20 Jun
Blog

Garmin Vector 3: Spinning Your Head and Feet with Data

Garmin vector 3 test pedals 8

"The Vector 3 pedals offer drivers an amazing amount of accurate information in a clear and user-friendly package."

  • Simply switch between bicycles

  • Bicycle dynamics

  • Slim and light

  • Exactly

  • Permanent

  • Batteries are not rechargeable

  • Garmin computer needed to maintain bike dynamics

Why would anyone want to spend a lot of money on smart bike pedals? It should be easy to tell whether you are pedaling harder or softer because you are the one kicking, right?

After 200 miles on Garmin's Vector 3 pedals, I can say they can do so much more than tell you if you smash the pedals. From tracking my average performance and left / right balance during long journeys, to easing the pace, to finding that I am pushing the outside of my right pedal (which justifies adjusting the studs). I've learned more about how to pedal with the Vector 3 pedals in my last five rides than in the previous 20 without them.

Unzip, install and set up

The components of the Garmin Vector 3 are immediately ready for use. Two pedals, two Look Keo studs, some washers, replacement seals and manuals. Gone are the ridiculous pods of the previous Vector 2 pedals. The Vector 3 pedals only require a 15 mm pedal wrench. The installation is then completed.

Connecting the devices you may be using with the pedals is not that easy. Through some trial and error, I found the best way to sort this process by:

  1. Start the firmware update via the Garmin Connect app on your iOS or Android.
  2. Adjust the crank length to match the cranks of your bike.
  3. After updating the firmware, turn off Bluetooth on your phone.
  4. Connect your pedals to your bike computer using the ANT + connection. If you use the Bluetooth connection, you will not get all the information about the bike dynamics.

It was a bit of a headache to connect everything while the Bluetooth on my phone was still active because the pedals wanted to stay connected to this Bluetooth signal instead of switching to ANT +. One of the pedals could not be connected properly and the calibration was never completed. After I found out and forced my computer to connect via ANT +, it went smoothly.

Once you're done, there's a simple calibration process where all you have to do is loosen the clip and the pedals do the rest. You should calibrate every few trips, especially after the first trip, to make sure everything is read correctly.

design

The Vector 3 pedals have been completely redesigned from the previous model and are clean, elegant and are among the lightest options available. Weight Weenies should be happy, because the Vector 3 pedals have a total of 316 grams. In comparison, my Shimano Ultegra pedals weigh 260 grams. This additional weight comes from the force measurement technology, which is neatly stowed in the pedal spindle.

The battery compartment for the Vector 3 pedals is also located in the spindle. The Vector 3 is a design option that can be a problem for some. He uses four LR44 batteries (two for each pedal). If almost every other Garmin product I've used in recent years uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the Vector 3 pedals won't work. I'm not sure why Garmin chose this route, but the advantage is that the battery life is up to 120 hours and that's a lot of bike rides. The downside is that you may not find the LR44 you need when you are dead while traveling or at a vaguely distant location.

Garmin stuck to the Look Keo studs of the previous Vector 2 pedals. These fit on all normal road bike shoes with 3-hole fastening. However, be aware that SPD / mountain bike shoes do not work.

Bicycle dynamics

As soon as I started pedaling, the amount of incoming data was breathtaking. In first place was the power displayed in watts, of which Garmin claims an accuracy of +/- 1%. For the uninitiated, watts are essentially the measured force your legs can put on the pedals.

Why is that important? Unlike training at your heart rate or average speed, watts are not affected by external factors. With Watt, you always get consistent feedback no matter how sluggish or strong you feel right now. This makes it the most accurate measure of your fitness on the bike. Knowing how many watts you average over a workout is a great help to speed up longer trips or to understand how much power you can deliver in a sprint.

Seeing how much electricity you generate is just the tip of the iceberg. If you show exactly how to generate electricity, the Vector 3 pedals light up. In addition to the more standard left and right cadence and cadence that most other double-sided power meters capture, the Vector 3 pedals compile additional metrics to the so-called bike dynamics.

Bicycle dynamics include:

  • PCO (Platform Center Offset), which shows where you put more pressure on the pedal during the entire pedal stroke.
  • Sitting / standing position to show how much time you spend inside or outside the saddle.
  • Power phase to tell you at what degrees you are producing power throughout the pedal stroke and where your peak power is in that phase.

These metrics are sure to be weeds for data nerds, but PCO can help you dial your lug position. Your sitting and standing time can help you compare yourself to previous efforts to determine where you were more effective, while the performance phase can help you determine whether or not you are getting the most out of each pedal stroke. In addition, all of these statistics can be broken down into averages at any point in your journey, e.g. B. for inclines or sprints to get more information.

Hidden statistics

After my first ride, I realized that the standard setting for the torque effectiveness and pedal smoothness functions was deactivated. Oddly enough, there's no way to turn it on unless you have a Garmin Edge-compatible computer like the Edge 520 plus. This means that if you're rocking a Wahoo Element like I did on my first ride, you can only activate it if you can borrow a friend's Garmin to activate it.

This is a ridiculous problem, and in practice, I found that torque effectiveness and smoothness were measures that I could hardly understand, let alone make useful changes. I guess if you are not a top athlete you will not miss her.

If you don't have a Garmin Edge device, you'll miss the previously mentioned features of Cycling Dynamics. However, there is some hope in this regard as Garmin has released its Cycling Dynamics protocols for third-party devices. At the time of this writing, only Trainer Road and Favero Electronics have adopted it. This is a strange problem that vaguely points to the somewhat turbulent release of the Vector 3 pedals.

The data you get with a Wahoo computer isn't quite as extensive as with a Garmin, but there is still a lot to do.The data collected on a Garmin Edge computer spans the entire suite of Cycling Dynamics.

Rough start fixed

When the Vector 3 pedals first hit the market, it was firmware and product support issues that gave the Vector 3 a bad first impression. Then users had problems with intermittent blackouts due to faulty battery doors.

Fortunately, some important firmware updates have been made, including a Bluetooth smart feature that lets you use the Vector 3 pedals for Zwift. You fixed the battery door issue and shipped new doors to previous Vector 3 owners.

While the release of the Vector 3 pedals may have been a bit rocky, my experience was smooth. After my initial setup, the daily use of the Vector 3 pedals proved to be easy and reliable. After 200 miles and counting, I had no force or pedal reading interruptions.

Warranty information

The Garmin Vector 3 pedals come with a two-year warranty.

Our opinion

The Vector 3 pedals offer drivers an amazing amount of accurate information in a clear and user-friendly package. The initial problems with the Vector 3 pedals have been resolved, and with the discounts currently available, they are among the most affordable double-sided power meters on the market.

Is there a better alternative?

The main competitor is the Assioma Duo Favero. They weigh a little less for the couple at around 300 grams, are cheaper at $ 644, have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with a battery life of 50 hours, and have Garmins Cycling Dynamics built in, so you get all the information. The main difference is in the design, as the Favero houses all of its technology in a pod mounted on the spindle for a much more voluminous overall look. The PowerTap P2 pedals are even more bulky – they look ridiculous.

Another promising option is an emerging company called iQ. They promise most of the same functionality at a fraction of the price, but are still extremely new to the market.

While the Vector 3 pedals struggled, the amount of support and investment that comes with a Garmin product is difficult to favor. While the other companies may shake the electricity meter industry, there is confidence in buying from a name like Garmin that should not be overlooked.

How long it will take?

A big advantage of the Garmin is its repairability. The Assiomas inject resin into their meter housing to make it water and shock resistant. That is, if something goes wrong, you have to replace the entire device. With the Vector 3 everything is stowed in the spindle, which makes it much easier to repair and replace defective parts. This is an important reason why reconditioned Garmin units are available so quickly. In addition to the physical design, Garmin's software engineering and subsequent firmware updates are reliably among the best in the industry.

Should you buy it

If I had done this check at launch when the Vector 3 pedals were only available for the MSRP of $ 1,000, I would have hesitated. Now that you can find sales of new units for $ 750 and can be refurbished for $ 650, the Vector 3 pedals are a breeze.

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