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What can cause a SO erratic heart rate value from the same HRM Pro+

ManSurfingOnLifeBuoy
over 1 year ago

Hi everybody.

Just to start with the right context, the subject is about a Standard FTP Test of 90min on Zwift, which have been transferred to Garmin Connect (GC).

HRM data on Zwift are perfect. Zwift data transferred to Garmin are perfect.

But Garmin HR in the health stats are wrongs by 60bpm.

I've been having some issues with many metrics on my new Epix Gen 2 Watch lately.

Being patient paid off. But still, not all accurate.

Watch was too new so I had to wait until I have more data to get a VO2Max, HRV (Which is Unbalanced right now because of those missing or inaccurate heart rate data).

It creates doubt about my resting heart rate, stress history, Acute load is based on Anaerobic, High and Low Aerobic data. Are they good ?

Coming from a Fenix 5X, I had less information to manage my health and fitness data.

I love my Epix but my FTP was 180 last week.

I'm working on getting to 225 this week, 180 was to low (I was vacationing on my bike, like my wife say).

Here on the picture you will see that I did a 90min, Standard FTP test (Not a Ramp Test).

In Zwift, I get a 5min at 225W making my heart rate go up to 157bpm.

When I start the second stage at 225W for 20min, my HR goes to 160bpm.

The same HRM Pro+ is sending HRM Bluetooth signal to my Zwift App and Zwift get it right.

Garmin record (transfer from Zwift) the same data (the right data) and even create a better (more detailed) graph of that same 157-160bpm.

But when I go to the Health Stats/Heart Rate, it records 87 and 104bpm.

Those Health Stats/Heart Rate data are the one Garmin use to give me my metrics, according to my watch's metrics.

It has a direct impact on all my metrics. Even my fitness age have increased by 6 years.

Never happened with my Fenix 5X.

So, guys.

I need your lights on that one.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Sorry for the picture, cannot have a better clarity.

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  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to ManSurfingOnLifeBuoy
    ManSurfingOnLifeBuoy said:
    So, which one is the good one ?

    Those values are not VO₂max values. They are the Aerobic Training Effect, and the TE of 3.3 tells that it impacts your VO₂max, while the second one with TE of 4.4 impacts your VO₂max highly. Both of the claims are correct.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    OK.

    I didn't write down ...TE after the VO2 Max.

    You didn't get that it was the same activity ?

    One was establish by Zwift from my HRM Pro+ (4.4)

    and the second one with the same HRM Pro+ on Garmin ?

    How they can be both correct for the same activity ?

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to ManSurfingOnLifeBuoy

    Each of them uses their own method, and each of them may have different records of your training history, and may also perhaps have different entry data. Did the Epix have all the sensors connected - powermeter, cadence, speed, grade,...? If not, then some differences are to be expected even if the methodology was identical (which likely is not the case).

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    ... besides that, if you are double-recording an activity, the training load from one would impact the other one, hence the other one may indeed have quite a higher TE.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    Just to let you know, I never recorded any Zwift workouts or rides on my watch before you told me to do so.

    For me, it just made sense that if Zwift send HR data, that GC would use those data.

    I never checked before because of that reason.

    So, you cannot have it both ways.

    Do I start an activity on my watch with my HRM or I use my wrist HR ?

    Because I slowly start to think I should return that watch.

    I still have some days before the last date.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to trux

    Yes.

    Here are the graphs.

    First is from Zwift.

    Second is from Garmin with watch Epix & HRM Pro+.

    They're should be, at least, the same HR, which is not.

    Zwift don't calculate metrics when it has access to devices.

    So without a HRM, yes it will extrapolate but when HRM, powermeter, cadence is present, it just take the data from them.

    Which is the case here with a Wahoo Kickr V5 Trainer and a HRM Pro+.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to ManSurfingOnLifeBuoy

    If you are not happy with the watch, there is no reason keeping it, but frankly told I do not quite understand the obsession with the all-day HR coming from the optical sensor of the watch. It will never be as accurate as the chest strap HRM, and the bigger and heavier watch you get, the worse it will be (because of the inertial mass of the watch acting on the veins).

    This advice will not help you, but personally I would simply use only the watch with the strap, and avoid Zwift or any other 3rd party app, assuring so the consistency of the data. Or if I really had to use Zwift for some reason, I would not connect it to Garmin Connect at all, I would only collect the data from all sensors with my primary device, and use Zwift just independently.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to ManSurfingOnLifeBuoy

    I have the same problems on the Fenix 5X Plus (not just me!) I think Garmin has big problems with the platform. The vo2max calculation is completely wrong, even when I get a productive workout this value has never changed for at least 3 months.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to ManSurfingOnLifeBuoy
    ManSurfingOnLifeBuoy said:

    Here are the graphs.

    First is from Zwift.

    Second is from Garmin with watch Epix & HRM Pro+.

    They're should be, at least, the same HR, which is not.

    Hi , could you post both original FIT files please for this activity? One from Zwift's app folder on your computer, and the other from the Garmin watch's activity in Garmin Connect (or directly from the device itself).

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Kyle J

    Hi KJ.

    I just tried to send you this (below) message and files and got this message.

    .fit files and .zip files cannot be sent via this forum.

    How do you want me to send you the files ?

    __

    Thanks KJ for the interest in my problem.

    These are from the first time I noticed the problem.

    If you need the files for the second time I did the FTP test, I can send you the files too.

    I just created the Fit file from Zwift.

    FTP Test In London

    2023-10-09

    I Exported a zip file from the Heart Rate section in Garmin Connect/Health Stats/Heart Rate.