How I made riding on a trainer less dull (w/pics+video)
02-24-11, 01:56 AM
#1
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How I made riding on a trainer less dull (w/pics+video)
There's a whole story on my site about all this, but the gist of it was that I was frustrated with the choices I had for making riding on my trainer a bit more tolerable. I could HTFU, or I could just try and ease the pain a little. I chose to ease the pain.
I ended up building custom hardware as well as custom software to go along with it. It spits out FIT files compatible with most websites out there, and gives you all your data realtime. It lets you configure a workout timeline with all various parameters, and goals, and at the end of your workout it dumps you off in a forest to ride around on a 3.1 mi long road course through the woods. There's quite a bit of depth to it, too much to go into right now. That site is here: https://jmtc.ls1howto.com/
Truth be told, riding on a trainer with this software will never compare to riding outside, but it has made it much more bearable.
Some screenshots:
Interval display
Free roam through the forest
Autopause screen and the statistics it provides
And a video of it in action...NOTE: you can skip through much of the video. Its a 24 min workout condensed down to 6, but even that is a bit long to watch. Skip towards the end to see what the free-roam mode looks like.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/s-Q4UEA_M4E?hd=1
MORE INFO is available on a webpage I made for which has a more complete list of features here: https://jmtc.ls1howto.com/
I realize this type of thing isnt for everybody, but maybe it interests some.
I ended up building custom hardware as well as custom software to go along with it. It spits out FIT files compatible with most websites out there, and gives you all your data realtime. It lets you configure a workout timeline with all various parameters, and goals, and at the end of your workout it dumps you off in a forest to ride around on a 3.1 mi long road course through the woods. There's quite a bit of depth to it, too much to go into right now. That site is here: https://jmtc.ls1howto.com/
Truth be told, riding on a trainer with this software will never compare to riding outside, but it has made it much more bearable.
Some screenshots:
Interval display
Free roam through the forest
Autopause screen and the statistics it provides
And a video of it in action...NOTE: you can skip through much of the video. Its a 24 min workout condensed down to 6, but even that is a bit long to watch. Skip towards the end to see what the free-roam mode looks like.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/s-Q4UEA_M4E?hd=1
MORE INFO is available on a webpage I made for which has a more complete list of features here: https://jmtc.ls1howto.com/
I realize this type of thing isnt for everybody, but maybe it interests some.
02-24-11, 06:20 AM
#3
neits
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+1 that is so very cool. May I asked what you did for the hardware side?
I say sell it to buy yourself a road bike (only joshing).
Edit: just read the site. Good work!
I say sell it to buy yourself a road bike (only joshing).
Edit: just read the site. Good work!
02-24-11, 07:06 AM
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That is awesome! You did a really great job in layout and information presentation. Can it pick up cadence and speed from an ANT+ device like the Garmin GSC10?
02-24-11, 08:24 AM
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Hills hurt.. Couches kill
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Very cool. All nice, neat and up front.
02-24-11, 08:27 AM
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well hello there
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I definitely liked best the virtual rider at the end.
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02-24-11, 08:37 AM
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are you kidding me? this looks amazing, i can't wait to see where you take it.
need a beta tester with a power meter?
need a beta tester with a power meter?
02-24-11, 08:53 AM
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pan y agua
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It's cool you did it yourself. But wouldn't it be a heck of a lot easier to pick up the data from an Ant+ computer like a Garmin?
In fact, when you get down to it, other than giving you a larger display, can't a Garmin do the same thing? displaying pretty much the same data, and also do the intervals, using the workout feature?
None of this is meant to denigrate the effort, but it seems that there might not enough that it offers, over what's already available to make it commercially viable.
In fact, when you get down to it, other than giving you a larger display, can't a Garmin do the same thing? displaying pretty much the same data, and also do the intervals, using the workout feature?
None of this is meant to denigrate the effort, but it seems that there might not enough that it offers, over what's already available to make it commercially viable.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
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.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
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.
02-24-11, 09:05 AM
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Very nice!
02-24-11, 09:07 AM
#17
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That's pretty awesome. The steering input feature & the accompanying "free roam" ability is what sets it apart.
Check my location- let me know if you'd like to compare your numbers vs. a Quarq PM or a Realaxiom virtual trainer. Well done.
Check my location- let me know if you'd like to compare your numbers vs. a Quarq PM or a Realaxiom virtual trainer. Well done.
02-24-11, 09:09 AM
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pan y agua
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A similar, but cleaner, approach to this is an Ant+ dongle for an Ipad, https://www.wahoofitness.com/, ( or a regular computer) and then an I tunes App to display the same data.
To the OP, perhaps you should consider taking what you've done here, and making it into an I Tunes App.
That just seems a way easier interface, would have a hell of a lot less development cost, and would seem to have a better chance of becoming something viable.
To the OP, perhaps you should consider taking what you've done here, and making it into an I Tunes App.
That just seems a way easier interface, would have a hell of a lot less development cost, and would seem to have a better chance of becoming something viable.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
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.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
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.
02-24-11, 09:25 AM
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This is extremely cool. Quite an undertaking and well presented, especially since you're in the early stages of development.
I have the KK, Powertap and Garmin Edge 500. I think it's cool you have tapped into the KK power specs to generate power numbers, but I think the average speed number may prove to be misleading (unless of course you've somehow accounted for other variables such as rider weight, course profile etc).
411 watts gets you 24.3 mph based on the KK calculation but "real world" computrainer-type calculation should produce a different number for each unique rider/course profile. I'm assuming of course that speed on a trainer matters, which it doesn't to a whole lot of people.
Looking at the work you've done already, you seem capable of adding course elevation profiles, various wind speed/direction choices, etc. But of course once you start down that road you're entering into computrainer territory.
This program seems especially valuable for someone who doesn't want a power meter or Garmin.
When I first clicked on the link I thought I'd see pictures of you on a trainer, watching netflix with a dog barking in the background. Very cool!
I have the KK, Powertap and Garmin Edge 500. I think it's cool you have tapped into the KK power specs to generate power numbers, but I think the average speed number may prove to be misleading (unless of course you've somehow accounted for other variables such as rider weight, course profile etc).
411 watts gets you 24.3 mph based on the KK calculation but "real world" computrainer-type calculation should produce a different number for each unique rider/course profile. I'm assuming of course that speed on a trainer matters, which it doesn't to a whole lot of people.
Looking at the work you've done already, you seem capable of adding course elevation profiles, various wind speed/direction choices, etc. But of course once you start down that road you're entering into computrainer territory.
This program seems especially valuable for someone who doesn't want a power meter or Garmin.
When I first clicked on the link I thought I'd see pictures of you on a trainer, watching netflix with a dog barking in the background. Very cool!
02-24-11, 09:32 AM
#21
pan y agua
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It seems much more viable to leverage off all the ANT+ hardware, from Garmin, and others that is already available, and concentrate on making the software useful, and desirable.
It's highly unlikely that you can make the hardware better, or cheaper than what's already available. A good programmer, who actually rides and trains themself might very well be able to improve on the software that's currently out there.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
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.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
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.
02-24-11, 09:50 AM
#23
Senior Member
very impressive! i'd definitely be up for a purchase as well, but would really want ant+ support. as far as steering, i have never found it useful when on a virtual trainer setup. keep us posted.
02-24-11, 09:52 AM
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Typical BF. Guy does something awesome and still gets criticism.
From the site: "Note: ANT+ powermeter support will be added as soon as I have one to test with."
I think the whole thing is great. My only feature suggestion, and what I would personally find entertaining is to offer running the workout in the 3d environment as an option. You could either leave it as-is and the user could ride around freely collecting the coins while doing intervals, or offer a virtual partner to "race" during intervals.
Awesome job!
From the site: "Note: ANT+ powermeter support will be added as soon as I have one to test with."
I think the whole thing is great. My only feature suggestion, and what I would personally find entertaining is to offer running the workout in the 3d environment as an option. You could either leave it as-is and the user could ride around freely collecting the coins while doing intervals, or offer a virtual partner to "race" during intervals.
Awesome job!
02-24-11, 09:56 AM
#25
Descends like a rock
