Fenix 6 & indoor cycling with Zwift, using ANT+ on PC. Which activity to use on watch?

I'm confused on how to start my indoor cycling activity. I ride in Zwift, connected via ANT+ so that I have a few options (broadcast heart rate, auto broadcast when I start an activity). Seems only 'Virtual Run' lets you send your heart rate to a PC or phone via Bluetooth so that's why I bought a USB ANT+.

So... with that in mind.. what activity should I start on my watch when starting a Zwift ride? Last time I did it as a 'virtual run' because I didn't have my USB ANT+ yet. This time I set the activity as Indoor Cycle, and I configured the Fenix to auto-broadcast my HR whenever I start any activity.

All went well with Zwift, I had my heartrate displayed the entire time, and my Zwift ride shows my heart rate and sync'd my ride to Strava/Garmen Connect, etc.

The problem is that this caused a DUPLICATE activity, Garmin now shows both my Zwift ride and an Indoor Ride activity. I guess I should delete the Indoor Cycling because it's not as accurate (in terms of miles rode, etc) and keep the Zwift one. BUT -- that one shows stats like V02 MAX and I assume I'd lose those stats if I deleted that activity.

How should I be setting this all up exactly? Should I just turn on broadcasting of my heart rate? (but then will the watch have stats for recovery, v02 max, etc?)

Thanks in advance

Top Replies

All Replies

0 EnormoDerClown over 4 years ago

You are doing it correct. Delete the indoor ride, your stats will not be deleted on the watch and the watch is calculating v02max and such. Doing this since a year or so and i get v02max updates, training status and such.

0 Jun_Li over 4 years ago

Yes that is a problem that either you have to manually delete one or simply disconnect Garmin Connect from Strava. I did the second option during the pandemic since not may outdoor activities been going on for a while.

I would wish Garmin let the user choose which type of activities being automatically sync'ed to Strava. Say only sync the outdoor biking but not the indoor biking.

0 7509713 over 4 years ago in reply to Jun_Li

They just need to create an activity called "Virtual Cycling" just like they have a "Virtual Run". Virtual Run doesn't cause a duplicate activity if I recall correctly, but it's not ideal to use for cycling because they calculate the heart rate and other stats using different algorithms for running vs cycling.

Anyway, as EnormoDerClown mentioned above, deleting the indoor cycle activity later from Garmin Connect and Strava works and the watch still keeps the V02 and training stats.

0 EnormoDerClown over 4 years ago in reply to 7509713

Sadly virtual Run has the exact Same Problem. Also duplicated activities

0 5135968 over 4 years ago

I record on my Fenix too as an Indoor Ride but I keep the Garmin activity and discard Zwift - reason being vs. my speed sensor, Zwift massively over-states both 'speed' and 'mileage'

I know speed and mileage make little sense in a way indoors,but I dislike the inflated 'mileage'

0 7509713 over 4 years ago in reply to 5135968

I had stats for distance and I think speed as well on the Garmin activity.. is Garmin estimating these numbers or did it auto-connect to the ANT of the Wahoo trainer for those stats?

0 5135968 over 4 years ago in reply to 7509713

Speed / distance comes from the trainer, so you'd expect to see them in your Garmin activity too.

Zwift as its not a real world environment estimates speed / distance based on your power, so you can get some ludicrous top 'speeds' especially 'downhill'