Power Meters and Electric Fields
08-17-15, 11:08 AM
#1
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Power Meters and Electric Fields
Did any of you noticed spikes and elevated power readings around strong electric fields? We have a mountain nearby, where I train a lot and at the top my power meter goes crazy and produces very high power readings. It's called San Bruno Mountain and it has a lot of radio towers at the top.
I checked others on Strava and everyone with a power meter has the same spikes in their power at the same places. (Athletes without a power meter have smooth estimated power at the same places.) I wonder if anyone else noticed something like this. It would be awesome to see which power meters are affected by this. I use Pioneer, but based on Strava it's clear that other brands should be affected too.
It's kind of a bad news for me, because I have to find a different place for testing. And it also skews my training zones if I train there.
I checked others on Strava and everyone with a power meter has the same spikes in their power at the same places. (Athletes without a power meter have smooth estimated power at the same places.) I wonder if anyone else noticed something like this. It would be awesome to see which power meters are affected by this. I use Pioneer, but based on Strava it's clear that other brands should be affected too.
It's kind of a bad news for me, because I have to find a different place for testing. And it also skews my training zones if I train there.
08-17-15, 11:37 AM
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I would have issues with my WiFi interfering with my PowerTap Pro+, Ant+ HR monitor, and Ant+ Speed/Cadence sensor connecting to my Edge 500. Haven't had issues with the Ant+ dongle on my computer with the Wahoo Kickr and other Ant+ gear. My thoughts are the Edge 500 was funny about the 2.4 MHz spectrum.
08-17-15, 11:40 AM
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As I recall, my power tap readings were affected (higher) on the top of Mount San Bruno. I train there from time to time. However, IMO, Kings Mountain is better for testing and setting power zones because it is a more steady climb and long enough for most cyclists to test 20 minute power. I find the turns and transition from Guadaluppe Canyon Rd to Radio Rd, on Mount San Bruno too disruptive for testing FTP plus many times the wind gusts and makes holding steady power more difficult.
If you live in the city, there may be good testing courses over the bridge to Marin and Mount Tam.
If you live in the city, there may be good testing courses over the bridge to Marin and Mount Tam.
08-17-15, 11:55 AM
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Did any of you noticed spikes and elevated power readings around strong electric fields? We have a mountain nearby, where I train a lot and at the top my power meter goes crazy and produces very high power readings. It's called San Bruno Mountain and it has a lot of radio towers at the top.
I checked others on Strava and everyone with a power meter has the same spikes in their power at the same places. (Athletes without a power meter have smooth estimated power at the same places.) I wonder if anyone else noticed something like this. It would be awesome to see which power meters are affected by this. I use Pioneer, but based on Strava it's clear that other brands should be affected too.
It's kind of a bad news for me, because I have to find a different place for testing. And it also skews my training zones if I train there.
I checked others on Strava and everyone with a power meter has the same spikes in their power at the same places. (Athletes without a power meter have smooth estimated power at the same places.) I wonder if anyone else noticed something like this. It would be awesome to see which power meters are affected by this. I use Pioneer, but based on Strava it's clear that other brands should be affected too.
It's kind of a bad news for me, because I have to find a different place for testing. And it also skews my training zones if I train there.
One way to tell is to look at the data in a spread sheet. When the data's flaky, you'll see it jumping around, i.e. one second at 240, next second at 1150, next second at 225.
And you can edit out the erroneous data points
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You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
08-17-15, 12:16 PM
#5
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Thread Starter
As I recall, my power tap readings were affected (higher) on the top of Mount San Bruno. I train there from time to time. However, IMO, Kings Mountain is better for testing and setting power zones because it is a more steady climb and long enough for most cyclists to test 20 minute power. I find the turns and transition from Guadaluppe Canyon Rd to Radio Rd, on Mount San Bruno too disruptive for testing FTP plus many times the wind gusts and makes holding steady power more difficult.
If you live in the city, there may be good testing courses over the bridge to Marin and Mount Tam.
If you live in the city, there may be good testing courses over the bridge to Marin and Mount Tam.
I just started to train with power, and I agree on the disruptive transition in the middle. My only problem with Kings Mountain/Mount Tam is that they are a little bit far from me, so I thought it would be ok to start testing there. (I can climb SB faster than 20 mins so it's not ideal anyway).
Probably I will go out to the polo field for testing and see what happens.
08-17-15, 01:59 PM
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The polo field sounds like a plan.
