Zwift and Training Effect

I have been riding using Zwift the past few nights, and although it records power, HR, etc., when I upload the fit file from Zwift to GC it does not change my Training Effect. Any suggestions on how to have Zwift contribute?

Thanks!
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Your best bet is probably to record the activity using your Garmin device and then not upload the Zwift file to GC. This is what I do using a separate Indoor Cycling activity. It's helpful if you have a speed sensor on your wheel but not necessary since I think as long as you have HR (power might contribute too) it will calculate training effect and you can edit in GC to add the distance.
  • Yep. TE is calculated on the watch, so it won't calculate for files uploaded onto GC. I agree with Paul - record the activity on the watch, with the Zwift being separate
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    I just record the activity on my watch in parallel with Zwift so I get training effect, etc.. Obviously I lose any GPS and speed is off... But it doesn't really matter for indoors I guess.
  • GPS should be off for indoors anyway - you're not moving so how can you expect GPS to give you anything?. If you want speed on your Garmin for indoor cycling then you need a speed sensor.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Yes, but Zwift records GPS. I was just highlighting that if you record on the watch independently, you lose that.. Unless you script something to merge files. Not that it really matters anyway.

    I'm on a Tacx Neo, which broadcasts speed and cadence on the one ant+ device profile to the fenix 5. The speed reported by the Neo differs to the calculated speed of Zwift (which takes into consideration in game aerodynamics, weight, slope, etc).. Again though, not that it matters much anyway when you are measuring power.. Unless you're using speed/distance in Garmin to help track drive train wear.
  • How does Zwift record GPS if you are not moving anywhere? Zwift will give you a 'GPS' like file from the course you ride. But that is not the same as a GPS file you get when you ride outdoors. You don't need, and probably shouldn't have, GPS turned on when riding indoors. Anything from a GPS would be nonsense anyway as all you pick up are the movements of the satellite fixes relative to you static position, and that resembles a birds nest.

    Zwift does not need any external source for speed and distance. But if you want TE from your Garmin, then as already noted, you need to have speed and distance from your Garmin and upload that file.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Zwift records what you ride, given it's a virtual 3D world/environment. And yes, I know it's not the same as a GPS ride outdoors. I never said to have GPS turned on indoors. But GPS coordinates are recorded by Zwift into the Fit file, in the same manner as an outdoor ride. Here's the output from a Zwift generated FIT file to GPX:

    [zara@singularity fit]$ gpsbabel -i garmin_fit -f 1882056032.fit -o gpx -F test.gpx
    [zara@singularity fit]$ head -10 test.gpx
    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
    <gpx version="1.0" creator="GPSBabel - http://www.gpsbabel.org" xmlns="www.topografix.com/.../0">
    <time>2017-07-29T06:16:41.502Z</time>
    <bounds minlat="-11.654703772" minlon="166.946107227" maxlat="-11.635491108" maxlon="166.963563043"/>
    <trk>
    <trkseg>
    <trkpt lat="-11.637052154" lon="166.949540454">
    <ele>1.400000</ele>
    <time>2017-07-29T00:03:24Z</time>
    <speed>1.760000</speed>
    [zara@singularity fit]$



    You're completely missing my point. Some people *may* want to record an activity when Zwifting, which includes the GPS route from Zwift (particularly the London courses), speed, cadence, etc. Obviously if you record the Fenix separately, you lose that within Garmin Connect and introduce problems with multiple FIT files.. Unless you start uploading FIT files to Garmin manually, or look at options like Dropbox combined with tapiriik (as there is no seamless integration between Zwift and Garmin Connect).

    I never said anything about needing external source for speed and distance? Again, you're putting words in my mouth or just being purposely obtuse and tangential. All I did was highlight that if you record an activity on your Fenix separate to Zwift, you won't get the GPS coords, and the Zwift generated speed, cadence, etc in Garmin Connect. The speed, as recorded from the trainer to the Fenix 5, is likely to differ to what Zwift records -- given Zwift takes into account rider weight, slope, aerodynamics, etc.

    For some people this is a problem, for others not. Personally, I don't really care -- but the difference is worth noting.