Still some stages on Sigma and now with the Merry codes extra 40 or 60 quid off wish I waited a bit longer before I pressed buy recently 😉
I wish I'd have waited a bit longer and bought something else.
My INPower by comparison has been perfect...2 batteries in 12 months, no dropouts and always wakes up...even after 3 hour soakings.
I dropped all three stages off today for them to take a look (saddleback are local to me). Had an email this afternoon to say they are replacing all of them.
Great service from Saddleback and Stages but it is wearing a bit thin now.
I will wait to see how the replacement units behave.
I thought the latest warranty replacement (about two weeks old) was draining batteries but I think there may actually be a problem with the wake-up circuit.
I tried to connect via the app but it would not see the power meter, I then removed the battery and measured the voltage (3V). I put the battery back in and the app would then find it and reported full battery.
This is a different failure mode to one of the other units that was reporting low battery on the app (only changed a few days before).
I will post any updates.
Similar to what mine has been doing, see my post above re. removing battery and cap.
Support advised that 'ambient humidity' could also cause a problem, bike is kept in a single skin garage so maybe there's an issue there. Bit annoying for an IPX7 unit.
For now it's being kept indoors with the battery and cover removed after every ride, will see how it goes over the next week or two.
They've actually sent me two updated battery doors (which are identical to the one I already have) and two new yellow seals. Interestingly they both came from Saddleback.
As you said, support has been first class but it's wearing thin. Wouldn't recommend one, maybe if you never ride outdoors and keep your bike in the house....
Haze - MemberSupport advised that 'ambient humidity' could also cause a problem
If that is the case then they have some serious problems!! The unit is designed to work outdoors and in the rain. The external ambient humidity should be irrelevant if the enclosure is sealing correctly. Mine are also kept outdoors in a single skin garage, I would have thought they would be designed to operate down to -20Deg C (not a particularly unusual temperature globally). My two week old warranty unit has not seen temperatures below about 5 Deg C in my garage.
Guess I'll just to try to recreate the few different scenarios until I find a pattern of success or failure.
Belt and braces at the moment, but if this works consistently then I'll move the bike back into the garage but continue to remove the battery and cover after every ride to see what effect it has.
Interesting to discover this thread - since updating the firmware on my Stages (with the iPhone app) it can no longer be found via Bluetooth, although ANT+ devices detect it. And it has a habit of putting itself to sleep mid-ride, or failing to wake up after I stop for a moment and start riding again (waiting for mates at the top of hills, for example).
I'm using it with an old but so far very trusty Garmin 800, and I've been wondering if it was the Garmin's fault, but that seems to work fine with every other ANT+ sensor - so I'm going to be having a chat with Saddleback soon I think!
Picked up my replacement units today. Put one onto my bike and went out for a ride and after about 45 mins the power dropped right off and then started peaking to around 50W. It was still showing as connected and would calibrate to a value of zero (but Garmin was saying calibration successful). Looks like another duff, this will be the fourth in about two months for this one!
Haze - Member
Support advised that 'ambient humidity' could also cause a problem,
Apparently they are getting the same problems in Arizona...!
Pierre - MemberInteresting to discover this thread - since updating the firmware on my Stages (with the iPhone app) it can no longer be found via Bluetooth, although ANT+ devices detect it. And it has a habit of putting itself to sleep mid-ride, or failing to wake up after I stop for a moment and start riding again (waiting for mates at the top of hills, for example).
I think there is a major problem with the sleep/wake-up circuit. I have seen two different failures (until tonight!). One drains batteries and the other does not wake up with a good battery.
I'm using it with an old but so far very trusty Garmin 800, and I've been wondering if it was the Garmin's fault, but that seems to work fine with every other ANT+ sensor - so I'm going to be having a chat with Saddleback soon I think!
It is not the Garmin. Email Saddleback. From my conversation with them, Stages are happy to get as many units back as possible in an attempt to get to the bottom of the problem.
So... I'm seriously considering getting some Favero BePRO pedals. I've read DC Rainmaker's review and read (most of) the comments below it, and generally things seem good. Does anyone here have any direct experience with them?
Another satisfied PowerPod user here.
Power = Driving Force x Velocity
Can't argue with that 😉
I agree that Powerpods have their uses, but they're not for me.
Seen good results with my second Powerpod. First had a failed USB port and is being repaired. Paired with a Garmin magnetless speed sensor on the front wheel, I move it between road bikes. The default settings give reproducible results. The integrated Giant cadence/speed sensor on my carbon bikes does not talk to the Powerpod, so I don't use different profiles 🙁 . My Powercal set on 10sec smoothing also gives reasonable data, not as nice as the Powerpod, but it provides a nice summary of NP for Strava that is basically accurate enough to tell me that a race was easy/hard/brutal.
The (third - I broke two) Stages also worked fine, it's lent to another rider at the moment, and I sealed the crank in an inner tube cutting.
I'm also thinking pedals, but am wedded to Look. DC's go-to power meter is the Powertap P1's, I'd be very happy with their single sided version if it was cheaper. Those BePROs might struggle to accommodate overshoes or my winter boots. There is a lot of history of designing power meters for nice sunny conditions (My first Stages didn't survive it's first cold wet Feb ride).
My HR is nowhere near consistent enough to be very useful for power calculations. I want to use on the turbo and outside, so Powerpod would have limited use (I know it can do something indoors, but I already have a turbo that does virtual power and want better).
The BePRO seem like good value. The electronics are sealed in resin, which given the water issues people have had with Stages and P1s, is a bonus. I agree about the clearance though, that's my only reservation. Cleat shims wouldn't be the end of the world though. BePRO are Look compatible, BTW, perhaps more so than P1s.
I'm a week in to using a 4iii unit. Left hand crank mounted like stages but about half the price.
Working well so far and giving my numbers I would expect from previous watt bike and power tap hub readings. Realise that's not proper science-type comparison but...
So my new routine for the Stages seems to be working.
Remove battery after every ride, wet or dry. I think the damp air in my garage possibly causes battery drain, as it's okay if left in the house.
After a wet ride or bike wash calibration readings will be all over the place. So day before next ride leave in house by the radiator overnight...battery out and cap off.
Seems to be working but what a pain in the ass. Meanwhile the Rotor INPower continues to work flawlessly.
My P1s are going back. Hardly used the bike since having a baby on Christmas Day, tried a turbo session on Sunday and they were just dropping out constantly. Put it down to the cheap Ikea batteries, but had the exact same today with brand new Duracells. Weirdly cadence continues to work, but that reinforced it's not a signal transmitting issue.
See what Paligap do!
Google keeps telling me the powerpod is £212 at probikekit and even shows it on the cache page but go on to the website and its £249, holding out for a price drop
I got some BePRO pedals last week. So far they seem good. Have been riding with those and a Powertap hub to compare. Will give a full DC Rainmaker style analysis in due course...
Several months of Powerpod riding now shows it to be consistent and sufficient for effort-based road training. Whilst the absolute power may or may not be precise, it is an excellent device.
I bought mine in the US. Sent one back and the replacement is now on the fixed wheel road bike. It was $299. Given that the company are US based and the device is US manufactured, I'd not expect much change from
£299 now.
Happy to share ride information if anyone wants to see the files.
TiRed, I'm still tempted to get one to have a play with CdA analysis. I see there's some new software available too for that when used with a DFPM too...
https://www.ibikesports.com/product/newton-cda-wind-tunnel-upgrade-key/
Can't find anyone who's done any extensive testing of the capability though.
Ask nicely a i'll lend you my spare. Might reinstate my Stages.
Ooooh pretty please TiRed 🙂
Powerpods can be bought here: [url= https://www.probikekit.co.uk/cycling-power-meters/powerpod-powermeter/11280537.html ]Pro bike kit[/url]
Usually they have 10-16% off codes & cashback too. E.g. VBOX10 gets you 10% off 😆
I've been renting a gen 1 stages for the last couple of months, it's been flawless and I've been using it in some grim conditions. My bike is stored inside though...
njee - from what I hear the powertaps are VERY picky about the battery you use. I think it has to be Lithium or something. A friend who sells them says that wrong battery is the only mode of failure he's seen on them so far, but that they're surprisingly picky.
So I've heard, but I've been using them for over a year with no issues. Will try some lithium batteries anyway.
Powerpods are £250 plus 10% off at ProbikeKit this week, add £30 for the Garmin wireless speed sensor (which I think is a must for the front hub) to give a swapable PM for £250. I'm very pleased with both of mine. MrB, you haven't been in touch yet and my red one is going to be moved soon to my TT bike for the summer.
Honestly, you have to see it to appreciate just what it can do (including detecting coasting at 0W). I was doing 20/40 sprints this morning and it had no trouble recording my (paltry) peak outputs of 800 Watts. I use it for distance training too, and target 3.5 W/kg for three hours on my Early morning Sunday rides.
Absolute wattage may not be exact, but reproducible training efforts certainly are. And that's what training with power is all about.
Stages have just released a new version of firmware that 'Fixes a possible sleep initiation bug'. Fingers crossed that this could be the battery drain problem finally solved.
The three that I have seem to be working OK at the moment, batteries are lasting approximately 1 month (not as good as they claim) but certainly better than some of the units I have had replaced under warranty.
I intend to update the firmware on them all over the weekend.
@tired - if they worked on the turbo trainer I would have bought one already 😆
Think I'll get a powerpod, any of you got a probikekit referral code? Gets you a fiver and me 10% off first purchase
GEM10 code works too.
Looking at a Powerpod on my TT bike. Do i need a speed sensor? Ill only be recording power to my Garmin 810, Strava to do the rest. It there so i can ride to my power output.
And, does the standard in-the-box mount work ok between the TT extensions or do i need the dual garmin mount?
Do i need a speed sensor?
Yes, since power is Force x speed. PP measures opposing forces and multiplies by bike speed. DFPM measure force from a strain gauge and multiply by cadence x radius. Sadly PP can't take speed from your Garmin because head units do not broadcast.
Get the Garmin hub mounted one. I've just ordered another speed sensor to try for the second set up. Some of the dedicated bike ones such as my Giant ones do not register with the PP. My Wahoo one has also struggled
The mount in the box will only mount to standard bars. If there is room on your base bar, it will mount there, and I have done that. I subsequently bought the new dedicated mount from the US that mounts to the extensions.
iPowerpod?
http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/apple-shake-cycling-power-meter-market-320351
Not sure if this is any use to anyone, but I managed to pick up an Ultegra 4iiii for £380 ish from PBK:
Got them to price match [url= http://www.hinderacingltd.com/4iiii-precision-power-meter---various-cranks-29780-p.asp ]Hinde Racing Ltd for £429[/url] they then have a £25 off £200 voucher taking it to £404 then £22 cash back via TCB, taking it below £400 and therefore could totally justify it to myself! 😆
I've been running a stages gen 1 with the typical battery issues. I did manage to get a good run out of it by drying inside but then a mildly moist ride set it back again. I have dried it out again and done the following
1: Put a roll of electrical tape on the inside of the door to push the battery against the -ive terminal
2: Pulled the negative terminal out with a knife
3: sealed around the seal with vaseline
4: wrapped the whole power meter unit to the crank with electrical tape
Hope it works
Just seen the the 4iiii 105 is 349! So I have also bought one of those for the winter bike so I dont have to keep swapping, and hopefully will have at least something reliable to train with/.
I took a section of 26" inner tube and slid it down the crank and over my Stages 1st Gen. Then sealed both ends with electrical tape. Since mine is Ultegra you wouldn't notice. This was after destroying two in cold wet conditions.
£350 is a decent price, but is still like my powerpod. It's the Physics geek in me above all else!
djglover - MemberI've been running a stages gen 1 with the typical battery issues. I did manage to get a good run out of it by drying inside but then a mildly moist ride set it back again. I have dried it out again and done the following
1: Put a roll of electrical tape on the inside of the door to push the battery against the -ive terminal
2: Pulled the negative terminal out with a knife
3: sealed around the seal with vaseline
4: wrapped the whole power meter unit to the crank with electrical tape
Have you tried contacting Stages and trying to get it swapped under warranty?
No, because I bought it second hand. This seems to have worked. though, I only have the back of the crank taped up BTW, Used it in the wet last night and full battery reading this morning.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/694/33579735716_c7c3354fe2_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/694/33579735716_c7c3354fe2_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TajVwC ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/60401414@N00/ ]danjwilkinson[/url], on Flickr
Just pulled the trigger on the powerpod, Probikekit have it in a 24hr flash sale. It's been £249 for yonks but today is down to £230 and they have a £25 off over £200 code and got another 7% off from topcashback, brings it down to £196. Its like going back in time before the £ was crap.
I've been running my 4iii for a couple of months now. Mainly off-road miles, at times through some serious slop.
So far it's not missed a beat and the battery is still working....
My bodge failed on my stages, but as luck would have it the importer sent me a brand new one. Not bad considering I paid £330 for it second hand 🙂
I have another support ticket with Stages, they've asked me to clean with isopropyl and dry the unit indoors near a heat source. I explained that this has been done several times but after every wet ride I get the same issues.
Apparently water ingress is "extremely rare on a second generation unit through normal riding"
The next sentence I found a little worrying..."if you are pressure washing the meter, or somehow the compartment has prolonged exposure to the elements (including humid air) then that is an entirely different scenario"
I don't pressure wash any of my bikes, but prolonged exposure to humid air...kept in a cold garage?
Anyway, I'm following their advice and it's been cleaned and has been by the radiator for a week to dry out. Next sign of rain and I'll test it out, I'm not optimistic.
Its the UK, we only have humid air ffs.....but prolonged exposure to humid air
Well having thought I had a problem with my legs I think it's actually a problem with my PM. Since the middle of last week my Vectors have gone from 55/45 (at worst) power balance to 60/40 (at best) and my power for effort/HR/RPE is well down. Wonder if it's something to do with the hot weather we had, it was baking in my bike store.
So now to figure out how to recalibrate 😕
I had major issues with my G2 stages over winter - new battery every few weeks. No problems over Spring Summer so I think Stages are just not compatible with the damp British climate.
