Does TR factor in weather conditions when training outdoors

Training
1

Just wondering if TR actually factors in things like heat and humidity when you’re training outdoors.

I live out in the desert and I’ve got a trainer, but I can only deal with indoor ERG sessions in small doses. If I have a choice, I’ll always ride outside.

Summers here are brutal, but I still try to get out when I can, either really early or later in the evening.

The thing is, heat and humidity push your heart rate up even when the effort doesn’t really change.

So I’m curious… does TR’s machine learning actually pick up on that? Or does it just think I’m overdoing it compared to the zone I’m meant to be in?

eddie 2

As far as I know, we aren’t pulling weather data from anywhere when analyzing your activities.

This would be a cool feature, though!

Welcome to the forum, by the way!! :partying_face:

2 Likes
3

There has been no documentation how or how much HR data is being used for TR factoring power curve progress and AiFTP… in the past it was always Power only (if power meter is used).

So if the heat is effecting your ability to hit your power targets on intervals or to quit early cuz you’re cooked… yes that will effect TR future training plan and predicted/detected FTP. However if you can hack it and get interval work in and HR is inflated, TR will just carry on as normal most likely. HR is variable day to day and time of day (early AM low HR, dehydration for the day or at the moment, coffee intake, stress, hangover, etc).
High HR doesn’t mean you can’t do the work, just means your heart is pumping more (like on race day, doesn’t mean you can’t hit your numbers… just that adrenaline is turbocharged your ticker!) I can do intervals in training and only hit 180bpm on my last 3min interval at the end… yet on race day I might hit 180 in the first 3 minutes of the event at the same power or running pace!

4

I guess another way to look at it is that your FTP is really a reflection of your functional threshold in your environment.

In the same way, someone training at sea level is going to see a drop in FTP if they head up to altitude or start training in the heat.

I’m pretty sure TR is factoring in heart rate somehow, because I’ve noticed my predicted FTP dropping by about 1% after each outdoor interval session I do in the heat and humidity.

Whereas when I train indoors on the trainer, I’m generally right in line with the predicted FTP.