Kickr/TrainerRoad/Macbookair not playing nice!

Trish Marshall

So, I thought I had figured out how to get ant+ reading my hr strap and kickr yesterday following a youtube video for tips, but did not ride.  I felt like a rockstar!  What has been happening is no power readings even though it shows paired  or one device will read properly with ant+ but not both.  IE: TR devices finds kickr and shows power but won't show hr or it finds hr and kickr but doesn't show power.  Isn't it supposed to work with trainer, hr strap, cadence sensor all at once???? I am admittedly totally handicapped when it comes to tech, but I KNOW it isn't supposed to be difficult to get all this stuff synced and running.

I am so pissed! This stuff should just stinking work.  I did not have these issues with my power tap and non electronic trainer.  So much money and "supposed awesome" invested in kickr.  It just makes me mad!  

Any help would be appreciated, especially since its time to work come monday!!!

Al Truscott

Trish - since I'm about to start my trainer workout within the hour, I tested my Kickr with Trainer Road and my MacBook. My computer operating system is the latest, El Capitan (10.11.2), my Trainer Road version is dated Dec 8th (2.7.5), my KICKR firmware is 1.3.32, and my HR strap is a Timex (I have a Garmin strap as well). First off, I tried things WITHOUT Bluetooth, and both my HR and my KICKR power showed up just fine in the Trainer Road application. Ditto when I turned on Bluetooth, and "Unpaired" my Kickr from ANT+, and re-paired it via Bluetooth. So we know your system *should* work. Some things to consider, from the blindingly obvious to more subtle issues:

• Is the KICKR power cord firmly plugged into the machine?
• Is there a good connection to the internet?
• Do you have a Garmin ANT+ USB stick (or similar) plugged into the computer?
• Try it with Bluetooth turned off.
• In the TR program (app), click on "Devices" at the top, and make sure that the ANT+ Stick is recognized. It will say "No ANT+ USB Stick detected" if not. Click "Search for ANT+..." 
• If you use a Garmin Device, turn OFF Garmin Express on your Mac. You may have to go to the top Mac menu bar, and locate an pyramid/triangle icon, click on that, and "Quit Garmin Express" (I discovered this little glitch one day by trial and error serendipity - if GE is turned on, the ANT+ stick will not be recognized by the TR program, for some reason)
• Do you have an iPhone or iPad? If so, get the Trainer Road app, and use that instead of your computer. The app is simpler and easier to use IMO; it's what I'm doing nowadays via my iPad, instead of lugging my laptop into my training space. You can even get an ANT+ receiver from Wahoo (the KICKR people) which plugs into the older style iPhone/Pad; and you can get an adaptor if you have the newer, smaller ("Thunderbolt") plugs. Since the KICKR works both ways (BT & ANT+) the BT in the iOS devices does just fine all by itself, if your HR strap broadcasts BT (mine doesn't)

Bottom line, know that there *IS* a solution, and this *WILL* work for you, just a question of working through everything from square 1.

Tom Glynn

Listen to Al

I've got an old MacBook Pro and have no problems. I use TrainerRoad and it picks up everything. HR. Cadence, Kickr, PowerTap pedals (that drive the Kickr).

I find the biggest problem is that the ant+ stick is often hard to find when starting up, so I just take it out of the USB port and stick it back in again, sometimes it takes a few tries, and then all the sensors get picked up.

tim cronk

X2 what Tom said about the ANT stick not getting picked up... I usually have this problem happen when alternating MacBook Ant stick use from TR to Garmin 910xt downloads.... Usually just restart the MacBook and then everything works fine.. Like the old PC days a good Control/Alt/Delete can fix almost anything.

Trish Marshall

Thanks guys. I did get it up and running by moving the stick to the other port on the computer. Strength went from bad on both hr strap and kickr to excellent. (the TR you tube fix I was so excited about yesterday addressed the ant+ stick not working...basically you do what Tom suggests...take it out and reinsert with the program open and it "sees" the ant+ stick before Garmin Express.)

Al, I did some attempt some trouble shooting yesterday. My kickr and trainer road are up to date. My plug is fine, and as for wifi, it is pretty good. The router isn't too far away on the same floor. I do have an iPhone, but can't mirror to the tv with out the thunderbolt cord and the laptop. I really like having the big tv for workouts as it simulates how I used to train in my local teams computrainer lab.

Now my issue seems to be I can't access the EN workouts!!! GRRRRR! I am active at trainerroad.com and part of en, can see the 2016 os workouts. BUT...I can NOT see them in the program. Putting in 2016 (or 2015 for that matter) shows nothing. I can't even open a past workout from EN in careers and ride it again, which would work in a pinch for Monday if I can't get it resolved. I DID update my credit card this am, but I was able to see and use other TR workouts, so I don't think that is the issue.

Tom, did you gain access? I saw your post on the TR thread for JOS.....

Tom Glynn

I haven't got access yet, but it's not a huge deal, I just write my workouts with the TR Workout Creator. It's pretty easy - really!

Robin Rodriguez

Trish, with regard to not seeing the EN workouts, take a look at the below screenshot, does Endurance Nation show up under the team tab?

Trish Marshall

@Robin, yes. I was able to ride the os official warm up as recently as 12/29. I double checked that I am a member of the team a trainerroad.com as well. I can see the 2016 wo's there. I just can't ride them in the app on my computer.

@Al, I have the same version of TR as you, so that shouldn't be the issue.

@Tom...I may resort to doing the 20' TR test since I can do the regular TR rides. I may take a whack at custom if I can't open the EN work out. BUT...I want my EN wo's!!! That is part of the awesome of trainer road for me....its all RIGHT THERE!

Trish Marshall

OK...finally figured it out. By using the reset button on the workout filter list at the top right. DOH!

@Tom, perhaps this can help you???

Pat Koss

Good info here and in another post. Just picked up a Kickr Snap yesterday. I got it hooked up to BT on the iPhone (I don't have an ANT+ connector there yet), and to the MacBook using BT. TrainerRoad seemed to work just fine, controlling the Kickr and picking up ANT+ for my Quarq.

I'm going to try it on the first workout Tuesday morning (NOS Tuesday intervals).

Question, do you use the TrainerRoad "Power Match" function? If so, do you run the Kickr in ERG mode? (both of which seem to be the default). It seems that the function works but I only tested it for a couple of minutes on TR. I was concerned that the Kickr was putting about 20+ watts too many on the wheel load (the Snap is the wheel on version of the Kickr) until it seemed that it backed off (which later I found was the Power Match function).

Brad Marcus

@Pat - we picked up a Snap as an extra trainer last month too. I haven't tried the power match yet, since I haven't put a bike on the trainer that has a PM yet. But, I initially had some issues with good power readings on the Snap as well while in ERG mode. My wife was complaining that her effort seemed way too hard vs similar effort on our Kickr. She was right! I called Wahoo and realized that there are 2 types of spin-downs to calibrate the device: one is just a standard spin-down that you can use before any workout, and the other is an "initial spin-down". They had me do the initial spin-down to calibrate the device, and it seemed to get things closer to where it seemed it should be. Maybe that'll help...

Pat Koss

Thanks Brad. I'll do the "initial" spin-down tonight. I think I saw that on the iPhone app menu (the IOS app speaks of an "Advanced" spin down".

Brad Marcus

I failed to mention where I found it, and you are correct - it was on the iPhone app. Good luck and let us know if it makes a difference.