Joule Setup for Power / HR ?

O2BFast

 I was just getting everything set up for the new Quarq / Joule combo.  I was able to get all of the sensors set up pretty easily but now have a question on the Joule setup.

I figured there might be a way to auto calculate the zones but I only seem to be able to find the screen to manually enter each power / hr zone.   If that's the case, I was wondering how the Joule calculates NP, as I won't be entering an actual FTP value.   

Those zone terms don't quite line up with Training Peaks either and I'm just wanting to make sure and get it set up properly.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated .

 

 

Thanks

 

Al Truscott

Setting up your Joule via PowerAgent offers the chance to put in a customized FTP, and PA will autocalc Zones (using their formula). Done via "Edit User", far left on the icon menu. If you don't set the FTP, Joule will use an arbitrary default (250?).

But you don't need an personalized FTP for Normalized Power to be calculated and displayed. The FTP is needed for IF and TSS calculations, as well as the autocalc of the zones (which we should ignore @ ;EN).

gilliatt

@Michael, be sure you have the latest greatest version of power agent software. It has a spot to put in FTP. It will streamline you quite a bit in the process

Coach Rich

Don't worry about having the zones configured on your Joule...or at least I don't. The numbers I have in my head when I ride are:

• 300w, my current FTP. I try to see this, a lot.
• 255w, my current 85%. Default number I go to, a lot, when I'm not at FTP above.
• 225w, my current 75%, which would be my current IM pace. When I have any admin time, I sit here and pay attention to what it feels like. It should feel very easy and I should find it difficult to ride this easy. But I never intentionally ride at 75%, unless I'm doing one of my monster climbing days and need to pace myself very carefully.
• 240-250w: my goal IM watts by the time I get to IMWI. I'll sometimes sit here and see what it feels like, think about what I have to do, training-wise, to get here, etc.

On the Joule I have:

Current watts     Normalized Power

Speed                IF

KJ                      TSS

Ride time           Distance

When riding I try to make the current watts always be greater than Normalized Power. This drives up the IF, which I'm always trying to drive up. This creates an evil positive feedback loop. I have a KJ goal, but more as a number to hit so I can eat something today and not be starving . IF and TSS goals for the ride, based on my history with this particular training route. When doing big climbing rides I may change speed to an altitude field and use it to display gain, as I usually know what my total gain for the ride is going to be. Lately I've been experimenting with creating a w/kg field but I've found the number bounces around too much to be very useful.

Tom Glynn

I'm with Rich. I totally ignore zones and have two numbers memorized. FT and 85% of FT. Looking at Rich's data screen, I've got:

Watts NP

MPH CAD

Time HR

IF TSS

O2BFast

Thanks for the input. I wasn't thinking last night when I said I needed FTP for the NP value. When I saw that reply, I was like "duh", it doesn't matter. It seems like there needs to be something in there though to get that IF / TSS number to be correct though, right ?

thanks for the tips on what to put on the screen too. I'll test a few things out. I think tonight's ride will be on the trainer, so I don't end up in the ditch trying to adjust / fiddle wtih things.

Tom Glynn

@Michael,

you need to force your FT value in Power Agent and then download it to the Joule. It will then correctly calculate the TSS and IF

O2BFast

Thanks. I'll need to read the help on Power Agent to figure out how to force that FTP value. Hoping I can figure it out by reading the manual........ Who ever reads the manual ??? Kidding of course and thanks for the tip.

Tom Glynn

@Michael,

no manual required

open PA, select user (your name) and double click
select power zones
tweak until FT = the right number
click OK
click on icon to configure device, replace Joule data with PA data

O2BFast

Wow ! I did that last night and didn't even realize it. I messed around with those 2 numbers until the FTP showed correctly. I guess I'm good to go now - will double-check tonight, but I think it's correct.

Thanks again

Coach Rich

Yes, you need to have an accurate FTP set in either Poweragent or WKO in order for IF and TSS in these programs to be calc correctly. That FTP is then transferred over to the Joule to give you accurate IF and TSS numbers on the Joule.

O2BFast

Happy to report that all went good last night ! Thanks for all of the info. I was able to get the FTP transferred over by jockeying around in Poweragent. Things looked like the numbers were reasonable. Now time to do some comparison and see what the FTP numbers are vs. the Power tap. Looking forward to staring at some new info. also, glad I rode inside, as I was poking around on the screens while riding.