Archive for category: Product Updates

A few points for you today re our factory installation, shipping charges and a “calibration reload” scenario being experienced by some customers. We are working hard to catch up from the manufacturing delay we experienced last week and hope to be caught up soon.

The factory installation program is focused on getting PRECISION on your own crank AND minimizing the amount of time that you are without your equipment.

When we process your order, we assign you a rough installation window.

• Shortly before that window date, we’ll send you a pre-installation kit and shipping package/information. The pre-installation kit allows you to determine the optimal placement of the unit as we need to make doubly sure that there is enough clearance between the power meter and your bike’s frame.
• Once you’ve marked the position for the installation, you send us your crank arm using the pre-paid shipping pack.
• When we get your crank arm, it enters our Factory where we install PRECISION and then ship it back to you.

As you know, as part of our Factory Install, we currently cover the shipping costs to get your cranks to our factory. We also still subsidize the shipping of your crank back to you, which is why your shipping charges are minimal. Separate to shipping, however, is the fact that there are times when your country of origin also charges taxes and duties. This does not apply to North America thanks to NAFTA but each other country has separate rules and we continue to investigate ways to reduce all fees for you. FedEx also charges a convenience fee for expediting international deliveries, which, unfortunately, cannot be avoided.

A few customers have reported that they are getting cadence numbers, but either no or extremely high power numbers. This may happen when PRECISION loses its factory calibration values (not to be confused with the values shown when you zero your PRECISION using your head unit or mobile app). This problem can be fixed by reloading the factory calibration values through our 4iiii app, which is available for both iOS and Android

Connect to your PRECISION using the app, once you’ve installed it. Then use the appropriate menu option (Factory Restore on iOS, and Restore Factory Calibration on Android) to reload the values. With that step completed, zero your PRECISION and go for a ride!

See you next week!

 

Some app info and training wisdom for you this week!

The 4iiii app supports the 4iiii Viiiiva heart rate strap, PRECISION power meter, and Sportiiii heads up display. Both the 4iiii app on iOS, and the 4iiii Gear Configuration app on Android are where you go to:

• pair ANT+ sensors through your Viiiiva to your smartphone,
• configure your Sportiiii (4iiii iOS only).
• gather information about your device including the current firmware version and your serial number for Viiiiva and PRECISION, reloading PRECISION calibration values,
• zero (calibrate) PRECISION,
• get the latest PRECISION and Viiiiva, over-the-air firmware updates,
• customize your device name (for PRECISION, coming for Viiiiva)

The iOS app also functions as a head unit for all your Bluetooth Smart sensors. It’s able to connect to Bluetooth Smart-compliant foot pods, bike speed/cadence sensors, power meters, or heart rate monitors. The app will also allow you to display all data coming from your devices and record .fit files for your coach and fitness programs. You can also access your ANT+ device data in real time on your phone if you’re using the Viiiiva.

Tip of the day: To keep your battery fresh for your ride, take it out of the PRECISION pod while you’re traveling as continual bumping will wake up the unit. This will be improved in a future over-the-air upgrade.

And now, some wisdom from one of the world’s top power gurus, Hunter Allen. We are pleased that we will be featuring Hunter’s tips on a regular basis. Here’s the first:

“Traveling gives me a unique insight into how the people of this country are so very different – each bringing their own perspectives to cycling, power training and endurance sports.  We are similar though in that we have strengths and weaknesses, are limited in our training time, respond somewhat similarly to training stimuli and all want to improve.  These similarities are the key reasons why training with a power meter can help us to improve our cycling.  In my travels, I have met pro road cyclists, track athletes, ultra endurance mountain bikers, triathletes, recreational riders and many others,  each asking me questions about how they can best use their power meter to optimize their training time, optimize their chronic training load and also optimize their individual intervals as well.   The knowledge of using a power meter for optimization is one of the top asked questions that I get at my seminars and book signings.   Sure, everyone wants to hear about this pro or that pro and see how to analyze their power file in the TrainingPeaks WKO+ software, but the general theme is always around optimization.

After you have had a power meter for at least six to eight months, you will have plenty of data to review in order to find trends based on the training response to your training dose.   We each have limited time to train – you’ll make the best use of your time if you are focused during those key training hours.”   Read more at: http://www.hunterallenpowerblog.com/2011/03/power-of-knowledge-and-knowledge-of.html

Some new PRECISION riders are using bike power for the first time and have sent us great questions that we’ll do our best to answer in these blogs. This week, we will address the ever-confused issue of calibration/zeroing/re-zeroing. The whole concept is really much easier for you, the user, than it first seems. Here’s the simple summary:

PRECISION power meters use proprietary strain sensors that provide you with accurate power measurements. Initially, PRECISION needs to be “taught” how to translate a certain force to a specific power value. We do this initial set up for you in our factory with certified weights and we refer to it as Factory Calibration. This calibration procedure generates a linear function (also known as a calibration curve) which is unique to your PRECISION and crank combination. The calibration values on the 4iiii calibration card you receive with your pod denote the two values associated with the curve obtained at the factory. They will not change over the course of PRECISION’s life.

Once outside of our factory, your PRECISION sensor – just as all power meters – will have its own signature response to environmental and temperature changes. This is normal and very similar to how you need to reset your weigh scale to ‘zero’ before each use. The changes can shift slightly upwards or downwards which “offsets” the calibration curve established in factory and causes you to obtain higher or lower values than you actually want. So, in order to get the best and most accurate power reading, your power meter needs to be zeroed before a ride and after any large temperature fluctuations. Note: Most (if not all) head units refer to this step as ‘calibrate’ although some will name the action ‘zero’ or ‘re-zero.’ All head units that support power will have this easy-to-use utility that is activated with only a push of a button

When you successfully zero PRECISION, you should see two numbers alternating on the screen of your head unit or bike computer. Normal ranges for these numbers are between 8000 to 11000 and 18000 and 21000.

If you get numbers of 999 or -999, that means the unit isn’t settled or the crank arms are in the wrong position. To correct this, eliminate any wind or movement factors and try again.

For more information on this and specific zeroing step, please read the PRECISION User Manual at 4iiii.com/PRECISION

Now that our Factory Install has ramped, and more and more of you are riding with PRECISION, we’re keen to bring you some perspectives from the power world.

The North American cycling season is clearly underway if the excitement at the Subaru Sea Otter Classic is any indication.  Sea Otter is known as the celebration of cycling and is pretty much the North American season opening.  Our crew is there in Monterey, CA this week meeting with road cyclists and mountain bikers alike who are giving the thumbs up for the $399US PRECISION price point.  Just as exciting, is the overall enthusiasm for power as a key metric for riders of every level, not to mention their coaches.

We recently spoke with Junior Performance Triathlon Coach Bart Ujack who has an enviable track record with junior draft legal racing and was the 2013 ATA Elite Coach of the Year.  Bart summed up power this way:  “There’s no question that understanding your power has become a game changer.  Plain and simple, it keeps you from wasting energy and burning matches.  Get the power profiles from winning races and you’ll also know the minimum requirements for staying in the lead pack.  With the data in front of you, you can analyze the information, train to that standard, and then meet or exceed your goals.  Ideally, I’d get all riders to train with power!”

Tis spring in the foothills – ie no snow on the ground! Where will your personal power take you this weekend?

 

You have been asking, waiting and trusting that your 4iiii PRECISION would reach you in time to ride with power this summer…..and it will!  Production has ramped up well and we can now share projected dates with everyone.  You have taken the plunge to be the first to ride with a highly accurate and affordable power meter and we appreciate your continued enthusiasm.

By May 21 we project that your current orders for PRECISION on the following crank types will be either on your bike or in transit to you from our factory:

• Shimano 105 5800, 5700; Ultegra 6800, 6700; Dura-Ace 9000
• SRAM Rival OCT
• Cannondale SI, SL, SISL, SISL2

New orders on these models will hit production mid May.

For those of you riding with Shimano 7900, 9800, 7800, FSA Energy, and SRAM x1, we anticipate that you will be on the road with PRECISION by June 21, ahead of the Fathers’ Day Weekend.  (That will make a lot of 4iiii fathers happy too!) Drive side orders will hit production mid June! Order now to hold your place in the queue.

Watch for your email early next week from cranks@4iiii.com.  (PLEASE check your spam filters to ensure you don’t miss it.)  It will tell you which week to expect your PRECISION to be installed.    If you know that you can’t be without your crank during that designated time, we will happily adjust the schedule to suit you and add another rider to the queue.

It’s a sunny Easter long weekend here in Cochrane.  We wish you all good riding, safe travels, and lots of mini eggs… if Sam hasn’t eaten them all!