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Intensity minutes are not uniform or predictable

RJK in Madison
over 2 years ago

When I ride outdoors, I get all the Intensity Minutes that I expect - usually about 80-90 for an hour ride (due to double minutes for Zone 4+). When I ride indoors, I usually get 0 (zero) Intensity Minutes despite ride some of the exact same routes and with same effort. Yesterday, I did get 23 Intensity Minutes for a ride I would have expected 80-90. But, that is all I have gotten over the last 13 indoor rides.

My equipment: Edge 830 with Wahoo Tickr 

When indoor: Edge 830, Wahoo Tickr, and Saris H3 - I use the "ride a previous course/ride" or whatever you might call it

I opened a ticket with Garmin about the lack of Intensity Minutes for my indoor rides. Initially, they told me that Intensity Minutes require a Garmin HRM connected with Edge 830. However, every one of my outdoor rides registers the amount Intensity Minutes that I expect - with the Wahoo Tickr. I don't even understand how any HRM would matter, since I thought Intensity Minutes were calculated based on the time spent in the Heart Rate Zones.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Do you have a power meter on your bike?  If you don't then intensity minutes will be from the HR data but if you have a power meter I suspect it will use power & HR data to calculate the intensity minutes.

    Your trainer has a power meter.  If you haven't set your power zones correctly in your device it then it could well be affecting the calculations resulting in what you are seeing.

    Make sure your power and HR zones are set correctly.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Wongataa

    Thank you for the tip! I will look at that tonight.

    Now, I am guessing that the power zone defaults are off in a weird way. Yesterday's ride was an average effort and registered minimal Intensity Minutes. Previous rides were much higher average and peak power, but registered none.

    Do you have a suggestion on what the zones should be - by watts?

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to RJK in Madison

    You need to know your FTP to set power zones.. Personally I think the British Cycling zone calculator works well.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Information on how to earn intensity minutes are within this link. 

    How Does the Intensity Minutes Feature Work?

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Garmin-Eiliko

    Thank you. That reference page has been forwarded to me by Garmin support via my ticket as well.

    However, I have 30+ rides with the Edge 830 plus Wahoo Tickr that have all registered Intensity Minutes. I do not own a Garmin HRM, nor do I have one paired with the Connect app.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to RJK in Madison

    I did an FTP test and verified all of the Power Zones, but still do not get Intensity Minutes while riding indoor. No big loss.

  • 0 over 2 years ago

    Adding a bit more data to the unpredictability about Intensity Minutes, I received 36 minutes today for an indoor bike ride that exactly matches many which have not give any minutes - with Edge 830, Wahoo Tickr, and Saris H3. I also received a few minutes for a bike ride to work, which I did not record with any Garmin device. I ride to work about 2 miles and have never received Intensity Minutes for it before.

  • 0 over 2 years ago in reply to Garmin-Eiliko

    I continue to get the correct Intensity Minutes riding outdoor with setup listed in OP. I randomly get Intensity Minutes while riding indoor. Once, I got intensity minutes while riding to work even though my watch (VA4) was -not- in activity mode.