Stages StagesBike SB20 (Smart Bike)

I run my SB20 with my Assioma Duo pedals using PowerMatch in TR and it works flawlessly

tell me more. So you have the pedals + bike paired in TR, with power match on? But, the crank PM’s (the stages ones) are not paired in TR – correct?

I assume you zero reset everything before riding – pedals via TR, and cranks via the Stages app?

Here’s a better Stages article which explains how the power meters work - How do the StagesBike power meters work?

Key text
The StagesBike pairs to the left meter and passes its data through to connected applications like TrainerRoad and Zwift.

  • You should really only ever pair to the StagesBike, as it is using the power meter information already.
  • Pairing to the power meter and stages bike at the same time and using Erg mode can actually cause Erg mode to perform poorly, as an app like TrainerRoad or Zwift and the StagesBike will both try to control to the target wattage.
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You know, sometimes I feel like a complete imbecile. And other times, it’s pretty obvious that I am actually one. That link/article is exactly what I needed, and I’m embarrassed I didn’t see it sooner. Thank you.

I’m was trying to understand why the pedal feel is so strange (to me), and why my L/R balance is so completely wonked compared to my years of Quarq and Powertap P1 experience. All this data just feeds into my soul-crushing insecurity. I should just get on the damn thing and ride.

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Don’t feel bad. When I first got my SB20, I connected it just like I had my Kickr: TR connected to the bike, and power match enabled, and I couldn’t figure out why the ERG ride quality was sooooo bad. I reached out to Stages Support, and they gave me the correct setup, which made a huge (at least for me) improvement in ERG ride feel.

The original setup (using PowerMatch) had me slightly regretting switching from the Kickr to the SB20, but with the correct setup I’m 100% sold on the SB20 (especially since my wife also uses it :+1:, which was the original reason for the switch).

After a year, I’ve finally ordered a rockr plate - the Pedivella thanks to @mcneese.chad for the link - to fix the one thing I miss from my Kickr setup: the motion from the InsideRide E-Flex. I’m hoping the rockr plate will give me that little bit of extra comfort I’ve been missing, especially for long indoor rides. I will post a review once I get the Pedivella + have some rides on it.

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so. much. appreciation. thank you!

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Nothing more to tell really. I pair to the Stages bike in TR and to my pedals (Assimoa Duos) in TR and turn on power match and off I go. No issues!

Ref calibration I do this for my pedals via the Assioma app.

This was my power inside and outside align.

So I haven’t really posted anything about my SB20 in a while…

When my open support ticket with Stages passed the 20-day mark without a reply, I decided to give them a jingle on the ol’ telephone (you know, that realtime voice-to-voice, human-to-human thing). The rep I got – and I will not give his name or email, cuz’ he’d be bombed with direct email – was nothing short of an absolute rockstar.

I explained the pedal feel issues I had. I explained the RPE issues which just didn’t seem right. I explained the many different tests I had performed to validate the SB20 crank accuracy. I sent screen shots of calibration data, Garmin recorded L/R data, TrainerRoad workout files, etc. etc. The Stages rep spoke my language. The Stages rep understood my concerns. The Stages rep ā€œgot itā€.

The first 3 weeks of my SB20 experience were frustrating, and I probably just did a hyperblock of threshold work (on TrainerRoad stuff listed as ā€˜sweetspot’), and failed a pile of sessions Yeah, failed. I was sad. I was despondent. I ate ice cream. The bike reported power 10%-15% too low, so I was working 10%-15% harder per workout than I should had. For a schmuck like me, that’s a big ask.

Long story short, I was sent (UPS Next Day Air) a replacement LH crank arm. Installed the new crank arm, and holy hell… bob’s you’re uncle. The bike was a whole new entity. Power feels right. L/R balance feels right. RPE feels right.

Now, with the new crank arm, it’s la vida loca. Moral of the story? If you have an SB20 and you know in your heart-of-hearts it just aint’t right, call Stages! Open a ticket! I genuinely believe Stages wants their customers to have a great experience with the product. Crap happens, cranks fail, manufacturing junk happens. They are committed to delivering an excellent product, and in my case, the rep delivered.

/case[closed]

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Really happy you got it sorted and can now fully enjoy your SB20! :smiley: it’s great to know that Stages are committed to support in that’s way and gives me confidence if I ever need some support :+1:t2:

Zwift user here but same issue would manifest in TR. Issue with the bike I’m hoping this forum can help with.

Got my brand new SB20 this past week. Unpacked it and set it up Saturday for my first ride in Zwift. Connected with no issues and I completed a ride. Sunday morning tried to do the same thing - no power recognition. Spent rest of the day trying to troubleshoot - nothing working so I’m coming to this forum for help (also opened Stages Help Ticket).

Here’s what I’ve done. Basically all of the areas recommended here:

I’ve also done the following.

  1. Power cycled multiple times (from base of bike)
  2. Checked that voltage from PSU to bike is correct 24v.
  3. Loaded the older Power link app and confirmed crank arms can be seen and connected, also zero reset them multiple times.
  4. Confirmed green lights are on for both cranks
  5. Confirmed power is running thru the bike (shifters work, USB ports charge my phone).
  6. Only thing I haven’t been able to successfully complete is a reset to DFU status and reload firmware. I can get the bike to reset to DFU I get an error message when trying to connect. Tried with two different devices, same error.

Zwift can see the bike, the crankarms and connects to them. Stages app sees the bike, the cranks. Power app sees the cranks. Seems like there is a problem with the connection of cranks to the bike or vice versa which stops any communcation of watts out to the apps. I’m open to recommendations/next steps as I’m dead in the water.

The only thing I can think of would be to replace the crank-arm power meter batteries with new, quality batteries.

Just for clarity: what happens if you try riding the bike just using the Stages in non-Erg mode(s)? Does it show any of these:

  • Cadence
  • Power
  • L/R balance

@AlphaDogCycling thanks for responding.
I pulled the batteries (and reset the cranks this afternoon). Fresh batteries (3V checked) and flashed with the latest firmware. Also spent a good amount of time on the phone with Stages support. Tried different phones, connected, reconnected, reset bike. No cadence, power, or l/r balance displayed but everything else is correct in the tools view inside the Power app, they are broadcasting fine, and I can zero reset them. Stages rep is confounded as this would usually be a single side that exhibits but doesn’t seem normal for both sides to go out (especially since I had 1 successful ride in them). I’ll continue to add to the post as I get updates.

Ugh. Weird that the app can communicate with the pedals to zero reset them, but that it doesn’t show power / cadence etc.

Taking a complete flyer with this one: have you ever connected anything like a Garmin watch to your SB20? If so, try removing the SB20 from that. My wife records her SB20 rides on her Garmin Fenix, and one time I was experiencing totally wacky behavior that we tracked down to her watch being on in the office (floor above the pain cave) and connecting to the SB20 at the same time I was trying to use it.

@AlphaDogCycling nothing else connected just yet. I’ve connected 2 android devices (1 phone, 1 tablet), and have a PC with ANT dongle I’m using for Zwift connection.

@iamholland I pair to Zwift with ANT+ (via dongle to PC). This morning unpaired and repaired with just the crank arms to Zwift for power and cadence - would not work. Something is not sending out signal from bike. I also forgot all instances of bike in app this morning. Could not connect to bike without unplugging/replugging bike in. Still no register of power/cadence coming from bike.

Not to pile on but one more thing to question for the group. When I start pedaling (even if configured for easiest gear in dreamdrive), the bike is fairly hard to pedal. Doesn’t at all feel like I’m in my easiest gear on the roadbike. Not sure if this is normal or there is more resistance than there should be. I also noted on my one successful zwift ride, when standing up to climb or sprint, the bike would over compenstate for watts on the downstroke and basically give me a dead space feeling (lighten up the resistance) which broke my cadence and made it impossible to stay smooth. Only way to overcome this was to turn up the gears to almost too hard to pedal (basically supporting my bodyweight) to ensure a smooth turn of the cranks. Based on all of the reviews I’ve read this can’t be the way this bike should operate.

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Does anyone else’s bike have a bit of ā€œplayā€ to the handlebars, even when tightened as much as possible? I’ve just finished assembling a new SB20 and can’t tell if the bars are supposed to have a little give to them or if mine is defective.

What type of play - side to side/ left to right wobble? I have this sometimes but usually tightening fixes it. Not had any play at the stem clamp though.

This might help though: StagesBike handlebars rotated to the right : Stages Cycling

Side to side, as in pushing down on the hoods will slightly rock everything above the reach adjustment

No play in my handlebars.

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It sounds like the bike is not on.
The only way I could get a consistent response from mine was connecting with the Link app via iPhone.
I think you have to pay for the link app, but I got mine for free when I complained that it would not work on my Samsung tablet even though they had advised it would, when I was buying the set up.

It has turned out to be a great training bike. Worth it in the end.
Hope that helps