I have been using a Powertap for the past 2 years and I feel that it is a great tool. However I have never downloaded any data to the computer due to the cradle for the powertap being a RS-232 connection (?? I think that is what it is called) and not having another place to connect it on the computer. This week I found a converter so that I can plug it into a USB port.
So far I have not been able to get the data to download in either the Powertap software or in a Cyclingpeaks 2 week trial.
I have tried it in each USB port that is free on my computer. I have called tech support with Cyclops. So far no dice?
Has anyone used a USB serial converter with a Powertap? Any ideas etc?
I do.
First, make sure the serial/usb adapter has the proper drivers installed in the computer; the adapter should have come with a CD. Second, play around with the port settings on the software; I think COM1 works on mine. Third, plug the adapter in BEFORE you activate the software.
Try those, I’m sure others on here will have good suggestions as well.
I have to warn you that the USB/Serial setup is a Jerry-rig at best; the device was meant for a serial port and any attempt to try other methods will cause the device to behave…Idiosyncratically. I had to go through A LOT of trial and error before I got everything to download properly.
MET has some good advice, and as lame as this sounds there are actually a few USB/Serial adapters that just won’t work. Saris should have a brand and model to suggest . I am not home or I would look at mine.
I can’t believe, you never download…what do you use it for? How do you quantify improvements and whatnot?
You will dig CyclingPeaks, I use it for all of my athletes and it makes life so much easier.
Kurt
I did not download because I did not have the serial port on my computer and did not have the USB adapter.
What do I use the Powertap for? Well I figure even if you never download you still get real time data that can help with pacing. At Ironman Arizona it helped keep my ego in check and race more intelligently. BTW I ran my best Ironman marathon due to smart bike pacing.
How did I track improvement. Well I noted average wattage for the ride and input that in my training log after rides. I know that average watts don’t tell the whole story. The Coggan algorithms normalized power etc will help better quantify, but I definitely was not bumbling around in the dark.
I can’t wait to get these technical issues behind me and start downloading.
I still have my Ironman Arizona data in the powertap. Since the race I have done all of my riding on my mountain bike for a change of pace. Now that May 1st is upon us I am going to transition from Aerobic play and start “training” again. But I want to save the race data before I clear the PT.
got it. one thing you will see is that CP is different than what your PT CPU says for certain things. I know that CP takes the raw data and then does the old IF/TSS calculation from that. That IMAZ file would be cool to look at.
Kurt