Smart Control or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying (and Love My Vado)

[BioWheel]

Where is the torque sensor on the SL?

 

[mogulman]

I was thinking about it when I was riding today (you have a lot of time to think while riding). What I would really like is some way of having a constant total output power, no matter how much work I am doing.... Set it for total output power of 200w. I set it for 250w. I ride between 100-200w, it compensates and provides 150-50w, depending on how much power I am providing, rather than 2x what I am doing. I may have issues. I don't want it providing 2x of what I am doing all the time.

Really..I'm thinking hills. on a hill, I want it providing as much power as possible, because I have nerve damage issues with one of my legs. On flats, I don't really care how much assistance it provides. maybe a little, but not critical. Maybe I'll try smart control again,

I did try using Microtune, but I found it annoying to have to change the microtune level along with the gearing. I'd rather just change my gearing to keep my cadence consistant.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Where is the torque sensor on the SL?

Inside the motor.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I set the distance for 45 miles, I set the Remaining Elevation to 875 ft., I put Climb Response to 250 ft., and 25% was used for the remaining battery. Also, set the time for the ride to 5 hrs.

I think you can only either set the Distance or Ride Time criteria. Good SC worked for you!

but the cadence is the magic ingredient I believe.

Specialized once wrote: "The cadence is the King (or Queen)". It was written on somewhat hilarious note but that's true is it a bike or e-bike.

that’s where the second number comes in. a very strong rider will use the battery up FAST on 35/100; pedaling at 430 watts of leg power for an hour would drain the whole thing! 35/50 would double battery life in that far-fetched scenario.

For my weak legs, the SL 35/100 gives about the same battery consumption as SL 55/55. The 35/100 makes my rides very natural and it rewards my effort (a fitness option) while the 55/55 makes me feel stronger.

I guess smart control heart rate would be the closest thing?

Again, not really. I am on blood overpressure medications, preventing my HR going too high. As I hardly ever get my HR over 115, the SC HR mode keeps the assistance constant and only increeases it when my HR exceeds 115.

Smart Control is not an automatic mode. It is just an algorithm to make you complete your distance or allow you ride for specified time or keep your HR in reins and still allow you return with some battery charge left. For me, SC is useful at times but I still think well mastered manual modes are far more predictable.

 

[kahn]

I think you can only either set the Distance or Ride Time criteria. Good SC worked for you!


Specialized once wrote: "The cadence is the King (or Queen)". It was written on somewhat hilarious note but that's true is it a bike or e-bike.


For my weak legs, the SL 35/100 gives about the same battery consumption as SL 55/55. The 35/100 makes my rides very natural and it rewards my effort (a fitness option) while the 55/55 makes me feel stronger.

Again, not really. I am on blood overpressure medications, preventing my HR going too high. As I hardly ever get my HR over 115, the SC HR mode keeps the assistance constant and only increeases it when my HR exceeds 115.

Smart Control is not an automatic mode. It is just an algorithm to make you complete your distance or allow you ride for specified time or keep your HR in reins and still allow you return with some battery charge left. For me, SC is useful at times but I still think well mastered manual modes are far more predictable.

Okay, I have a potential ride coming up (first, I've never tried Smart Control) that is just under 55 miles and about 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Some steeper climbs. The Range Extender (I'm thinking two) will be along. I did the ride last year, a year younger and possibly in better shape and was running on fumes getting home. Oh, aluminum Creo with a heavy rider and a packed pannier!

What thinks the CROWD?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Okay, I have a potential ride coming up (first, I've never tried Smart Control) that is just under 55 miles and about 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Some steeper climbs. The Range Extender (I'm thinking two) will be along. I did the ride last year, a year younger and possibly in better shape and was running on fumes getting home. Oh, aluminum Creo with a heavy rider and a packed pannier!

What thinks the CROWD?

The SC would only ensure returning with some battery charge left but you might be disappointed with the app performance during the ride: too little assistance when you need the motor help you and too much when you don't need it.
Let me check my stats when I'm back from my current ride. Perhaps I might give some advice (or not!)

 

[kahn]

The SC would only ensure returning with some battery charge left but you might be disappointed with the app performance during the ride: too little assistance when you need the motor help you and too much when you don't need it.
Let me check my stats when I'm back from my current ride. Perhaps I might give some advice (or not!)

Disappointed is what I think might be the result but I don't want to rule out trying it. I guess I could practice on some other rides. I was still feeling out the bike the last time I did the ride. Up/Down as the hills, flats and downhills presented themselves. I know as I was approaching about 40 miles and looking at the battery gauge, I was trying to use less battery and more leg but it was a push. Fortunately, the last 8-10 miles is relatively flat but I recall a headwind. That's why I think two Range Extenders might be a good idea, although that does mean more weight (I know you think it is trivial but I'm older!!!!).

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Smart Control is unaware you are riding upwind (and later you'd ride with the tailwind); it is not aggressive enough to give you a lot of juice uphill if the climb occurs at the beginning of your ride (and it does not know that you would be descending later, possibly coasting). SC assumes very low assistance at the beginning of the ride, gradually increasing it when it "thinks" you are well off with the battery. And SC is conservative in its predictions. It would be even worse if you started downwind and/or downhill!

Once, I fancied a pretty long, single battery ride in mixed terrain and tried using the SC. My first ride segment was against headwind; the proposed assistance in the beginning of the ride was so weak I had to switch the SC off and rely on my own "intelligence" for the rest of the ride (It was the "big" Vado).

A Range Extender weighs just 2.2 lbs. If you use a small, modern & lighweight backpack, you'll forget of the weight instantly, same as forgetting you are wearing the helmet. (I use a small Samsonite backpack on my rides requiring extra Range Extenders).
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My SL ride with the greatest elevation gain of 800 ft was 72.2 miles. Average assistance was 55/55%, and I used 136% of combined batteries (140% is the practical limit). I actually rode in 45/45% assistance with occasional use of 70/70 and very rarely 100/100.