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Updated Garmin Connect - Cycling doesn't log any intensity minutes (Fenix 5S)

2867401
over 1 year ago

After the recent Garmin Connect update I no longer log any intensity minutes from cycling, at any heart rate or any length of excercise. Another issue, possibly related, is that no matter how hard I train my training status is Unproductive. Before the update, with my current training load, my status would have been Overreaching.

Is there a way to revert back to the old version of Garmin Connect, because this current version is rubbish?

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Intensity minutes and training status are calculated on the device and are not related to updates of Garmin Connect.

    "Unproductive: your training load is at a good level, but your fitness is decreasing". It means that your VO2 max is going down. Check your max HR. Is it correct?

    What Is the Training Status Feature on My Garmin Device?

    Intensity minutes: "Intensity minutes are earned based on your current heart rate when compared to your average resting heart rate"

    So, check your average resting heart rate.

    How Are Intensity Minutes Earned?

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to e7andy

    My max heart rate on the device is 200 bpm and rest is 60 bpm. (Age, height and weight are also set correctly.)

    So if I cycle for 41 minutes with avg heart rate of 148 bpm and max 180 bpm (mostly in zone 3), then that should earn me no intensity minutes? Is that what you're saying?

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 2867401
    2867401 said:
    Is that what you're saying?

    I haven't said anything. I'm just trying to help you fix the issue you are experiencing or understand why you don't get any minutes if it is working as intended. That starts with understanding the requirements.

    The support page says: "Some Garmin devices require you to reach or exceed 10 consecutive minutes where your step count or heart rate is elevated above the threshold considered moderate intensity. Once you reach and exceed that time threshold, the amount of credit will increase by 10 minutes and will continue to accrue if you remain in your moderate or vigorous zones."

    Fenix 5S is one of those devices that require 10 minutes.

    So, what is the threshold for moderate intensity on your watch? And do you reach that for at least 10 consecutive minutes?

    My guess is that zone 3 would be moderate intensity and zone 4 or higher would be vigorous intensity. The HR zones for intensity minutes can't be set for Fenix 5 so we don't know for sure.

    Ref: https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=QhvzPZYSVs0Q6CWuCgHqD6

    A ride of 41 minutes with HR mostly in zone 3 could mean that you don't get at least 10 consecutive minutes in zone 3. Check when zone 3 starts and look in the HR graph to find 10 consecutive minutes.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to e7andy

    I couldn't find a defition for the moderate intensity level other than "you can hold a conversation but not sing while exercising". Assuming it's level 3, which for me would be 140 bpm then, looking at the heart rate graph for my cycling trip, it does appear that my heart rate does not stay above 140 bpm for at least 10 consecutive minutes. However, earlier I did a level 2 run for 1 h 40 min and my hear rate stayed mostly at level 2 and definitely wasn't above 140 bpm for more than 3 consecutive minutes. And I did earn intensity minutes from the entire duration of the run. That makes no sense.

    I think I'm going to ignore the intensity minutes from now on as nonsense (scientifically speaking). Thanks anyway.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 2867401

    The step counter can also be used for intensity minutes. During running you take a lot of steps so it is probably what is being used for your running.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to 2867401
    2867401 said:
    I couldn't find a defition for the moderate intensity level

    Based on my tests, the moderate level is around 150-160% of the 7 day avg Resting HR, and the vigorous level is around 200% (at least in my case). As  wrote, in your case there is the additional requirement of 10 continuous minutes. Any time the HR drops below the threshold (even just for 1s), and the 10 continuous minutes are not yet reached, the counter is reset.

    If you post a screenshot of your all-day HR screen for the concerned day, and the screenshot of the IM graph for the same day, we can probably tell you whether there is something wrong with it or not.

    Steps are used only when there is no HR available.