PedalSmart.blog

Just about everyone who rides indoors will eventually hear clicking or scraping noises. Some noises are inconsequential. Others can represent a serious issue.  Let's take a look at some of the most common noise complaints with the Stages SB20 smart bike. Parts Before getting started, here are some key SB20 part names : Flywheel Rubbing against Plastic Cover Manufacturing variances, heat and wear can cause the right plastic cover to make rubbing noises as the flywheel spins. These noises persist after pedalling stops. You can eliminate the problem by trimming the right plastic cover as shown above. Flywheel Cogs Rubbing against Front Cover Fastener Adjusting drive belt tension can move the front axle forward causing it to rub or scrape against the metal fasteners holding the front cover in place.  To verify: Remove the front cover. Look at the front cogs. Do they rub against the front cover fasteners when pedalling . Note: Removing the front cover can cause noises to stop. This is

When your Stages SB20 smart bike is working normally, the built-in power meter cranks provide power and cadence data to apps like Zwift . Behind the scenes, they also provide the data that lets the SB20 regulate resistance when running in Erg mode. Some riders also add 3rd party power meter pedals .  They can work very well.   It surprises many people that Erg mode requires the built-in Stages power meters even when 3rd party power meters are in use.   For more information on SB20 erg mode , see: Erg Mode with a Stages SB20 Smart Bike . Question of the Day 📣 Question:  If my Stages crank power meters fail a nd I have another set of 3rd party power meter pedals , can I still use my SB20 bike?  The Short Answer: You can still do free rides and races in Zwift and other apps. You will not be able to use Erg mode.  ------------------- Urban legend: Erg mode still works with 3rd Party Cranks   Some people report that Erg mode still works when they use other power meter pedals like thos

Bottom Bracket Cartridge Removal A few months ago, I showed how to remove and replace an SB20 smart bike bottom bracket cartridge: SB20 - Replacing the Bottom Bracket Replacement versus Servicing Getting replacement parts is more difficult after the Stages shutdown in the US . Some people in Europe and the UK can still get parts. Not so in other places.  For those who can't get parts, servicing your bottom bracket may be your only option. Fear not . Cartridge disassembly is not as difficult as you might think. July 25, 2024:  This vendor has SB20 BBs in stock:  Stages Bottom Bracket - Part No. 000-3758 .  Get 'em while they last  😁. Bottom Bracket Servicing This post and video shows how to disassemble and reassemble the SB20 bottom bracket cartridge. What's Inside the SB20 BB Cartridge? The SB20 BB cartridge consists of: A pair of retaining cups that secure the bottom bracket cartridge to the frame. Drive and non-drive sides are different. 2 sealed bearing with collars. B

If you ride indoors long enough, you will run into a situation where your SB20 won't wirelessly connect to your workout app. Here are my suggestions to get you back on the virtual road once again. 1. Power Off and On Before Starting: Ensure the power brick is plugged in and the green LED is lit.  Double check that the round plug from the power brick to the back of the bike is firmly inserted. Let's start with the simplest solution: Power off/on everything. Unplug your bike. Wait 30 seconds for the power brick to drain and then restart. At the same time, restart your device (iPad, Apple TV, computer or phone) and your app (Zwift, IndieVelo. Rouvy etc.).  Try connecting again. Also try using another app, including the Stages Cycling app. Better yet! Add an on off switch to your bike .  You will be glad you did. Bonus Suggestions: Try reseting and restarting your wireless router or access point. See Better Internet Connections . Also: Try turning off Bluetooth on your phone. Ph

Have you ever wondered why the Stages SB20 smart bike doesn’t have a gear display? When I took the bike apart to help people understand internal components, I found an extra USB power connector. I always thought this was intended for a gear display. Around the same time, I started thinking about creating a dedicated LCD display - controlled by a small Arduino processor - for something like $200. Then it occurred to me: how about using an old iPad or iPhone? For bout $50, you would have a better display with the ability to show other metrics like cadence, power and heart rate. I started writing related app software in early 2024. I am happy to announce the GearView dashboard for the SB20 is now available on the Apple App Store for iPad and iPhone. You can find out more at: GearView.online ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ GearView  for  iPad  and  iPhone  is available in the Apple App Store.  Have questions?  Contact:   support@GearView.online  

  BattView  is an iOS app that  tests battery levels  for all your Bluetooth fitness related devices.   You can now get  battery level estimates  for devices like heart rate monitors, Zwift controllers, speed sensors and power meters  before starting a workou t. No more opening multiple apps.  Start scanning with a single button. Battery level and signal strength are displayed in seconds.  BattView is easy to Use  ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ BattView  for  iPad  and  iPhone  is available in the Apple App Store.  Download BattView

If you use Zwift long enough, you have seen the following: Why does my Bike Disappear from Zwift? The SB20 bike can have at most 2 Bluetooth connections. After this limit is exceeded, the bike is not visible to apps like Zwift. Each Stages power meter crank can have at most 2 Bluetooth connections. After this limit is exceeded, the PMs are not visible to apps like Zwift. Sounds easy to manage, right? Not always . The hidden culprits are apps on your phone. It is common for an app controlling something like a TV or speaker, to connect to the SB20 and PM cranks to see what services they provide. To do this kind of "feature interrogation", one of the two available Bluetooth connections will be used. If the app developer is not careful, that connection can be maintained when you open another app.  Here is an example of a feature I recently implemented in my GearView app This simple page lets you check battery levels of all nearby devices before starting a ride.  One click and

Let's see how to replace an SB20 smart bike bottom bracket . When to Replace Bad bottom brackets are pretty easy to identify. They will exhibit one or more of the following behaviours: Grinding that feels like sand in the bearing when rotated slowly. Excessive play when pushing the cranks in and out. Wobbling when riding - especially when pushing hard. What is NOT bottom bracket failure Clicking noises.  Instead: Check pedals and look for loose crank bolts. Rubbing noises.  Instead: Look for problems around plastic covers. Noises that get loader as you pedal faster . Instead: Check the flywheel.   Tools Needed Car mechanics can rejoice. You have most of the required tools. Tool Summary: Heat gun for loosening red Loctite that holds drive side bottom bracket fastener (alternative: hair dryer). NLGI #2 automotive bearing grease (alternative: bike bearing grease). 18" or longer torque wrench for tightening bottom bracket when reassembling (Alternative:12" wrench - it's

Free Riding is Easy Let's start with the relationship between resistance , cadence and power (watts) when doing an indoor free ride (sometimes called sim mode ). Free riding follows a simple formula:  Power in watts  =   How hard you push   ⨉   How fast you pedal   Your indoor bike offers constant resistance when you stay in the same physical or virtual gear. Pedal at a constant RPM and you get a consistent number of watts. If you then pedal 10% faster, you produce 10% more watts.  Pedal 10% slower, you produce 10% fewer watts. 📣 Free Riding Summary: When simulated riding conditions stay the same, pedalling faster produces more watts. Pedalling slower produces fewer watts. And don't forget: There is one way to go faster in Zwift.  Produce more watts 💪.    If only indoor riding was always this simple... Erg Mode When doing structured workouts, Erg mode is popular. It allows you to produce a desired number of watts whether you pedal fast or slow. It's very useful fo

In my last post, I described why Erg mode is not always optimal:   What is Erg Mode and Why Can it Suck?   In this post, I describe how the Erg mode works on a Stages SB20 Smart Bike .  SB20 Erg Mode The  Stages SB20  bike is different than other smart bikes or a trainer. It uses crank-based power meters and  not flywheel speed  ⨉  resistance  to determine power levels. This simplifies the power calculations but adds some Erg mode wrinkles. A simple  SB20 Erg mode  flowchart looks like this: The SB20 is measures cadence and power at the cranks rather than calculating power based on flywheel resistance and RPM.   On paper, this method should provide a very responsive erg mode. The reality is: it is one of the slowest erg modes to stabilize after cadence and target power changes.   Why so Slow? The Stages power meter cranks send readings to the SB20 processor once a second. Due to limited processing capability in the cranks, raw readings are transmitted. This data needs to be  filtered