This past week was the Interbike convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. All the retailers, cyclist, manufactures and everyone else in between was there to see what’s new and what’s hot. On September 23, an up and coming start-up company called MetriGear introduced to the world a new product and technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way cyclist measure their power output.
Because of previous appointments I wasn’t on hand to see the curtain get pulled back as the product was introduced to the world. As chance would have it, some days later I was fortunate enough to share a cab to the airport with Mandi Mena a representative of MetriGear. In that short ride from the convention center to the airport Mandi enlightened me with plenty of information regarding this new technology and now I’d like to share it with you.
Vector utilizes a patent pending force-sensing approach that is integrated into the hollow spindle of stock bicycle pedals. Based upon on our experience as cyclists and feedback from the local cycling community, Vector was designed to deliver attributes that cyclists expressed as most important when evaluating a power meter:
- Accurate and Reliable – Vector consistently reports actual force on the pedals
- Easy to Own – Pedal integration makes Vector light and easily transferable between bikes
MetriGear’s goal is to minimize the compromises a cyclist faces when choosing a power meter and deliver the capability to easily use power anywhere, anytime – riding, training, or racing.
Technology
At the heart of Vector is a custom-designed system with over 60 piezo-resistive strain gauges, accelerometers, and temperature sensors and an efficient electronics architecture that processes the forces that a cyclist applies to the pedals. The sensors and electronics are environmentally sealed within the pedal spindle and each unit is calibrated by MetriGear.
By detecting the microstrain that naturally occurs in the spindle as the cyclist pedals the bicycle, Vector uniquely measures force vectors — the magnitude and direction of the cyclist’s pedaling effort. Vector measures these forces independently in each leg throughout the entire pedal stroke, collecting half a million samples per second. “Productive” force, “waste” force, the extent to which the cyclist pulls up, pulls across the top, pushes down, etc., Vector measures and collects it all. Traditional torque-based power meters are unable to directly measure these types of forces.
Interoperable and Updateable
Vector communicates via the standards-based ANT+ wireless protocol to ANT+ compatible head units, and the data is easily imported into the widely available PC-based applications for power analysis. Vector is powered by an external, rechargeable battery pack that securely mounts to the edge of the crank. The battery pack includes a charge indicator and is rechargeable via the included Vector USB charging station.
Vector owners will have the ability to update and upgrade the product via firmware downloads from the MetriGear website. As they become available, updates and upgrades can be wirelessly applied to the pedals with the included ANT+ PC dongle.
Availability
Vector is designed to be integrated by MetriGear into select Speedplay® pedals and is targeted for availability in Q1 2010. To receive notifications when Vector is available for purchase, please visit www.metrigear.com and join our mailing list.
Ritchey WCS Carbon WheelsThese and all Ritchey products are made according to the Ritchey Fit Logic philosophy that “the best performance is achieved when a bike fits the unique and individual dimensions of the rider.” This exactly the kind of custom fitting that the new Fit Logic poster facilitates. It gives a Ritchey dealer a new tool to help customers dial in the fit of their bikes. The poster’s new visual presentation of the fitting system demonstrates how the stem, handlebars and seatpost can be adjusted to meet an individual rider’s needs.
