Garmin Edge 850 messes up Triathlon Coach and Running HR Zones

laertis
6 days ago

Some background first. I've longed owned an FR955 and recently switched to FR970, always doing my training with HRM-Pro Plus. I've been swimming and running for years and also followed 20+ Running Coach programs. My coach programs as well as my HR zones have been extremely to the point I'm getting the exact same result from ergometrics

So, a month ago I bought a bike and a Garmin Edge 850 (+ a power meter and a speed meter) and started a Triathlon Coach plan and that's when weird things started happening

BUG #1: My Triathlon Coach plan in connect was not in sync with the Triathlon Coach plan in the Edge. No matter how many times I synced connect to Edge I couldn't get it to sync. The thing with Triathlon Coach plan is that it is dynamic (also super buggy), and readjusts your training based on how did on the previous days accounting for sleep, recovery and training. So, even though I can see the adjustment in my Connect app I can't see them in Edge, I see and old version of the Triathlon Coach plan which is no longer relevant cos it has been readjusted

BUG #2: Edge 850 reverts my recent changes to the Triathlon Coach plan in Connect. It appears that Connect is not the source of truth for the Triathlon Coach plan. When I make an adjustment to the plan, eg change swimming days from Tue, Thu to Mon, Fri, my Connect adjusts my swim trainings to those days and I can see these reflect to FR970 as well. However, when I turn on Edge 850 to go for a ride and expect to see the adjustment, not only I do not see it, but it also REVERTS back the setting in the Triathlon Coach so when I check it again in Connect I see the swim days being Tue, Thu (instead of Mon, Fri like the last time I changed them). Even when I change them again to Mon, Fri in Connect and sync with Edge I don't see these changes being reflected in the trainings I see in edge. But, this may be more related to BUG #1

BUG #3: It appears that my Cycling HR zones are spilling over my Running HR zones. As I already mentioned I'm doing all my trainings with HRM-PRO Plus. I also have auto detection enabled. This calculates my HR zones and adjusts them automatically when I improve or worsen. One day all of a sudden while I was checking my Running HR zones the screen reloaded and they changed dramatically! When I cross-checked with my Cycling HR zones they matched perfectly so I'm quite confident that they have something to do with it.
I also wrote a couple of comments regarding this on in this Reddit thread here https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/1mecpyw/updating_hr_zones_on_forerunner_970/.

BUG #4: I couldn't update firmware on Edge 850 neither through bluetooth with the phone and Connect nor through WiFi. Especially for the WiFI even though I can see it in Connect under Edge 850's settings when I try and connect to it with my Edge it fails. The only way I was able to update the firmware was through Garmin Express

Made a similar post under Garmin Connect Mobile iOS here: https://forums.garmin.com/apps-software/mobile-apps-web/f/garmin-connect-mobile-ios/423763/triathlon-coach-in-connect-does-not-properly-sync-is-messed-up-by-edge-850

  • 0 6 days ago

    You are able to get the cycling workouts of your Triathlon Coach Plan to show up on the Edge 850? I haven't been able to at all. In fact I was told by support only the Cycling Coach Plans are compatible.

  • 0 6 days ago in reply to 1349070

    Not true. I have created a Garmin Triathlon Coach plan in Connect and can see it in Edge 850. Of course, with the bugs I mentioned above. The plan does not properly sync but it's totally there

    There is a catch however. I am able to create this through Connect, probably as an owner of an FR970. I know that in the past you were only able to create a Triathlon Coach plan through the Web Connect and I'm not sure if that one sync to Edge 850. So you may need an FR970 or Fenix 8 (or is some other watch supports it, not sure what the current state is)

    BTW it looks like firmware 7.10 is out for Edge and I updated to it hoping it would solve my problem. You can give it a try in case it solves your issues

  • 0 5 days ago in reply to laertis

    Hmm I wonder what the *** is going on then. I have a FR970 and Edge 850 but with the latest updates. I can create a Cycling Coach plan and that syncs instantly. Not the same for Triathlon Coach plan.

  • 0 5 days ago

    So magically today I was somehow able to sync my Garmin Triathlon coach in Edge and Connect. I'm writing down the exact steps I did

    1. Connect: go to garmin coach -> edit preferences -> save without changing anything (unless you want to change)
    2. Connect: click on the garmin coach button again to reload and verify the program stayed the same
    3. Edge: Turn on Edge -> Training -> Workouts -> Garmin Coach
    4. Edge: Click on the 3dots on the top right in Garmin Coach view and go to Plan Overview
    5. Connect: repeat step 2
    6. Edge: Go back from Garmin Coach screen

    After these steps my edge garmin coach magically synced to connect

    • Connect on iPhone 16 Pro iOS 26
    • Edge 850 Software Version 7.10
    • FR970 Software Version 12.72
  • 0 4 days ago in reply to laertis

    I don't have a "Garmin Coach" under Edge -> Training -> Workouts. Probably because your training plan has synced and mine hasn't.

    The only difference seems to be you have an iPhone 16 Pro and I have an Pixel 9 Pro.