Power in Ascent Software, Garmin Edge 705 and 305
04-02-10, 11:07 AM
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Power in Ascent Software, Garmin Edge 705 and 305
All of last season, I used Ascent and Golden Cheetah in conjunction with a Garmin Edge 705. No issues.
The problem is I recently picked up XC and today I uploaded some data from my older Edge 305. Imagine my surprised when I saw data populating the power column of the Activity Viewer; especially when I wasn't even using a power meter.
Anyone know if Ascent has been estimating my power all along, instead of reading data from the 705?
The problem is I recently picked up XC and today I uploaded some data from my older Edge 305. Imagine my surprised when I saw data populating the power column of the Activity Viewer; especially when I wasn't even using a power meter.
Anyone know if Ascent has been estimating my power all along, instead of reading data from the 705?
04-02-10, 11:20 AM
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I have an edge 305, and I started using Ascent last fall. I swear that at that time, the power columns were always empty. But I just went and looked, and the power column is indeed filled in now. There have been some software updates in that time, so I guess it's an "added feature."
04-02-10, 11:25 AM
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So, looking closer, if I turn on any of the watts columns, then the watts field in the HUD will have values. If I don't, then the watts field in the hud is empty. Weird.
04-02-10, 11:51 AM
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On my home loop, I get a different gradient measurement on my uphill section each time. Sometimes it's as low as 4.6% (like today), others is as high as 6.9%. So I'm not sure how much stock I put in it, especially since wind can't be taken into account. Or at least that's how I reason my measly power output. . .
04-02-10, 01:11 PM
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Alpha, do you know if Ascent defaults to the power data from a 705 if it is available?
I exported the rides in question to Golden Cheetah and found that Ascent included the "estimated" power data. Not good, since now I'm not sure I've been looking at my actual power data all along.
I exported the rides in question to Golden Cheetah and found that Ascent included the "estimated" power data. Not good, since now I'm not sure I've been looking at my actual power data all along.
04-02-10, 01:23 PM
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Alpha, do you know if Ascent defaults to the power data from a 705 if it is available?
I exported the rides in question to Golden Cheetah and found that Ascent included the "estimated" power data. Not good, since now I'm not sure I've been looking at my actual power data all along.
I exported the rides in question to Golden Cheetah and found that Ascent included the "estimated" power data. Not good, since now I'm not sure I've been looking at my actual power data all along.
Originally Posted by Montebello Software
If available, Ascent will use power meter data when display/calculating power-related data. If data from a meter is not present, Ascent uses an algorithm to "guess" at the power output based on gradient, speed, cadence, and the weight of the rider + equipment used for the activity. The algorithm makes assumptions about drag from wind speed, rolling resistance, etc -- so its results should be taken with a large grain of salt, but some users are finding it useful.
The calculation is cycling-specific, so for anything else it probably makes little sense.
The calculation is cycling-specific, so for anything else it probably makes little sense.
04-02-10, 01:37 PM
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Thanks, that link was very helpful.
It's rather disconcerting that Ascent plugs those estimated numbers directly into the activity data. I wonder if there's a way for the program to tell real and estimated data apart—like tagged somehow—so that one day they could implement a toggle that could hide approximated data. To be honest I'd rather see a blank on that column when I'm not using a power meter... because I know I didn't turn 1100 W last night.
I guess the next step would be to do a road ride with both the 305 and the 705 for comparison...
It's rather disconcerting that Ascent plugs those estimated numbers directly into the activity data. I wonder if there's a way for the program to tell real and estimated data apart—like tagged somehow—so that one day they could implement a toggle that could hide approximated data. To be honest I'd rather see a blank on that column when I'm not using a power meter... because I know I didn't turn 1100 W last night.
I guess the next step would be to do a road ride with both the 305 and the 705 for comparison...
