Managing multiple bikes on 520

Sensors are stored in a sensor pool. You do not need to re-pair them when using different bikes. If the Edge does find multiple active sensors of the same type that you have paired with, it will offer you the choice of which one do you want to use.

In terms of setting up activity profile the information in this thread might help. See postings #4 and #8 https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?320923-Garmin-Connect-or-other-Application-to-Manage-E520-Settings&highlight=restore

Alan,

Thank you. Your response is very helpful. It would be great to do all of the device setup in GC, but your suggestions help in the meantime.

Eric

I understand we don't need the profile bike, but after you need to remember to change it in Garmin Connect. I have create diferent Equipment and one is the MTB and the other the Road Bike.

Also If you have it connect it to Strava, and you have created the diferent bike you will be able to select your Bike.

The only apointment is that for example you will only have complete records. For example, it is easier to make 40km faster in Road Bike than MTB, and probably somebody want to have the two road, the best 40km in one profile and another. (or multisuer )

Bikes have different weights. My MTB is 12 kilo while my road bike is 7.5 kilo. If there is no way to input a bike profile, then the calorie burning information will not account for the difference in the two bikes since one obviously will require more "work" for the same distance and hill profile. My edge 305 had that while my new 520 does not. Does anybody have any ideas about how to compensate?

Logically, that your heart rate will be higher when you ride heavier bike with same speed, so more calories burned.I don't think you need to input bike weight at all.

Bike Profiles

I did a ride using the both the 520 and the 305. All the data was very close when I compared the output from the 2 units EXCEPT for calories. The difference was about 30% higher calories on the 305 (where there is a bike profile with weight of bike) than on the 520. OLEGGIO - your theory sounds logical but the empirical test showed otherwise. I wish Garmin would read these forums and offer some practical advice.

I suspect that the 520 is using a much newer version of the Firstbeat libraries for calorie calculation than the 305 so it is likely not a like for like comparison.

What sensors if any did you have paired with both devices as that will make a big difference on how calories are calculated on each unit.

I suspect that the 520 is using a much newer version of the Firstbeat libraries for calorie calculation than the 305 so it is likely not a like for like comparison.

What sensors if any did you have paired with both devices as that will make a big difference on how calories are calculated on each unit.

You are partly correct. The 305 calculates calorie burn using Speed/Distance/Weight, so bike weight would come into play as part of overall weight when calculating calorie burn. The 520 on the other hand uses power meter first and falls back to Firstbeat 2nd gen and then Speed/Distance/Weight. Therefore, if you're using a power meter and/or a HR strap, the 520 will use these sensors when calculating calorie burn (bike weight is not required or used). Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about it, as the 520 will be far more accurate. This is because the Speed/Distance/Weight method has far too many assumptions in there to be of practical use (especially the amount of work you are doing). This does have the unfortunate side effect of you thinking that you've burn more calories in the past than you do now and therefore the 520 must be wrong. However, in reality the opposite is true, because the 520 is the more accurate of the two devices (although still a way off 100% accurate).

Bottom line is that the Speed/Distance/Weight method of calorie burn calculation guesses how much effort you have put in and as a result produces flawed data.