New VR Trainer System

davidof

I was looking around for some software that would link in to my ANT heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor to let me ride and record GPS routes from the Web and display the slope profile so I could set my turbo trainer resistance accordingly. I didn't want to drop the better part of a thousand quid for a VR roller and a computer with the graphics capabilities of Hollywood CGI studio just to have software buggier than a stray dog.

It doesn't sound like too much to ask?

http://youtu.be/uQO5Rr9tMwA

Not finding exactly what I wanted I decided to write my own and have thrown in video playback matched to rider speed as well. This is a short video presentation of the prototype. I'd be interested in thoughts and comments. I also run the excellent GoldenCheetah v3 software so I'm aware of that.

mattshrops

Interesting, saddle looks a bit low tho'...

liversedge

Wow -- just watched your descent of Col du Coq. I nearly crapped myself.

aberdeenal

liversedge wrote:

Wow -- just watched your descent of Col du Coq. I nearly crapped myself.

Just watched it too and I did crap myself!

napoleond

I just watched the descent of your seat post! Shocking!

davidof

liversedge wrote:

Wow -- just watched your descent of Col du Coq. I nearly crapped myself.

Haha, some guy just did it 33 seconds quicker than me on his morning commute. Maybe he has a 53x39 so doesn't spin out?

gpreeves

I was looking around for something exactly like this a couple of weeks ago. Cadence VR was the closest match to your concept I found. Are you planning on making this available to purchase?

davidof

gpreeves wrote:

I was looking around for something exactly like this a couple of weeks ago. Cadence VR was the closest match to your concept I found. Are you planning on making this available to purchase?

It is initially a personal project so I've not really got a plan for where I'm going. That said I'm over in the Massif Central filming some nice ride footage at the moment.

I was looking into developing it as a kickstarter project, more for the experience of using kickstarter.

Alex_Simmons/RST

http://perfprolog.com/Default.aspx
you can add your own videos and synchronise with an erg file of your own making. Use with Computertrainer or Kickr to control the resistance load, or use the virtual power function with any one of dozens and dozens of trainers.

Video doesn't slow/speed up with your wheel speed (which I don't get anyway, since wheel speed on a non erg controlled trainer is meaningless) but rather you ride at the same % of threshold power as the rider in the video does (or whatever you've amended the erg control file to be).

davidof

It has been a while but I've just made release 1.2 of this project. There is a Windows installer and a Linux package is now available. I've not tested on OSX

http://www.wattzap.com/download.html

The player can be used with linked GPX files, Tacx format RLV files. There are dozens of excellent RLV format videos, both free and commercial.

1.2 supports the Tacx format Ergo videos so you can train with the pros, here we are with the Schlecks in Luxembourg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u88DAKpP1Sw

Note TTS files and other formats are not supported by the player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O7VgaZMDrQ

gpreeves

davidof wrote:

It has been a while but I've just made release 1.2 of this project. There is a Windows installer and a Linux package is now available. I've not tested on OSX

http://www.wattzap.com/download.html

The player can be used with linked GPX files, Tacx format RLV files. There are dozens of excellent RLV format videos, both free and commercial.

1.2 supports the Tacx format Ergo videos so you can train with the pros, here we are with the Schlecks in Luxembourg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u88DAKpP1Sw

Note TTS files and other formats are not supported by the player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O7VgaZMDrQ

Just noticed this post, great stuff. I'll be downloading this as soon as I get home.

davidof

Let me know how you get on either here or on the FB page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wattzap/721384611223072

Version 1.3 has just been released. It supports more trainers, here is the current list:

Cyclops Fluid2, JetFluid Pro
Elite Arion Mag, Chrono Mag Force Gel, Novo Power, Volaire Speed, Road Machine, Rock n Roll
SportCrafters Omnium
Tacx Blue Matic, Blue Twist, Booster, Flow, Satori, Blue Motion

Also quite a few requests for improvements to the Stand Alone non-ANT+ player, it seems due to the RLV support which gives access to dozens of free and commercial videos. For variable resistance trainers you get a prompt for the resistance setting and/or speed (if your bike has a speedometer).

gpreeves

davidof wrote:

Let me know how you get on either here or on the FB page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wattzap/721384611223072

I will do, I've downloaded the software and a couple of RLVs.

I can't test it out properly yet as my speed/cadence sensor appears to be playing up (it won't pair with my Garmin either), but the software and interface look great so far.

davidof

For anyone who is interested I've put the climb of Alpe d'Huez on torrent

https://truck.it/p/as2BrtI_3P

It was filmed from a handlebar mounted camera so is not perfect quality but gives anyone training for the Alpe an idea of the effort and route. Contains RLV files as well (but no TTS) for anyone with the Tacx fortius software

BenderRodriguez

Off topic, but you wouldn't happen to be the guy who runs the PisteHors website would you?

davidof

BenderRodriguez wrote:

Off topic, but you wouldn't happen to be the guy who runs the PisteHors website would you?

yes

BenderRodriguez

davidof wrote:

BenderRodriguez wrote:

Off topic, but you wouldn't happen to be the guy who runs the PisteHors website would you?

yes

Respect. I'm one of your long-time readers!

davidof

If you are following developments there is a Facebook page where I post new features:-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wattzap/721384611223072

there is also a community edition as I have had quite a lot of requests from people who want to develop their own features

https://github.com/davidzof/wattzap