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Free Garmin indoor workout app — structured bike and run workouts with smart-trainer support

9185584

I’m the developer of a free Connect IQ device app that connects compatible Garmin watches to BLE fitness equipment using the standard Fitness Machine Service (FTMS).

The app supports two modes:

  • Bike: reads speed, cadence and power, and can request ERG target power on equipment that reports the required capability and grants control.
  • Treadmill: reads speed and incline, and can request supported target changes after capability checks and a second confirmation.

Sessions can be saved as FIT activities for Garmin Connect. If control is unavailable, rejected or disconnected, the app disables control or continues in read-only mode where possible.

I’m looking for testers with real FTMS equipment. If you try it, please reply with:

  1. Garmin model
  2. Fitness-machine model
  3. Machine firmware
  4. Bike or Treadmill mode
  5. Metrics visible in the app
  6. Whether control was offered and whether it worked
  7. Whether the FIT activity saved successfully

Safety note: this app is not an emergency stop. Always use the machine’s physical STOP button, safety key and built-in safety systems. Start treadmill testing at low speed and zero incline while standing on the side rails.

Store page: https://apps.garmin.com/apps/a182ab1d-ba58-4cf7-bbe7-d5cb03d63410

  • Update: version 1.5.6 is now live.

    Indoor Endurance Coach is a free Connect IQ device app for structured indoor cycling and running workouts.

    What it supports

    • Recovery, Base, Tempo, Threshold, VO₂max and interval workouts
    • Bike ERG target control on compatible FTMS smart trainers
    • Optional treadmill speed and incline control, with explicit confirmation, gradual adjustments and safety limits
    • Watch-only running workouts when no treadmill is connected
    • Live heart rate, pace, cadence, power, speed and incline when available
    • FIT activity saving for Garmin Connect

    You do not need a treadmill connection to use the running workouts. If equipment control is unavailable or rejected, the app continues with manual targets instead of blocking the workout.

    I am especially looking for feedback from people using real FTMS trainers or treadmills. If you test it, please share:

    • Garmin watch model
    • Trainer or treadmill model
    • Whether live metrics appeared correctly
    • Whether ERG, speed or incline control worked
    • Whether the FIT activity saved successfully

    Safety note: always use the treadmill’s physical STOP button, safety key and built-in safety systems. Start control testing at low speed and zero incline.

    Download: https://apps.garmin.com/apps/a182ab1d-ba58-4cf7-bbe7-d5cb03d63410

  • in reply to 9185584

    If it is safing it with the speed etc in the native fields and not in ConnectIQ fields, I would be interested. BTW, there are a lot of Fenix 8 watches missing I the compatibility table

  • in reply to BeneGi

    Hi BeneGi, thanks for the feedback. Both points are addressed in version 1.5.35, which is submitted and waiting for Garmin's store review (the store still shows 1.5.34 until it is approved).

    1. Speed etc. in native FIT fields

    Speed, distance, power, cadence and grade coming from the trainer or treadmill are written to the native FIT record fields (the standard speed/distance/power/cadence/grade fields), so Garmin Connect shows them in its normal charts and other platforms read them as regular data. Heart rate comes from the watch's own sensors, and outdoor GPS speed/distance is recorded natively as well.

    Earlier versions also charted these values a second time as Connect IQ fields, which made it look like they were custom data. 1.5.35 removes those duplicate Connect IQ charts. Connect IQ fields are now only used for app-specific values such as target power/speed, decoupling and the strength set details.

    2. fēnix 8 models

    1.5.35 adds:

    • fēnix 8 AMOLED 43 mm
    • fēnix 8 AMOLED 47 mm / 51 mm
    • fēnix 8 Pro 47 mm
    • fēnix 8 Solar 51 mm
    • fēnix E

    (tactix 8 47/51 mm come along because they share the same device profile.) I tested them in the Connect IQ simulator, including the full unit-test suite on fēnix 8 AMOLED 47 mm and fēnix 8 Solar 51 mm, but not yet on a real watch, so real-device reports are very welcome.

    Also new since your post

    • 1.5.34: Strength mode, with proximal + distal exercises for each muscle, eccentric and concentric sets, guided tempo, and a muscle-map summary.
    • 1.5.35: the text now scales properly on large AMOLED screens like the fēnix 8, and the gauge rings are smoother.

    Current store screenshots (Forerunner 255 layout; on the fēnix 8 the layout is the same, with the text scaled to the larger display):

    If you try it on your fēnix 8 with a trainer or treadmill, I would love to hear which metrics show up in Connect and whether control worked.