Nordic Track - Getting your workouts into Strava (or other workout platform)

I've loved my Nordic Track machine - it has been a godsend when the weather turns murky and I have been using it really regularly.

However the built in computer on my machine has been cranky for a while, and it doesn't always work. I have been using a Wahoo Tickr heart rate strap while working out, so I have some data that I can push into Strava using Wahoo Fitness, but this does not give any virtual distance information. Also - Strava doesn't show your heart rate stats in the Android app unless you have some other stat uploaded (such as heart rate)

What I did was buy a cheap bluetooth/ANT+ cycle speed and cadence sensor from Amazon. There are a lot of types of these but the one I chose claimed to be compatible with Wahoo Fitness. It has 2 x magnets that you attach to the 'moving' parts and a sensor with 2 'receivers' separated by a small amount of cable.  The large part is the cadence sensor and would be designed to be near a cycle crank, and the smaller bar sensor is the speed sensor.

Attempt #1

I attached the magnets as follows
 - the flat magnet, designed for cadence I attached to the side of the foot loop.

- I attached the 'spoke' round magnet to the the fly wheel.

These were attached loosely at first - you will need to wiggle things around to make sure that as the flywheel spins/ski moves forwards and backwards that the magnets are close enough to cause a reading, without hitting the sensor. 

Then I used the provided zip ties to position the cadence sensor part on the spar in front of the flywheel, and the speed sensor near to the flywheel, level with the spoke magnet.

Use Wahoo Fitness and add the sensor.

Measure the circumference of the flywheel and change the wheel size in wahoo fitness to this value.

Start a workout in Wahoo Fitness. Now manually turn the flywheel and adjust the magnet position until you get a speed recorded. Repeat the adjustment process for the magnet on the foot binding to get a cadence reading. This is best done with your foot inside the binding wearing your normal workout shoes, as this will make the loop change position/shape.



This arrangement worked for me for several workouts.... right up until my husband used it, and his larger feet/different gait, caused the zip ties that wrapped around the track to be severed by the ski.

Attempt #2 (still working 3 months later)

So I had to rethink where the sensor were placed I noticed that on one side of the flywheel axle there was a box section and just enough space to fit the speed sensor. Some swearing later and I managed to get it attached.  But the magnet designed to go on the spokes was too big to rotate past.

A magnet is a magnet right? The one designed for the cadence sensor was more compact and some testing showed that it working.

The larger spoke magnet was attached to the left foot binding.

This new arrangement has the advantage of the battery hatch being more accessible too!

This is what my workouts look like in Strava

Nordic Track Basic Maintenance - Ski Glide Buttons

My second hand Nordic Track Skier was in reasonable working order, but it did have a couple of niggles.

One was the condition of the skis, they had definitely been well used. The ski glide buttons were either a) worn or b) missing. They may not be essential, but they do help prevent the skis rubbing along the side of the 'tracks'

Missing ski glide button

You can buy replacement ski glide buttons online. Mine came from http://www.nordicparts.com/ who provided very quick and helpful service.

What do you need? Replacement ski glide buttons (obviously), something to pick out the old buttons such as a micro screwdriver, and something to tap in the new buttons. In this kind of situation a mallet is preferable to a hammer.

Tools!

First you pick out the old buttons, taking care not to damage the surrounding area. This was surprisingly easy to be honest.

Here you can see the difference between the worn one bumper and a new one.

Then you align the bumper over the empty slot and gently tap it in.

Keep tapping along the bumper until it is evenly inserted.

Nordic Track Skier basic maintenance - Oiling the idler wheels

I bought myself a Nordic Track Classic 300 on ebay recently. I desperately need to improve my fitness before going on holiday next year so I can at least do some of the ski trails.

The ski machine I bought was in 'reasonable' condition, but there was a strange noise when skiing which I wasn't sure where it came from. Luckily it came with the manuals so I could read how to do some simple maintenance actions.

After a bit of waggling around, I discovered the noise was coming from the rear idler wheel/roller.  You have these idler wheels at the front and rear of the ski-bed. These can be oiled (unlike the drive rollers - DO NOT OIL THESE)

What you need is a can of 3 in One oil.

Put some something under the machine to protect the carpet (newspaper, plastic sheet) and remove the 'skis'. Push the idler roller to one side, this will expose about 1mm of axel if you're lucky. Drop a single drop of oil there. If you put on too much oil then it will spray everywhere when you ski, so don't do this. Push the idler roller to the other side, and repeat the operation.

Go round all the idler wheels and oil them all.

Replace the skis and try it out!

This really helped with the noise on my machine, hopefully it will help you.

Nordic Track Skier Basic Maintenance - waxing the skis

No pictures for this one!

All you need is some paraffin wax, you can buy specialist stuff from http://www.nordicparts.com/vshop/index.php  or just use a candle. Most 'normal' candles are paraffin wax, usually only premium candles are made with soy or beeswax.

Take your candle and rub it along the sides of the skis. DO NOT WAX THE BOTTOM OF THE SKIS.