Getting the most out of your Garmin
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby clack3rz » Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:13 pm
I know the FR has a Bike option, but I'll continue to use the Edge as it has a barometric sensor, so you get more accurate elevation results. Although I can get a more accurate elevation profile for my FR activities after I've uploaded my activity to Sporttracks (using the Elevation Correction Plugin).
I find that I use the Advanced Workouts and VP alot. I make up my Workouts using the Garmin Fitness plugin from Sporttracks and export them to the device (much like whats on Garmin Training Centre), and if I want to beat a time/avg speed on a previous course with the VP I can set up this up using the Courses plugin on Sporttacks and export it to the device.
As for the Q about VP on part of a ride - i.e. hill - you'd be best to use VP for the entire ride, and then split this section (using the auto-split function by GPS co-ordinates), or you can create splits/Filter the data for a section of the ride if you uploaded the activity to Sporttacks (not sure of Garmin Training Centre does this).
In relation to the Max HR, set your HR zones - and I think one of the displays is max HR - from memory.....
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby MichaelB » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:04 am
Cheers clack3rz,clack3rz wrote: .....As for the Q about VP on part of a ride - i.e. hill - you'd be best to use VP for the entire ride, and then split this section (using the auto-split function by GPS co-ordinates), or you can create splits/Filter the data for a section of the ride if you uploaded the activity to Sporttacks (not sure of Garmin Training Centre does this).
.....
Sounds too hard Don't use Sporttracks or any of the other web based versions, just used GTC.
Will give it a go one day
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby clack3rz » Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:48 am
Nah not really mate.MichaelB wrote:Cheers clack3rz,clack3rz wrote: .....As for the Q about VP on part of a ride - i.e. hill - you'd be best to use VP for the entire ride, and then split this section (using the auto-split function by GPS co-ordinates), or you can create splits/Filter the data for a section of the ride if you uploaded the activity to Sporttacks (not sure of Garmin Training Centre does this).
.....
Sounds too hard Don't use Sporttracks or any of the other web based versions, just used GTC.
Will give it a go one day
It's quite simple. Record your data, split at the bottom (even if it's a manual split) and again at the top.
Keeping history of this is where it comes into play, you can see your progress over time.
Using Sporttracks is really quite simple - and better still it's not web based, so your logbook is kept locally (or can be also backed up to a specific location).
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby snark » Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:37 am
Note that GTC is local too. That's a separate product to the web-based Garmin tool.clack3rz wrote:Using Sporttracks is really quite simple - and better still it's not web based, so your logbook is kept locally (or can be also backed up to a specific location).
Cheers,
Simon.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby MichaelB » Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:58 am
Wasn't sporttracks one that had to be logged onto the net for it to load up to ?snark wrote:Note that GTC is local too. That's a separate product to the web-based Garmin tool.clack3rz wrote:Using Sporttracks is really quite simple - and better still it's not web based, so your logbook is kept locally (or can be also backed up to a specific location).
Cheers,
Simon.
I set the 'lap' marker at the top and bottom of the climbs, so have no issues re keeping track of the times (done separately), but would love to have the graphic for the duration of the climb without a lot of faffing about at the bottom of the climb.
Otherwise, the leadup to the climb can be upset by all sorts of things like traffic, mates speed, wind etc.
Will try and use the VP for one of my flat loops just to try it, and see what happens.
Oh, is the VP the only thing that you get on the screen for the duration of the ride, or is it just another 'data page' display ?
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby clack3rz » Wed Feb 02, 2011 1:55 pm
No Sporttracks doesn't need an internet connection to import your activities. Other parts will - i.e. Routes (but even then once you have displayed the map the tiles are saved to your HDD so you can load them later w/o a connection).MichaelB wrote:Wasn't sporttracks one that had to be logged onto the net for it to load up to ?snark wrote:Note that GTC is local too. That's a separate product to the web-based Garmin tool.clack3rz wrote:Using Sporttracks is really quite simple - and better still it's not web based, so your logbook is kept locally (or can be also backed up to a specific location).
Cheers,
Simon.
I set the 'lap' marker at the top and bottom of the climbs, so have no issues re keeping track of the times (done separately), but would love to have the graphic for the duration of the climb without a lot of faffing about at the bottom of the climb.
Otherwise, the leadup to the climb can be upset by all sorts of things like traffic, mates speed, wind etc.
Will try and use the VP for one of my flat loops just to try it, and see what happens.
Oh, is the VP the only thing that you get on the screen for the duration of the ride, or is it just another 'data page' display ?
See here for the website for more info.
I think there are several screens that you can scroll through when using VP.
If you've got a previously ridden course on the device still use it and have a play on the ride.
As for slowness as the history builds - I have 3+ years on one single logbook. It only slows a little, but I've got loads of data stored there, from cadence, hr, speed, elevation, detailed weather info, calculated power data, reports, activity documentation, gear usage calculations, training load data, dot racing, etc.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby davidk » Wed Feb 02, 2011 2:13 pm
I was looking into exactly the same requirement from my 705.
I dont believe its possible to only have VP on for a mid portion of your ride, whilst recording the whole ride.
I wanted to ride against the VP just for specific climbs.
The only way I reckon I can do it, is to buy something like a 2nd hand Garmin ForeRunner 305 (wrist watch style - but mounted temp. on the bars) with just the climb section loaded, and use the VP on the 305, whilst recording the whole ride on the 705.
I use a utility called TCX converter which allows me to strip out part of a ride, and even to increase the speed of a recorded ride by a %. My idea was to load up a previous ride into the utlity, strip down the data so to only include the climb section, and then speed up the timing, by say 0.5% (IE 0.5% faster than my recorded ride), and then load that up into a 305.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby im_no_pro » Wed Feb 02, 2011 2:22 pm
master6 wrote: Moderators are like Club Handicappers; I often think they are wrong, but I dont want the job.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby clack3rz » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:12 pm
Focus on the hill section by creating a lap on the device at the bottom and top (manual). Know your required speed, cadence etc - it's all live on the screen and the VP will be there with you.
You can then strip out that hill at the end once you're home either using the TCX converter as mentioned or Sporttracks and then analyze it and know what you need to do next time.
Same with creating the increase in speed, by using one of the above programs to modify the course accordingly.
Remember the VP is just a pic of a person on a bike - dictated by data on the device.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby MichaelB » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:16 pm
Seesm to be a solution that is doable. Buying another unit is not an option (have a spare 305 though ), but will have a play.im_no_pro wrote:Only other option I can think of is to record it as three rides - first one is getting there, second is climb (with VP), third is ride home. A bit of a pain, but doable in my opinion.
Re slowing down with heaps of rises... each time I upgrade to the latest version (software) I forget that it deletes my history base, so I rarely get past 6 months data
Thanks for the info/advice guys
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby im_no_pro » Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:30 pm
Yes, but if you load it from the start of the ride, the VP wont necessarily be starting the climb at the same time. Which is what MichaelB wants from what I gather.clack3rz wrote:IMO I think it would be easier to load the whole course and use the VP.
Focus on the hill section by creating a lap on the device at the bottom and top (manual). Know your required speed, cadence etc - it's all live on the screen and the VP will be there with you.
You can then strip out that hill at the end once you're home either using the TCX converter as mentioned or Sporttracks and then analyze it and know what you need to do next time.
Same with creating the increase in speed, by using one of the above programs to modify the course accordingly.
Remember the VP is just a pic of a person on a bike - dictated by data on the device.
master6 wrote: Moderators are like Club Handicappers; I often think they are wrong, but I dont want the job.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby MichaelB » Thu Feb 03, 2011 8:58 am
100% correct.im_no_pro wrote: .....Yes, but if you load it from the start of the ride, the VP wont necessarily be starting the climb at the same time. Which is what MichaelB wants from what I gather.
Will give it a go and report back...
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby clack3rz » Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:49 am
Fair 'nuffMichaelB wrote:100% correct.im_no_pro wrote: .....Yes, but if you load it from the start of the ride, the VP wont necessarily be starting the climb at the same time. Which is what MichaelB wants from what I gather.
Will give it a go and report back...
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby ValleyForge » Mon Feb 14, 2011 10:58 pm
Trick is to record just the climb as a course and hit start course at beginning of the ride. When you reach the start of the climb, the GPS data will trigger the course start, and the VP will start with you.clack3rz wrote:Fair 'nuffMichaelB wrote:100% correct.im_no_pro wrote: .....Yes, but if you load it from the start of the ride, the VP wont necessarily be starting the climb at the same time. Which is what MichaelB wants from what I gather.
Will give it a go and report back...
In theory!
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby MichaelB » Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:50 am
OK, will try that. Thanks.ValleyForge wrote: Trick is to record just the climb as a course and hit start course at beginning of the ride. When you reach the start of the climb, the GPS data will trigger the course start, and the VP will start with you.
In theory!
Wish I would have seen this last night before I ledft work, as I did Belair Rd and set a good time, so would have been ideal ** !!!
** Must admit, have yet to even try and work out how to use VP though .....
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby davidk » Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:02 am
Unfortunately, this wont work.ValleyForge wrote: Trick is to record just the climb as a course and hit start course at beginning of the ride. When you reach the start of the climb, the GPS data will trigger the course start, and the VP will start with you.
In theory!
From the Garmin 500 Manual -
Ive gone through the manuals for both the 705 & 500 and there doesnt seem to be any way to record a long ride as a whole, and have the VP running for just a mid section of the ride.NOTE: As soon as you press START, your Virtual Partner starts the course and does not wait for you to warm up.
As I suggested above, the only way it can be done is with a 2nd Garmin GPS, jsut for VP work on a sub-section of your ride.
Second hand Forerunner 205's & 305's on Ebay can be purchased at a good saving from original RRP. Both have the Virtual Partner training option. The 205 calculates its speed just from GPS coordinates, and the 305 can communicate with your existing GSC10 cadence/wheel sender, which will probably mean better, more accurate speed detection, and therefore, more accurate depiction of the Virtual Partner.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby ValleyForge » Tue Feb 15, 2011 1:49 pm
Sorry - it works fine with the 705. We have a few regular rides that I do this on. I ride to the meeting point which is sort of the warm-up and as I get to about 10m of the starting point my 705 says "Course found" and it's away, VP and all.davidk wrote:Unfortunately, this wont work.ValleyForge wrote: Trick is to record just the climb as a course and hit start course at beginning of the ride. When you reach the start of the climb, the GPS data will trigger the course start, and the VP will start with you.
In theory!
From the Garmin 500 Manual -
Ive gone through the manuals for both the 705 & 500 and there doesnt seem to be any way to record a long ride as a whole, and have the VP running for just a mid section of the ride.NOTE: As soon as you press START, your Virtual Partner starts the course and does not wait for you to warm up.
As I suggested above, the only way it can be done is with a 2nd Garmin GPS, jsut for VP work on a sub-section of your ride.
Second hand Forerunner 205's & 305's on Ebay can be purchased at a good saving from original RRP. Both have the Virtual Partner training option. The 205 calculates its speed just from GPS coordinates, and the 305 can communicate with your existing GSC10 cadence/wheel sender, which will probably mean better, more accurate speed detection, and therefore, more accurate depiction of the Virtual Partner.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby MichaelB » Tue Feb 15, 2011 2:53 pm
ValleyForge wrote: Sorry - it works fine with the 705. We have a few regular rides that I do this on. I ride to the meeting point which is sort of the warm-up and as I get to about 10m of the starting point my 705 says "Course found" and it's away, VP and all.
OK, one for and one against !!!
I'll read up about the 500 & VP, and give it a go. p14 & 15 of the Edge 500 pdf manual says it can be done as per Valley Forge mentions.
Edge 500 manual
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby davidk » Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:11 pm
This begs the question, is any part of the warmup, actually reccorded, or ignored. On the previous page, it says"Off Course Options
You can include a warmup before you begin your course. press START to begin the course and then warm up as normal."
So that WOULD suggest that its recording your warmup data. HOWEVER, further on page 15, it says:"5. press START.
History is recorded even if you are not on the course. The 'Course Complete' message appears when you finish"
So in combination, this suggests that any 'warm-up' activity will be recorded in the history as soon as you press START , BUT at this point, the VP will begin the course section, regardless of how close you are to the actual course starting position. Therefore, most likely the VP will have finished 'riding' the course segment, before you actually get close to the course start position."NOTE: As soon as you press START, your Virtual partner starts the course and does not wait for you to warm up"
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby MichaelB » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:44 am
Anyway, Part 1 of the exercise is now done, as I did the Belair Rd climb this morning as a separate "ride", so will do the trial of 'loading' it as per the above Edge 500 instructions, and then give it a go hopefully over the weekend, or on Thursday night.
Will let you know how it goes.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby davidk » Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:20 am
have a look at a utility called TCX Converter http://www.teambikeolympo.it/TCXConvert ... r_ENG.html
With this utility, you can load up a previous recorded ride, and chop bits out of the ride you wish to remove. This would enable you to trim say the start and end of a ride file, just leaving the climb portion.
You can then save this modified data, either as a HISTORY file, or more importantly, as a COURSE file.
You can also do things like adjust the average speed of your course file, by percentage, or by a flat speed.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby ValleyForge » Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:29 am
I find Bike Route Toaster works really well and has a direct plug-in to the Garmin. It seems to convert speed to an average rather than second to second for comparison with the VP. So during the Toaster course, you might find you are miles ahead then hit a hill and get thrashed by the VP which has been averaged out.davidk wrote:Michael,
have a look at a utility called TCX Converter http://www.teambikeolympo.it/TCXConvert ... r_ENG.html
With this utility, you can load up a previous recorded ride, and chop bits out of the ride you wish to remove. This would enable you to trim say the start and end of a ride file, just leaving the climb portion.
You can then save this modified data, either as a HISTORY file, or more importantly, as a COURSE file.
You can also do things like adjust the average speed of your course file, by percentage, or by a flat speed.
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby MichaelB » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:18 pm
My ideal thing would be to have these routes/courses ALL stored, and the VP auto turn on when I get to those climbs.
I'm a lazy sod for some of these things, but will have a look at the sites suggested guys. Cheers
Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby Funkymonk » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:29 pm
Kind of wish i didn't
The Polar worked , simple , n0 spikes , and the cadence actually worked
I have stuffed around with this thing now for weeks finally got the heart rate monitor to work .... but the cadence has never worked .... I have tried everything
Also can't get the frikking thing to upload onto the computer GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
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Re: Getting the most out of your Garmin
Postby ValleyForge » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:45 pm
Shame - many in our bunch have 705s and we are happy campers. The cadence sensor can be a bit fiddly to set up to get it just right, but I don't see any spikes or crossed sensors when we ride. Not all of us upload, but I do (on a PC) and I've got 3 years of Garmin data which (to me ) is really interesting reading.Funkymonk wrote:I have traded from my ever reliable POLAR CS6 to the Garmin 705
Kind of wish i didn't
The Polar worked , simple , n0 spikes , and the cadence actually worked
I have stuffed around with this thing now for weeks finally got the heart rate monitor to work .... but the cadence has never worked .... I have tried everything
Also can't get the frikking thing to upload onto the computer GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
There's lots in BNA/other forums on getting it to work, but yes, the enemy of good is better sometimes.
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