As the title suggests, I know my crank-based power meter reads about 12% lower than my smart trainer. This is fine, the offset is consistent, but it makes for a wonky TSS chart.
Yesterday, I completed the equivalent of a TR workout, whilst riding around a local track. Instead of hitting the TR power (277) I was hitting the equivalent power target on my bike (e245W). I know I got all the benefit out of the session, but my calendar records that I did a much lower effort ride than I did.
Is there any way to automatically adjust a power meter’s data?
What about using power match so you drive your trainer from your power meter and have one source? I agree that it’s more likely your crank PM is more accurate than your trainer.
I have a Stages 2nd gen left-only crank power meter, and a Tacx Flux. I know the Stages is incorrect, because my power over the same course dropped over a year, despite my speed going up.
I did a 17km TT shortly after I got the power meter, and it read with an average power of 295W. The next time I did that event, a year later, it read 253W, but I was a bit quicker over the course, in worse conditions. I have since taken over a minute off my PB, and still only read 265W average.
If it’s messed up like you think send it in to get checked out. Regardless of whatever you use find something and stick with it.
My kickr core was reading my seated sprints at about 200 watts higher than my quarq was (before I moved it over to my new bike). I really liked that higher number, but as soon as the quarq went on it was back to the numbers I was used to seeing.
To me power match is what needs to be used because I’m not getting my kickr to do power on my outdoor rides but I will have my quarq.
Let me ask, if the other pm was reading higher would you care/think the trainer was reading low?
If you want to use your Stages as your main and repeatable power source record your workouts on a garmin or similar as well as on TR. and save the fit file. Use Fitfiletools.com and change the power by 12%, re-save and upload to TR, not forgetting to delete the original workout. Your TSS should be more representative. If you want your Tax to be your consistant power source just do the same for your outdoor rides.