We did not buy the Joule through EN, only because we received it for free from Saris after a full year of hell with their Powerbeam trainer. I was playing around with it last night while Max rode. It did not come with a manual, and yet it was very easy to figure out and I had it up and running within 2 minutes. I need more time to play with it, but so far I really like it. Easy to read. But I have not gone beyond the basics. I will look online for a manual for the more in depth data. It is only very slightly larger than the PowerTap head and smaller than the Garmin 705. I will be "borrowing" it for my season, but that means I will need to upgrade WKO+ I believe. It is nice.
You just had to tease all of us patiently waiting didn't you. Ha Ha!! Looking forward to hearing more as you play. I can't wait to have the IF and TSS data live.
@Michele - Let us know if you have any problems with the joystick on the Joule. From a separate post: "They advised that in early testing, they've been having some durability issues with the joystick controller on the Joule, and did not want to release the product without correcting the problem."
I think I'm going to drop out of this group buy. Although these may start shipping in the next couple of weeks, I've got a Garmin 500 on the way and everything I've read about it indicates it's a really good little unit...smaller and cheaper. Plus, I just pulled the trigger on a Cervelo S3 frame to replace my carbon Soloist so I need to round up some cash.
I spoke with Rich briefly today and he said that Saris has told him they are shipping units to him this week and next, so I think we are getting much closer!
So yesterday I used the Joule along with my PT head unit for my ride. Since I had set it up with DH's data, it was pretty quick to in put my data, get it to find my hub- very easy. I liked being able to see my cadence when I was doing spin-ups and later during 85% when I am going through all the gears to keep me from getting bored and my cadence gets REAL low at times. I wondered just how low it went and now I know. I was actually surprised at how slowly I collected TSS points. It was easy to read as it sat on the couch arm nearby.
Later was when I found the problems. I had gone through the process of clearing the data (or so I thought) from Max's ride last week. Of course I assumed I had done something wrong. Since I can't download the data as I don't have WKO+ 3.0, I tried to just erase my data. I have repeatedly gone through the steps to clear the history. It always asks me if I really want to do that, I select "yes", and it still does not clear the history. I finally gave up. Then I decided to switch the unit back to DH's stats as he will be back home tonight. Now I am finding problems with that joystick. No problem with left, right, and up. But with down it kept acting as if I had pressed it straight down. It was very frustrating and I had to make every move slow and deliberate to get things back. On the fly, this would not be anything you would want to deal with. On the whole I currently give it a D- until I can get that data cleared and be sure that joystick is working. But an A+ for the ease of reading the screen. Good luck all.
I am going to need to upgrade to the ANT+ when the Joule arrives. RnP or anyone else, do you know if Rich will take of us for this or do I need to take care of this on my own?
I spoke with Rich yesterday. He has not yet received them, is calling Saris today.
@Tom, I have no idea. I recommend you call WB to ask them. Tell them you are part of the EN Joowel order (I intentionally mispell it, to piss off Rich's GF Vikki) and ask for an update
Info on ST doesn't sound promising does it - apparently no shipping plans as yet plus none seemed to be used by any Pro's out in Abu Dhabi (wouldn't they get them first as part of any development cycle?) - when do you decide to 'call it' Rich on this? I want it but at this rate I'll be needing to buy another LYC as well as in the interim but thats more dough outlay of course.
I've been in this situation before...hanging for a product that was being promised "very soon". In this case I had to bail despite the Joule seemingly being extremely close to shipping. I really like the Garmin 500 so far, although I would prefer some of the additional features of the Joule. Still, I couldn't continue to hang without a head unit and the extra cash back in my pocket was nice.
I find honesty a reasonable trade for patience. If they would have been up front and said it was going to be another month I might have been more patient. But I just couldn't take being strung along a week at a time. Sounds like even their distributors/retailers are being given lip service about shipping "soon".
Swapped emails yesterday with Saris re; PT query but then asked about the Joule - sounds like customer services are hacked off with all the enquiries but feel thats nothing compared to what would happen if the product went out with faults which one can only assume it has. So, they won't even give an estimate on shipping out as yet, 'could be a week or a month'!!
I was in Rich's shop on Tuesday. I actually held/saw a Joule. I can post of picture of me holding it, if you like .
Rich said they are/were having problems with the little joystick dealio, ie, you could toggle left and right but not down...or something. His worked. He said it's a sonic welding plastic part, which means if it's bad they can't remove that joystick (sonic welded) and replace it. It basically fooks the unit.
They are working with the joystick supplier to get the parts. Rich says he has 200+ on backorder and is absolutely at the front of the line to get them = we are the front of the line. Wish I had more or better news but there you go.
Roger that. Thanks for the update Rich. I would much rather wait as long as it takes for them to work out the kinks, than have them rush it to market like some businesses we know. Some go ahead and push the product to market and let the consumer deal with it. IMHO they're doing the right thing.
OK... I just got off the phone with Saris. They said they are shipping the Joule 2.0's and Wheelbuilder's order was shipped yesterday. The rep I spoke with said they were not really having many issues with the joystick but instead they were stockpiling them so they could ship many rather than trickle them out. Take it for what it's worth.
Comments
Vikki at WB said yesterday that they don't have a firm date. I'm going to go ahead and get a garmin as I need something to show power now.
We did not buy the Joule through EN, only because we received it for free from Saris after a full year of hell with their Powerbeam trainer. I was playing around with it last night while Max rode. It did not come with a manual, and yet it was very easy to figure out and I had it up and running within 2 minutes. I need more time to play with it, but so far I really like it. Easy to read. But I have not gone beyond the basics. I will look online for a manual for the more in depth data. It is only very slightly larger than the PowerTap head and smaller than the Garmin 705. I will be "borrowing" it for my season, but that means I will need to upgrade WKO+ I believe. It is nice.
You just had to tease all of us patiently waiting didn't you. Ha Ha!! Looking forward to hearing more as you play. I can't wait to have the IF and TSS data live.
From a separate post:
"They advised that in early testing, they've been having some durability issues with the joystick controller on the Joule, and did not want to release the product without correcting the problem."
All,
I spoke with Rich briefly today and he said that Saris has told him they are shipping units to him this week and next, so I think we are getting much closer!
Yep, I paid in full for one. If you want to send me a check Rich can just ship mine to you. Hit me with a pm.
Since I had set it up with DH's data, it was pretty quick to in put my data, get it to find my hub- very easy.
I liked being able to see my cadence when I was doing spin-ups and later during 85% when I am going through all the gears to keep me from getting bored and my cadence gets REAL low at times. I wondered just how low it went and now I know. I was actually surprised at how slowly I collected TSS points.
It was easy to read as it sat on the couch arm nearby.
Later was when I found the problems. I had gone through the process of clearing the data (or so I thought) from Max's ride last week. Of course I assumed I had done something wrong. Since I can't download the data as I don't have WKO+ 3.0, I tried to just erase my data. I have repeatedly gone through the steps to clear the history. It always asks me if I really want to do that, I select "yes", and it still does not clear the history.
I finally gave up.
Then I decided to switch the unit back to DH's stats as he will be back home tonight.
Now I am finding problems with that joystick. No problem with left, right, and up. But with down it kept acting as if I had pressed it straight down. It was very frustrating and I had to make every move slow and deliberate to get things back. On the fly, this would not be anything you would want to deal with.
On the whole I currently give it a D- until I can get that data cleared and be sure that joystick is working.
But an A+ for the ease of reading the screen.
Good luck all.
We had a couple of reps from Saris at our Tri club meeting tonight. They said the Joule should be shipping this week.....
tom
I spoke with Rich yesterday. He has not yet received them, is calling Saris today.
@Tom, I have no idea. I recommend you call WB to ask them. Tell them you are part of the EN Joowel order (I intentionally mispell it, to piss off Rich's GF Vikki) and ask for an update
Info on ST doesn't sound promising does it - apparently no shipping plans as yet plus none seemed to be used by any Pro's out in Abu Dhabi (wouldn't they get them first as part of any development cycle?) - when do you decide to 'call it' Rich on this? I want it but at this rate I'll be needing to buy another LYC as well as in the interim but thats more dough outlay of course.
Patience, my dear sonny boys (my mom used to always say).
I also was promised the quarq cinco what felt like forever but it was all worth the wait. I think this will be the same... well worth the wait!!
or a year!
I was in Rich's shop on Tuesday. I actually held/saw a Joule. I can post of picture of me holding it, if you like
.
Rich said they are/were having problems with the little joystick dealio, ie, you could toggle left and right but not down...or something. His worked. He said it's a sonic welding plastic part, which means if it's bad they can't remove that joystick (sonic welded) and replace it. It basically fooks the unit.
They are working with the joystick supplier to get the parts. Rich says he has 200+ on backorder and is absolutely at the front of the line to get them = we are the front of the line. Wish I had more or better news but there you go.
Vince