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Garmin Edge 500 Setup for IMWI

JustMikeJustMike
in Group Discussion-Ironman Wisconsin 2012

I was wondering if others could give me their thoughts on how they set up their bike computers, and how I should set up mine, for racing this course.  (I know, obsessing over details...you might be a type A when...)

 

Specifically -

Should I have the edge include zeros in the average power (NZAP)? 

Should I even look at average power (lapping every 15 or 30 min) or should I just focus on 3s power, 1s power, etc?

Should I put speed on the display?  (Normally I don't, but it might help with when to coast v.pedal...or it may scare me MORE on the descents).

Previously I've been set up like this:

3s Power

Lap Power

Cadence | Lap Time

Distance | Time

Arg, details!

 

 

 

Comments

  • manconamancona

    Here is my Edge 500 setup:

     

    I include zeros and I know exactly what my targets are on the edge 500 and what NP they will give me becuase my vi is alwasy between 1.03 and 1.05 on that course and usually 1.04.  Therefore my average is 4% less than my NP.

     

    My main screen:

    Real time power

    Lap time

    Cadence

    Lap Ave Power

    30sec Power

    If it is hot I had HR as well - otherwise I do not watch HR on this screen.

     

    I look/stare at that screen about 99% of the day and I take a lap every hour during an IM.

     

    I also have another screen with more data that I glance at everyone once in a while including: temp, distance, avg cadence, avg power, hr, avg hr, and a few others.

     

    I do not have speed anywhere as I don't want to know.

     

    Also, I turn on and calibrate my edge/quarq in t1 before the race so I can jump on and go during the race an only have to hit the start button.

  • JustMikeJustMike
    @Matt, thanks! The "to use NZAP or not" question has really been driving me nuts. I hate it in training, but it reminds me not to coast. Your right though, if I ride with a low VI like I should then NP and AP should be pretty close. I only have two more rides in the hills to practice that unfortunately.

    Something to work on for next time though. image
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    The NZAP is very close to NP on a fairly steady ride, like an IM (or HIM) bike split. The reason is mainly (but not entirely) coincidence. The NZAP obviously just drops the zero points. the NP includes the zero points, but gives very heavy weight to the high power points (because of the power to which they are raised). Thus, while it's not a "good" mathematical reason, from a practical standpoint, if you want to watch your NP for this kind of ride on a Garmin, this is a very close stand in.

    I can't remember hearing any legit reason for Garmin not programming in the ability to get NP and TSS...but until they do, your choices are AP or NZAP, the latter of which is very close to NP as long as you're not riding like a crit.

    Again I'm not saying you SHOULD use NZAP, but you CAN use it as a good stand in for NP and you will be very close.
  • JustMikeJustMike

    Thanks for that, very helpful!   Of course I have a follow up question.  image

    So, in my previous RR my IF in WKO was much lower than my NZAP, which I was watching on the bike.  IF was like .66 I think, NZAP indicated goal watts after the first hour, so around .7.  Also my VI was way way high, like 1.18.  I was coasting way too much.

    In that case, I'm guessing NP was lower than NZAP because it incuded the zeros NZAP didn't? 

    I like the idea of using NZAP as an approximation of NP, but do you think it would be accurate for me, since my big issue seems to be coasting?  I know the easy answer is "don't coast."  Maybe I should just invest my mental energy in focusing on that!

    And yes, I really wish the Edge 500 had IF, NP, and TSS as well. 

    Which do you use? 

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