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Non-Mechanical Dude Has Ergomo Install Question

StanStan
in General Training Discussions

With apologies to Rich (did not opt for new Powertap or Quarq), I bought -- insert fingers crossed here -- a used Ergomo Pro setup on eBay. Only way I could make it work on my budget.

I've been doing tris for a long time, but after some below back-of-the-pack efforts the last couple of years, I thought I might try and change things up a bit.  I thought finally dipping my toe in the power pond might be a good way to do that: get all geeked out on some new technology and terminology and training principles and also (maybe) get more efficient than maybe I've managed over the last 15 years with my HR-based training.  Only requirement is I had to do it on a strict budget per agreement with my support crew.

Big question for me is: do I even dare attempt to do the install by myself or should I immediately go to local bike shop with hat and used Ergomo in hand and ask for them to do it for me? What kind of abuse should I expect for not having purchased a new powermeter through them (they are also a Powertap / Quarq dealer). 

I'm cautiously optimistic about power, but I need to figure out how to make it work.  I've even have dusted off a first edition of Hunter Coggan's book on Training and Racing with a Power Meter (which I bought a few years ago before I decided I really couldn't afford a whole new set-up), and as of last night I have the training/racing with power downloads from EN (Father's Day, baby!). 

But ... I also fear the bike snob treatment ... and not sure of my own ability to get it set up.  Too much of my life spent in pools hasn't helped me much when it comes to doing my own wrenching.

Thanks for any input.  And if your view is that this was a woefully misguided leap of faith on my part ... let me down easy.

Stan

Comments

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Stan...

    uggg

    You really should have checked with us first. How "new" is this used Ergomo?

    I was an Ergomo dealer back on the day, I guess you could say Ergomo v1.0 when they were first in the US. They went out of business and, as I understand it, have been resurrected and have some support and sales in the US.

    Installation (check the manuals, this may have changed)

    • You need to have an LBS remove your cranks and tap / chase the bottom bracket. That is, clean up the threads.
    • Ergomo installed to torque spec (very important) with the wires oriented between 12 and 3pm as you're looking at them from the side.

    However, I highly, highly recommend you sell the Ergomo and save up for a used Powertap, or purchase one new. You'll find that the most important consideration when using power, and the most annoying when you can't get it, is consistency in your power readings from day to day. That is, 250w on Tuesday is 250w on Thursday. In my opinion the Ergomo is not as consistent as the Powertap and Quarq due to the importance of proper installation (see above) and the quality issues they had a few years ago. FWIW, I was riding an Ergomo and it worked great from ~'06-10. But I think I had about the last working unit in the US and it gradually went bad over a couple weeks in the summer of '10. I went to Powertap and have never looked back.

  • StanStan
    Rich,

    Thanks ... I was afraid that would be the word. Silver lining (which probably should have doubled as a warning flag) is that I am not out but a couple hundred $$ and I still have the option of trying to install it on my not-frequently-used road bike. It is circa 2007, so it might be of the vintage you describe above, but I understand and appreciate your input.

    I'll blame my brain not working on that swim meet I had to get up early to take my daughter to on Saturday!

    Stan
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