+1 Andy.

Very interesting. But I really suppose that physical force of leaning the bike could change biomechanics to try and compensate!

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Carson Christen
Sport Scientist / Coach
Torden Multisport

That is what I think is the potential cause as the bike did have some degree of leaning into the wind entire time. Anyway, just interesting observatio. As I mentioned, I do not pay much attention to balance in my files. I would not know what to do with that data anyway.

I had heard that soon after either the tour de suisse or giro the team was told they could use different PMs. Not sure who made the call, but the data I have seen from riders using SRM (has been extremely consistent). I know Garmin has an analytics person, so that may have had something to do with it. Though most teams are still old school, I think there is a push (like most sports) to move towards a hard data approach to stage planning / pacing / etc. So unless there is a $ponsor reason teams are going to want data accuracy and consistency (I'm not saying Vectors aren't accurate just speculating on why they might change).

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Founder: BestBikeSplit
Amazonian

Garmin out next year as a sponsor right?
Like they could care less..re public perception...

Warranty on their product is likely killing them :)
Hence they can't be bothered fixing the 910xt ... Just walk away quietly..... Ssshhhhhh no one will notice

Perhaps, or perhaps it doesn't change how he pedals but rather how the Stages' accelerometers work.

For those curious, official answer back from Garmin regarding the team not using real/complete Vector systems and instead using SRM systems (it was a two-part question):

"In regard to the pictures posted – as part of our partnership with Slipstream Sports, Garmin works with the athletes, mechanics and head of Sport Science to continue to develop our products, including Vector. By doing so, we are able to make improvements and enhancements before these products are made available to the general public. As such, it is not at all uncommon to see different combinations of Vector, pedals, and other power meters on team bikes. We are committed to the constant improvement of our products, including our Vector power meters."

Obviously, from my standpoint kinda sidesteps any real answer. Anyway, fwiw.

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My tiny little slice of the internets: dcrainmaker.com

And you can put Rotor in the same boat... Lampre is using a blackout Power2Max with a Rotor on the left crank. Problem is... there is only one garmin on the handlebar...

technically it's 'they COULDN'T care less'. If they COULD care less, then they should care less. :) Anyways, they should care if they want to have a market for the Vector or any of their other products. As for the 910xt, they are fixing it. You just have to send in your unit for a refurbished one, which happens on an annual basis. At least for me it does. :(

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The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design.

I believe that Garmin is going to remain a sponsor, just not a title sponsor.

Will garmin make a public statement about this?

So their sponsorship will be half a job, well it's consistent with their product. Devel and support I guess ;)

Haha sorry re my grammar, I'm welsh and contractually obliged to vandalise the language.... ;)

Even the free second hand units don't pick up power data properly...
Oh and you still can't just use it as a regular watch in a low power mode i.e. no gps pick up.... (910xt here).

I thought the had issue with clearance for the strain gauge on the drive side arm.

Well a non-answer is just as good as the truth in this situation, I think. I don't really understand how Garmin can do hardware/software development on the Vector if the pedals are not being fitted with transmitter-battery pods.

I've looked at heaps of pictures of the TDF races bikes (S5's, R5's) fitted with race numbers and pictures of bikes on the team car without being able to find a bike where it appears that the battery-transmitter pods are fitted. Maybe I'm missing it.

Found it for you:



Look closely and you can see the pods attached.

The picture after the one you uploaded:

In my TdF post from Wednesday you can see them attached as well. http://www.dcrainmaker.com/...g-france-touque.html

In general you won't see PM's on bikes on team cars. There are occasional exceptions (actually, I think Team Sky does just mostly for appearance reasons). But because the extra bikes on team cars are adhoc things if a bike goes down, then it's tough to get everything re-paired logistically mid-race*, so teams don't bother.

*Note: It's actually quite easy technically to just write down an ANT+ ID number on the handlebars, but I can understand where that'd be the last thing a TdF riders wants to deal with mid-race post-crash

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My tiny little slice of the internets: dcrainmaker.com

Pretty sure the first photo is not from the Tour as you can see the zip tied tag holder on the left fork. Tour bikes have the transponder on the rear chainstays.

As for the second photo... I agree it shows the pods installed but I don't understand why they would have the pods on some bikes and off others. I don't understand why they would have to remove the pods at all (unless for development reasons?). Were you able to find any action photos from tour stages which show pods attached... I've only found shots of bikes with no pods.

Sky could just untwist the garmin head u it and twist it onto the replacement bike... But yeah...priorities...

Or they could fix the 910xt and riders could have power data on he wrist..as back up..... Except froomey cos his are broken......

I'm more interested in that jersey/skinsuit he's wearing. Past the elbows!

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ZONE3 - We Last Longer