A while ago I had a spot of trouble with calibrating my Elite Tuo wheel on trainer.
While I was trying to get to the bottom of the issue, I researched it as much as I could, via search engines, YouTube, forums, help lines, manufacturer’s sites etc.
There’s one question that still bugs me: why calibrate the trainer?
It is “critical” to calibrate often, is a common instruction. “Calibration must be carried out regularly, preferably before each workout to ensure accurate power readings”, was another response. Well, yes, ok, I understand the instructions, but why?
Here’s a hypothetical situation……actually it’s my very own situation:
I have one bike that is used only on the trainer.
This bike is never removed from the trainer.
The set up is permanently in one place.
It’s in an insulated room with no large temperature fluctuations.
This set up is only used for training with Trainer Road and not on any other platform. My displayed power is never compared with others, eg. as on Zwift type virtual racing etc.
I do not have any independent power meters.
I always do a 15 min warm up, performed the same way.
Workouts are always in Erg mode.
Tire pressure is always checked after warm up.
The resistance adjustment on the trainer roller/resistance unit is never moved.
The tyre is one made specifically for indoor trainers.
If I were to feel that something had changed, perhaps drive train resistance or a new tire, then a ramp test on Trainer Road would bring things back to where they should be ie. The TR perceived power at that time?
So. It doesn’t matter to me if the displayed power is “accurate” or not, as long as it’s consistent. Consistently inaccurate or consistently accurate. Why would that matter? They’re only numbers.
According to the manufacturer, the power displayed is calculated using an algorithm based on the SPEED of the resistance roller. Wheel circumference is apparently irrelevant.
Given all of the above, APART from slippage between tire/roller, how can there be any substantial or relevant change to power reporting, day to day, workout to workout?
Be interested in any responses to this.
Cheers.