AeroPod, PowerPod and Newton

I was racing a TT series in the spring. Prior to the race, I would put a trainer wheel on my TT bike, put the iBike in Trainer Mode, and then do a 30 minute structured session on the trainer to warm up. When it was close to my start time, I put the trainer away, swapped to the disc wheel, and tried to take the iBike out of trainer mode. The iBike locked up solid multiple times - didn't go to sleep during the race, same display in Set-Up mode 30 minutes later, had to remove and re-install the battery to get it back to normal.

Not every time, but several times. It may only lock when I'm trying to switch to non-trainer while riding to the starting line. I'm not sure. I do recall that several times I cut it a little close on the trainer and was going into Set-Up while pedaling to the start area.

As a numbers addict, I was devastated when my iBike locked and would not work. I am starting a new TT series today for 4 weeks and am afraid to put my iBike into trainer mode for warm-up. I value the race data more than the warm-up data and can warm-up by HR. Though I really want all the data for WKO TSS purposes.

I've used my iBike on a trainer in the basement a lot during winter training with no issues, but that didn't involve putting it into and out of trainer mode.

As I think while typing, there were times that I used my iBike on my road bike on the trainer so I wouldn't have to deal with switching the trainer wheel for the disc/tubular wheel. Thus, I was changing Profiles at the same time I was taking it out of Trainer Mode. I don't recall if those were the times it locked up. Perhaps it doesn't like to have both the Trainer Mode and the Profile changed in the same Set-Up session?

Is this a known issue? I did a few searches and didn't find it, but I might have missed something. Is there a recommended series of steps to avoid the lock-up? Do I need to exit Set-Up between switching from Trainer Mode and switching Profiles?

Does anyone else use their iBike in a similar scenario? Recommendations would be most welcome.

I go in and out of trainer mode during the winter but never change profiles since the trainer mode has nothing to do with the loaded profile. I enter trainer mode since I uploaded the trainer profile of choice, but no need to switch to another profile. Then I simply go to the user screen and enter trainer mode, after the workout on the trainer I exit trainer mode and I'm ready to go for a road ride.

I can see where going in and out of trainer mode while pedaling could confuse the unit. So I would finish the warmup and immediately go out of trainer mode. Pedal to the start line, reset your ride or just split the ride in iB4 later on.

I apologize if I made this sound more complicated than it is, but I wanted to be clear on the differences between trainer mode and profiles.

Thanks for the reply. I understand that the Profile doesn't affect power readings in Trainer mode, but the Profile still determines which wireless sensors the iBike looks for. I don't like fumbling around to switch the trainer wheel to the disc wheel right before the race, so I was using my road bike on the trainer and then switching to the TT bike to race. Thus, the iBike needs to be in Profile 1 (to find the correct speed and cadence sensors for the road bike) and Trainer mode for the warm-up on the road bike on the trainer, then the iBike needs to be in Profile 2 (to find the corresponding speed and cadence sensors for the TT bike) and non-Trainer mode for the race. Trying to make these changes caused the iBike to lock up.

A friend recently showed me a simpler way to swap wheels on the TT bike, so it is less of an issue. I was trying to put the wheels in and out by going down like a "normal" bike; with horizontal dropouts, it is much easier to go in and out the back. Thus, swapping wheels is not as time consuming or stressful as it was when I struggled with it. I may try warming up on my TT bike instead of bringing two bikes and having to change Profiles.

I would like my iBike to be able to handle changing Profiles and going in and out of Trainer mode without the fear of locking it up. I guess the change-one-thing-at-a-time and only-while-stopped guidance would be the best approach. Perhaps the iBike techs could take a look at this issue sometime, though, because it is better to have a unit that never locks no matter what the user does to it. It should be able to deal with multiple changes, moving or sitting, and not crash. The case could be made, of course, that I shouldn't cut it so close for getting to the starting line. I was late to the gate yesterday and added more than a minute to my time because I was trying to arrive at the last moment so my HR was still up. That backfired. It took longer to put stuff away and lock it up in the back of my pickup truck than I anticipated. Oh well, there's always next week!

That's a lot of things that can go wrong both with the iBike, the bikes, gear, etc. If you can simplify things then you're better off. But as far as locking up, I have to agree, stop - exit trainer mode - change profile (this should automatically start a new ride). I believe the iBike would probably get confused if you're recording data and activating/deactivating important parts of its operating parameters. I know that if my iBike goes to sleep I get weird stuff happening when I hit the center button and wake it up which it then tries to find sensors but also immediately tries to start recording data. One thing at a time... and while stopped. Let us know if that helps any.