The four best fields for 910xt
So I got my wheel back today with my Powertap on it (yea!!). I'm planning on testing tomorrow morning. All I have right now is my 910xt to read the data. I looked & there are 25 field options for me to choose from.
So I'm looking for the four most useful ones to see. I figured % of FTP & 3 sec average should be there (I think). What else?
So I'm looking for the four most useful ones to see. I figured % of FTP & 3 sec average should be there (I think). What else?
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Hey Dave- Here's what I have:
First screen: 3sec Power, NP, IF, RPM.
Second screen: Last Lap NP, Last Lap time, Last Lap Cadence, Last Lap HR.
Third screen: Elapsed time, Distance, Speed, Time of Day. I use this one a lot if my wife needs me home by a certain time!
Fourth screen: Power Zone, HR Zone, Time. Use this one for the FTP/z4 intervals.
I used screen 1 and 2 for IMAZ. Glued my eyes on screen 1 and confirmed my effort (or corrected/adjusted if needed) with screen 2.
Wolf
Here are the fields I look at (on another device - Joule) while riding, either in training or a race: current (3 sec) power, IF (% FTP), Time (of current interval), % grade ( I'm usually going either up or down), cadence, HR (for racing) or MPH (some training rides). Another good set of numbers is Avg Power and NP - mentally, you can judge from how different they are what your Variability Index is. Using 210 as an FTP, and riding @ IM pace of 0.7 IF, you might see 144 for Avg Power, and 150 for NP. This would be a VI=NP/AP, or 1.04. No device does the VI calc in real time that I know of, so you need both numbers and a working brain to figure it out, but it can be helpful.
Remember as well that both during training and racing, cycling through a new interval every 15-30 minutes is best so you are not "chasing" a goal IF or VI that you will have a tough time making a dent in after 3 or 4 hours. In other words, the numbers in the fields I mention above are lap or interval numbers, not ride total numbers. Some devices will auto lap every "X" miles; I prefer to manually start new intervals at logical points depending on the terrain, like when I start a hill, or start a long flat, or when I plan to be coasting downhill for a few minutes, or when I am going thru a section of stoplights, etc. That way, I don;t get mushy data.
Lap Time 3s Power
Cadence Lap Average Power
I also have another screen I switch to when getting bored of the above later in the race that has totals:
Time Speed (current)
Distance Cadence (current)
Thats mainly all I use as try to keep as simple as possible, though I do have a third for review now and again in training mainly that has Time of Day, Avg Speed, Avg Power etc
On the scrolling screen I tried it before and even in a race at IMNZ but ended up finding myself too involved in all the data and looking down all the time to catch what my avg speed was, or having to stay looking too long to see what my current 3s power was etc. May be different for others but my $0.02 worth would be to try it as much as possible first and definitely in a RR before doing it in a race.
Norm Pwr
10 sec Pwr
IF
Timer
Distance
The top three are large font and the bottom two share a line so are smaller.
Although I like the idea Al has of having avg Pwr also to watch VI.
I might be mistaken, but that might not work for the 910xt. If I'm remembering correctly, you'd hit the lap button to mark the change from T1 to Bike to T2 to Run. So, assuming David's intent is to use the 910xt for the whole race, I think he'd have to set up auto-laps.
Ian is right on- hitting the lap button advances to the next sport/Transition. Auto laps are the only way to compartmentalize the ride.
A question I have for the group is this:What is the best power parameter for autolap (mine is set at 15 minutes) average power or NP?
Thanks
Short answer: NP.
Added thought: if you display both AP and NP, you can get a read on your VI within that interval, which is helpful if you have trouble "riding steady". See first paragraph in my previous response in this thread. If you display both, it's the NP you are aiming for, meaning if 0.7 IF = 160 watts for you, you will want your NP to be as close as to that as possible. And to make sure you ride steady, you want the AP to be as close to the NP as possible; although it will be lower. Remember, NP is a better reflection of the "real work" you are doing; if you make some sudden and/or sustained accelerations (a no-no on race day), the NP will capture that (read higher) with more sensitivity than the AP.
3s Power
Speed
Cadence
NP Lap (with auto laps every 5 miles)
For me, the two most important items are:
1) Current power
2) cadence
These are the two that I have total control over, and seeing them keeps me within my target.
Another element that I need is a 15min alarm for nutrition.
For me, the two most important items are:
1) Current power
2) cadence
These are the two that I have total control over, and seeing them keeps me within my target.
Another element that I need is a 15min alarm for nutrition.
1) I don't see how to set the auto lap feature.
2) I also don't see a field for Lap NP or Lap AP...am I just missing it?
3) If I select the 3 second power average check box then the power display will be the 3 second delay, correct? Because I don't see a 3 second power field name.
The firmware is up to date.
Thanks...
I'm not sure there is an auto lap feature. in any event, I wouldn't use it; I hit "Interval" at appropriate points, trying to approximate 15 minutes. But I may create a short interval while rolling through an aid station, or make it longer if it takes, say, 20 minutes to climb a hill, etc. This also helps me visualize the course in advance; during pre-race planning, I think about where I'm going to be creating new intervals, which also helps me think about how I;m going to ride various set ions of the courser. I've got a watch i wear set to chime at whatever interval I have determined I need a nutrition reminder - normally 15 minutes, or 10 minutes for a very hot venue.
For lap NP or AP: You may have discovered that the Joule fields actually are grouped in sets of three. Eg, "Norm Power", TSS, and IF are grouped together. if you have one of them showing, then by pressing in on the center toggle button, your can cycle through the three numbers. And, if you leave the field highlighted, you can see the other two in the smaller slots on the bottom, giving you 8 total data points at any open time. The cool thing about this is, you can see both current power and average power by using just one field. Or, I like to see % grade and elevation at the same time. Ride time and miles go together, etc.
Seeing the interval (lap) data vs the total ride data is easy enough, once you get the idea. Below, I'll walk you through what I do to make it happen (this is race day protocol)
In transition before the race, I rotate the rear wheel and press either button. I make sure that a number appears in the "Watts" field (3 sec power), meaning the PT is talking to the Joule. After I get on the bike, again I hit the Mode button. This starts/wakes up the Joule. Then I press the Interval button. This sets me up for creating laps. >>Here's where it gets a little tricky<< If you do nothing else, the Joule will be creating a new interval/lap whenever you press the Interval button, but you will be seeing totals for the ride, not for the current intervals. To see current interval data, you have to press and hold down the interval button for 2-3 seconds. YOU ONLY NEED TO DO THIS ONCE. Then you will looking at the current interval data. Subsequently,each time you press the interval button, you'll be looking at new data for the new interval. You can confirm this if you have NP or IF showing, as those #s will be shown as zero for the first 30 seconds of a new interval. Now, if you want to look at totals for the ride at any point, say after the first lap, you just hold that Interval button for 2-3 seconds. This does NOT start a new interval, but it does show total ride data to that point. Then, hold Int again for 2-3 seconds, and you'll go back to the current interval you were in.</p>
Got it?
Now, as to 3 s vs 5 s power, etc. Do you have PowerAgent software, from cyclops - its free to download at their site. In that program, the Tools Menu has a Configure Device… choice. In there, the display section allows you to determine what the "watts" fields shows. For example, I have "5 seconds" for power (choices are 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 30 seconds), "3 seconds" for speed, and 5 for cadence.
Power agent is also my preferred program for doing detailed individual ride analysis. Very user friendly, compared to WKO or others I've messed with.
You've got plenty of time to get comfortable with the Joule before CDA. Coupled with the PT hub, I've found the combo bullet proof once it's set up and you get the hang of hitting the interval button.
Re-reading your post, I guess a couple of other clarifications. You can't look at total ride data for some fields and lap data for others at the same time. Whatever set up you have on your dashboard, all the fields will be showing you either current lap data, or total ride data, depending on how you have managed the interval button.
So, "Lap NP" or Lap AP" as fields do not exist per se. You see them when you are poking at current interval data, and have Norm PWR or AVG PWR as one of your eight fields.
Here's where racing execution, philosophy, and strategy come into play. I've learned over the years that some information is NOT useful, maybe even HARMFUL. As a general rule, looking at total ride data is not helpful. This is because you are trying to manage your CURRENT effort. Chasing after total ride numbers, especially after a couple of hours has gone by, is fruitless at best, and actively harmful at worst. Stay in the moment, or at east within the 15 minute window you are currently managing. The totals will take care of themselves. To quote one of my favorite IM aphorisms: "Pay attention to your nutrition and pace; your time and place will take care of themselves" (Pace is a stand in for power, HR, etc.; nutrition a stand in for fluids and calories, as well as output.)
Assuming you are already in BIKE mode,
1. Press the MODE key
2. Press SETTINGS
3. Press BIKE SETTINGS
4. Press AUtTO LAP
It will give you the option to do it based on time or mileage from the drop downs.
Thomas