OK power guys I got some issues with my setup.
Background: I have a 6 year old CycleOps fluid trainer, new SRM Dura Ace crank on my Cervelo P3SL, and track data on Garmin 910XT and Trainer Road.
Issue number 1: The CycleOps trainer spins real easy for the first 3 minutes or so then somehow adds more resistance on its own without me changing gears, cadence or roller resistance. It is almost like it has to get warmed up to then get to a steady state. Any idea why this happens? Does it happen on all trainers? You can see this warming up period on the power captures as my cadence and gearing stay constant in the first ten minutes of the ride.
Issue number 2: On long rides the CycleOps trainer then drops resistance around the 2 hour mark. So I think I am getting better and getting into a good rhythm only to find out that the trainer is making it easier for me. This one is harder to show but it feels that way. Anyone experience this on other trainers?
Issue number 3: Depending on how the CycleOps roller is positioned on the tire, I get drastic ranges in effort/speed/power numbers. So far my Garmin watch power readings and HR monitor have been consistent at any roller to tire pressure amount based on the same level of effort. But my speed can be anywhere from 17 mph to 21 mph. I make sure my tire is inflated to around 100 each ride. But still have to fine tune the roller to get a consistent speed from workout to workout. And my power listed on Trainer Road is almost always higher than on my watch.
Example 1: Easy resistance from the CycleOps roller to the tire: Candace 90, HR 130, Speed 21 mph, Garmin Power 200 watt, Trainer Road 275 watt (This feels like normal road riding.)
Example 2: Medium resistance from CycleOps: Candace 90, HR 130, Speed 19 mph, Garmin Power 200 watt, Trainer Road 240 watt.
Example 3: Heavy resistance from CycleOps: Candace 90, HR 130, Speed 17 mph, Garmin Power 200 watt, Trainer Road 205 watt. (This is way too much resistance compared to normal road riding feel.)
*Each example is ridden in the same gear. ** Resistance increases on the CycleOps is very small turns on the back resitance nob (a little change goes a long way).
Any tips on which is the best or how to get my numbers to stay consistent?
- yes. happens on my fluid^2 as well.
- I have no idea. I am never on teh trainer for more than 90 minutes. You are crazy.
- normal. This is why virtual power power is so difficult. In order for speed and power to correlate each ride you need to have the same tire pressure, and the same ‘number of turns’ on the trainer resistance wheel every time you ride. You have a power meter, you should ignore speed, its just white noise.
-
I have the CycleOps Fluid2 trainer as well, I don’t notice the change in resistance, but it appears to be a well accepted fact the resistance does change as it warms up
-
I haven’t done many rides >2 hours so I haven’t experienced it. Sounds plausible though, given the fact that the resistance does change.
-
If you have a power meter don’t worry about speed.
Press-on force is the issue in question here. I know that computrainers perform a roll-down test for this reason and make some sort of internal adjustment accordingly. Basically, as you press the roller into your tire more you’re increasing your rolling resistance. With light press-on force your 200W gets you 21mph, but with heavy press-on force your 200W only gets you 17mph. Makes sense. What would be more telling, though, would be to see the power required to hold a given speed, say…20mph, at the 3 press-on forces you tested.
You’re asking for answers on how to get consistency. Are you getting consistent numbers with each of your 3 press-on forces? If so, pick the one that feels most realistic to you and go with that. If 200W gets you 17mph IRL then go with that press-on force; if 200W gets you 21mph IRL then go with that.
As for the trainer warm-up, it’s a fluid trainer so the properties will theoretically vary with temperature. Ideally, a fluid trainer would either 1) not change temperature, or 2) use a fluid that doesn’t experience a significant viscosity change due to temperature variation within the range of temperatures that would be experienced while riding. Of course, fluids thin out as they get hotter so this phenomenon would explain your post-2hr resistance decrease but not the first 3 min. Are you seeing a low power-required over your first 3 min or is this anecdote based on RPE? Regardless, you may benefit from using a fan to blow cool air over your trainer.
It took me a little thinking why your Garmin has power data and it doesn’t match TrainerRoad… until I realized you must be using your SRM with the Garmin and Virtual Power with TrainerRoad?
If you have a power meter, why not select it as your power source for TR?
In that case your power numbers will match between devices (and what you are truly delivering to the cranks) and, as others have mentioned, your speed doesn’t matter. Just set the tension so the wheel doesn’t slip 
Thanks all,
I got the power meter because it was hard to determine true gains when the speed was all over the place. I was thinking about getting a new trainer but it seems like they all have the issue. I was looking at computrainer too but went with the PM. Cant buy both right now.
I guess i will just review the Garmin power numbers for performance as they have stayed constant all other things considered.
BTW - Watched Lord of War with Nick Cage during the session. Its like double the torture. lol
Cheers
It took me a little thinking why your Garmin has power data and it doesn’t match TrainerRoad… until I realized you must be using your SRM with the Garmin and Virtual Power with TrainerRoad?
If you have a power meter, why not select it as your power source for TR?
In that case your power numbers will match between devices (and what you are truly delivering to the cranks) and, as others have mentioned, your speed doesn’t matter. Just set the tension so the wheel doesn’t slip
I just checked my setup and the profile setting on Power/Virtual Power is checked “On”. So should I change this to HR? There isn’t an option for just Power. If I change to HR will it still give me the power graph?
I also have an older Fluid2, and everything you wrote is consistent to how mine operates. I think paying attention to speed on a trainer is silly. Watts and Time (and maybe cadence) is all you need! Also, don’t clamp down too hard on the tire. Adjust it to where it barely doesn’t slip when you jerk the tire back and forth. And, just shift gears when it gets easier or harder. Just watch the watts. It will continuously change the power, it’s just how this trainer operates. You can also ignore trainer road’s watts guesstimate, as it’s just that, a best guess. You have an SRM!
I just checked my setup and the profile setting on Power/Virtual Power is checked “On”. So should I change this to HR? There isn’t an option for just Power. If I change to HR will it still give me the power graph?
In the trainerroad software under the devices tab there is a drop down menu for ‘power source’. Just choose power meter as the source instead of the cyclops trainer, pair it and you are good to go.
I have a 3 yr old Cycleops2 running with a new Powermeter Pro+ and no such problems.
I just checked my setup and the profile setting on Power/Virtual Power is checked “On”. So should I change this to HR? There isn’t an option for just Power. If I change to HR will it still give me the power graph?
In the trainerroad software under the devices tab there is a drop down menu for ‘power source’. Just choose power meter as the source instead of the cyclops trainer, pair it and you are good to go.
Traveling today so I can check this out with the bike. I dont see an SRM option so I assume I just put it on “Power Meter” and then it will pick it up. Will try it again when I make it back home.
Yah, do what the other say. Make sure it says “Power Source: Power meter”
You’re not the first to be confused by this. I think we’re going to make it so that there’s a “VirtualPower” checkbox. If you check that, then you select your trainer. If you don’t then we auto detect the correct power source.
Yah, do what the other say. Make sure it says “Power Source: Power meter”
You’re not the first to be confused by this. I think we’re going to make it so that there’s a “VirtualPower” checkbox. If you check that, then you select your trainer. If you don’t then we auto detect the correct power source.
Ahhhh, that’s it. My day job is consulting on financial software implementations and I know it is impossible to design systems to be idiot proof. Too bad I was the idiot this time. lol
I like the product so far. Only used it twice but it has good potential. Especially due to the long winter we are having.
This year I plan on doing most of my training indoors, even after it warms up outside. I read way too many posts on people getting run over by cars/trucks leading up to their races last year. I live in Atlanta where your life is in danger every time you go out on a ride. So I will be using TR a lot.
Great to hear :). I’m working on that power source drop down right now…