Linking a Device to Gear

Learn how to connect devices to your bikes and components for automatic gear matching in Componentry.

Linking devices to your gear is the foundation of automatic activity matching in Componentry. By establishing these connections, you enable the system to automatically determine which bike and components were used for each activity based on the electronic devices that recorded data during the ride.

Understanding Device-Gear Relationships

The most effective device links are with equipment that:

  • Stays on one bike - Power meters, bike computers permanently mounted
  • Appears in every activity - Devices that consistently record data
  • Has unique identification - Clear serial numbers or device IDs
  • Rarely moves between bikes - Minimizes confusion and conflicts

Secondary Device Considerations

Some devices may be:

  • Shared across bikes - Heart rate monitors, some sensors
  • Occasionally moved - Bike computers that can be transferred
  • Used for multiple sports - Devices used for running, swimming, etc.

[Screenshot placeholder: Device management interface showing different device types and their link status]

Accessing Device Management

  1. From the main navigation, select Devices
  2. You'll see a list of all discovered and manually added devices
  3. Devices are organized by type and show their current linking status

Device Information Display

Each device entry shows:

  • Device name/model - Manufacturer and model information
  • Device type - Power meter, heart rate monitor, etc.
  • Serial number/ID - Unique device identifier
  • Link status - Whether it's connected to gear
  • Last seen - When it last appeared in an activity

[Screenshot placeholder: Devices page showing list of discovered devices with link status indicators]

Linking Process

  1. Find the device you want to link in the devices list
  2. Click the "Link to Gear" button or "Edit" option
  3. The device linking dialog will open

Step 2: Choose Gear Type

Select what type of gear this device should be linked to:

  • Best for: Power meters, bike computers, speed/cadence sensors permanently mounted
  • Effect: All activities using this device will be automatically assigned to this bike
  • Components: All components on this bike will inherit the activity usage
  • Best for: Component-specific devices like electronic shifting systems
  • Effect: Activities using this device will be assigned to the bike containing this component
  • Tracking: Provides specific usage data for that individual component

[Screenshot placeholder: Device linking dialog showing gear type selection options]

Step 3: Select Specific Gear

Choose the exact bike or component:

For Bike Linking:

  1. Browse your bike list - All bikes in your gear inventory are shown
  2. Select the appropriate bike - Choose the bike this device is mounted on
  3. Verify bike details - Confirm manufacturer, model, and configuration

For Component Linking:

  1. Choose component type - Select the type of component (e.g., drivetrain, wheel, etc.)
  2. Select specific component - Pick the exact component from your inventory
  3. Verify component installation - Ensure the component is installed on the correct bike

[Screenshot placeholder: Gear selection interface showing bikes and components available for linking]

Set up additional options for the device link:

Primary vs Secondary Device

  • Primary Device: Main identifier for gear matching (e.g., power meter)
  • Secondary Device: Supporting device that reinforces matching (e.g., cadence sensor)

Conflict Resolution

  • Override other devices: This device takes priority for gear matching
  • Require confirmation: Ask for manual confirmation when conflicts arise
  • Use in combination: Work with other devices for more accurate matching

Activity Types

  • All activities: Use this device for matching any activity type
  • Specific activities: Only use for certain types of activities (cycling, etc.)

[Screenshot placeholder: Device link configuration options showing priority and conflict settings]

Step 5: Save and Test

  1. Review your settings - Verify all selections are correct
  2. Save the link - Click "Link Device" or "Save Changes"
  3. Test with recent activities - Check that recent activities now match correctly

Best Practices for Device Linking

Prioritize Bike-Specific Devices

Start with devices that are permanently associated with one bike:

Highest Priority:

  • Power meters - Crank, pedal, or hub-based systems
  • Integrated bike computers - Units built into or permanently mounted on one bike
  • Electronic shifting systems - Di2, eTap, etc.

Medium Priority:

  • Speed/cadence sensors - Usually bike-specific but can be moved
  • Dedicated bike computers - Computers used primarily on one bike

Lower Priority:

  • Heart rate monitors - Often shared across activities and sports
  • Portable computers - Devices frequently moved between bikes

Create Logical Hierarchies

Establish clear device priorities:

  1. Primary identifier - One main device per bike (usually power meter)
  2. Secondary confirmers - Additional devices that support the primary match
  3. Backup options - Devices that can identify the bike when primary devices fail

Handle Multi-Bike Scenarios

For cyclists with multiple bikes:

Option 1: Unique Devices Per Bike

  • Each bike has its own power meter or primary device
  • Cleanest setup with most accurate matching
  • Higher equipment cost but best automation

Option 2: Shared Devices with Smart Rules

  • Use activity patterns and secondary devices for identification
  • Requires more manual intervention initially
  • Componentry learns from patterns over time

Option 3: Hybrid Approach

  • Primary devices on main bikes
  • Shared devices on secondary or occasional bikes
  • Balance of automation and cost

[Screenshot placeholder: Multi-bike device setup showing different linking strategies]

Advanced Linking Scenarios

Temporary Device Changes

Handle situations where devices are temporarily different:

Equipment Failure:

  1. Create temporary device entry - Add replacement device details
  2. Link to same gear - Associate with the same bike/component
  3. Note the time period - Document when the change occurred
  4. Update historical data - Ensure activities are correctly matched

Borrowed Equipment:

  1. Create guest device entry - Add borrowed device information
  2. Link with time constraints - Set start/end dates for the link
  3. Restore original setup - Return to normal configuration afterward

Device Upgrades and Replacements

When replacing devices:

Before Replacement:

  1. Document current setup - Note all device links and settings
  2. Export activity history - Backup data associated with old device
  3. Plan transition - Decide how to handle the changeover

During Replacement:

  1. Add new device - Create entry for replacement device
  2. Link to same gear - Maintain gear associations
  3. Test functionality - Verify automatic matching works with new device

After Replacement:

  1. Update device status - Mark old device as inactive
  2. Verify historical data - Ensure all activities are properly attributed
  3. Clean up device list - Archive or remove obsolete devices

Component-Level Device Tracking

For advanced users tracking individual components:

Electronic Drivetrains:

  • Link shifting systems to specific drivetrain components
  • Track usage of cassettes, chains, and derailleurs separately
  • Monitor battery life and service intervals

Wheel-Specific Devices:

  • Link power meter hubs to specific wheelsets
  • Track usage of different wheel configurations
  • Monitor bearing wear and maintenance needs

[Screenshot placeholder: Advanced device linking showing component-level associations]

Common Linking Issues

Device Not Appearing in Activities

  • Check device battery - Ensure device is powered and recording
  • Verify device settings - Confirm device is set to broadcast data
  • Test device connectivity - Pair with bike computer or app to verify function

Multiple Devices Claiming Same Activity

  • Review device priorities - Set primary and secondary device roles
  • Check for device conflicts - Ensure devices aren't incorrectly shared
  • Update conflict resolution - Configure how conflicts should be handled

Historical Activities Not Updating

  • Trigger re-processing - Force Componentry to re-analyze past activities
  • Check date ranges - Verify device links cover the appropriate time periods
  • Manual override - Manually assign activities if automatic matching fails

Validation and Testing

Verify Device Links:

  1. Upload test activity - Use a known activity from the linked bike
  2. Check automatic matching - Verify activity is assigned to correct bike
  3. Review device attribution - Confirm correct devices are recognized

Test Edge Cases:

  1. Multiple bike scenario - Test activities with devices from different bikes
  2. Device failure simulation - Test matching when primary device is missing
  3. Conflict resolution - Verify system handles ambiguous situations correctly

Monitor Performance:

  1. Track matching accuracy - Review percentage of automatically matched activities
  2. Identify patterns - Look for consistent matching failures
  3. Optimize configuration - Adjust device links based on performance data

[Screenshot placeholder: Device validation interface showing link testing and performance metrics]

Regular Review

Periodically review your device links:

Monthly Check:

  • Verify all devices are functioning and recording data
  • Check for new devices that need linking
  • Review matching accuracy for recent activities

Seasonal Review:

  • Update device configurations for seasonal bike changes
  • Check battery status for electronic devices
  • Plan for any equipment upgrades or replacements

Annual Audit:

  • Review all device links for accuracy
  • Clean up obsolete or unused devices
  • Update device information and settings

Documentation

Keep records of your device setup:

  • Device inventory - List all devices with serial numbers and specifications
  • Link configuration - Document which devices are linked to which gear
  • Change history - Track modifications and the reasons for changes
  • Performance notes - Record any issues or optimization opportunities

By properly linking devices to your gear, you create a foundation for automatic activity tracking that saves time and improves the accuracy of your component wear monitoring. The next section will cover linking devices to Strava bikes for enhanced integration.