I'm an idiot. Ever since getting my pt I kind of assumed that using 5s average for power display meant that it would display the same power for 5s then change to the new reading. Yet I couldn't figure out why it still refreshed every second (or thereabouts). Today I my ride, I realized that the power displayed each second is the average of the last 5 readings. Is this correct? It seems obvious in hindsight.

yeah

Mike, set your pt to interval mode where it displays the total average. Use that for your intervals. I used to set my SRM to display current and average wattage and cycle between those. That way, I could tell if I was around where I needed to be every few secs, and then the rolling average would show me if I was off in total.

Start your intervals lower. Try holding 200W for 20 mins. Then 210, etc etc etc. That should help you get used to maintaining a constant output.

I thought I would post this today. I see quite often people saying you shouldn't use autopause on Garmins because it will mess up your power data, so I put my PCVI on and rode with the 705 today.

I zeroed both at the start and midway through, both were using the same ZO. There is only a very tiny difference in data, probably because of the extra 55 seconds of data the srm computer recorded while the garmin was paused, which I was likely coasting at that speed.


Srm with .5 second recording

Duration: 3:08:26 (24:20:12)
Work: 2189 kJ
TSS: 175.9 (intensity factor 0.748)
Norm Power: 213
VI: 1.1
Pw:HR: -1.58%
Pa:HR: 3.53%
Distance: 59.915 mi
Elevation Gain: 2329 ft
Elevation Loss: 2343 ft
Grade: -0.0 % (-13 ft)
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 912 194 watts
Heart Rate: 0 176 139 bpm
Cadence: 20 215 86 rpm
Speed: 0 43.4 19.1 mph
Pace 1:23 0:00 3:09 min/mi
Altitude: 774 1132 908 ft
Crank Torque: 0 711 194 lb-in
Temperature: 59 73.4 65.1 Fahrenheit


Garmin 705 with 1 second recording, autopause at 2mph

Duration: 3:07:31 (3:16:23)
Work: 2205 kJ
TSS: 178.1 (intensity factor 0.756)
Norm Power: 215
VI: 1.1
Pw:HR: -1.73%
Pa:HR: 3.6%
Distance: 60.008 mi
Elevation Gain: 3591 ft
Elevation Loss: 3618 ft
Grade: -0.0 % (-27 ft)
Min Max Avg
Power: 0 912 196 watts
Heart Rate: 75 175 138 bpm
Cadence: 19 225 87 rpm
Speed: 0 46.7 19.2 mph
Pace 1:17 0:00 3:08 min/mi
Altitude: 475 829 619 ft
Crank Torque: 0 671 195 lb-in

bastage.

I finally broke down and upgraded WKO from 2.2 to 3.0. Playing with the multi-file/range analysis. Is there any way to view by distance instead of time so that things line up better?

I just set mine to 30s average, so I don't have to face up to how low my maximum sprint wattage is. Thinking of switching to a Polar so I never have to see that particular number again.

I have a relatively new PT wheel from PSIMET (yay). I have the Mt Greylock (MA) Century tomorrow, which is 100 mi (obv), and 10k ft climbing. I really wanted to get the data for this ride, but now it appears that I will be riding in the rain for at least part of the time. Question: I have heard of PowerTap hubs (this is a Pro+, with Garmin Edge 500 head) being problematic in the wet. Is this a big risk to my new wheel? What would you do?

The water issue was more of a problem with the older designs. I personally haven't had any problems riding in rain with any yet. I would ride it.

I'd ride the powertap in the rain, collect data, and go from there. If it fails after one ride, I'd warranty it.

I've only had one of them get water damaged. The O-ring was a bit defective. Saris sent me a new battery carrier and O-rings. I used silicone grease on them before installation.

Should I set my Edge 500 to use Non-Zero Avg for power or Zero Avg, or does it not matter?

You want zeros in the average

UMD's recent post has me wondering what other neat custom charts riders are utlizing in WKO. basically, i just use the basics. i really feel like i am under utilizing the power data and the WKO software. any other custom chart ideas out there? later.

I have a mechanical question about my PT wheel. Ever since getting it there has been an odd play in the wheel. I never noticed it when riding, so I wrote it off as just a characteristic of the pt hub. Today I realized that the big aluminum nut on the non drive side was loose. I finger tightened it and the play is gone. How tight should that nut be? Is finger tight acceptable or should it be tighter? And could I have hurt anything by riding with it loose?

Thanks!

if they told you 10nm, would you even know how to use a torque wrench?

regardless, it appears that I broke another cinqo today.. Hmm, 12 months with no issue, now two dead in 3 weeks.

I don't want to read through all 88 pages however...

Is there a preferred method for calculating Intensity Factor? I'm working on a spreadsheet for caculating a Training Stress Score for a given power profile.

Thanks!

just tight enough to avoid play is fine

Yup.

First couple of links should be helpful. https://tinyurl.com/2b32frx

IF is easy, it's NP / FTP

Kensuf, I'm curious about your broken Cinqos. I just got one myself, wondering if there's anything I should be looking out for in terms of failure.

I did this ride a couple weeks ago: https://connect.garmin.com/activity/38295021 - 6:21/100m/11k/231 avg w - for a TSS score of 478.

Today, I did this ride: https://connect.garmin.com/activity/39939972 - 8:17/124m/15k/217 avg w - for a TSS score of only 370. So 100 less. Now I know the average power was lower, but this ride was at elevation (4k-9k) and my PE was about 15% higher than the first ride as I was gasping for air all day.

Now I didn't wear a HR monitor, so maybe that was my mistake as the HR can't be calculated into the TSS score. But otherwise, does all the additional work, even suffering at elevation, just kinda not count because I was z2 all day? (even though z2 felt like z4)

p.s. I'm so done with doubles and these long endurance rides. grr. Also, cytomax is possibly the worst drink anyone could ever serve.

On thing to remember is that TSS is based off IF, and as stated above IF is NP / FTP, so it's the NP that matters. A steady high AP slog is going to be worth less TSS than a ride with a lower AP but more "spikey". Also the IF term in the TSS calculation is squared so just being a little lower makes a huge difference. For example an hour at 60% is only worth 36 TSS, 75% is 56 TSS, and 90% is 81 TSS.

Edit: also elevation basically lowers your FTP.

Thanks. Just reinforces that I hate this ride. Saw one of your club mates up here though, I think.