That is because most powermeters literally use strain gauges.

Power in cycling power meter is also "calculated" from measured deflection, known geometry and cadence. Measuring power on ergometer performance should be no less accurate. May be more accurate.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
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Not sure I agree on the poor C2 quality control either. Speaking with 20 years of experience in the UK and Switzerland, where C2 is by far the market leader for oars, I don't remember ever having a single problem with any blades other than following crashes. This is with new blades, old blades, lots of transporting them around the country in the bottom of trailers to regattas etc etc....

If the bike erg is built anything like their normal ergs, it will be super solid and last for a couple of decades with some occasional maintenance.

The ergs are sturdy; oars have issues: Vortex edges falling off, aluminum handles coming unglued, newer torx handles not being adjustable and/or coming loose in the shaft, sleeves/collars not matching, etc, etc. I never indicated anything about usage numbers. We're not seeing the same kinds of issues on oar brands w/ simpler designs and fewer parts.

I agree that the ergbike thing—if built like an erg—should be study, if nothing else.

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no sponsors | no races | nothing to see here

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...ost=6400399#p6400399

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no sponsors | no races | nothing to see here

It's safe to say the concept2 ergometer won't be more accurate than current generation powermeters unless they add significant tech to it.

100% agree. The BikeErg will last a lifetime for individual users. This is coming from 25 years on their rowing ergometers (Model's B, C & D) and 3 years on the new SkiErg. Concept 2 makes incredibly durable machines. I'm just waiting for them to make a SwimErg!!!

And now we have a unique indoor triathlon: Row, Bike, & Ski!

couldn't you just replace the handles on the SkiErg with Paddles and use the machine as a "SwimErg"?

Has anyone uses a BikeErg for Zwift? How do you change gears? I'm asking for a friend (I have a tacx neo), but am trying to spread the Zwift love to others.

Ken

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"the trick is to keep losing weight until your friends and family ask you if you've been sick. then you know you're within 10 pounds. if they start whispering to each other, wondering if you've got cancer or aids, you're within 5. when they actually do an intervention, you're at race weight." - Slowman

You don't change gears. It uses an adjustable damper to very resistance of the flywheel. It works similar to a fluid trainer in that the faster you go the harder it is to pedal and the more power you produce.

The damper affects how much power it takes to move the flywheel at a given speed or cadence. A lower damper setting will allow for a higher cadence to produce the same power as a lower cadence with a more open damper setting.

The monitor on the unit is calibrated to adjust for different damper settings.

I suspect this will be a surprisingly loud product given how loud most wind-based bike trainers are. Might be enough of a game-killer compared to a nearly silent stationary bike.

It's not as loud as most air resistance trainers because of the enclosure and the fact that the flywheel turns slower than most other air resistance trainers.

It certainly won't be as quiet as other types of resistance though.

No FE-C control of resistance and still a 1000 bucks? According to DCR, we'll soon be seeing lots of indoor bikes with FE-C, and they'll be priced very competitively. I'd think this thing is DOA for folks in the know. Might have appeal to the camping, "green," or zombie apocalypse crowd though, as it'll work without electricity.

It's not targeted towards the cycling crowd. It's targeted more towards the crossfit/MMA or general home exercise people. If it's built as well as C2's other products it will last a lifetime, requires little to no maintenance, reliable, accurate performance monitor, relatively compact and lightweight.

It can work with Zwift and trainer road which is a bonus.

Most of the $1000 indoor bikes are going to have more maintenance, relatively poor resistance feel and will not be nearly as reliable nor last as long.

So, it depends on what someone is looking for.

My C2 Model D erg makes a fairly inoffensive "whoooosh" noise when I put my back into it, but it's nothing like the jet-shriek that the LeMond makes - or the fairly loud whine the Kickr I have now makes. The sound it makes wouldn't stop me from purchasing it (but the numerous other things it's lacking in a world full of smart trainers would).

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http://www.cleveland.com/..._rowing_machine.html

Good link - nothing surprising to me there at all. They had a big opportunity, but I think they've had as much out of the core componentry of the erg as they're going to get.

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