How to get Power Analysis on the Mac
my 2nd power post! 
my 1st one went so well... thanks 
I have a portable Mac that is 3 years old, a Garmin 310xt and a powertap. some of you are trying to get faster in the OS, I am trying to get my gadgets talking together in prep for IMTX!!!
1. I need WKO and I guess Parallels to be able to run the WKO on my mac.
2. I understand there are some communication glitches between the two and in reading this forum, some people have them and some don't, some even have a separate computer for their power analysis. I want to be in the group that doesn't have any problems!!!
3. so if you have the source/link to buy the Parallel, I believe I saw it on Amazon, is that the best place? $$
4. I buy the WKO thru EN?
5. so yes I need to pull the trigger, and not at the MAC!!! no Apple store closeby but I can get Mac lessons for $50/hr at Best buy. so I might could take your instructions to the store and have them help me!! hmmm..
so I am moving this answer here....(from calibration ?) shoot didn't capture your name.. will go back to that thread to read...
@Marianne - Did you decide how whether to pull the trigger on WKO? I had similar concerns being a mac user and asked a couple questions on here. However, I have been running parallels for a while. Before I got the Quarq, I was using a polar RS800 for everything, and they are notoriously Mac unfriendly. Decided to go with WKO and have been extremely happy with the software.
As long as you have the intel (not powerbook) Mac, parallels will work great. It does take a couple extra steps since WKO doesn't seem to like talking directly to the garmin, but I've figured out a way to manage the admin side of it. Let me know if you decide to go this route. Since I'm pretty "Windows Illiterate," and still figured it out, I' be more than willing to help you out.
m
Comments
http://www.physfarm.com/inside/raceday.html
I know that R & P like WKO but it just isn't Mac friendly.
In the meantime, I've kept the setup so I can occasionally use WKO, but I've purchased RaceDay and downloaded (free) Golden Cheetah.
If all you want is bike power analysis and not the whole rTSS and CTL/ATL for all three sports, I'd strongly advise giving Golden Cheetah a look. The current version does almost everything WKO does. It uses slightly different metrics ("Bike Score" instead of TSS and "xPower" instead of NP). The differences between the readings that you get are modest but real. For example I don't think NP can ever be lower than AP, but xPower can be lower than AP for a short interval because it has an exponentially decaying trail of data that handles the first part of your interval differently.
RaceDay also uses the xPower (etc) instead of NP...in fact it was its author who sent that to Golden Cheetah.
RaceDay's PMC equivalent has default settings that make it look approximately the same as the WKO, but it is different...it's designed to be fit to test data to adjust the parameters. I think if you buy into the RaceDay method (which must include very frequent testing, though the tests are short), then that part would be quite useful. However, that requires a commitment, and the whole point of it is to design your taper and such...so it's not clear that you really need it. If I sound ambivalent on RaceDay, it's because I am, especially given the existence of GC. It's really billed as a coaching/self-coaching tool, and that's how the emphasis is, rather than the analysis. For bike analysis, it does not have all the features of GC or the most recent WKO (e.g., quadrant analysis)
If you really want the PMC and bike analysis, and really don't want to fuss with Windows, here is one final low-cost workaround:
1) Get Golden Cheetah and use it for your ride-by-ride bike analysis. The difference between BikeScore and TSS isn't huge and won't affect your life...and see below, you'll get TSS in another place.
1.5) Use your Garmin (or whatever) software to look at your running data if you need to.
2) Get a free training peaks account and ALSO upload your data to that.
3) The "spreadsheet" view of your free TP account will give you a "score" that is TSS for bike, rTSS for run, and you can make something up for swimming (e.g., I usually use 1 point per minute unless it's an extraordinary effort.)
4) Use a do-it yourself excel sheet to make the PMC. I'm not sure how to post an excel sheet here, but the formula is pretty simple, and I have a generic one that I actually stole from some other forum somewhere.
This is a bit of a workaround, and involves double-loading your data... but it does get you almost everything you want for no cost and No Windows.
Here's my Mac power setup:
1) bought Parallels. I think I got my copy at MacMall, currently $80 retail. Whatever my source, I signed up for their "special deals e-mail", and got it for $40, I think. VMWare and Parallels are cut-throat off each other. With a valid Parallels license, direct from VM I got a Fusion license for $10. Don't NEED both, but allows switching if one works better than the other (and I use VM at work). I bet it Parallels has a similar offer with VM license.
2) I purchased WKO+ through EN, installed in Parallels/XP.
3) SRM installed in Parallels/XP
4) Garmin's Training Center installed native on the Mac, for my 305.
Garmin, powered on -> plug in USB -> Mac -> download to TC. Then right click the workout to export as a TCF file into a Mac-Windows shared folder. Once I pick the folder, the file-export defaults to the same folder every time.
SRM -> USB -> XP -> download into SRM.
WKO default sport set to "run". I have desktop shortcuts to the shared Garmin and SRM folders. Drag and drop whichever workout files into WKO. The SRM file allows overriding the sport to "bike", while the Garmin TCF will only go in as the default sport.
Good luck!
-Joe
http://www.softwarediscountcoupon.com/parallels.html
You will also need to install a version of Windows. In my experience, XP is much less glitchy than any of its siblings. I just used an old copy from a trashed PC laptop.
From there, install both WKO+ and WKO Device Agent. If you go to the training peaks website, Device Agent is a free download, so it doesn't matter where you get WKO from. By the way, if you go on their forum page, there are some specific instructions for getting it to work on a Mac. IIRC, it was something about not letting it share data with the Mac OS. Take a look, the people there are way smarter than me on this stuff.
Now, you're almost ready for use. I created a folder on my desktop (native Mac), where I just drag and drop all of my Activities from my garmin after I plug it into the USB port. It works just like a thumb drive or external hard drive. I tried to get device agent to open the garming directly, but XP kept crashing (the only program on my mac that does).
Once you've moved the workouts you want into the folder, you can open XP, WKO+, and device agent. I also added a shortcut on my windows desktop to the "Garmin Activities" folder I created on Mac OS. I open that folder and just drag the new activities into the Device Agent box. You can tell which activities you haven't downloaded yet since the garmin saves files by date&time. Now you can click "save" in Device Agent and it will ask you the type of workout. Make a choice, click "OK" and you are in business.
As I reread this reply, it seems really convoluted, but its actually pretty simple once you put it in action. Give it a day or two to get used to it. I am analyzing files within 2 minutes of turning on my computer. I also looked at the Raceday and Golden Cheetah programs. I went with WKO since I am a total power Newb and wanted to speak a common language, i.e. TSS, NP, IF, etc. For me, worth the price and the couple extra steps. Thankfully, still no need for a PC. I loathed the thought that I might have to bring a Microsoft PC into my house.
You can change zones for the 500 through the Garmin Connect website as well.
Thanks, Chris
I Sync my 310xt with ANTagent I then copy from the Sync folder (which is buried in your library folder) over to VMware/Windows without using Garmin Training Center. I will wiki how this is done in the near future as I've written it up in the forums here a few times. I did a screencast of this a few months ago http://vimeo.com/10621533 if you want to take a look.
1. this VMware is $49.99 after rebate or yes you can get free 30 day trial
OR http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/ for $79.99
2. order WKO thru EN and it looks like I email Rich as I don't see a direct link in "store" nor the price.
3. then I also need to purchase Windows XP??
THIS IS THE DUMB QUESTION, AFTER LOOKING AT MANY SORTS OF WINDOWS, WELL WHAT EXACTLY DO I NEED?? I am at amazon and there are pages of Windows and I also checked another site too. I feel like I have visited the plumbing section in Home Depot and I have no idea what I need to be buying.
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 32-bit for System Builders - 1 pack by Microsoft Software (CD-ROM - Aug 1, 2008) - Windows 2000 / XP $188
or something like this?
http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Windows-7-Home-Premium-Upgrade-Family-Pack/product/87DFFF11
don't know what this is!! but it does 3 computers for $199
m
Wish I could help on the windows front. The only reason I had a copy laying around was because my last PC (3 months old) crashed, and apparently "unrecoverably," during a deployment. No comms with home during Christmas. Hence my hatred for all things microsoft. I would say, though, avoid Vista. XP is older, but in my experience, does the job adequately. I've also heard good things about Windows 7. No idea how to get a god deal on it.
As far as VMWare/Parallels goes, it's 6 of 1, half dozen of the other. Some people will swear that one is better, but you'll find as many saying the other thing. Pick the one that fits your budget. That being said, I've had a really good experience with Parallels.
Don't let the process stress you out. If you can get a trial on any of the software, give it a whirl. All of the data you upload from your Garmin will be saved, so you can change your mind on your setup if you don't like it.
1) Yes, either will work. I've used both and I'm on VMware Fusion right now.
2) Yes, email Rich with Subject "Purchase WKO" He'll send you an invoice and once paid will issue you a serial number.
3) Yes you will need Windows, XP works well, not sure about Vista, Windows 7 etc. We need a Windows person to answer this. How much you should pay, not sure about that either, another windows person question.
I'll take the "best" stuff out of this thread and make a wiki page, as this question comes up a lot.
currently listening to this
http://www.screentoaster.com/watch/stU0xVRk1IR19fRVtYWVhbX1Rd/lesson_2_training_with_power
will find lesson 1!! son just said to me "what are you listening to??"
also read past power posts.....
okay would go with the cheaper priced software! the $49.99 one
will email rich on WKO
but look at Windows?? almost $300... ugh.
http://store.microsoft.com/microsoft/Windows-7-Professional/product/B985134B
this is why I ask.
thanks..... m
downstairs Mac has Windows capability! sons' computer (not laptop)...so would have to get son's permission! and use just during the school day, will ask him when he gets home.
and DH has a PC that he devotes to one software...(but he travels)
so if I play my cards right, maybe this whole shebang can be done for just the cost of WKO!!
but now how to get the info to my laptop?? okay another ?? for the techies. dang this is hard. I would have to put my ANT device on his computer to transfer data> no.. type in connect Garmin on his laptop and then get WKO working...
brain is fried now... m
If the $$ add up to too much, do note that I have a zero-cost but somewhat less graceful solution posted above.
William
I will need to purchase a new MacBook soon, as this one is three years old. When I do I will likely buy a cheap Netbook for $300 and keep everything Windows over there and off the Mac. I want a small, lightweight solution for moto-travel. 95% of everything PnI do is cloud-based so the only software I run typically is a browser.
Yep, Windows 7 Starter EditionI got an e-mail from MacMall... Fusion 3 on sale for $40 (MSRP $100, $40 after MIR).
Netbook and WKO on it, good idea too.
right now will try the WKO on son's MAc that has windows capabilities. I think my cheapest option right now. I will keep y'all posted on how it all transpires. !!! Thanks for the help. right now all gadgety tech knowledge has been used to create a Halloween playlist for my IPOD to be hooked up to speakers for Halloween night for when I hand out candy!!! smile. m
I am new to power, and in the process have gone from Polar to Garmin, the goal of which was to say goodbye to Windows forever. Now here I am again with everyone using WKO. I have a 7 year old Windows machine in addition to Macs, but as soon as it dies I won't shed a tear. I have already been down the road of partitioning my hard drive and trying to use VMWare Fusion/Windows XP on my Mac and it is expensive and a pain. Tiger won't talk to my version of Fusion, Leopard only works with 32 bit XP...it was a nightmare.
Does anyone here use the PowerAgent software that comes with a PowerTap? It is supposed to be able to show NP and TSS but I haven't been able to figure it out yet. It does allow you to import Garmin files which is handy.
I use parrallels on my Mac, just switch to Windows and run WKO, I have a Garmin 310 XT, I upload my training files into Training Peaks and then sync them with WKO. Could alternatively load them directly into WKO.
If PowerAgent gives you what you need then why are you switching to WKO? Do you know how to get normalized power and the TSS (training stress score)?
@Chris - great question - wish I had a better answer. Because R&P like it? Because I don't know better? Because I think it can also import run pace info from Garmin.
But I will tell you what - I just rode my 3 hr workout (followed by 30 min run) and looked at the Power Agent numbers from my old school power tap SL (which I bought about a month ago on ebay) and I think it tells me everything I need to know. So maybe I will just save that money, keep my Mac pure (no windows) and live with this.
cp