Cycling indoor training plan

Hi all,

I have recently purchased an elite suito smart trainer and am using zwift for all my indoor rides. I recently started a training plan with Zwift which uses ERG mode for the workouts. However, what I don't like is the fact that not all information is transferred to Garmin connect due to zwift not licencing firstbeat. Therefore can anyone tell me if there's a solution for me that would give me a training plan, which increases intensity as my fitness increases, and that utilises erg mode? For example, does Garmin's training plans do this? Or is there another third party app that integrates better with Garmin, so that my training load, vo2 max etc is all recorded? I use a fenix 6 Pro for my fitness.

Cheers,

David.

0 eezytiger over 4 years ago

My favoured solution is to dual record.

I use Zwift and my ride data from Zwift goes to Strava, not Garmin Connect. This preserves all the data of the ride in the Zwift simulated world, including elevation gain, "correct speed and distance" for the power, weight, gradient, bike, wheels, draft etc and segment times.

At the same time I record the data with the watch. Speed and distance are essentially nonsense, especially in erg mode, but the important thing is that my power, heart rate, training load, VO2max and so on are correctly absorbed into the Garmin ecosystem.

Regarding erg workouts, Garmin has a very limited choice of training plans, but they do exist and the watch can control the trainer instead of Zwift. Zwift gives you so much versatility though, so I've swung in that direction after giving the Garmin training a brief try.

0 4877862 over 4 years ago in reply to eezytiger

Cheers mate. I am currently doing a zwift plan so will continue with that. I just wasn't 100% sure if my training load, vo2 max etc would be completely accurate. Another thing that is bothering me, is I recently bought the HRM Tri but although I have a Samsung and it can use ANT+ I prefer to use my laptop to use zwift but the companion app isn't compatible with ANT+ and Zwift on the mobile seems to be buggy when it comes to the ANT+ connection. I think I will buy a dongle for the laptop. That should solve all my problems.

0 eezytiger over 4 years ago in reply to 4877862

For the Garmin training data to be correct you need to record with the watch as well as your chosen Zwift device. Since the watch can accept ANT+ signals it won't restrict your connection options from trainer or strap to other platforms.

0 4877862 over 4 years ago in reply to eezytiger

Yeah I currently do record 2 workouts one on zwift and one on Garmin. I wanted my HRM to be connected to both zwift and Garmin. I had a cheap HRM and it worked fine but the HRM Tri just doesn't like the zwift app connects fine but keeps dropping the heart rate. I've ordered a dongle for the laptop so hopefully there won't be any issue with connecting HRM Tri to both laptop and watch simultaneously.

0 Pierrotsc over 4 years ago in reply to 4877862

I use a polar H10 strap. It connects to 2 bluetooth devices and ant+. My smart trainer is recognized by my 6 pro. So i start a free ride on the 6 pro and it records everything. Then i use a different app than zwift but similar on my phone. It gets my hr and control the smart trainer. The watch just records data but do not control the trainer at this point.