General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Calibrating Power Meter on Race Day Rss Feed  
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2015-08-27 11:54 AM

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Oakville
Subject: Calibrating Power Meter on Race Day

I just picked up a Power2Max Classic PM and want to make sure that I properly calibrate it on race day so the data will be recorded.

I have a Garmin 500 and my current practice is to hit the "Start" while in transition.  The auto start/stop is set at 15 km/hr and so it will stay in pause mode until I get up to speed during the race.  The auto shut-off has also be disabled so that the Garmin won't shut down by itself.

My question is, if I calibrate the PM during race day set up, will it stay calibrated for the race - likely an hour or so between initial calibration and getting on the bike? 

Do you need to do anything special at the beginning of the ride?

As an aside, does anyone know why the Power2Max won't calibrate on the Garmin 500 without wearing my HR monitor?

 

 



2015-08-27 12:42 PM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: Calibrating Power Meter on Race Day
Originally posted by Scott71
As an aside, does anyone know why the Power2Max won't calibrate on the Garmin 500 without wearing my HR monitor?

 

 




I will let the P2M users comment on calibration but for the Garmin, simply disable the HR monitor and you should be able to calibrate. Then you have to search for it again to re-enable it. Garmin bug.


Edited by marcag 2015-08-27 12:42 PM
2015-08-27 1:26 PM
in reply to: Scott71

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Calibrating Power Meter on Race Day

Originally posted by Scott71

I just picked up a Power2Max Classic PM and want to make sure that I properly calibrate it on race day so the data will be recorded.

I have a Garmin 500 and my current practice is to hit the "Start" while in transition.  The auto start/stop is set at 15 km/hr and so it will stay in pause mode until I get up to speed during the race.  The auto shut-off has also be disabled so that the Garmin won't shut down by itself.

My question is, if I calibrate the PM during race day set up, will it stay calibrated for the race - likely an hour or so between initial calibration and getting on the bike? 

Do you need to do anything special at the beginning of the ride?

As an aside, does anyone know why the Power2Max won't calibrate on the Garmin 500 without wearing my HR monitor? 

It should stay calibrated as it has an internal temperature compensation but that's assuming that works well.  The other option is to just coast for a few seconds shortly into the ride to let it do an auto zero.

As for not calibrating without the HR monitor - super annoying!  Same thing applies to a speed sensor.  It will eventually work, just takes way longer.

2015-08-27 1:27 PM
in reply to: marcag

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PEI, Canada
Subject: RE: Calibrating Power Meter on Race Day

Originally posted by marcag
Originally posted by Scott71 As an aside, does anyone know why the Power2Max won't calibrate on the Garmin 500 without wearing my HR monitor?

 

 

I will let the P2M users comment on calibration but for the Garmin, simply disable the HR monitor and you should be able to calibrate. Then you have to search for it again to re-enable it. Garmin bug.

Hey Marc, do you know if that's just an issue with the 500 or are other Garmins the same?

2015-08-27 4:15 PM
in reply to: axteraa

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Subject: RE: Calibrating Power Meter on Race Day
Originally posted by axteraa

Originally posted by marcag
Originally posted by Scott71 As an aside, does anyone know why the Power2Max won't calibrate on the Garmin 500 without wearing my HR monitor?

 

 

I will let the P2M users comment on calibration but for the Garmin, simply disable the HR monitor and you should be able to calibrate. Then you have to search for it again to re-enable it. Garmin bug.

Hey Marc, do you know if that's just an issue with the 500 or are other Garmins the same?




Not sure. I think it's only the 500 but not 100% sure. I used to have it with the 500 and a powertap.

The problem doesn't exist for me with the 800.
2015-08-27 9:23 PM
in reply to: marcag

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Subject: RE: Calibrating Power Meter on Race Day
I've had the same calibration issue with my 500. Issue is it won't calibrate some times if one sensor is not present. In regards to calibration on race day. Be careful. I had issues once and ended up syncing my 500 to someone else's PM. I don't calibrate on race day anymore but it stays pretty consistent for,me already.


2015-08-28 8:03 AM
in reply to: Nussy

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Oakville
Subject: RE: Calibrating Power Meter on Race Day

Thanks for the advice everyone. 

I will always have my HR monitor with me on race day, so the calibration issue is more of an annoyance than anything else.

Its my first race with the PM and so I plan to ride "blind" and not pay attention to power during the race.

I'm more concerned with recording the power data to see how the race went.

2015-08-29 11:58 AM
in reply to: Scott71

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Subject: RE: Calibrating Power Meter on Race Day
P2Max will calibrate if you stop pedaling or coast for 2 seconds with no action required by you. I don't worry about it. I know I'll coast on the hills going down, if they are steep enough. This is nice since the temperature will increase throughout the day and I'm sure you'll coast 2 seconds every so often.
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