How to fix DSW's odd cycling watt target?

9839179 18 days ago

I'm training with power based cycling DSW for around 10 months now with a chest strap.

In the last few months my estimated vo2max started dropping and with that my target training watt for all the workouts too. It looks like with one vo2 point drop, Garmin will lower the target watt by 5W in base and threshold workouts. It completely ignores the manually entered FTP from an FTP test.

The problem is that the target is so low now, that a 15min threshold workout will be in zone2 now (around 75% of maxhr and 85% of LTHR).

I was so happy with the easy workout planning, I would just like this to be function at least borderline properly.

How do I fix this? Yes weight, zones are set propery. Resetting the watch did not help. Changing the watch did not help (I had a replacement over the months as well).

0 NickMN 11 days ago

Ugh that would be frustrating, for something that was working well for you.

I guess with a new watch... and the symptoms you are talking about (dropping vo2max) without a change of fitness (??), it leads me to watch settings and profile settings. Although you mention zones being set and weight... Everything in the system for vo2 and training stress is using Max HR as the core/main calculation factor. Besides double checking that it is right that is the biggest driver can also do the check by looking at a workout and heart rate zones from many months ago are the same as now is an easy check (can't go back and view historic max HR setting).

Otherwise are you noticing slightly higher HR when you are at tempo or threshold during workouts? Anything different with your setup? Hotter in workout space? No fans? that would drive HR 5-10bpm higher at the same power? Has your training time, consistency and intensity reduced a bit over the last few months causing a drop in vo2?

0 9839179 11 days ago in reply to NickMN

I don't want to argue with the dropping vo2. It is a possibility.

The problem is that i'm not able to fix the wildly off power targets. In my opinion it is just horrible to guesstimate that someone with a vo2 of 40 will have a threshold power of 180. I'm not even sure if Garmin considers weight in this.

It would be much better if the power targets would be based on the set FTP.

But maybe i'm completely wrong and a 15min threshold interval should be in top of zone 2...

0 NickMN 11 days ago in reply to 9839179

I agree, I thought it was always based on your FTP, since that can auto adjust with fitness on your garmin as well.

Right, if you are doing a 15min threshold definitly should be getting well into zone3 and 4 HR zones!