Ghost Ryder

I'm considering getting a comp/GPS/PM for my bike, & am considering the iBike iPro Gen III Power Meter.
What are your guys/gals thoughts on this device?
Anyone have any experience with this device?

https://ibikesports.com/ipro.html#page=page-1

svtmike

Having to recalibrate it every single ride for the changed environmental conditions makes it a non-starter for me.

slowandsteady

What does it cost? The website doesn't appear to function.

slowandsteady

How does it work? The website doesn't explain.

canam73

These have been discussed quite a bit here.

Cost is $5-600 depending on model.

They work by calculating power off of measurements of forward air resistance and incline along with user inputs of weight, etc.

rpeterson

Get a real power meter.

slowandsteady

At double the price? Why?

LowCel 

Because you can trust the numbers in all environments and on group rides.

Good used power taps regularly sell in the $500 - $700 range.

kimconyc

If you are going to head down the power meter route, get something based off of torque or don't get one at all.

Using a PM effectively, that's a whole other can of worms to open.

Elduderino2412

I had an Ibike Pro Gen III. It wasn't very good. Resold it after having it for only 2 months. Data was sporadic at best.
Also setting it up is a pain in the ***

kimconyc

If you can't replicate data effectively, the "power meter" is worthless. That's the whole point of using one.

rpeterson

Mine cost 500 off ebay and ya know, it actually works.

Ghost Ryder

I'm also considering a Garmin Edge 500.
No not a PM, but has most of the functions I want in a bike comp.
I like the idea of a PM, & agree with is being calculated on Torque. I'm asking about this particular PM since I can get it for $200.
If the consensus thinks it's not a great device I may pass on it.

I'm open to other PM suggestions too, can I get links to what some of you guys use?

Thanks everyone!

canam73

It depends on what you want to do with the PM. If you just want to see some relative numbers at the end of a ride, the iBike (for $200) may be fine. But then again you can get that from an online calculator or Strava.

If you want to do some serious PM based training then you need a Powertap (wheel based, $500 used, $1000 and up new) or a Quarq (crank based, $1500 and up). The garmin 500 is a great head unit with or without a PM.

slowandsteady

I don't know anything about it. But why wouldn't the data replicate?

rkwaki

Well I have to chime in.
History: I am a Cat 1 beast who thought I knew everything I needed to about training.
Then I got a powermeter only to learn that there was a lot I was doing wrong or misguided. I will never ride without one again, ever!!!

Drew Eckhardt 

That's as much as a used wireless powertap and twice a used wired second generation one which provides the same numbers as the wireless powertap but requires you to use a yellow computer that isn't nearly as sexy as a Garmin.

LowCel 

I'm the same way, not a beast but I don't like riding without a power meter. In my mind being fat and out of shape makes it even more important to have a powermeter. With it I know that on a 6 minute climb I can hold around 340ish watts. Therefore if I look down at the beginning of the climb and see that I am putting out 400ish watts trying to keep up with you skinny guys I know that I am going to blow up. I am then able to lower my wattage to a sustainable number and get to the top without falling over dead or completely blowing up and having to do the last half at 150 watts.

DaveWC

Bid on this...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Powertap-SL-...item3f1ae5cdd3

svtmike

The power is estimated off of effective wind speed, grade, and other parameters like rider's aero drag. My understanding of the iBike is that you have to calibrate it at the beginning of each ride so it knows what the conditions are. But conditions change, and the data is therefore based on shifting sands. There is a ton of information in this document:

https://www.ibikesports.com/Download/...une_09_red.pdf

Direct measurement of torque off of a strain guage, while more expensive, is really the way to go if you are serious about training with power.

Here's another huge problem with it in my book -- iBike recommends battery changes every 2 hours for operation in 40 degrees and below.

Elduderino2412

I replaced my garmin 310xt w/a 500, and like it even better than the 310xt(which i liked alot). I just sold my Ibike PM for 300, and bought a used quarq for $800(it looks almost new). I haven't installed the quarq yet, so can't comment on it.

slowandsteady

It would seem that the only thing that would change is the weight of the bike and rider throughout a ride as water is consumed and perspired. I lost 0.5 lbs on my long ride yesterday. I lost the equivalent of half a water bottle in sweat.

rkwaki

I did a road race years ago (~130 miles) and believe I was down 6 pounds...

svtmike

Aero drag will change with rider position and possibly even with clothing changes (taking off a wind shell, for instance). Barometric pressure changes so altitude and therefore climbing data is compromised. The requirement to recalibrate the wind sensor to zero wind at the start of each ride suggests that sensor is sensitive to changes in some other condition, such as barometric pressure as well. The iBike relies on accelerometers that are bothered by bumps in the road.

Plenty of things moving around besides rider weight.

gregf83 

There are many other changes which occur in a ride. How does the iBike know if you're drafting in a group? Or what happens when you're riding along the road and a large truck rolls by? Those are just a couple of examples that will drastically alter the readings you get from a iBike meter.

My impression is that the iBike is a toy and if you're serious about training with power you'll be disappointed.