Interesting article with lots of screen shots of what data screens the pros are using in the Tour. TLDR - about half of them are using a ton of data fields while the other half seem to only use the navigation screen with 2 data fields. This stood out to me since I’ve seen many amateurs suggest minimizing the number of fields and using small computers.
3 Likes
Having the nav screen up is a huge advantage on descents you are unfamiliar with….I did this a few years ago during a trip to the mountains in western North Carolina. I could better anticipate what turns were coming up and how sharp they were.
If I have my nav screen up, I just have speed and 5” Power showing. I personally don’t like a lot of data on my screen when riding outside….usually just have 5” Power, Speed, HR and Cadence.
I’ll have other screens with more data, but that is my main screen usually.
5 Likes
I think it is quite obvious they are looking at their body fat %.
I kid!
Agreed.
This is the screen I have up all the time. Navigation and then 3 second power. Sometimes I’ll flip to the other screens to see how far I have gone and need to still go, what my average hr is, etc, but I prefer to see the map and upcoming turns at all time. Also just to confirm I am still on my proper route.
1 Like
“Less is more.”
If I know where I am, my Garmin 830 shows a single data field: time of day.
YES, I record and analyze a bazillion data points. But when I’m riding, those bazillion data points only serve to obscure (postively and/or negatively) the feelings in my lungs, legs, and head.
There’s plenty of time to look at all the data once you’re off the bike.
YMMV !
2 Likes
Well played!
1 Like
Interesting that so many amateurs take the “less is more” approach while many of the pros take the “more is more”.
I personally would like to have the Zwift 50” screen in front of me!!
For Garmin users, the MapDashboard Connect IQ app displays up to six data fields across a single wide block. Unless ClimbPro kicks in, I only ever use the Navigation map plus MapDashboard with speed, cadence, heart rate, elapsed time, 3s power, and distance.
8 Likes
The obvious answer is a HUD (Heads Up Display) projected into our glasses, with all fields humanly possible 
5 Likes
I’m surprised nobody has taken the Google Glass / FORM goggles approach and applied it to those huge cycling sunglasses. They certainly have the real estate for it.
Edit: Spoke too soon, dammit Chad.
3 Likes
I like this! Will have to try it. Thanks.
I knew a couple of guys who had the Raptors. They actually loved them, but I admit that’s a step too far for me.
1 Like
MapDashboard was easy to install (like most ConnectIQ apps). You can configure the data fields from ConnectIQ. I turned off field headers so that the numbers and units were larger / easier to read.
1 Like
I’d imagine if you’re riding for 4-5 hours a day in a 21 day stage race (or several hours a day in training) there is some “are we there yet?” simple boredom that sets in now and then. I won’t doubt if some of those data fields get used like on a long boring car drive when you randomly start zooming in and out on the GPS or scroll through the tire pressure, coolant and oil temp etc readings …
As for nav, I can see that being great during the race but also for making sure you don’t get lost on the way to the start. Or worse, miss dinner if you took a wrong turn on one of those occasions when you ride back to the team hotel …
Or this:
1 Like
I only have mach number and G-force displayed on my head unit.
It’s actually just a piece of cardboard with 0 and 0 sharpied onto it.
10 Likes
There was some footage from a motorbike the other day, maybe TdF or Giro Donne, and the rider had the ClimbPro page showing. Knowing how long you have left to suffer is always fun.
1 Like
After reading this thread, and both of the CyclingTips ones, I was interested in trying a graphical Power data field.
I went for this one:
As I am thinking / hoping it’ll be a similar effect to the lights on a Wahoo or digital tachometer from the 80’s etc.
Question for anyone that has tried/uses any of the graphical Power fields. What limits/range do you use?
I have the option to set FTP and zones as percentage of FTP. I’m thinking it’d be useful to set it to show from say 150 to 350W but maybe 100-400W (which is what I’ve done the initial set up with) is better/more useful? Same with zones, I think the green is Zone 2 and 3, so I’m wondering if I should set Zone Zone 2-3 to basically be my target power zone (i.e. start at like 70% and go up to say 90%) or just set them as per my preferred differentiation (Zone 2 starting at 60%, Zone 3 at 80%, 4 starting at 95% as not perfect examples)?
I use the standard Garmin graphs, and mostly do workouts where power range is set in TrainingPeaks and I’m riding against green/yellow/red zones.
If did I install something for free riding (no workout loaded) it would likely be “Power Chart”
as it slightly improves on the Garmin 2minute real-time color coded power graph.
2 Likes
This is what I use when I have a route. My six fields are. HR, 10 sec power, cadence, elapsed time, distance to go, grade.
1 Like
That’s a good idea. Then you could see visually if you’re spiking too much etc.
1 Like
Have you tried the standard Garmin field the shows 2-min real-time power with color coding by zone?
