AeroPod, PowerPod and Newton

Ok folks I did it...returned the iSport back to REI and got a credit and here's why. Did a 125 mile ride and the gadget shut down 4 times. Posted the board and quickly found out TRNR was turn on. Ok my fault for the fumble fingers BUT why does this thing have to be so complicated? Does getting POWER require me to become a gadget nanny? Apparently...so here goes.

Why does the iSport log data? Can't down load data so why does this model log my ride and TELL me percentage of data filled. Just have to continually clear the message. Couldn't this feature be shut off until you upgrade?

BATTERY. All those batteries I saved in the winter...you know the one's I had to replace every 2-3 rides. Good for a week at best. I'm not an electrical engineer but there HAS to be a better method than 2032. I know there is but I don't want the hack solution.

Scrollville......I know iBike is good about user feedback and we all love coach Boyd but are all the features really necessary. Did the fit test once, sorry I'm 48 and have no plans to start racing, self improvement is just getting on the bike & moving forward.

Battery swaps with fumble fingers and its redo cal rides, tilts, time, days & dates reload. Yes I know there's a method of scrolling to batt test and make the switch...sometimes I'm not having a smart day and forget. Silly me. Cal rides and coast downs. Cal rides are ok.....its the coast downs that are irritating. Sometimes after a coast down the gadget goes to zero when I stop pedaling other times it doesn't sometimes it never does. Oh silly me have to do it over again. Also when my crew is ready.....I'm scrolling instead of rolling. I started doing centuries on the weekend and I do find power useful. Often I can find a better position to save watts or swap a little speed to save fuel. It's fun to see gadget work while drafting but after a few times the novelty wears off.

I do like the GADGET, hate the nanny part. The folks that built this rig should be commended for attacking what belonged in mechanical measurement world with a software solution, but until I can attach it to my bike and ride without the nanny factor I'm dusting off the Sigma and riding without power.

Your iSport was manufactured about one year ago. We've made many improvements since then; sorry you weren't able to see them.

If you'll send us your iSport we will upgrade its firmware to the newest version.

had 4.02.

For now, I believe the iSport is a cost effective niche product for info junkies who ride bikes. The fit test has merit and adds value.

I also believe there's an untapped market for the iSport ( non bike version) which is an accurate weight loss measuring device showing actual calories burned.

People understand how many calories they're eating but have no comprehension of the energy content in those calories or what motion is require to burn them. Your gadget can link movement or effort into real time feedback.

I think you will find that most power meter users are info junkies. Moreover, you will find that most users will then further their quest for information through the use of multiple analysis products: ibike, WKO, Golden Cheetah, RaceDay and sportstrack for different perspectives. Perhaps then, if you are not an info junkie a power meter in general is not the right choice for you, and a return to the sigma a wise move.

Nik

MIKEK wrote:had 4.02.

We're up to 4.20; many improvements since yours.

Mikek and all,

I have had iBikes since they first started shipping. The novelty has largely worn off. I look forward each ride to getting the iBike set up, just as much as I do the tire pressure and the like!

You see, it is a real aid to me in managing my rides real time and in planning. Of course I have a model with the usb dongle and yes I did spring for wko+ (but not the recent upgrade cost).

When my knee acted up early this season, the iBike enabled me to continue riding while managing my riding limits to both recover from the knee problems (actually tendon's around the knee) and still increasing my fitness. Now I am getting back into some intervals and it allows me to do it with some safety for the still vulnerable tendons.

When I felt more tired than usual this week I turned back to WKO+ which I had not updated this season due to an incomplete migration (new key generation put off awhile) to my laptop. So I copied all the missing data from laptop to deskside and wko+ and found that this month has been my highest KJ's since October and my TSB (which I think of as tiredness score) had gone deeper negative than I realized. So taking a few extra days off with that knowledge.

For me it is worth the bother which has mostly become habit, and yes I do still marvel at the data somewhat .

Regards,
Russ