iBike iAero paired with Powertap
Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 1:02 pm
Hi all -
Based on some recs from this forum and others, I am very close to getting the iAero head unit to pair with my Powertap Pro+ wheelset. Doing this for three reasons (1) getting sick of problems with my Garmin Edge 500 and thinking of selling it, (2) getting the wind/aero measurements, and (3) can use the lighter iBike with a light non-PT wheelset on race day. I think by speaking with folks familiar with the iBike most of my concerns have been answered, except for ONE:
The pre-ride procedure for calibrating/zeroing the Powertap doesn't sound too difficult...I have to go through a series of menus to do this with the Edge 500. However, the Edge 500 and the PT head unit will allow for the PT hub to auto-zero itself throughout the ride, thus taking caring of any temperature-induced drifts. The iAero, from what I gather, will not; it requires a manual calibration during the ride if you want to zero it. So...
1. If anyone has any experience with this set-up, do you notice a drift or measurement errors from not being able to auto zero the PT? If so, how bad? A typical temperature drift here in Florida will be about 10-12 degrees during a ride (e.g., starts at 82, finishes at 92).
2. Does anyone know if VC plans to program a software/firmware update to allow the iaero to "auto-zero"?
3. In the big picture, is this a big concern, big enough to stop me from going this route?
I guess I could always keep the Garmin and program it to auto-zero while using the iAero, but that sort of defeats the purpose of simplicity. I wonder if once you turn on the auto-zero feature using the Edge 500 or PT head unit, it is ALWAYS on after that regardless of what head unit one uses..
thanks for your input.
Mark
Based on some recs from this forum and others, I am very close to getting the iAero head unit to pair with my Powertap Pro+ wheelset. Doing this for three reasons (1) getting sick of problems with my Garmin Edge 500 and thinking of selling it, (2) getting the wind/aero measurements, and (3) can use the lighter iBike with a light non-PT wheelset on race day. I think by speaking with folks familiar with the iBike most of my concerns have been answered, except for ONE:
The pre-ride procedure for calibrating/zeroing the Powertap doesn't sound too difficult...I have to go through a series of menus to do this with the Edge 500. However, the Edge 500 and the PT head unit will allow for the PT hub to auto-zero itself throughout the ride, thus taking caring of any temperature-induced drifts. The iAero, from what I gather, will not; it requires a manual calibration during the ride if you want to zero it. So...
1. If anyone has any experience with this set-up, do you notice a drift or measurement errors from not being able to auto zero the PT? If so, how bad? A typical temperature drift here in Florida will be about 10-12 degrees during a ride (e.g., starts at 82, finishes at 92).
2. Does anyone know if VC plans to program a software/firmware update to allow the iaero to "auto-zero"?
3. In the big picture, is this a big concern, big enough to stop me from going this route?
I guess I could always keep the Garmin and program it to auto-zero while using the iAero, but that sort of defeats the purpose of simplicity. I wonder if once you turn on the auto-zero feature using the Edge 500 or PT head unit, it is ALWAYS on after that regardless of what head unit one uses..
thanks for your input.
Mark