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How does GC account for double-recorded activities?

profarvin
over 1 year ago

I train on Zwift and do double-recording, i.e. I record power and cadence data from my pedals via my Garmin watch AND I record the activity (speed, route, inclines, power from trainer, etc) via Zwift. As a result, I get 2 activities in my GC for the same timeframe with slightly different power and cadence data, plus some data existing only in one activity, some in another. 

Questions I have are:

1. If I keep both activities, will it impact my health stats, training readiness calc, training load, etc-etc

2. What difference will the removal of one of the activities make if any?

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  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I could be wrong, but last time I checked, health stats, training readiness, training load, etc. are only affected by activities you record on the watch itself, or on another Garmin device (assuming both of them support Physio TrueUp). I don't think activities from 3rd-party service or devices affect any of that stuff.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to WillNorthYork
    WillNorthYork said:
    I don't think activities from 3rd-party service or devices affect any of that stuff.

    Zwift is one of the very few 3rd party apps (besides Rouvy,TrainerRoad, Concept 2, ... - the list will probably grow as time goes) that does have an impact on some of the metrics in Garmin Connect (VO₂max, Training Effect, etc). It is a relatively new feature introduced just a few months ago. You can read about it for example here:

    What Is VO2 Max Estimate and How Does It Work? | Garmin Customer Support (see the section "Do Activities Recorded With Other Apps Count Towards VO2 Max?")

    What Is the Training Effect Feature on My Garmin Device? | Garmin Customer Support (section "Can I Get Training Effect from Third Party Activities?")

    I do not use Zwift, though, so I have no idea how the double recording is handled. I would recommend using either just the Garmin device, and connect all sensors to it, or using the Tacx app, which belongs to Garmin's family and is better integrated into the system.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    Thanks, my mistake! 

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    Thanks, this is very useful!

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    I have a double recorded problem when I use 2 watches at the same time. Epix2+ 955. Both have the new prefered device feature and it's set wearable + training to the Epix. 

    Garmin accounts twice the same activity for the training load and readiness purposes, making a big mess, like if I had overtrained. 

    I don't know if they will fix this, but the workaround I see would use a second Garmin account for the second watch. I guess the same would happen if using a bike computer (edge) + watch at the same time.

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Hi, Garmin Connect has supported activities from some 3rd party apps for about 2 years now (introduced in June 2021, albeit with some teething problems). Originally it did Training Status but not Training Effect, however one of the Garmin FAQ links in another reply indicates it does Training Effect now as well.

    My understanding is that Strava generally corrects duplicate uploads on their system, however Garmin Connect does not. So 2 uploads for the same activity to Garmin Connect will create duplicates that will affect some of your stats.

    Therefore I think it's best to only upload one activity to Garmin Connect. There is however no perfect answer on which to choose. Zwift will provide correct position data (distance, speed, elevation) that Garmin cannot, however Garmin will provide some assorted performance metrics that Zwift cannot.

    Personally I don't upload from Zwift to Garmin Connect, I only upload from the Edge (530) because it offers more performance metrics. But I also use Fit File Repair Tool to merge the position data from Zwift into the Edge FIT file so that Garmin Connect has the correct distance/speed/elevation. Then I have everything in one file, with no duplication of any metrics. It's been working very well. (And I only upload the Zwift file to Strava.)

    If you've already dual-uploaded for some activities and want to remove one, I suggest keeping the Garmin upload and deleting the 3rd party upload. If may correct some of your stats (like simple distance totals, etc), but may not correct others (like Training Status, since it comes from an awkward dual-sync process with the Garmin device when 3rd party apps are involved). So you may be stuck with some incorrect stats until enough time has passed with new activities - single uploaded only - to push the old ones into the past (generally 7 to 30 days, depending on the metric).

    Cheers