Epix and Edge 830 Integration, read before buying.

I record rides using my epix (because HR data and since I use it to record all my other non-biking activities) and use my 530 to view whatever data I want during the ride but discard the ride data from the 530 at the end of the ride.

While I agree the devices could/should work better together, doing it this way works and doesn’t require many extra steps (especially when using Auto Start on the 530). Extended Display seems like it was meant to help solve this problem but is very limited in its implementation. 

Happy New Year!

Michael H. said:

The Epix gives a recommended workout for cycling.  Great, I like that feature, but if I do the workout using the Epix and go into the Garmin Connect app, the Training Status, Load Focus, 7-Day Load are separate from the Edge.  For example my 7-day load on the Epix is 806-Optimal and on the Edge it is 890-Optimal.  My body has the same load, but it seems Garmin calculates Load on the device, NOT in the Garmin Connect App.

Training Load shows different results for the Edge and Epix, but workouts recorded on the Edge impact the Epix Training Status so this one is “correct”. Not sure why they aren’t mirrors of each other though. 

I have used my Fenix 6 together with an Edge 530, and more recently the Epix and a 1040 (my ageing eyes are demanding larger/better displays) and have few problems wth an intergated load and training status. A couple of pointers to get the most out of Physio True Up:

• Perform a sync BEFORE each activity, to ensure there is a common starting point for load data.
• to get integrated load data onto Garmin Connect after a ride, you need to perform THREE syncs:

1. Sync the Edge to Garmin Connect (well of course)
2. Sync the watch to Garmin Connect so that it can receive the ride data (yeah,I guess that makes sense)
3. Sync the watch AGAIN so that the intergrated statistics from the watch are displayed on Garmin Connect (wtf?)

I am guessing that many people are missing the 3rd step (although this will eventually even out at the next sync).

To get a run onto the Edge, it will take 3 syncs in the other direction - although Garmin Connect displays the watch load data by default, so this is normally less of an issue.

I have also noticed that sometimes there is a slight difference in the load statistics if there has been a change in VO2Max, but any difference is normally pretty small- just a few points of load.

The limitations of Extended Display mean I only use it now for complex brick sessions. For triathlons and simple brick sessions, I just use the watch and Edge in their native modes, and Physio True Up takes care of the rest.

An excellent description of what needs to be done to get Physio Ttrue Up to work. It took me some time too to realize this. I think Garmin should add this info the https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=a2uguZzTQG4I2HTBvHa0gA. With that said, if possible, I wished it would work like this

1. You complete your ride
2. You start sync
3. Edge now check with GC if any exercise missing on Edge since last synched and if so download these
4. Edge now calculates the data (e.g., training status, load focus, 7-day load) by include the new session and the one previously downloaded
5. Edge now automatically synchronizes again by upload the data to GC

This way you do not need to synchronize in steps or remember to sync before start activity and data will be consistent.

I think there is an urgent need for Garmin to take action here. Edge and watch must work together much better.

I Could not agree more. Due to this issue I stopped use my Garmin Edge and only use the Epix. My idea was to use the Edge for MTB and the Epix for the other things like running, strength training, skiing, etc. But since so cumbersome and things get out of sync and show e.g., different training status and load based on device then it is pointless to have more than one device.

As long as it is like this I will not invest in another Edge. Sorry Garmin you just lost some revenue due to bad SW

I do not even get it. Why in GC do you even want to list these data based on the device. It is the same person that does the training and I thus want a single view of my training status and load regardless of the device used. Garmin needs to step up here if they want to sell multiple devices to same user.

I fully agree. It seems that Garmin has no concept to combine different devices during an activity. During cycling for example I would like to use my watch as a sensor for the edge (heart rate, etc...) as it uses the speed and the cadence sensor.

Currently, I use both Fenix and Edge in parallel which results in two separate activities in Garmin Connect. No way to combine them somehow...

I also tried the Extended Display mode but that seems to be a weak workaround to me.

I just had my first ride since my Epix Gen2 finally got over its calibration weeks. For riding I use an Edge 1030 Plus and I record my riding activity only there.

After reading this post a couple of weeks ago, I had concerns, but to my surprise, both Training Readiness and Training Status synchronized without issues and without me doing any kind of manual synchronizing actions. I just did what I usually do, which is:
1. Start up my Edge about 30 seconds before I start my ride. First thing it does is to sync.
2. Start a mountain bike ride activity on the Edge.
3. At the end, save the ride and let the Edge sync.
4. Turn off the Edge once I've got notification from Garmin Connect that the new activity was synced.

I didn't look at the parameters right away as I had to wash my bike, so it was about 1 hour later when I set down to analyze my ride. And as soon as I opened Garmin Connect, I observed that Training Status went from "Recovery" to "Productive". And on the next morning, bam!, Training Readiness went from "Excellent" to "Poor" and it show the 36 hours recommended recovery time just like my Edge does.

I am not sure if it is related, but I had a recent update to my Edge as well.

As for the settings, Physio True-Up is enabled on both device. On the watch MoveIQ is also enabled and the watch is set as my primary fitness tracker.

I didn't try any extended display features, but sync and Training statuses seem to be working very well for me.

Yes it works if you remember to do it correctly every time; miss it once and you are out of luck.

When go for a ride with my edge I need to 

1. synch watch with GC to make sure it has the latest data
2. sync edge with GC to get data from watch to get a correct starting point before exercise
3. sync edge with GC after training
4. sync watch with GC to get the data on watch

that is a lot of synchronization and sometimes if forget to sync watch before sync edge or forget sync with GC then data will differ after training since edge did get a different view than watch before exercise.

wish it would have been the same even when forget to sync before training