Ergomo user's

kennybear said:

... Actually, now that I've been reading about the Ergomo I think that it's the best one out there, please give me your thoughts..

I ran an Ergomo Pro for a while and liked it a lot but ended up switching to PT SL's for economic reasons (got some really good deals). The interval functions, altimeter and real time IF, NP and TSS calculations are really nice on the Ergomo. The interval function in particular that shows real time power, average power, hr and speed simultaneously on the same display is really nice. It's also nice since you start and stop intervals independantly whereas you only start new intervals on the PT. IOW when you download an interval workout from the PT you get on intervals and rest intervals and all marked in the file and have to turn off visibility on the intervals you don't want to see. The Ergomo doesn't track the "off" intervals the same way which makes viewing files a bit cleaner.

The big downside of the Ergomo is that its accuracy depends a lot on how well it's installed and there is no easy way to validate its accuracy. Most folks suggest testing an Ergomo against a borrowed PT but even that is problematic since folks tend to see differences at different power ranges. You can't actually calibrate a PT in the field, but you can do a static torque test to check the accuracy of the strain gauge with fixed weights or even you own body weight. If there's a big problem you still have to send it back to Saris, but at least you can test it without having to wrangle up someone else's power meter and harnesses.

The other downside of the Ergomo is the rechargeable batteries that need frequent recharging. The PT computer batteries last a long time and you just use it day after day. The Ergomo needs to be charged nightly or at least every couple of days to keep its charge fresh.

Having said all that I'm up in the air as to which is better. I like the ability to verify the accuracy of my PT at home but I miss the more sophisticated interval, altitude and pro power features of the Ergomo Pro. I've made the switch and don't expect to go back now that I own several PT wheels but I do wish the PT computer had a better user interface and a few of the Ergomo's features. If you want a great deal on a tested Ergomo Pro (English BB, Square Taper) drop me a PM. Othewise I really do need to get it onto ebay since it's not doing me any good sitting in its fancy metal carrying case 🙂

-Dave

The Ergomo Pro has a lot going for it.

Pros:
It's cheaper than an SRM and about the same as a PT 2.4 setup.
Use with any wheels.
It's a clean installation, not too many wires visible.
It does not suffer dropouts (PT does) and it's not drastically affected by temperature changes (both SRM and PT are).
The software that comes with it is excellent.
The interval functions are the best among all power meters.
The Pro screen with TSS and IF is unique to Ergomo and very useful.
By checking offset before every ride (a 15 second procedure, which is in effect a calibration), you can have high confidence that your power readings are accurate.
There's only one battery to charge and a charge lasts a typical user almost a week (I charge every three days and it takes about an hour on the charger).
It has plenty of memory for recording and selectable recording intervals. Almost 12 hrs can be recorded at 1 second intervals.
Selectable display intervals can smooth the power display.
Altimeter function displays grade and stores elevation data for later review. I don't think SRM or PT have this function, and it's useful to see what kind of power you used to go up a hill.
K-factor is adjustable. An Ergomo can be adjusted to closely match just about any other power meter. If you have a mountain of data from your old power meter and you want to continue with the same relative power, this is very helpful.

Cons:
It's more expensive than the new Polar CS600 which may turn out to be a pretty good unit.
It's tough to swap from bike to bike.
Ergomo measures crank spindle torque to determine power. Most torque on the crank spindle is provided by the left leg. Although the Ergomo uses a very good algorithm to compute overall power, one legged pedaling will yield strange results. Some people get very disturbed by the left legged thing although I've found that it's a non-issue.
K-factor is adjustable. Although this is a pro, it's also a con, because the temptation to adjust is hard to resist, and as adjustments are made, the seeds of doubt are strewn.
Proper installation is critical. Proper installation is also easy, but some people tend to cut corners and then complain. Face the BB, chase the threads, place in the proper position and torque to provided numbers, and the Ergomo will read accurately and consistently. Fail to follow instructions and you will have problems. People tend not to follow instructions, me included.
Ergomo works with square, octa-link and ISIS cranksets, but not with any crankset designed for external bearings (Dura Ace, MegaExo, etc.) You may have to buy a new crankset.

Thanks for the good info, I'm really leaning towards the ergomo, I have new wheels, Fulcrum Zero's and I like the 5 lines of info on the computer.

Does anyone ues a FSA k-wing with the computer and did you have to reface the bb thread???
K

kennybear said:

Thanks for the good info, I'm really leaning towards the ergomo, I have new wheels, Fulcrum Zero's and I like the 5 lines of info on the computer.

Does anyone ues a FSA k-wing with the computer and did you have to reface the bb thread???
K

I use the FSA K-wings and with the new Ergomo mount, there's no problem.

In the latest instructions, Ergomo specifies that you must face and chase the BB. I did not, but I knew that my BB was square and aligned. Unless you have the tools to determine the condition of your BB, follow the instructions and chase and face.