Mission Control-Smart Control, my experience (today)

[GuruUno]

The bike club I participate in had a 40-mile ride this morning. Elevation was 1,000 ft.
So upon starting out I plugged in the specs into Smart Control, 45-mile ride, 1050 ft. elevation, 75 ft. (whatever that setting was), 15% remaining at end of the ride (reserve).
Actual ride stats were 41.88 miles, 966 ft. elevation, 2 hr. 50 min ride time.
Upon returning and at the end I had 40 % remaining on the battery.
A phenomenal experience, absolutely perfect.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

What if you were met by an adverse strong wind?

 

[GuruUno]

What if you were met by an adverse strong wind?

Then I might get blown away

 

[Stefan Mikes]

You might have returned on 15% of the battery.
Rely more on the Range and Range Trend data on your Mastermind display.

 

[rayray]

I tried Smart Control only one time, and didn’t care for it at all. The first big hill was a disaster, as I tried to take it from a full stop, and had to turn back downhill to get rolling. Admittedly, perhaps I had set it up incorrectly, and starting from a full stop on a steep hill is quite a test with the Creo’s 35nm of torque, but I’ve been happy without it and haven’t tried Smart Control again.

 

[kahn]

I tried Smart Control only one time, and didn’t care for it at all. The first big hill was a disaster, as I tried to take it from a full stop, and had to turn back downhill to get rolling. Admittedly, perhaps I had set it up incorrectly, and starting from a full stop on a steep hill is quite a test with the Creo’s 35nm of torque, but I’ve been happy without it and haven’t tried Smart Control again.

I have had very little luck starting up on a hill. Like you, turn around and find an angle that allows you to restart uphill. But, then again, I've had similar problems with non-ebikes. Trying to get that crank turning with appropriate force and keep one's balance is a challenge. At least, it is for me. I'm sure trained riders can do it in their sleep on a 20% grade!!!

 

[rayray]

I have had very little luck starting up on a hill. Like you, turn around and find an angle that allows you to restart uphill. But, then again, I've had similar problems with non-ebikes. Trying to get that crank turning with appropriate force and keep one's balance is a challenge. At least, it is for me. I'm sure trained riders can do it in their sleep on a 20% grade!!!

In the instance I described, I did turn downhill, as I said. However, I stopped again, to see if I could start without Smart Control activated. I then put it in Turbo, and had no problem starting. It was approximately a 9% grade.

 

[GuruUno]

So, as an ongoing experiment, I've been using Smart Control every day, attempting to predict my total distance, etc., and pre-configure the software prior to departure.
Today, I figured I'd do 40 miles, but as a safety zone, I put in 45 miles, 15% remaining battery with 950 ft. of elevation.
I did the 40 miles and returned with 25% of battery.
The very best part of using Smart Control is you are consistently provided all the power needed at almost all times.
Sure, pedal harder when required, consistently shifting gears, but keeping cadence as consistent as possible achieves my most pleasurable rides.
The ONLY time I had to override Smart Control and use TURBO was on the 11.1% grade, which sucked 9% of the battery.
Upon using Turbo it would occasionally kick out of Turbo back into Smart Control a few times while climbing, I kept putting it back into Turbo until I reached the top of the climb.
Smart Control did not provide enough assistance for the 11.1% grade.
I'm not complaining, just sharing.
Overall, the Smart Control is a phenomenal feature that I'll continue to use as frequently as possible.
Screenshot attached.

 

[BEC111]

I used Smart Control a few times when I first got the bike and was experimenting. It definitely worked as far as battery life was concerned, but it too frequently didn’t match the assist to the conditions. My typical ride is on a rail trail with one rolling hills. These are not very steep' but 2 or 3 % for two miles drains my old legs. Perhaps newer bikes than my 2020 Vado 4 SL will have better algorithms?

My usual manual assist style on these trails is to ride in default Eco mode with occasional hits of Sport on those long hills. Turbo is for those rare short steep ascents or when I’m bored. I do get pretty good battery life of 60-90 miles on a charge over several rides.

 

[GuruUno]

Understood....but the CONSISTENT performance and assistance are none to be matched in Smart Control, whereas ECO/Sport/Turbo is a 'manual' selection to provide a consistent level, for the level selected. Unlike Smart Control, which provides a somewhat "automatic" continuance of assistance.
My observations and experience, as I continue to evaluate.

 

[rayray]

Understood....but the CONSISTENT performance and assistance are none to be matched in Smart Control, whereas ECO/Sport/Turbo is a 'manual' selection to provide a consistent level, for the level selected. Unlike Smart Control, which provides a somewhat "automatic" continuance of assistance.
My observations and experience, as I continue to evaluate.

I can understand your point of view, as it’s working for you. Personally, I don’t mind changing assistance level manually. If the bike has Mastermind (as I understand it), or BLEvo with O-Synce remote (my setup), it’s pretty easy to dial in the assistance level to exactly what one wants at the exact moment it’s needed. It doesn’t hesitate to add assistance, nor does it jump out of Turbo mode unexpectedly when climbing.

 

[Little Nan]

I used Smart Control a few times when I first got the bike and was experimenting. It definitely worked as far as battery life was concerned, but it too frequently didn’t match the assist to the conditions. My typical ride is on a rail trail with one rolling hills. These are not very steep' but 2 or 3 % for two miles drains my old legs. Perhaps newer bikes than my 2020 Vado 4 SL will have better algorithms?

My usual manual assist style on these trails is to ride in default Eco mode with occasional hits of Sport on those long hills. Turbo is for those rare short steep ascents or when I’m bored. I do get pretty good battery life of 60-90 miles on a charge over several rides.

Hi, could I pick your brain please? I have a Vado Turbo 3 2017 model which I bought off a friend last year. I love it and like you ride mainly in Eco and Sport when needed, Turbo when I want to beat Hubby! Late last year I had the TCD-W? fitted as my display kept freezing. I have Eco set to 25 for Support and 15 for Peak. Sport 40 Support and 35 for Peak and Turbo 80 for Support and 80 for Peak. Am I right in thinking that Peak is the amount of help I get from the battery? It's just that I don't seem to be getting the same distance range for some reason, any advice would be appreciated as I normally ride with hubby doing 50 - 60 miles with elevation of about 4000 - 5000 feet of climbing but hardly any battery left so am abit wary of trying more mileage. Thanks

 

[GuruUno]

I'd guess as an ongoing followup, (I'd hope that some knowledgable person at Rider Care might care to chime in), that there was a "knowledgable" person (possibly the software developer, programmer, responsible person(s) ), might at some point provide an in depth discussion of the use and specifics to the entire Mission Control app, it's features, (i.e., Smart Control), etc., and so forth.
Yea, yea, yea, a bunch of You Tube videos and OLDER blurbs abound, but I've been asked by Rider Care not o ask them anything, nd was advised to ask my LBS any questions (they say I ask too many questions).
Regardless, my LBS manager would need to mirror my experiences of have a specific knowledge to assit me, as well as any other(s) that had inquiries.
So, I'm push forward and document everything so if/when the day comes I'll have all my questions answered professionally.
It's an unfortunate thing that a lot of users rely on 3rd party forums to get answers that the manufacturer shold have.
Yup, I'm complaining, I have that right, and if I could I would call Rider Care frequently as I've done in the past, but they have warned me that if I do, they will dismiss me and buy my bikes back to make me go away.
I suppose one last opportunity to wake them iup is Twitter and Facebook.
We shall see.
Oh, my apolopgies, it's called "Rider-I DON'T Care"

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Am I right in thinking that Peak is the amount of help I get from the battery?

The Peak means "% of Max motor power available to you if you pedal very hard". I cannot remember the Max Motor Power of your motor but let us assume it is 460 W. With 100% of Peak you can get 460 W of assistance if you really try, and it is 230 W of assistance with 50% of Peak. It is a cap on the maximum assistance the motor can give you. While the Support is the amplification of your leg power.

If your Peak is set low (15%), you are getting very little of assistance no matter how hard you try by pedalling while 100% gives you the whole range of the motor power very much depending on your pedalling.

Using 100% of Peak Power is heavy on the battery. I typically set the same figure for Peak Power % as for the Support.

 

[Little Nan]

The Peak means "% of Max motor power available to you if you pedal very hard". I cannot remember the Max Motor Power of your motor but let us assume it is 460 W. With 100% of Peak you can get 460 W of assistance if you really try, and it is 230 W of assistance with 50% of Peak. It is a cap on the maximum assistance the motor can give you. While the Support is the amplification of your leg power.

If your Peak is set low (15%), you are getting very little of assistance no matter how hard you try by pedalling while 100% gives you the whole range of the motor power very much depending on your pedalling.

Using 100% of Peak Power is heavy on the battery. I typically set the same figure for Peak Power % as for the Support.

Thanks Stefan for your reply, I'll change them both to the same % and see how I go. I'd just like to be able to do longer rides and similar elevation. Yes my battery is 460w, Thanks again

 

[mschwett]

I'd guess as an ongoing followup, (I'd hope that some knowledgable person at Rider Care might care to chime in), that there was a "knowledgable" person (possibly the software developer, programmer, responsible person(s) ), might at some point provide an in depth discussion of the use and specifics to the entire Mission Control app, it's features, (i.e., Smart Control), etc., and so forth.
Yea, yea, yea, a bunch of You Tube videos and OLDER blurbs abound, but I've been asked by Rider Care not o ask them anything, nd was advised to ask my LBS any questions (they say I ask too many questions).
Regardless, my LBS manager would need to mirror my experiences of have a specific knowledge to assit me, as well as any other(s) that had inquiries.
So, I'm push forward and document everything so if/when the day comes I'll have all my questions answered professionally.
It's an unfortunate thing that a lot of users rely on 3rd party forums to get answers that the manufacturer shold have.
Yup, I'm complaining, I have that right, and if I could I would call Rider Care frequently as I've done in the past, but they have warned me that if I do, they will dismiss me and buy my bikes back to make me go away.
I suppose one last opportunity to wake them iup is Twitter and Facebook.
We shall see.
Oh, my apolopgies, it's called "Rider-I DON'T Care"

are you serious lol?

there’s a twenty page pdf manual, dozens of FAQ and setup pages on the specialized website, and multiple videos on the specialized university youtube channel. the manual is just slightly out of date as a few features have changed over the years, but 99% is correct and it’s 100% of what you need to ride the bike.

the level of hand-holding you seem to be asking for here is beyond reason, and if it were provided to everyone the price of the bikes would be astronomical!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Thanks Stefan for your reply, I'll change them both to the same % and see how I go. I'd just like to be able to do longer rides and similar elevation. Yes my battery is 460w, Thanks again

Just to be precise: your battery is 460 Wh but I meant that the maximum power of your motor could be some 460 W. Just a coincidence. Setting the assistance to 35/35% for Eco would be good for you!

 

[GuruUno]

are you serious lol?

there’s a twenty page pdf manual, dozens of FAQ and setup pages on the specialized website, and multiple videos on the specialized university youtube channel. the manual is just slightly out of date as a few features have changed over the years, but 99% is correct and it’s 100% of what you need to ride the bike.

the level of hand-holding you seem to be asking for here is beyond reason, and if it were provided to everyone the price of the bikes would be astronomical!

Well, questions, as posted to Rider Care in the past, were unanswered as well as unsolvable, so who/where to ask and find solutions?
That's the point.
BASICS are available as you state, BUT, problems are unresolvable, NO SUPPORT!!

 

[BioWheel]

Well, questions, as posted to Rider Care in the past, were unanswered as well as unsolvable, so who/where to ask and find solutions?
That's the point.
BASICS are available as you state, BUT, problems are unresolvable, NO SUPPORT!!

You need a Santa Cruz cycle. You should switch brands.

 

[GuruUno]

Why