best way to develop a route-based workout app for edge devices?

Rut 3 months ago

Hi,

we're planning to develop an app that allows users to create routebased (cycling) workouts so that you are (for example) doing Vo2max efforts on suitable stretches of roads and not during busy intersections etc. However we're struggling to find the best way to do this in garmin.

Ideally we would like make gps-based workouts so that specific intervals start at specific GPS points in the route. As far as we have seen this is not really possible, or is it? We did see the option for distance based but that has drawbacks (see point 1 below)

We did also consider some alternatives

distance based workouts (.fit files). This works but only if the user starts the ride and imported workout at the exact start of the route. So very error prone.
[not sure if this is even possible] gpx files with notifications at certain gps points. The notifications would then give the interval instructions but you're missing out on the workout screen of the edge.
[not sure if this is even possible] . have a workout file where each workout step is only triggered by the lap button and then somehow do autolap by gps point?
garmin power plan? As far as we've seen there no way to create custom powerplans that you can the import in edge is it?
connectiq app that does exactly what we want?

Is there anyone from the community or Garmin who wants to think along?

0 flocsy🤠 2 months ago

Looks like you'll need to create an app. There you'll be able to utilize the most of what's possible in CIQ.

Brainstorming:

If you know the coordinates of a waypoint (i.e start point) then you might be able to detect with some degree of certainty whether the user is far (let's say still not there), close (within radius of ...). When they're close you might be able to "guess" if they're getting closer (before start) or getting away (after start) and the "moment" you detect it was closest is when you start the route.

For each further waypoint you'll do something similar (and may be able to assume that they're on the route to make it even more precise) and when you detect a POI is reached then you do the alert.

Optionally you can use the manual lap button presses to make it even more precise. I know some running data fields that do this: it uses the auto lap if you just run, but you can also hit the lap button when you pass the km or mile sign of the race course to make it even more precise (when you're at 4.9 or 5.1km and you press the lap it knows now you're exactly at 5.0, so it'll recalculate certain estimations accordingly)

0 Rut 2 months ago in reply to flocsy🤠

Thanks for your answer flocsy