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Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike
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I am consistently around 55% on my left pedal and 45% on the right. Wondering how close you should actually be to 50/50. My OCD has me correct it to exactly 50/50 every time I look down and see it. I know one leg is a little longer than the other. My dominate side is my right side and my left leg is a little longer....which makes me wonder if it is a strength thing or a fit thing. Would shimming or adjusting the right side pedal/shoe position make a difference or should I just focus on building more strength on my right side?
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [NeverEnough] [ In reply to ]
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It doesn't make any difference. It is an aerobic sport, not limited by the size of your leg muscles so it doesn't matter if you use both equally or not.

As an example, Alex Simmons was a competitive cyclist then lost the lower part of one leg. It wasn't easy but eventually he returned to the same threshold power, and ABOVE what he was capable of before:

http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/...1/retro-respect.html

aerobic sport, don't worry about it, turn the left/right display off.

also it is completely normal to have a discrepancy, almost all people do.



Kat Hunter reports on the San Dimas Stage Race from inside the GC winning team
Aeroweenie.com -Compendium of Aero Data and Knowledge
Freelance sports & outdoors writer Kathryn Hunter
Last edited by: jackmott: Feb 1, 13 7:04
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [NeverEnough] [ In reply to ]
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Especially if you do triathlon, might be good just to check if you have a leg strength discrepancy, as it can affect the run as well.

Just try single leg squats and see if there is a huge difference between the right and left leg, if there is its something to work on just to keep your body balanced and prevent any injuries that could come as a result of it.

http://www.jennacaer.com
Instagram @jennacaer
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [jennacaer] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks for the info.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [jennacaer] [ In reply to ]
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jennacaer wrote:
Especially if you do triathlon, might be good just to check if you have a leg strength discrepancy, as it can affect the run as well.


Just try single leg squats and see if there is a huge difference between the right and left leg, if there is its something to work on just to keep your body balanced and prevent any injuries that could come as a result of it.


couple months ago I tried the one leg squat and my right leg couldn't support my weight for crap! After a couple months of "addressing" it I can do the same exercises with both legs without any problem.

Did it makes me faster? I sincerely doubt it but I had pain in my left hip/butt that has been getting better and better :)

The entire event (IM) is like "death by 1000 cuts" and the best race is minimizing all those cuts and losing less blood than the other guy. - Dev
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [camaleon] [ In reply to ]
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Thats just it, keep it pain free. Something that hurts a little now, can be debilitating later if not dealt with.

http://www.jennacaer.com
Instagram @jennacaer
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [NeverEnough] [ In reply to ]
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NeverEnough wrote:
I am consistently around 55% on my left pedal and 45% on the right. Wondering how close you should actually be to 50/50. My OCD has me correct it to exactly 50/50 every time I look down and see it. I know one leg is a little longer than the other. My dominate side is my right side and my left leg is a little longer....which makes me wonder if it is a strength thing or a fit thing. Would shimming or adjusting the right side pedal/shoe position make a difference or should I just focus on building more strength on my right side?

Just for the record, how are you coming up with these numbers? Quarq, Power2max, Look, Computrainer? All of these except the Look pedal system are really guesstimating the right left distribution more than actually measuring it.

YMMV,

Hugh

Genetics load the gun, lifestyle pulls the trigger.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [sciguy] [ In reply to ]
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sciguy wrote:
NeverEnough wrote:
I am consistently around 55% on my left pedal and 45% on the right. Wondering how close you should actually be to 50/50. My OCD has me correct it to exactly 50/50 every time I look down and see it. I know one leg is a little longer than the other. My dominate side is my right side and my left leg is a little longer....which makes me wonder if it is a strength thing or a fit thing. Would shimming or adjusting the right side pedal/shoe position make a difference or should I just focus on building more strength on my right side?


Just for the record, how are you coming up with these numbers? Quarq, Power2max, Look, Computrainer? All of these except the Look pedal system are really guesstimating the right left distribution more than actually measuring it.

YMMV,

Hugh

Quarq
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [NeverEnough] [ In reply to ]
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If you would like an instant 10% boost in your FTP you should just switch to a Stages power meter;)

Genetics load the gun, lifestyle pulls the trigger.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [jackmott] [ In reply to ]
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jackmott wrote:
It doesn't make any difference. It is an aerobic sport, not limited by the size of your leg muscles so it doesn't matter if you use both equally or not.

As an example, Alex Simmons was a competitive cyclist then lost the lower part of one leg. It wasn't easy but eventually he returned to the same threshold power, and ABOVE what he was capable of before:

http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/...1/retro-respect.html

aerobic sport, don't worry about it, turn the left/right display off.

also it is completely normal to have a discrepancy, almost all people do.

Hmmm. I'd say that in terms of cycling, L/R balance is almost as important as cadence.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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RChung wrote:
Hmmm. I'd say that in terms of cycling, L/R balance is almost as important as cadence.

Ohhh and you wonder why people call you a troll!



Kat Hunter reports on the San Dimas Stage Race from inside the GC winning team
Aeroweenie.com -Compendium of Aero Data and Knowledge
Freelance sports & outdoors writer Kathryn Hunter
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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are most people left dominant? I was wondering if that was due to it being the drive side, maybe?
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [NeverEnough] [ In reply to ]
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NeverEnough wrote:
I am consistently around 55% on my left pedal and 45% on the right. Wondering how close you should actually be to 50/50. My OCD has me correct it to exactly 50/50 every time I look down and see it. I know one leg is a little longer than the other. My dominate side is my right side and my left leg is a little longer....which makes me wonder if it is a strength thing or a fit thing. Would shimming or adjusting the right side pedal/shoe position make a difference or should I just focus on building more strength on my right side?

It is important to the point where you can identify the problem and find a solution. Is this a natural problem? In other words have you always been around 45/55? or were you at 50-50 a month ago, now at 45-55 then a month from now at 35-65?

If this is the case then yes maybe there is an issue that you can identify, we had this in the summer with an athlete. Noticed on a longer ride that here pelvis was slightly tilted, did a bit of testing and she was in the 40-60 range when before she was always 50-50, and total power was down (FTP, Peak and IM power)

Went to see a chiro for a small adjustment and then a good sports physio and the problem was fixed in about 10 days, FTP and more importantly sustainable power at IM were back to normal and progressing as per plan. The Issue was a weak Glute med (small glute muscle on the side of your ass) the fix was a bunch of band exercises which took about 15 min 3X per week.

And in terms of O2 vs CO2 in working muscle groups when the imbalance is new or injury related, the numbers are bad, or worse than they were before. Higher ratio of CO2 production lower VO2 and shift in the wrong direction of power at threshold and sub max (IM power) in other words it affects the RER curve in a very negative way at a given power output.

We were lucky in that we had a couple of physios in the group, whenever we rode we had a couple good sets of eyes checking her out and understanding the problem as it related to intensity/ duration etc.

So the question is when it is showing 45-55 is your overall power lower (and going lower) or normal (and going up week over week) Some of these issues just are what they are, and some imbalances are formed when you are younger (did you play a lot of soccer, figure skating or snowboarding in my case) but if the problem is new then yes, it is likely both identifiable and fixable and you should be pursuing a solution.

As another poster mentioned shims might work, or as someone else mentioned try a few one leg squats say on a bosu (body weight only) to identify a possible problem. If you feel it is a new issue then go see a good sports physio.

Cheers,
Maurice
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [jackmott] [ In reply to ]
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> It is an aerobic sport

What sport? Alex is a trackie, and most track events involve very significant use of anaerobic / neuromuscular power. I'm not suprised about his FTP, but I'd wonder if his MMPC changed at all.



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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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>Hmmm. I'd say that in terms of cycling, L/R balance is almost as important as cadence

Then, using Jack's example cyclist, it must be really important because there's a near perfect correlation between cadence and speed on the track!
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [sciguy] [ In reply to ]
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sciguy wrote:

Just for the record, how are you coming up with these numbers? Quarq, Power2max, Look, Computrainer? All of these except the Look pedal system are really guesstimating the right left distribution more than actually measuring it.


Except those "guesstimates" are actually pretty darned close to reality due to the nature of the pedal stroke, the utility of the measurement notwithstanding...


edit:..and after seeing some of the L/R data from the Look/Polar and understanding that there's no way to calibrate each side, or even measure how much they're off from each other, I think I'd actually trust the numbers from those "guesstimators", as you call them, over what's coming out of the Look/Polar. Seriously.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
Last edited by: Tom A.: Feb 1, 13 15:21
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [Tom A.] [ In reply to ]
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Tom A. wrote:
.and after seeing some of the L/R data from the Look/Polar

Yes. I wonder how many Look/Polar users have attempted to change their pedaling style to attain 50/50 balance.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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RChung wrote:
Hmmm. I'd say that in terms of cycling, L/R balance is almost as important as cadence.

*That* much!!! Wow!

AndyF
bike geek
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [AndyF] [ In reply to ]
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AndyF wrote:
RChung wrote:

Hmmm. I'd say that in terms of cycling, L/R balance is almost as important as cadence.


*That* much!!! Wow!

Sorry Andy. Only one troll allowed per thread. Robert beat you to it.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [Tom A.] [ In reply to ]
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Tom A. wrote:
AndyF wrote:
RChung wrote:

Hmmm. I'd say that in terms of cycling, L/R balance is almost as important as cadence.


*That* much!!! Wow!


Sorry Andy. Only one troll allowed per thread. Robert beat you to it.

Drat! Foiled a-gain!!!

AndyF
bike geek
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [AndyF] [ In reply to ]
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AndyF wrote:

Drat! Foiled a-gain!!!

...says the aerodynamicist.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [jackmott] [ In reply to ]
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jackmott wrote:
It doesn't make any difference. It is an aerobic sport, not limited by the size of your leg muscles so it doesn't matter if you use both equally or not.

As an example, Alex Simmons was a competitive cyclist then lost the lower part of one leg. It wasn't easy but eventually he returned to the same threshold power, and ABOVE what he was capable of before:

http://alex-cycle.blogspot.com/...1/retro-respect.html

aerobic sport, don't worry about it, turn the left/right display off.

also it is completely normal to have a discrepancy, almost all people do.



I would say you will last longer if you can use all the muscles equally. Sure the stronger leg can compensate, but that could set off injuries eventually.

http://www.TriathlonShots.com
Full event coverage of triathlon/ironman in photos.


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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [NeverEnough] [ In reply to ]
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The Quarq meters do not show true L vs R power since there is not seperate L and R strain guages. It is only measuring half of your pedal stroke for each leg. If you do not lift your opposite leg enough while pushing down with the other your numbers will be off from your true balance values. Polar and Rotor are the only power meters with a true L/R balance value.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [dross] [ In reply to ]
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dross wrote:
The Quarq meters do not show true L vs R power since there is not seperate L and R strain guages. It is only measuring half of your pedal stroke for each leg. If you do not lift your opposite leg enough while pushing down with the other your numbers will be off from your true balance values. Polar and Rotor are the only power meters with a true L/R balance value.

See posts #17 & #18 above.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [Tom A.] [ In reply to ]
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Oops! Looks like I skimmed past too many posts. Sorry for the duplicate info/comments.

I do not believe that the guesstimate of the Red/new Quarq is accurate enough to use this info to try to correct small imbalances with your pedal stroke. Essentially it is measuring, during half of the pedal stroke, your left leg pushing power + right leg pulling power and the respective opposite for the other half of the stroke. A rider can not differentiate whether they need to pull more with one leg or push more with the opposite leg to correct this guesstimated difference. I believe a reputable member of this forum who does many respected reviews has stated his opinion of how he believes this guesstimate system works or doesn't work. It is however more info than those with other meters without L/R measurements. I personally would just not put too much stock in that info.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [dross] [ In reply to ]
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dross wrote:
Oops! Looks like I skimmed past too many posts. Sorry for the duplicate info/comments.

I do not believe that the guesstimate of the Red/new Quarq is accurate enough to use this info to try to correct small imbalances with your pedal stroke. Essentially it is measuring, during half of the pedal stroke, your left leg pushing power + right leg pulling power and the respective opposite for the other half of the stroke. A rider can not differentiate whether they need to pull more with one leg or push more with the opposite leg to correct this guesstimated difference. I believe a reputable member of this forum who does many respected reviews has stated his opinion of how he believes this guesstimate system works or doesn't work. It is however more info than those with other meters without L/R measurements. I personally would just not put too much stock in that info.

I don't think you read my post very carefully.

Plus, if you're referring to Ray, then you might want to research who he talks to about power meter comparisons ;-)

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [dross] [ In reply to ]
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Since I seemed to have been pulled into this by association...

It's an interesting area - and one where companies can make claims, because it's actually REALLY difficult to test/validate this, despite how easy it might seem.

Take for example, four products I've used recently: Polar/Look PM (left/right pedals), Power2Max (same PowerBalance concept as newer Quarq), Brim Brothers prototype (cleat-based, left/right power), Quarq Red.

In looking at the data from them, I see:

1) Polar/Look PM's that I'm shown as left-leg heavy (typically about L55-45R)
2) Brim Brothers almost matches the Polar, at left-leg heavy in the same ballpark
3) Power2Max shows the opposite, generally about L47-R53.
4) Quarq Red shows about L48-R52.

Which is right? Well, I don't know.

Looking at one ride, the Quarq shows L48/R52, while the Polar shows L59-R41. Was the Polar off? Perhaps. Probable. But how do you verify that? You can't. Because you can't manually calibrate it/validate it. By the same token, how would you construct a test to validate the Quarq aspect either? It's really easy (as I showed) to do simple left/right 100%/0% type tests, but it's very challenging to construct a test to detect a subtle difference of only 1-3% during an actual stroke.

(I actually just found a ride with data from both sets back in April, sending over to Tom/Robert for fun)

Then you can add in stuff like the Stages, and wonder how it all fits into the above. In fact it's funny, I've seen posts by folks over the last week that make all sorts of assumptions/accusations about my pedaling balance and how it invalidates my tests somehow, saying that I'm an outlier. From steady-state riding to stopping/start, a few folks have said I'm 'doing it wrong' when it comes to pedaling my bike Quite frankly, I don't think anyone could make that assumption given the data above at present. And even if I was 'doing it wrong' when it comes to pedaling my bike - I think that's somewhat irrelevant to power measurement.

I'm also not saying that the left-only aspect of the Stages is a deal-breaker either (that's not the area that myself/Tom/Robert were really concerned about when it came to things we were concerned about).

Anyway...


-
My tiny little slice of the internets: dcrainmaker.com
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [dcrainmaker] [ In reply to ]
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I'm also not saying that the left-only aspect of the Stages is a deal-breaker either (that's not the area that myself/Tom/Robert were really concerned about when it came to things we were concerned about).

I'm not saying that it invalidates any of the data, but Tom and Robert were saying that Stages was a no go before you ever testied it, precisely because of this.

Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
I'm also not saying that the left-only aspect of the Stages is a deal-breaker either (that's not the area that myself/Tom/Robert were really concerned about when it came to things we were concerned about).

I'm not saying that it invalidates any of the data, but Tom and Robert were saying that Stages was a no go before you ever testied it, precisely because of this.

Not really. We were saying it was going to be potentially less accurate due to just it's fundamental architecture (it depends on the rider, but the data shows L/R imbalances to be common AND variable both across and within rides...so, most likely as well). You might get the rare case of someone with either a spot on 50/50 balance, or who's balance doesn't ever vary, and in those cases, the concerns about the architecture would go away. However, all the data I've seen show that those types of riders are the exception, not the rule, and for Stages to claim that they don't see those sorts of variances requires, at least in my mind, some measure of proof, which hasn't been seen yet.

Of course, all of that was assuming that the components that go into making up the power calculation (i.e. an accurate measure of crank torque AND crank rotational velocity) are measured in an acceptable manner. It's in those 2 areas that the data still causes concerns.

Now, to be fair...some of Ray's data also has given me concerns about his Quarq setup too, and I've already discussed with him potential ways to alleviate those concerns.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [dcrainmaker] [ In reply to ]
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dcrainmaker wrote:

In looking at the data from them, I see:

1) Polar/Look PM's that I'm shown as left-leg heavy (typically about L55-45R)
2) Brim Brothers almost matches the Polar, at left-leg heavy in the same ballpark
3) Power2Max shows the opposite, generally about L47-R53.
4) Quarq Red shows about L48-R52.

Which is right? Well, I don't know.


Well, seeing as how the separate L/R PMs used in 1 and 2 can't (or weren't, in the case of the Brim?) be checked to see how accurately they are reading in situ, I think I'd put MY money on 3 and 4 being closer to reality. Even if 3 and 4 didn't have perfect calibrations, one would expect them to be more "internally consistent" in regards to their torque measurements on a L/R basis.

That actually points out one of the main "issues" with separate L/R power meter solutions, be they pedals, cleats, crankarms (i.e. Rotor), whatever...you now have TWO PMs that you need to make sure are calibrated and working properly. Twice as many things to go wrong as well.

The interesting thing about that, especially since we're talking about the Stages product here, is that I don't think any of those separate L/R implementations have put in any sort of error detection/ correction so that if they detect that one side or the other is kaput, that they would then start transmitting the other side power measure as 2X power. Sort of like turning themselves into a Stages for "limp home" mode ;-)

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
Last edited by: Tom A.: Feb 5, 13 7:43
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
I'm also not saying that the left-only aspect of the Stages is a deal-breaker either (that's not the area that myself/Tom/Robert were really concerned about when it came to things we were concerned about).

I'm not saying that it invalidates any of the data, but Tom and Robert were saying that Stages was a no go before you ever testied it, precisely because of this.

Hmmm. I don't believe I said that at all. I did say that the Stages would be less accurate -- but I've also emphasized that the important thing isn't how close two power meters are on average, what's important is knowing the conditions under which they differ and by how much. Anyway, even if I had said that doubling the left was a no go (but I didn't), Ray took it off the table so our analysis didn't focus on that.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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RChung wrote:
styrrell wrote:
I'm also not saying that the left-only aspect of the Stages is a deal-breaker either (that's not the area that myself/Tom/Robert were really concerned about when it came to things we were concerned about).

I'm not saying that it invalidates any of the data, but Tom and Robert were saying that Stages was a no go before you ever testied it, precisely because of this.


Hmmm. I don't believe I said that at all. I did say that the Stages would be less accurate -- but I've also emphasized that the important thing isn't how close two power meters are on average, what's important is knowing the conditions under which they differ and by how much. Anyway, even if I had said that doubling the left was a no go (but I didn't), Ray took it off the table so our analysis didn't focus on that.


And...just to preempt the question as to why I 'took it off the table'.


Simply put, doing any sort of left/right leg variation analysis that would be of any value would require more than one riders balance*. I'd think at least a dozen+ riders, in many, many, many different use cases (steady-state, sprints, fatigue-factors, etc...).


But, even if all of that was done, it would still likely show what we already know: People are different.


Given that there wouldn't be a 100% agreement, even if 90%, it doesn't really help since no given person would know if they were a 10-percenter. Which, brings me back to focusing on that being a 'known', and instead looking at everything else (which is what we did).


*Nitpickers corner: Wouldn't the same apply to my testing in whole? Sure, which I said in the very first line of my accuracy section. Though, our concerns weren't actually to do with a given person, but rather some of the technical aspects of it.


-
My tiny little slice of the internets: dcrainmaker.com
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [dcrainmaker] [ In reply to ]
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I believe that the guys at trainer road did some sort of testing using an engine hooked up to a bike.

This was likely direct drive and wouldn't work for pedal based systems.

But I think the only way you could really test the accuracy would be something that you could dynamically, and accurately control how much preasure was used on each pedal.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [NeverEnough] [ In reply to ]
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Start training on powercranks and you will be balanced in a few months time :-)
Sam
samgyde.com
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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RChung wrote:
styrrell wrote:
I'm also not saying that the left-only aspect of the Stages is a deal-breaker either (that's not the area that myself/Tom/Robert were really concerned about when it came to things we were concerned about).

I'm not saying that it invalidates any of the data, but Tom and Robert were saying that Stages was a no go before you ever testied it, precisely because of this.


Hmmm. I don't believe I said that at all. I did say that the Stages would be less accurate -- but I've also emphasized that the important thing isn't how close two power meters are on average, what's important is knowing the conditions under which they differ and by how much. Anyway, even if I had said that doubling the left was a no go (but I didn't), Ray took it off the table so our analysis didn't focus on that.
So if neither you or Tom had preconceived notions about Stages then what was this exchange referring to? (From the first thread on ST discussing Stages)Quote | Reply



Tom A. wrote:
RChung wrote:
That's exactly the second thing I thought of.

What was the first? :-)
"Here we go again."


Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
So if neither you or Tom had preconceived notions about Stages then what was this exchange referring to? (From the first thread on ST discussing Stages)


RChung wrote:

Tom A. wrote:
RChung wrote:
That's exactly the second thing I thought of.


What was the first? :-)

"Here we go again."
That people tout every newly announced power meter as the best thing since sliced bread before any data come in, and that most of those people don't know how to do proper comparisons anyway so even when the data do come in there are arguments about what they mean. So my "here we go again" wasn't about the Stages power meter -- it was about the arguments that I was predicting would be made by unknowledgeable people. BTW, I notice in that thread you claimed the SRM and Quarq measure only on one side, too. Hmmm. Seems like it's turning out pretty much like I thought.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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That was a mistake on my part but we all make them. Nonetheless in that thread and others both you and Tom claimed that other PMs on the market were calibratable and trust worthy. Subsequent testing has certainly called that into question as either the PT or the Quark or both can't be within 2% of each, given the data from DCRainmakers test.

At this point it would be hard to make a recommendation to someone for any of those three if they wanted accurate repeatable data. But thats one reason rigorous scientific testing calls for double blind testing, impartial investigators. Both you and Tom expressed doubts about Stages from the beginning and both have been involved in the Secret Thing thats been guerrilla marketed on ST a few times, and both requested to be involved with DCRs testing. Thats not the best environment for critical analysis, although I have no issues with either the test procedures, nor the data analysis, but I do thinkl some of the recomendations and conclusions are pretty biased, but like Tom has stated in the past, when someone has purchased something they have a tendency to want to believe in its worth.

Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
...and both requested to be involved with DCRs testing.


Just as a minor (tiny) bit of clarification, I asked them to help analyze data. They didn't ask me.

I do believe that there's valid questions around which of the PM's is 'the most accurate' that were on my bike. Which is one reason I actually avoid that question (it's not something anyone can solve). My interest lies within variability between them over a ride (or rides), as well as aspects related to cadence (where non-PM data such as external sensors were used).

But...this is getting off-topic for the titled thread of "left right" distribution...


-
My tiny little slice of the internets: dcrainmaker.com
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
That was a mistake on my part but we all make them. Nonetheless in that thread and others both you and Tom claimed that other PMs on the market were calibratable and trust worthy.

I should know better by now than to respond, but what the heck...Just because it's possible for a device to be calibrated (correctly) and be "trustworthy", it doesn't mean that in all cases it's used that way. Besides, the issues Ray, Robert, and I have been bringing up have nothing to do with the calibration, either torque slope or zeroing, of the Stages.


styrrell wrote:
Subsequent testing has certainly called that into question as either the PT or the Quark or both can't be within 2% of each, given the data from DCRainmakers test.

At this point it would be hard to make a recommendation to someone for any of those three if they wanted accurate repeatable data.


You act as if Ray's ride data is the only stuff "out there" on PTs and Quarqs...interesting.


styrrell wrote:
But thats one reason rigorous scientific testing calls for double blind testing, impartial investigators. Both you and Tom expressed doubts about Stages from the beginning...

Yes, I did...but from a fundamental architecture standpoint and understanding the known variability of L/R balance across and within rides/riders that exists. You seem to be forgetting this statement of mine from post #129 of that original thread you mentioned above:

Quote:
Hi Jesse! IMHO, that view of it being some sort of "game changer" (as compared to your PTs) is probably predicated on the weight and "wheel flexibility" factors...just a guess though.

I'm still waiting to see a more comprehensive look at the data before "passing judgement" though ;-)

Yeah, sounds as if I had my mind ALL made up back then :-\


styrrell wrote:
... and both have been involved in the Secret Thing thats been guerrilla marketed on ST a few times...

Relevancy?


styrrell wrote:
... and both requested to be involved with DCRs testing.

Not true. See Ray's response above.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [dcrainmaker] [ In reply to ]
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To be precise, Tom asked you to ask Robert for help.

This is no intended slight on Ray, and I think he'll admit to not exactly knowing the "ins and outs" of comparing PM accuracy, but I'd prefer someone more like RChung to take a look at it to compare with other PMs.

Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
But thats one reason rigorous scientific testing calls for double blind testing, impartial investigators. Both you and Tom expressed doubts about Stages from the beginning and both have been involved in the Secret Thing thats been guerrilla marketed on ST a few times, and both requested to be involved with DCRs testing. Thats not the best environment for critical analysis, although I have no issues with either the test procedures, nor the data analysis, but I do thinkl some of the recomendations and conclusions are pretty biased, but like Tom has stated in the past, when someone has purchased something they have a tendency to want to believe in its worth.

Hmmm. Well, first, the reason why almost all of the analyses I have done have included a public posting of the data (instead of, for example, simply posting plots of the data) is so others can re-analyze the actual orginal data sets. Ray has posted the data sets he's collected. That's not the behavior of someone who thinks that the analysis is biased -- it's an invitation to others to delve into the data themselves. But second, you continue to claim that it is impossible to determine whether a power meter is accurate. That's just about as correct as your belief that the SRM and Quarq measure on one side. What's more accurate is to say that *you* don't know how to do it. It is a sign of hubris to think that because you don't know how to do something that no one else does, either.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [Tom A.] [ In reply to ]
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Tom A. wrote:
styrrell wrote:
That was a mistake on my part but we all make them. Nonetheless in that thread and others both you and Tom claimed that other PMs on the market were calibratable and trust worthy.


I should know better by now than to respond, but what the heck...Just because it's possible for a device to be calibrated (correctly) and be "trustworthy", it doesn't mean that in all cases it's used that way. Besides, the issues Ray, Robert, and I have been bringing up have nothing to do with the calibration, either torque slope or zeroing, of the Stages.

No but they do have to do with the utility of using a PM for its intended purpose in the real world. The vast majority of the market isn't going to pedal through turns, warm up their bike prior to the bike leg in a tri, re zero or re calibrate after every interval of a training session etc. I have no issues with Ray's conclusion that he wouldn't recommend a Stages based on his testing, but its hard to see how anyone could conclude the other PMs are much better for their intended use.b


styrrell wrote:
Subsequent testing has certainly called that into question as either the PT or the Quark or both can't be within 2% of each, given the data from DCRainmakers test.

At this point it would be hard to make a recommendation to someone for any of those three if they wanted accurate repeatable data.


You act as if Ray's ride data is the only stuff "out there" on PTs and Quarqs...interesting.

Never said that, but their are frequent isues that pop up with all of the most common PMs that seriously call into question their robustness and accuracy.

styrrell wrote:
But thats one reason rigorous scientific testing calls for double blind testing, impartial investigators. Both you and Tom expressed doubts about Stages from the beginning...


Yes, I did...but from a fundamental architecture standpoint and understanding the known variability of L/R balance across and within rides/riders that exists. You seem to be forgetting this statement of mine from post #129 of that original thread you mentioned above:

Quote:
Hi Jesse! IMHO, that view of it being some sort of "game changer" (as compared to your PTs) is probably predicated on the weight and "wheel flexibility" factors...just a guess though.

I'm still waiting to see a more comprehensive look at the data before "passing judgement" though ;-)

Yeah, sounds as if I had my mind ALL made up back then :-\


styrrell wrote:
... and both have been involved in the Secret Thing thats been guerrilla marketed on ST a few times...


Relevancy?

But thats one reason rigorous scientific testing calls for double blind testing, by IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATORS . IOW both of you have been involved with a product that may compete with Stages. But like I've said I don't have an issue with the number crunching you did, just the spin afterwards.

This is a exchange between us when the Stages was announced about the initial comparison from Stages site

styrrell wrote:
So far the only graph I've seen with PT and a Stages don't show a real concern for variability, but its one test and done by the mfg, so I'll let the early adopters confirm that before I give it much weight.
Tom A wrote
20W or greater differences don't concern you?


Now that a comparison between the PT and Quark has shown worse than 20 watts difference between them, it doesn't seem to elicit the same cry to stay away from those products.



Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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No one thinks their data is biased, but time and again it has been shown that researchers introduce bias when they dont mean to. Hence the use when ever possible of doubleblind studies.

But second, you continue to claim that it is impossible to determine whether a power meter is accurate.

No you continue to claim that I've said something I haven't ever said. Both you and Tom have said that its easy to do so. So I'm waiting to see a similar comparison of a Quark/PT/SRM where you have done so.

What's more accurate is to say that *you* don't know how to do it.

I don't know how to do it. I know what the manuals say to do, I'm pretty sure I could do it with 2 SRMs and probably 2 Quarks and 2 PT, as long as both are kept in pretty controlled enviroments. I doubt anyone can do it with 2 different brands of PM of their choosing on a "real" ride. But I'd like to be proven wrong.

Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
But thats one reason rigorous scientific testing calls for double blind testing, by IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATORS . IOW both of you have been involved with a product that may compete with Stages.

WHAT!?!?
WTF are you talking about? What product do you think I'm involved with that competes with the Stages? I'd like to know because I'm unaware of it and if I am involved in something like that I'd like to get paid for it.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
Quote:
What's more accurate is to say that *you* don't know how to do it.

I don't know how to do it. I know what the manuals say to do, I'm pretty sure I could do it with 2 SRMs and probably 2 Quarks and 2 PT, as long as both are kept in pretty controlled enviroments. I doubt anyone can do it with 2 different brands of PM of their choosing on a "real" ride. But I'd like to be proven wrong.

That's pretty funny.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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What ever the product is that has been teased as a virtual windtunnel in a few prior threads. I stated this earlier, you missed it.

Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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Dang, you really need to figure out how to make your replies more readable...I had to search through that thing like I was looking for a needle in a haystack. Doh!

styrrell wrote:
styrrell wrote:
So far the only graph I've seen with PT and a Stages don't show a real concern for variability, but its one test and done by the mfg, so I'll let the early adopters confirm that before I give it much weight.

Tom A wrote
20W or greater differences don't concern you?


Now that a comparison between the PT and Quark has shown worse than 20 watts difference between them, it doesn't seem to elicit the same cry to stay away from those products.



In that quote of mine you show above, I was referring to variances they showed plus or minus as compared to their "reference" of 20W or greater in the span of seconds! Not any sort of fixed offset.

The differences shown between the PT and Quarq in Ray's data appear to be mostly the result of a mis-zeroing event and/or some possible drift issues with one or the other PMs. Like I said above, I've already related to Ray how he could go about reducing the variations on the Quarq side for future testing.

So far, however, the variance of the Stages to the other 2 meters have been indicated to NOT be just a torque slope calibration or zeroing issue. Instead, other more fundamental measuring issues are at work, the whole L/R imbalance thing notwithstanding.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
styrrell wrote:
What ever the product is that has been teased as a virtual windtunnel in a few prior threads. I stated this earlier, you missed it.

I'm not involved with it, I don't make any money from it, and it's not a competitor to any power meter (least of all the Stages). I did think up virtual elevation but I haven't made any money on it. I have received the thanks of several people, a couple of free dinners, and a really nice bottle of wine. You know, the number of mistaken ideas you have is pretty impressive. Do you also think that global warming is a hoax, that the Earth is 8000 years old, and that Obama was born in Kenya? Just wondering.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [Tom A.] [ In reply to ]
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The differences shown between the PT and Quarq in Ray's data appear to be mostly the result of a mis-zeroing event and/or some possible drift issues with one or the other PMs. Like I said above, I've already related to Ray how he could go about reducing the variations on the Quarq side for future testing.

Sure its possible, but thats just a theory and from recent posts, drift of more than one of the more popular PMs seems to be a big issue. Maybe you have a fix maybe not, maybe Stages has a fix for their issues, maybe not. One of the good things that Ray seem to find is that the Stages doesn't seem to drift or need to be rezeroed nearly as much as the PT and Quark do. Again that needs to be confirmed.

Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
styrrell wrote:
No one thinks their data is biased, but time and again it has been shown that researchers introduce bias when they dont mean to. Hence the use when ever possible of doubleblind studies.

But second, you continue to claim that it is impossible to determine whether a power meter is accurate.

No you continue to claim that I've said something I haven't ever said. Both you and Tom have said that its easy to do so. So I'm waiting to see a similar comparison of a Quark/PT/SRM where you have done so.

What's more accurate is to say that *you* don't know how to do it.

I don't know how to do it. I know what the manuals say to do, I'm pretty sure I could do it with 2 SRMs and probably 2 Quarks and 2 PT, as long as both are kept in pretty controlled enviroments. I doubt anyone can do it with 2 different brands of PM of their choosing on a "real" ride. But I'd like to be proven wrong.

Start your education here:
http://anonymous.coward.free.fr/...ng/testprotocol.html

Robert wrote that MANY years ago, and I think he's learned a few extra things since then that aren't reflected in that writeup.

I'm sure you can search up plenty of power meter comparisons as well...

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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Where did I say you made any money from it?

After saying you weren't involved with it you then mentioned that you worked on it received thanks and gifts for that work. Not to mention a dig at Stages, which you claim you aren't biased against, and yet another immature round of insults to deflect from the fact that of you being involved with the product or service I mentioned.

Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
styrrell wrote:
One of the good things that Ray seem to find is that the Stages doesn't seem to drift or need to be rezeroed nearly as much as the PT and Quark do. Again that needs to be confirmed.

Exactly...as I pointed out to Ray, just because the offset number spit back appears not to change, it doesn't mean that it's not drifting. So stating that it appears "more stable" is a bit premature. After all, Stages hasn't even revealed what that number represents. For example, it could be equivalent to either a Quarq offset value (which we know is 1/32 N-m). or a PT offset value (1 in-lb)...or, it could be 10X that value...or 100X? We just don't know. Let's assume the number spit back is equivalent to 10X the Quarq value. If that's the case, the Quarq could drift by as much as 9 "points" without the Stages showing a single "point" change.

Despite Stages' claim that their temp sensor has "solved" the temperature drift issue, we really don't know that until we have some way of interpreting the observed number. There's no scaling.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
Sure its possible, but thats just a theory...

Actually, it's NOT just a theory. As Ray noted (and I'm fairly certain he shared this), he observed an anomolous offset value from the Quarq before the one section where it was the most out.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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FYI, it's "Quarq", not "Quark".
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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styrrell wrote:
Where did I say you made any money from it?

After saying you weren't involved with it you then mentioned that you worked on it received thanks and gifts for that work. Not to mention a dig at Stages, which you claim you aren't biased against, and yet another immature round of insults to deflect from the fact that of you being involved with the product or service I mentioned.

Ah, struck a nerve, eh?

I'm not involved with the virtual wind tunnel, which is what you claimed. You are wrong. The virtual wind tunnel is not a product in competition with the Stages PM, which is what you claimed. You are wrong. I thought up virtual elevation, and I've gotten thank-you gifts for that, and I'm involved with that, but virtual elevation is neither the virtual wind tunnel nor is it a product in competition with the Stages Power Meter. You are wrong on that, too. Pattern developing? Virtual elevation is a method that is free for anyone to use or to improve upon, even projects I'm not involved with. I can understand that you're a little unclear on these concepts -- you seem unclear on so many things that it's really not much of a surprise that you're unclear on these things, too.

Plus, you're a poor speller.
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [RChung] [ In reply to ]
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Whichever product you've been guerrilla marketing on the previous threds is what I'm referring to. I really don't know what its supposed to named because the 2 or 3 threads previewing it have been short of substantial info. But you've been very helpful in telling us its

"Cool, ain't it?"
and
"Its science."

So virtual WT or RealWorld Windtunnel or KoolKidsCircljerkingthemselvesoffonSTtunnel, I don't really care what you wnat to call it but no matter how its spelled you seemed pretty involved.

Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
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BTW, you seem to think that I'm somehow biased against Stages. Well, here's what I wrote over 5 years ago about another PM which used the same "2X left leg power" algorithm:

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...omo%20pt%20;#1598406

Sound familiar? I had the same concerns then about the L/R imbalances, but at least the Ergomo appeared to be fairly precise and it was also adjustable so it could be made accurate too in the power it was measuring (left side power, that is). The difficult thing with the Ergomo was that due to the nature of the device, one couldn't statically check the torque slope. That check could only be made dynamically, which can be tough to do without another PM.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
styrrell wrote:
Whichever product you've been guerrilla marketing on the previous threds is what I'm referring to. I really don't know what its supposed to named because the 2 or 3 threads previewing it have been short of substantial info. But you've been very helpful in telling us its

"Cool, ain't it?"
and
"Its science."

So virtual WT or RealWorld Windtunnel or KoolKidsCircljerkingthemselvesoffonSTtunnel, I don't really care what you wnat to call it but no matter how its spelled you seemed pretty involved.

I'm not, so once again you're wrong. But even if I were, you'd still be wrong since you claimed it was a product that competed with the Stages Power Meter and it's not. It's sort of impressive that when I peel away one thing you're wrong about there's another thing you're wrong about underneath. It's almost like performance art. Hmmm. Frank, is that you?
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [Tom A.] [ In reply to ]
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I think that experience made you biased about similar meters. Much like people who bought early early carbon frames and had them break, or anything else that you spend a lot of money on and get burned by.

But my posts haven't been so much about a defense of Stages as much as a lack of the criticism of other products. Like I've said a few of the Rosetta stone tests look pretty much like what stages originally posted. A outdoor rider with the smoothed files superimposed all the lines tracking each other pretty well.

The analysis RC did showed quite a bit of difference beyond what you see at first glance from those first looks, and that exists between all the pM compared, yet your bias leads you to believe that the other PMs are fine the user just needs to learn how to use them.

Like I've asked for, on quite a few treads, show outdoor ride between 2 PMs with the same type of analysis and the the data was gathered. Aside from shutting me up, lots of threads pop up on ST with people who seemingly have consistency issues with PMs of all types, methods of eliminating that should pretty much be a sticky on ST, so why keep it a secret? I have no issue with acknowledging that you've got lots of experience working with a lot of different PMs so why not help the general populace.

Styrrell
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [styrrell] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
styrrell wrote:
I think that experience made you biased about similar meters.

What you are calling "bias" is actually a healthy skepticism based on knowledge of the fundamentals of the problem and experience with a prior product that used the same assumptions. I'm biased about the left-only power measurement algorithm in the same way I'm biased against using a fat-tired cruiser in a crit. Yeah, it'll "work" to some fashion, but there are some fundamental issues with how well it will work.

styrrell wrote:
Much like people who bought early early carbon frames and had them break, or anything else that you spend a lot of money on and get burned by.

What makes you assume that I spent money on the Ergomo?


styrrell wrote:
But my posts haven't been so much about a defense of Stages as much as a lack of the criticism of other products.

What "lack of criticism"? Did you NOT read that post I linked to above about the Ergomo?


styrrell wrote:
Like I've said a few of the Rosetta stone tests look pretty much like what stages originally posted. A outdoor rider with the smoothed files superimposed all the lines tracking each other pretty well.

Boy, for someone who claims to have such a great memory, you seem to be forgetting being told that just throwing squiggly lines up and eyeballing them isn't exactly the best way to compare power meters.


styrrell wrote:
The analysis RC did showed quite a bit of difference beyond what you see at first glance from those first looks, and that exists between all the pM compared, yet your bias leads you to believe that the other PMs are fine the user just needs to learn how to use them.

Again, you seem to be conflating bias with "experience and knowledge". Ray hasn't been the first guy to throw a PT wheel and a CinQo on a bike together, you know...


styrrell wrote:
Like I've asked for, on quite a few treads, show outdoor ride between 2 PMs with the same type of analysis and the the data was gathered. Aside from shutting me up, lots of threads pop up on ST with people who seemingly have consistency issues with PMs of all types, methods of eliminating that should pretty much be a sticky on ST, so why keep it a secret? I have no issue with acknowledging that you've got lots of experience working with a lot of different PMs so why not help the general populace.

I've done so MANY times...on this forum and others, on the wattage google group, etc. I don't have the time to dig them up, but I'm sure you can find them. As far as detailing how it's done, it's no different than I did here when comparing a LeMond Power Pilot to a CinQo.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/...es-it-give-good.html

It doesn't matter if it's indoors or out, the methods and tools used are the same.

http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/
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Re: Balance (Power Distribution Left Vs Right) on Bike [Tom A.] [ In reply to ]
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Damn! You 3. Here I thought I'd finally be able to afford a PM. And, it sounded so good. It could be changed between my road and Tri bike in minutes. Here I thought my concerns about the Ergomo (before they folded) were wrong and one-sided metering was ok. DRAT! Foiled again! Sounds like it's back to trying to explain to the wife why I need an expensive new gizmo that is a misspelling of elementary particles, just measuring power, of all things.

I keep telling my JPL, EE riding buddy that, now that space missions are less frequent, they should come up with an inexpensive, reliable PM. Our other regular riding buddy of ours is an ME. Just what I'd think one would need--EE+ME.
(I think that equals the speed of light squared, or something like that.)

_________________
Dick

Take everything I say with a grain of salt. I know nothing.
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