Hi - currently, the "Distance Ahead" data field for comparing to virtual partner or when competing against a previous activity gets reset to zero every time one makes a course deviation lasting more than a few seconds. In real life when doing MTB - which is Edge 530 stated target scenario - fallen trees, forestry work, flooded trails, etc. makes it an almost guarantee that following a previous track would make a deviation happens every second or third time. And every time that happens, you lose track of whether you're performing better or worse than your target (virtual partner). In reality, that data field is useless for much else than small closed tracks.
Could the data field be "upgraded" to behave "simply stupid", i.e. simply track how much of the route distance is left at current time of biking vs. same measurement (distance left) at same time of biking in the track competing against? So if one has to do a 1km longer detour, you're getting further behind (doh!), but at least the counter is not reset. Many smaller deviations are not much slower or quicker, and still makes a comparison reasonable. During the time off track, the comparison could be based on the distance still to go on the track at the point the track was deviated from, and it will pick up automatically using above approach, when you're back on the track.