Totally overwhelmed about everyting - HELP

Brenda Ross

Hi guys, I am seriously overwhelmed and am looking for some direction.  Lets just say that I am not a technie kind of gal.  The only thing I know how to use is a heart rate monitor and only the basics, so it goes to say that installing software and using the power meter is a big step for me.  My main issue is that after reading things, over and over again I just can not retain the information.  Here is where I need help.

I attempted to do my bike test today after many road blocks. Long story.  So I do the warm-up as assigned and remembered how to set the interval for the first 20 minutes, but then the wheels fell off and I could not remember how to set it for the second interval, so I am not sure what the results will look like.

Next: how do I upload the results and where?

Next - I think I might of cleared all the results, because nothing is showing now

HELP, PLEASE HELP.

mattsull

Hi Brenda,

No need to panic. There definitely is a lot to absorb but there is a lot of help available. We will get you on the right track!

I need a bit more info though about your test. Are you using a PowerTap and riding on a trainer? What do you mean by "set your interval"? Tell us more about the process you used? Why do you think you cleared your ride info? What's not showing where? . . .

 

gilliatt

Don't panic Brenda we'll help, but we need a little more info.

dadkinson

and bear in mind that you can usually pick out your intervals later using your software, so don't worry too much if you miss the button while doing the sets. I can tell you how to do this (and other stuff) in WKO+ if you've invested in that. Others will have to help with Powertap software.

Brenda Ross

Hi everyone, okay so here is the info you asked for.

Matt - you asked: I need a bit more info though about your test. Are you using a PowerTap and riding on a trainer?YES

What do you mean by "set your interval"? The test says recrode each 20 min segment as interval. I managed to do that with the first 20 minute but could not remember how to do it for a 2nd interval so the whole test is one interval. I know now that I have to hold down the Mode and Select.

Tell us more about the process you used? I did the test on the bike as outlined in week one of OS Nov.

Why do you think you cleared your ride info? Because after the ride, I did not know what to do with the information so I ended up pushing buttons and held the mode and select down until I saw CLR which I know knows erases all data

What's not showing where? . . .Nothing is showing on the screen in the way of avg wattages, speed etc... That is all gone

I know nothing about the WKO software or the powertap. If I were to try to extract the information off the powertap, how do I do that and to where? I think I have installed the WKO software properly and the training peaks stuff. Soooooo confusing.

Spokane_Al

Brenda, I think I will start.

I never worry about setting intervals when I test with a PowerTap. The test calls for a 20 minute interval, followed by a two minute recovery interval, and followed by a second 20 minute interval. When you are finished you will be using the entire 42 minute time frame to determine nominal power which will then be your FTP number, so there is no need to worry about capturing those intervals separately on your PowerTap.

I just use a stopwatch (my old eyes can see the numbers better) and follow the process above. I find that much easier than worrying about punching buttons for intervals.

Now I will let someone else help with the next part of your question.

Take care.

tuckerm

Hi Brenda we will help you get through this. It is a learning curve that is very steep in the beginning but before long you will laugh at the troubles you are having now. I'm sure most of us have been there.

So I will make a few assumptions here and please correct or clarify.
You have a powertap
You have WKO
You did your test but it seems like you deleted the data?
You do not know how to get the data into WKO

Did the powertap come with a black cradle with a USB cord attached to it? You need to connect that to your PC to download your data into WKO. Your little yellow computer will not give you the test information.

You know what, this would probably be so much easier verbally. Why don't you send me a message and lets try to set up a time to talk on the phone to help you get through this. I think that is best. I may not be an expert but can certainly get you started

torontoquads

@Brenda: Tucker is wise. This will take a lot of back and forth, verbal by phone or email will just be faster. I'm heading out the door now, but you can call me later tonight in Toronto if you are still stuck. I'll be home after 6:30 tonight. 416-469-5124. Hang in there!

Brenda Ross

Elly - just might call you.

I went to youtube and found some useful information on how to download the information from the powertap into WKO, but now I have another problem.

First issue is that when I was downloading the Power Agent the following message came up : there is a problem starting libusb0.dll. Specified mode can not be found

Before you ask - I followed the directions on the back of the package for installation and made sure that Sun Java version 6 was installed on my computer and because I am a new Powertap user I made sure I stalled their USB drivers.

After the above message came up it still continued with the installation, so I thought all was good, but when I go to enter in a user, WKO does not save the information and also when I put the USB port into the computer with the powertap connected to it, it does not give me the HOST message so that I can download the data.

Elly - still try to call you?

I have sent a message to Cycleops to get some help but it is going to take 2-3 business days for them to get back to me, so if we have someone with software experience would be great.

Spokane_Al

Brenda, it sounds like you have some wise ENers to provide some great one-on-one telephone advice.

I would suggest that rather than emailing Saris/Cycleops, you give them a call on their help line. They are absolutely terrific. I have been using a PowerTap for several years now and every time I have an issue I get them on the phone and they patiently and carefully walk me through to a solution. They offer some of the best customer service I have ever experienced.

I rarely use the PowerTap manual when I have issues - I just give them a call.

Brenda Ross

Thanks Al, I will contact them tomorrow. I tried again to reload the poweragent, and reboot the computer, but something is wrong.

gilliatt

Brenda, don't give up once you get this process down it will get real easy and you'll be helping others out that are in the same boat. Unless you cleared out your little yellow computer (pushed both buttons at the same time until clear comes up) or took the battery out the data should still be in there. One thing else to check make sure it is docked all the way down in the cradle new ones can be a little sticky.
Also, are you using power agent software or WKO software? You don't need both WKO is generally what we use though. No need to run power agent if you have WKO

Spokane_Al

I agree with Dan that you probably don't need to use both the PowerAgent software and WKO+.

However, in saying that I do use both. PowerAgent provides a nice easy backup if one encounters difficulty in downloading directly to WKO+, which I have experienced over the past few weeks. In that case it is easy to open and import the workout to Poweragent, export the workout to the desktop and then just drag and drop to WKO+.

Additionally I like using PowerAgent periodically just to make sure that I have the most current PowerTap software installed.

Plus PowerAgent provides a great starting point via its telephone help line if one is experiencing PowerTap problems. If you use only WKO+ you can be left a bit out in the wind in resolving technical problems that involve downloading the data to your PC.

Brenda Ross

Dan, I did do the first thing you said, but not the second. I will try the docking thing again, but will be calling Cyleops tomorrow as well.

Are you saying that I can download into WKO or PowerAgent?

Brenda Ross

Okay, so I did what Dan said and it worked. I got the message host, but when I went to download the data there was nothing there. Looks like I have to do the test again. Dang!!!!!

gilliatt

you can download into either WKO or Power Agent. If you can get WKO to work use that, make sure your little yellow computer says host open WKO up, go to file, then file, then training device download, give that a try.

Brenda Ross

YYYYEEEESSSS, bike test done and downloaded - finally. Thanks for all of our help. Now the hard work begins.