I'm sorry to say that I am starting to feel that this is not the power meter I should have bought. I'm sorry if this sounds negative but it's an accurate picture of my experience so far. If anyone has any suggestions on what I can do to improve my experience I would be grateful.
I purchased the PP in Dec 2017, first power meter. Wanted to use it for training on the road for both a road bike and a TT bike. I'm based in W. Scotland, it's wet here, a lot. Winter was not the best time of year to be out on the bike but on the odd dry day I went ahead to calibrate the PP.
- This initial calibration period was difficult, the process was a bit fiddly and feedback from the unit wasn't great. I struggled and then when I thought It was calibrated sometimes I got readings and sometimes not. Turned out the problem was the speed sensor (a GSC-10) and it was dropping. I put the PP away for the remainder of the winter and concentrated on the turbo.
- In the spring, after purchasing two new speed sensors, I went to start calibrations again but the USB port was not working correctly and I coudn't connect the PP to the computer. 6 weeks later a new PP arrives under warranty exchange form the UK dealer.
- After this I finally get the PP calibrated on the two bikes. Happy days, I have power readings and the calibrations are checked by the always helpful John on this site. But then I have my first ride in the rain. So it turns out that the special mount I purchased places the wind port in the perfect position for water to stream in from the front wheel. This invalidates the data from the ride. So I move the PP under the bars and to the side using the supplied mount.
- Then I find on the Road Bike when putting in an effort in the drops (racing) that the power is too high. So now I need multiple profiles for the road bike. In fact the power curve on this bike shows my best power is downhill (I was pedalling hard on the way down but it was still harder going up!). Post ride power curves are all skewed.
- Another ride on the road bike in mixed conditions. Windport still gets blocked in new position. Can't stop to clear it when racing... nb this file is attached for interest.
I looked in interest at the Aeropod, it seems this would be an improvement (but at considerable extra expense) and if I understand correctly it still needs to work with a DFPM to deal with changing positions on the bike, correct?
As I said I'm sorry to be negative, really want the PP to work for me but after my last ride when conditions were changing and I am going full gas, the last thing I need is for the data to become meaningless mid ride. Any suggestions are welcome as I can't be the only one. In hindsight, perhaps I should have waited and bought a DFPM.
NB Support on this forum has been excellent.
All the best,
Vince