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Garmin Edge 530 Workout recording a shorter distance.

camilobayarri
over 1 year ago

I use the Garmin Edge 530 for Workout indoor with my H2 Smart Trainer surprisingly the distance records appears to be very low when compared with the power data registered. Any toughts?

  • 0 over 1 year ago

    Distance and speed is irrelevant for an indoor ride.  Don't worry about it.  Power isn't liked to distance either.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Wongataa

    Thanks for the information, despite of its relevant or not, I would like to understand why my garmin its having that difference and why my indoor speed doesnt move from 12km/h

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to camilobayarri

    I would guess the trainer is broadcasting speed information.  Why it doesn't change I have no idea.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to camilobayarri

    To break it down for a more specific answer, we'd need to know what trainer app you're using, and which sensors are paired with it, and which sensors are paired with the Edge.

    In general though, the speed/distance from a trainer app (Zwift etc) will never match what a head unit records from a speed sensor on the bike/trainer (other than by pure coincidence). The trainer apps use power (from the trainer) to simulate the speed/distance/elevation covered in a virtual world. The bike/trainer speed sensor however just looks at how fast the wheel/flywheel is going around.

    It sounds like your Garmin is paired to the H2's speed sensor, and its flywheel is maxing out at a particular rpm during your sessions. There's probably a wheel circumference set somewhere that works out to 12 km/h at that flywheel rpm. (Changing the wheel circumference setting might get a "closer" speed but it still won't match what comes from the trainer app.)

    The only way to get all of the Garmin and trainer app metrics together is to "dual record" and then combine the files using a tool like Fit File Repair Tool. Merge the speed/distance/elevation/position data from the trainer app file (zwift etc) into the Edge file and manually re-upload to Garmin Connect (delete the original upload). Then everything is in one place.

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to Kyle J

    Hi Kyle,

    Thanks for taking the time to answer me.

    1. I’m not using any training app, I’m performing a Garmin workout pairing a H2 Trainer to the Garmin Edge 530, I don’t have other sensors different than the heart rate.

    Do u know how to change the wheel circumference on a H2 trainer?

  • 0 over 1 year ago in reply to camilobayarri

    Hi, when the H2 is connected to the Edge, check the Sensors menu on the Edge for a speed sensor from the H2. The settings for that speed sensor should have an option to manually set a wheel circumference (at least that's how it usually works with regular speed sensors). Some more info in this thread: https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/cycling/f/edge-530/204389/wheel-circumference

    If that option doesn't appear, then it might be something you have to set directly on the H2 (using whatever app they have for managing that trainer's settings, firmware updates, etc.).

    As already mentioned tho, the speed/distance data is meaningless in this case. If you're cranking 200W, how fast should you be going? What about at 300W? There is no single answer, because in the real world it would depend on the conditions: hill gradient, aero/wind, rolling resistance, accelerating/decelerating vs steady speed, etc. At best you could pick a theoretical condition, like TT level ground and no wind, and use a tire circumference that makes the displayed speed approximate what you might see outdoors in those conditions. But even then, the relation between trainer flywheel speed and power is non-linear, so it might only kinda match at one specific power output. So it's just junk data tbh.