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Heart rate zone changing issue

2858486

Hi,

I’m having an issue with my Garmin devices automatically changing my heart rate zones. I mostly cycle on Zwift using the HRM 600, and the other Garmin devices I use are the Venu, Venu 3, Venu 4, and Edge 530. I’ve set my max and resting heart rate on all devices and selected % of HRR on the devices that support it. However, the system will randomly add sport‑specific heart rate zones or change the percentages of my zones on its own. It’s becoming frustrating because it affects my training status, and I’m having to correct the zones every week. This is a basic function that should work properly on devices marketed as high‑end.

I’m getting to the point where I’m considering leaving the Garmin ecosystem. If anyone can help with this issue, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Craig

  • 0

    In your place, I would first of all try to identify which HR Zone table the activities imported from Zwift actually use. That will save you the work with changing the zones on all your devices. The most probable place is either the Primary Wearable Device (PWD; probably one of your Venus), or the Primary Training Device (PTD; possibly Edge, or again one of the watches). Also please note, that after syncing the activity from Zwift, you may need to sync the PWD and/or PTD twice (!) in order to fully postprocess the imported data, and applying the Physio TrueUp.

    For identifying the source of the HRZ table, you will need to set each of the devices differently, and then compare the HRZ in the activity with the settings on your devices. Also keep on mind that HRR is variable, because the 7days avg Resting HR (potentially) changes every day (unless you disabled it in the settings, which is not possible on some older models, I believe), so of course, the HR Zones will then change too.

    2858486 said:
    It’s becoming frustrating because it affects my training status

    BTW, it this were your only concern, then you do not have to bother about it, since the HR Zones are not used for training status internally at all. Only the Resting HR, the Max HR, and the LTHR matter. The zones are just a tool for visuaoizing the results.

  • 0 in reply to trux

    Hi Trux

    Thank you for the reply, it changes my zones by a large amount i was doing zone 2 today and my normal zone 2 is 138 - 152 but my zwift activity came across as zone 2 being 115-133 massive difference which affects my training load the culprit today was my 530 magically adding a cycling heart rate zone using percentage of max heart rate(530 has not powered on and obvouisly not synced) but on other occasions the percentage of my heart rate zones change from the default values on my watches its very frustrating

    Craig

  • 0 in reply to 2858486

    As I wrote, HR Zones do not change the training load. That's calculated with the help of RHR, Max HR, LTHR / FTP. Zones do not matter for that purpose.

    If Edge 530 is your PTD, make a test - sync it before your your Zwift ride, and then again sync it twice (!) after the Zwift activity is transferred to Connect. Use Edge for setting HR zones for your cycling activities (both outdoor, and virtual). 

    Alternatively, you can try setting your principal watch as both the PWD and PTD, and again syncing it before and twice after the Zwift ride.

    However, the best solution would be keeping your Zwift data completely isolated (not syncing it to Connect), and instead of it, connecting your indoor trainer to Edge, or to one of your watches, and recording the rides with it. That assures the best consistency of all metrics.