Now that Garmin’s Vector Power Pedals are finally here, we got a couple closeup shots of them while discussing the software updates that’ll allow you to remote control their new VIRB action sports camera from your Edge cycling computer.
All the tech details are in this post, but here’s the nutshell: The Vector pedals let you quickly and easily setup power measurement on your bike and move it to any other road/triathlon bike in your fleet. They’re based on the Look Keo platform but use strain gauges inside the spindles and ANT+ transmitters to send left and right power information to a compatible head unit, like their Edge 500/510/800/810.
The only thing visually identifying this as a different sort of pedal is the transmitter pod sitting between it and the crank arm.
Inside the spindle are the electronics. The transmitter sits between it and the outside face of the crank arm. The bulky bit faces inward…
…and the plug on the back inserts into the pedal to carry signals from the strain gauges to the transmitter.
In two weeks, Garmin will post a free software update for the Edge 510/810, the some Forerunner watches and the eTrex 30 handheld unit that’ll allow them to remote control the new VIRB camera. Using a graphical slider switch, it’ll allow you to start/stop recording. Press the on-screen button near the bottom and it’ll simultaneously snap still photos. The control screen is accessed by simply swiping to the right on the head Edge head unit.
The VIRB comes with video editing software that’ll let you overlay your ride metrics from an Edge computer onto the video. If you don’t have an Edge, there’s the VIRB Elite that captures GPS, G forces and other fun metrics all on its own.
