, I installed them as per the manual, went 45km ride outside on them (sprints, etc to bed them in, then performed my standard Lama Lab Test on them with the Tacx Neo Smart Trainer (control/baseline for power and ERG). The full ~16 minute video is over on YouTube.
Aside from the no-show for Bluetooth power meter support (at this stage) the other glaring issue was the +20W discrepancy between the Tacx Neo and the Vector 3 at 200-220W during a sustained ERG effort. This discrepancy is greater than the combined accuracy error margins (Neo -+1%, Vector -+1%, and a generous drivetrain loss estimation of -+5%). What was strange is this difference wasn't seen when 'just riding along' or in a continual ramp test I performed in SIM mode. So it wasn't going to be a simple calibration/zero-offset fix.
Today's Tests:
Cadence. What was the impact of changing the pedalling cadence on the ERG mode power readings, using the same gear? I typically pedal at 90-95rpm for my ERG mode tests and haven't seen any major power reporting issues in those zones... until now.
Test 1 - Tacx Neo | Garmin Vector 3
Observations:
- Switching from 150W ERG to 200W ERG at the 12:30 minute mark
- The higher the cadence, the more the Neo and Vector 3 disagree on power.
- Cadence under 80rpm shows acceptable accuracy ranges.
- Cadence greater than 100rpm results in power reporting up to +20W from the Vector 3.
Test 2 - Tacx Neo | PowerTap P1
Observations:
- ~+10-12W differences in power reported at higher cadence ~110 (Vector 3 was ~+20W).
- Lower cadences ~60rpm appear optimal for having the Neo and P1 agree on power.
Test 3 - Discarded (Forgot to perform a sensor calibration on the Elite Drivo)
Test 4 - Elite Drivo | Garmin Vector 3
Observations:
- ~+10W differences in power reported at 90rpm+
- Lower cadences ~60rpm appear optimal for having the Drivo and Vector 3 agree on power.
Test 5 - Elite Drivo | PowerTap P1
Observations:
- NICE!.... Only start to see disagreement at 130rpm+.
Conclusions....
ERG is a strange beast. It's never a constant application of resistance from the Smart Trainer. It'll oscillate slightly above and slightly below the set target watts as the very inefficient human motor stomps away on the pedals. This means the power measurement becomes a complex task.
At this point, I'll conclude:
- The power reporting of the current Vector 3 pedals (Firmware 2.30.0) appears to be influenced greatly by cadence when in steady state ERG mode on an indoor trainer. Lower cadences appear to match smart trainers with power accuracy ranges of -+1%.
- The PowerTap P1 pedals appear to also suffer from high rpm power reporting differences, but at much higher RPM than the Vector 3 and with a smaller margin of error.
Thoughts....
Could this be related to sample rate at which these power meters calculate power?
Side thought..... The PowerTap P1 are compatible with oval chain-rings, which means they're doing some high sample-rate and averaging due to the changing velocity of the pedal stroke. Is this why they have the edge over the Vector 3 (no support for oval rings) for these higher RPM ERG tests?
My focus here is on understanding what's happening with the Vector 3 pedals, I also have a suspicion the Tacx Neo itself starts to struggle with power reporting at higher RPM ERG efforts. I did have a Quarq power meter on for a number of these tests..... but I've omitted that for now as I focus purely on the pedals vs the world.
As always... more data needed. Stay tuned.
Next day updates...
Because this is 100% doing my head in.
Static weight tests/verification on the Vector 3:
20.000kg certified weight + 21g hook/mount. 172.5mm cranks. Calculated Nm: 33.845
Readings from the Edge 520:
R: 33.41, 33.50, 33.47. 33.46 avg. 98.86% of calculated Nm.
L: 33.66, 33.59, 33.72. 33.65 avg. 99.42% of calculated Nm.
Readings from the Edge 520:
R: 33.41, 33.50, 33.47. 33.46 avg. 98.86% of calculated Nm.
L: 33.66, 33.59, 33.72. 33.65 avg. 99.42% of calculated Nm.
Test 9 - Vector 3 | Tacx Neo.
Post static weight tests on Vector3
Post static weight tests on Vector3
39/15 gearing. No gear changing.
Head units: Garmin 520, Garmin 820. 1 second recording. Latest firmware on both.
- 3 minutes 200W ERG test. Cadence change every minute. (90/60/120)
- Cycling Dynamics turned off at 5min.
- 3 minutes 200W ERG tests / cadence change every minute. (90/60/120)
- Cadence Ramp Test ERG enabled (Cadence increase, power 'should' remain the same)
- Cadence Ramp Test ERG disabled (Cadence increase, power increase)
Head units: Garmin 520, Garmin 820. 1 second recording. Latest firmware on both.
- 3 minutes 200W ERG test. Cadence change every minute. (90/60/120)
- Cycling Dynamics turned off at 5min.
- 3 minutes 200W ERG tests / cadence change every minute. (90/60/120)
- Cadence Ramp Test ERG enabled (Cadence increase, power 'should' remain the same)
- Cadence Ramp Test ERG disabled (Cadence increase, power increase)
Data: https://analyze.dcrainmaker.com/#/pu...9-ffdaaa8cd18c
Test 10 - PowerTap P1 | Tacx Neo
Everything IDENTICAL to Test 9, except for the pedals. I skipped the 2nd 3minute block I used in Test 9 after disabling Cycling Dynamics (showed no change)
Data: https://analyze.dcrainmaker.com/#/pu...0-abf3212b6abe
The raw data files should be accessible on Ray's site for download / further review.
In summary and for clarification - I really want the Vector 3 to work, just as well as the P1, it not better. I won't rule out the Neo, my testing protocol, my wonkyness at higher RPM on L/R, maybe the moon phase.... I just can't explain or resolve what I'm seeing with the readings.
Grabbing at straws...
- Installation torque? I'm snugging them on just as tight as the P1.
- Interface between the pedal and the cranks? I've tried with and without the 2mm washers, no change on the Ultegra 6800 cranks.
- Cleats?.... I'm running 6deg float on V3, 0deg on the P1. I have the 0deg Exustar ones here in a box I'm yet to install.
- Sample rates.... well beyond what I've got access to see/review/know about. I'll leave that for the engineers.
Stay tuned..... again!
Thursday, 7 December 2017
Tour of Bright heads indoors as race cancelled due to severe weather
This time last week saw the cancellation of the 2017 Tour of Bright stage race in the Victorian high country. With severe weather warnings and predictions of up to 300mm of rain, the decision by Alpine CC was a tough one, but was the correct one to make. If anyone has descended Mt Hotham in the wet, you'll agree wholeheartedly with their decision.
Rewinding back a few years to my blog post on the 2008 edition of the Tour of Bright
"Up Rosewhite the pace was gentle and steady. At one point an O2 rider beside me asks how many watts? My reply being "too many", watts and speed up a hill is all dependant on weight, so its of little relevance to anyone other than me. I have a chat to him and find out its Mr CyclingTips himself, Wade Wallace. I've followed his web site for a while, and know of him, but never met him. No better time for introductions than up a climb in a bunch of 90 riders!"
Wade Wallace (founder of CyclingTips) and I both have a fondness for this race. We'd initially crossed paths in the bunch, and in following years we'd both managed to pull on the Yellow jersey in the Masters 1/2/3 and Masters A categories after the final sage.
A post from 2013 on Cycling Tips "Tour of Bright: A Legend Two Decades in the Making" covers the history of this race and some of the successful names in the sport who've pinned a number on at "Bright" over the years.
My last memory of racing Bright were back in 2014, finishing the extremely wet Stage 3 Mt Hotham ascent curled up in a ball on the side of the road after crossing the finish line. I've given the race a wide berth in the following years while trying to block out that experience. I'm sure I'm not alone there, it was quite a memorable stage.
Upon hearing the news the 2017 edition was cancelled, a number of people joked on social media that we shouldn't let all the race preparation go to waste and we should hold a "Virtual Tour of Bright" using Zwift. I liked the idea, however I took it as light humour knowing the effort it would take to make that happen.
Within a few hours the wheels were in motion to make it so. Wade had grabbed this idea and had run (ridden, I guess) with it at full steam!
With the approval of the organisers, sponsors, Zwift, a number of parties, and 62 emails later - The Zwift Bright Brewery Tour of Bright was in place.
Two stages, no official prizes, no entry fees, just log in, clip in, race! I was in! So were over 200 others on the start line of each stage.
– Stage 1: 9am AEDT, 55.7km (London Preztel - Somewhat Hilly)
– Stage 2: 9:30am AEDT, 72.2km (Watopia Pretzel - Really really hilly!)
Was this the official Tour of Bright? No. Was it almost as hard? Yes! A message from Wade after Stage 1 mentioned the word "Brutal" more than once I'm sure. :)
The offical 'virtual' results are over on ZwiftPower if you'd like to see where you ended up or how the riders went in each stage or in the overall GC standings.
ZwiftPower Tour of Bright Results
Stage 1 Wrap Video:
From an event cancellation to the global collaboration between CyclingTips and Zwift - all in only a few hours to provide riders an opportunity to race their bikes, albeit virtually, and for nothing more than to chase other pixel bike riders on their screens.
This is everything I hoped this new world of connected technology would be. It's not a replacement for the joy and excitement of racing or riding our bikes outside. That'll never be matched indoors. It's an opportunity to still get that heart rate up, to get those legs burning, and to race that rider next to you for 1st or 101st place rather than sitting on the couch looking out the window wishing you were on a bike.
Sunday, 26 November 2017
Zwift on Apple TV - The Full A to Z User Experience
Released just last week, Zwift on AppleTV just might be the game changer people have been waiting for. The AppleTV 4K packs a huge amount of processing power for the 3D rendering required for a solid Zwift experience. In short, nothing comes close in terms of price/performance.
Friday, 10 November 2017
Strava Insights - TCS New York City Marathon 2017
-----------
::: TCS New York City Marathon 2017 (November 5th) - STRAVA Summary Stats ::::
Records: 5389 (~10.77% total participants)
Event Entry Estimate: 50,000
GPS / Device Brand Used:
4070 75.5% Garmin
678 12.6% Strava Mobile App
245 4.5% *Unlisted*
163 3.0% Suunto
112 2.1% Apple
78 1.4% Polar
30 0.6% Fitbit
7 0.1% vívosmart
3 0.1% Huami
1 0.0% Soleus
1 0.0% Samsung
1 0.0% Android Wear
5389 100.0% Total (12)
GPS / Device Used:
866 16.1% Garmin Forerunner 235
592 11.0% Strava iPhone App
427 7.9% Garmin Forerunner 920XT
407 7.6% Garmin fēnix 3
361 6.7% Garmin Forerunner 735XT
310 5.8% Garmin Forerunner 230
293 5.4% Garmin Forerunner 935
245 4.5% *Unlisted*
231 4.3% Garmin Forerunner 220
161 3.0% Garmin Forerunner 225
131 2.4% Garmin Forerunner 630
128 2.4% Garmin Forerunner 620
120 2.2% Garmin fēnix 5
110 2.0% Garmin Vívoactive HR
103 1.9% Garmin fēnix 5X
95 1.8% Garmin Vívoactive
91 1.7% Garmin fēnix 5S
91 1.7% Garmin Forerunner 35
85 1.6% Strava Android App
76 1.4% Apple Watch Series 2
52 1.0% Suunto Ambit3 Peak
46 0.9% Garmin Forerunner 910XT
45 0.8% Suunto Ambit3 Sport
41 0.8% Suunto
39 0.7% Polar V800
34 0.6% Apple Watch Series 3
31 0.6% Polar M400
28 0.5% Garmin Forerunner 25
15 0.3% Garmin fēnix 2
14 0.3% Suunto Spartan Ultra
13 0.2% Garmin Forerunner 10
12 0.2% Garmin Forerunner 15
9 0.2% Fitbit Surge
9 0.2% Fitbit Blaze
7 0.1% vívosmart HR+
7 0.1% Garmin Forerunner 310XT
6 0.1% Suunto Ambit2 S
6 0.1% Garmin Forerunner 410
6 0.1% Fitbit Ionic
5 0.1% Polar M600
5 0.1% Garmin vívoactive 3
4 0.1% Suunto Ambit2
4 0.1% Garmin Forerunner 110
4 0.1% Fitbit
3 0.1% Polar M200
3 0.1% Huami Amazfit Pace
3 0.1% Garmin Forerunner 610
3 0.1% Garmin Forerunner 210
2 0.0% Fitbit Charge 2
2 0.0% Apple Watch 1st Generation
1 0.0% Suunto Spartan Sport
1 0.0% Strava GPX
1 0.0% Soleus GPS
1 0.0% Samsung Health
1 0.0% Garmin vívosport
1 0.0% Garmin Forerunner 405
1 0.0% Garmin Forerunner 305
1 0.0% Android Wear
5389 100.0% Total (58)
Shoes:
281 14.9% ASICS
265 14.1% Brooks
260 13.8% Nike
217 11.5% Saucony
206 10.9% adidas
186 9.9% Hoka
177 9.4% New Balance
102 5.4% Mizuno
48 2.5% On Cloud
43 2.3% Altra
99 5.3% Other (25)
1884 100.0% Total (35)
Gender:
3586 66.5% Male
1518 28.2% Female
285 5.3% *Unlisted*
Overall:
Heart Rate Monitor Usage: 61.64%
Average Heart Rate: 159bpm
Average Pace: 05:52/km (9:26/mi)
Average Finish Time: 4:07:32
Male:
Heart Rate Monitor Usage: 64.47%
Average Heart Rate: 157bpm
Average Pace: 05:40/km (9:07/mi)
Average Finish Time: 3:59:06
Winning Time: 2:10:53 (3:06/km, 4:59/mi)
Female:
Heart Rate Monitor Usage: 54.61%
Average Heart Rate: 162bpm
Average Pace: 06:20/km (10:11/mi)
Average Finish Time: 4:27:14
Winning Time: 2:26:53 (3:28/km, 5:36/mi)
Summary Pace Distribution:
4 0.1% Minute Pace (no data)
95 1.8% 3 Minute Pace
1151 21.4% 4 Minute Pace
1978 36.7% 5 Minute Pace
1352 25.1% 6 Minute Pace
549 10.2% 7 Minute Pace
166 3.1% 8 Minute Pace
59 1.1% 9 Minute Pace
26 0.5% 10 Minute Pace
4 0.1% 11 Minute Pace
2 0.0% 13 Minute Pace
1 0.0% 15 Minute Pace
1 0.0% 17 Minute Pace
1 0.0% 25 Minute Pace
5389 100.0% Total (14)
Detailed Pace Distribution:
4 0.1% :0/km Pace (no data)
1 0.0% 3:20/km Pace
8 0.1% 3:30/km Pace
24 0.4% 3:40/km Pace
62 1.2% 3:50/km Pace
118 2.2% 4:00/km Pace
127 2.4% 4:10/km Pace
165 3.1% 4:20/km Pace
191 3.5% 4:30/km Pace
259 4.8% 4:40/km Pace
291 5.4% 4:50/km Pace
275 5.1% 5:00/km Pace
295 5.5% 5:10/km Pace
366 6.8% 5:20/km Pace
413 7.7% 5:30/km Pace
311 5.8% 5:40/km Pace
318 5.9% 5:50/km Pace
283 5.3% 6:00/km Pace
259 4.8% 6:10/km Pace
234 4.3% 6:20/km Pace
190 3.5% 6:30/km Pace
205 3.8% 6:40/km Pace
181 3.4% 6:50/km Pace
140 2.6% 7:00/km Pace
120 2.2% 7:10/km Pace
103 1.9% 7:20/km Pace
66 1.2% 7:30/km Pace
60 1.1% 7:40/km Pace
60 1.1% 7:50/km Pace
46 0.9% 8:00/km Pace
40 0.7% 8:10/km Pace
29 0.5% 8:20/km Pace
19 0.4% 8:30/km Pace
17 0.3% 8:40/km Pace
15 0.3% 8:50/km Pace
12 0.2% 9:00/km Pace
15 0.3% 9:10/km Pace
10 0.2% 9:20/km Pace
7 0.1% 9:30/km Pace
9 0.2% 9:40/km Pace
6 0.1% 9:50/km Pace
9 0.2% 10:00/km Pace
2 0.0% 10:10/km Pace
6 0.1% 10:20/km Pace
3 0.1% 10:30/km Pace
5 0.1% 10:40/km Pace
1 0.0% 10:50/km Pace
1 0.0% 11:00/km Pace
1 0.0% 11:10/km Pace
2 0.0% 11:20/km Pace
1 0.0% 13:20/km Pace
1 0.0% 13:30/km Pace
1 0.0% 15:10/km Pace
1 0.0% 17:00/km Pace
1 0.0% 25:10/km Pace
5389 100.0% Total (55)
Device on pace.....
Devices used for <= 3 minute pace:
20 22.2% Garmin Forerunner 235
8 8.9% Garmin Forerunner 935
7 7.8% Garmin Forerunner 735XT
6 6.7% Garmin Forerunner 630
5 5.6% Suunto Ambit3 Peak
5 5.6% Garmin fēnix 3
5 5.6% Garmin Forerunner 230
5 5.6% Garmin Forerunner 220
4 4.4% Suunto
3 3.3% Polar V800
22 24.4% Other (16)
90 100.0% Total (26)
Devices used for 4 minute pace:
184 16.5% Garmin Forerunner 235
112 10.1% Garmin fēnix 3
104 9.4% Garmin Forerunner 920XT
83 7.5% Garmin Forerunner 230
82 7.4% Garmin Forerunner 735XT
77 6.9% Garmin Forerunner 935
72 6.5% Strava iPhone App
48 4.3% Garmin Forerunner 220
47 4.2% Garmin Forerunner 630
42 3.8% Garmin Forerunner 620
261 23.5% Other (32)
1112 100.0% Total (42)
Devices used for 5 minute pace:
323 17.1% Garmin Forerunner 235
232 12.3% Strava iPhone App
157 8.3% Garmin fēnix 3
154 8.1% Garmin Forerunner 920XT
142 7.5% Garmin Forerunner 735XT
111 5.9% Garmin Forerunner 935
100 5.3% Garmin Forerunner 230
74 3.9% Garmin Forerunner 220
52 2.7% Garmin Forerunner 225
48 2.5% Garmin fēnix 5
500 26.4% Other (39)
1893 100.0% Total (49)
Devices used for 6 minute pace:
207 16.2% Garmin Forerunner 235
168 13.1% Strava iPhone App
93 7.3% Garmin fēnix 3
91 7.1% Garmin Forerunner 920XT
86 6.7% Garmin Forerunner 735XT
86 6.7% Garmin Forerunner 230
66 5.2% Garmin Forerunner 935
57 4.5% Garmin Forerunner 220
47 3.7% Garmin Forerunner 225
32 2.5% Garmin fēnix 5
346 27.1% Other (36)
1279 100.0% Total (46)
Devices used for 7 minute pace:
93 17.8% Garmin Forerunner 235
72 13.8% Strava iPhone App
48 9.2% Garmin Forerunner 920XT
30 5.7% Garmin Forerunner 220
29 5.6% Garmin Forerunner 735XT
28 5.4% Garmin Forerunner 230
27 5.2% Garmin fēnix 3
24 4.6% Garmin Forerunner 935
22 4.2% Garmin Vívoactive HR
16 3.1% Garmin Forerunner 35
133 25.5% Other (25)
522 100.0% Total (35)
Devices used for >= 8 minute pace:
47 19.0% Strava iPhone App
39 15.7% Garmin Forerunner 235
27 10.9% Garmin Forerunner 920XT
17 6.9% Garmin Forerunner 220
15 6.0% Garmin Forerunner 735XT
13 5.2% Garmin fēnix 3
13 5.2% Garmin Vívoactive
8 3.2% Strava Android App
8 3.2% Garmin Forerunner 230
7 2.8% Garmin Vívoactive HR
54 21.8% Other (19)
248 100.0% Total (29)
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