Stages Dash M50/L50 – Big Changes

I reviewed the Stages Dash M50 almost exactly two years ago and one of my biggest criticisms at the time was that the user experience/interface was somewhat lacking. which was a shame as this is a feature-packed pro cycling device. just a bit hard to use.

Well, as of last week this has all changed with a significantly updated look and feel plus the addition of numerous tweaks.

Here’s a full list of everything that’s just changed…it’s a big list. Possibly the biggest ever list I’ve seen for a sports device.

Features:

• User interface redesign – The entire user interface has received a new look. Some menu items may have moved, but it’s all still there, including some new things as well.
• E-bike integration –
  • Dash pairs to and shows a full-page E-bike dashboard when in use.
  • Added E-bike as a movement option for speed and distance.
  • Displays error codes from the E-bike as overlays.
  • Overlay current assist mode on graphs when an E-bike is paired.
• Automatic profile – A profile is added to every Dash that does not allow custom pages and only uses paired sensors and internal data to create ride pages.
• Auto sensor scanning – The Dash now scans for sensors automatically and will prompt to pair with any sensor it finds. This can be disabled from the overlay menu.
• Time in zones field and page – Added a Time in zones preset page, which is a full-page displaying a table of time in each zone, as well as a time in zones graph that can be added to any page as a data field.

Improvements:

• The Dash can now handle zipped files. Added zipped map files, courses, and workouts will be unzipped and organized.
• The power mode is now called Battery Saver and has been reduced to two settings: On and off.
• When a trainer is paired to a smart profile, the speed-based smart page will display if there are no speed metrics in the profile.
• The off-course notification defaults to off.
• Dash model number appears in Settings > Dash settings > About.
• Dash serial number appears in Settings > Dash settings > About.
• Automatic time in zones page disabled by default.
• Workouts are now displayed in chronological order.
• The basic ride summary smart page that used to show up at the end of a smart profile now displays first with instantaneous ride data included.
• Changed the display mode settings from Day and Night to Light and Dark.
• Added option in the units setting menu to change imperial to metric measurements.
• The default sleep setting is now 20 minutes (was never).
• Course and breadcrumb trail will show up in the map field even if there are no tiles on the Dash.
• Data field text colour is now based on the background of the field to improve visibility.
• The Add-to-all sensor setting is automatically enabled for all existing and newly created profiles.
• Time-in-zone is displayed in ride history for every ride if power and/or heart rate data is present.
• Text size increased on Portrait L data fields that are 3 high by 1 wide.
• Workouts now have the planned date listed in the menu item.
• The Dash will display low battery notifications for connected sensors regardless of preferences, and will only show once every hour.
• The auto lap default setting is now “All workout steps”.
• Changed “Main menu” to “Settings” on the Dash home page.
• Text overflowing the width of a menu item will scroll when the item is highlighted.
• Courses and workouts are listed under the Files menu instead of being organized into sub-menus.
• The in-ride menu has been re-organized for simplicity.
• The change profile option has moved to the power button menu.
• Smart pages display the time in zones data field where applicable.
• The map list is now alphabetized for easier searching.
• Added kJ and Time as separate triggers for eating and drinking reminders.
• When going back in the menu, the last selected item is displayed on the previous page.
• Radar-related icons are now easier to see in night mode.
• Increased the number of cues that fit on the cue sheet to 500.

Bug Fixes:

• Android app no longer sends two pairing requests.
• Maps no longer hang or crash when going off-course during a ride.
• Adding and removing devices during a ride no longer causes strange behaviour on smart pages.
• Speed and cadence device icon problems have been fixed.
• Course now reloads following map crash/error.
• Lap time text no longer overlaps with colour wheels.
• BLE Polar H7 HR Strap, 4iiii power meter and Power2Max BLE no longer cause apps on the Dash to crash.
• The UI correctly saves a page after you edit the page and then long-press the lap/back button.
• Chinese text is no longer cut off at the bottom.
• 3-second average power now goes over 5.0 w/kg.
• BLE low battery alert now persists until dismissed.
• Units for weight in the menu now match the user setting.
• Ignoring power meter zeros caused TSS and Normalized Power to be under-reported in the UI.
• Going to the main menu while riding a course no longer resets the course.
• The radar no longer causes disconnection for other ANT devices.
• Activities no longer appear as “cross-train” or “generic” or any other value.
• The Dash no longer boots up when disconnected from USB power while displaying the battery charge screen.
• Pre-existing Wi-Fi networks can no longer be added.
• Off course notification distance now reports the correct distance and direction to the closest point on the course.
• TCX files loaded to the add_files folder now show correct navigation, points of interest, and elevation.