Another Trainer Q - a 2 parter

[whftherb]

I now have the iBike Pro Gen-II almost set up for use indoors on my trainer with the unlock code etc. My trainer is an old set of Performance (bike catalog company) rollers. The rollers came with a front fork stabilizer. I broke the front wheel cylinder some time ago and have been using just the rear two cylinders plus the front fork stabilizer. The rollers came with a resitance unit on the rear which also has an adjustement lever permitting adjusting from your seated position. It all works pretty well.

Now, of course, I'm going to need to "Set the Trainer Model" and I suspect I'll also need to pick a unit/model that is as close as I can get to what I have sitting on the floor. Can anyone make some suggestions as to which one of the supplied profiles (if that's the right term) in the iBike2 software might give me something close? I don't see a lot of rollers in what's offered.

Second part: I don't really think I need to mount the wireless mount to the trainer bike's stem for trainer-only purposes. Just fit the Spd and Cad sensors on, get into the Hrt strap and position the wireless mount/iBike duo somewhere close enough to read the values for a little feedback, etc. I'd just like confirmation of that.

[racerfern]

Part 1) Just pick a set of rollers and give it a try. If you see yourself dying at 100w then switch to the customization screen and up the "B" value to make changes. Send the customized profile to the trainer and give it a try. You should be able to dial it in within two or three tries.

Part 2) You're right, you could just place the unit anywhere close by that will pick up the signals.

[whftherb]

OK, terrifc!

Now - if you can: Let's say I don't see any "rollers" in the selectionf offered in the iBike 2 software. I've checked them all out - I don't have any "rollers" that show up. So I may deduce that I could simply select a non-roller unit that is a tire drive like, the MAG850 for example (rear stand where wheel drops in and you cinch it up). Again, we're not going for laser accuracy here.

Right? Then adjust from there?

[racerfern]

If you have the current version of iB3 software (download it if you don't) there are roller options. IIWY I would look at the Kreitler, make the selections that most resemble yours, then switch to the Coefficients tab. See the pics for what it should like on your system.

Try maintaining say 20mph for 10 minutes. How does the wattage displayed compare to your perceived effort for that period of time? If your PE is 200w and the output shows 100w, then change the "B" number to give you a better match. Send it to the iBike and try again.

When push comes to shove, it really doesn't matter if you are showing X watts that are a bit high or low. You'll establish a base and start training. As long as your watts over a given time/distance go up you're improving. Then when you get out on the road, you'll really feel the difference.

[whftherb]

OK, let's make this a 3 parter! And, thanks for all this advice. I'm looking carefully at all the posts here relative to so many troubles with iBike3 software and USB drivers and funky or no results. V2 has been running so smoothly I hate to part with it. I do understand that I'm not going to get absolute data/numbers from this. It's best-fit technology...

I do get numbers that seem (PE) to be a little on the high side. When I get up the courage to go iBike3, I'll be able to adjust accordingly. Right now, I'm happy with what I got. Anyway -

With the iBike Pro in trainer mode, can I assume that the Slope calc is disabled or supressed? I use it without mounting on the training bike but of course because it sits in one tilted position on a little reading stand/table I fashioned in front of me, the slope (54%) is displayed on the unit as well as when submitted to the software. And so I think (hope) Slope is ignored when the training mode is engaged and thus when the software goes to analyze. But I want to be sure. If not, well then I'm going to have to find a level surface somehow and probably have to do a tilt cal each time which doesn't make sense from a stationary trainer point of view.

So can I summarily ignore these slope data?

H

[racerfern]

I think you need to make the jump to iB3. Look at the attached picture and compare it to a trainer ride in iB2. Although there is a slope graph it is ignored. Look to the left upper section and you see the relevant data. Slope is not there. Since I no longer have iB2 installed I can't compare. I highlighted one of the laps using the lap function. I don't think that is possible in iB2; I just don't remember.

[whftherb]

Got it!

IB2 - does not show the slope in the left hand data. Good. I can get rid of the slope in diagram as well.
One strange thing - I see Elev at the very beginning of this morning's effort at +220 feet - probably right for where I am. At about the 2 minute mark, it dives straight to -200 feet! Like I'm in a submarine or something? Pressure must've really taken a plunge... I'm ignoring that. It holds solid thereafter. Yesterday, Elev was zig-zag but trended up for most of the hour or so.

Thanks again, just wanted to be sure that slope wasn't giving me false hope. (ooo that rhymes..)

H

[racerfern]

One of the differences between a Gen2 and Gen3 is that the Gen3 behaves more like it is in standby as opposed to OFF. You really only activate the LCD screen and recording functions. So... when you turn a Gen3 on it is already showing the current temperature and altitude based on barometric pressure. IOW it won't jump drastically after a minute or two. The Gen2 needs some time to settle in. Of course for trainer rides it doesn't affect anything other than the "look" of the graph.

I jumped from iB2 to iB3 AND upgraded to XP SP3 around the same time. Since then I've had to go back to XP SP2 to fix a couple of problems then back to SP3. Oh joy! Through all that the iBike USB drivers never complained or stopped working; THANKFULLY. I feel confident that you can upgrade without a hitch. That said, backup everything.