Recording a real ride with a Garmin but no power meter

TrainerRoad Software
1

At the moment I record my random just for fun mtb rides with Strava and it gives me a TSS that’s useful for TR. Now that the future looks a bit strange I’m wondering about getting a Garmin and using that to record instead.

I think we can connect Garmin through Activity Sync so I’m wondering do these ‘not workout’ rides come into TR with a TSS or anything else useful? Bearing in mind I have no power meter on the outdoor bike, just a HR monitor.

Cheers all

2

Not 100% certain but I believe they’d be treated like other activities that don’t have power and they would give you a TSS based on how your RPE after the activity. It probably is slightly more automated being a ride vs say a run and having the HR data helps too, but basically yes it will work. Just make sure you log into TR and do the survey.

Edit that link is about structured training so a little different than run rides but the general idea should be the same. Other than TR will treat a fun outside ride a little different than a ride matched with a workout in terms of PL if you’re on a plan.

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Thanks, yeah the fun ride aspect is making me wonder if it’s worth the effort of recording it for TR. I think a mate has a Garmin Edge I might see if I can borrow it and give it a go actually

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Recording on a Garmin Edge is no different than on a watch or any other recording device. Once imported to TR you can set to estimate tss by heart rate or RPE. It does seem to inflate tss for MTB as your heart rate can stay up on the downhills and from what I can see the algorithm doesn’t take into account you are going downhill. For what it’s worth it is pretty close to getting it on the flats.

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oh ok thats good to know thanks, yeah ive let Strava do the guessing for years I think as long as its consistent it’ll do .

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Yep, just confirming that TSS Estimates will work with Garmin – this feature doesn’t rely on Strava and can be used with any ride that doesn’t have power data, regardless of where the uploaded file came from.

Hope that helps clear things up!

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Thanks I realised afterwards that of course the estimate is made here in TR and I was being a wally. Good to have it confirmed thanks.