Data fields displayed for power.

Gene

 I'm getting my first power meter next week and was wondering what data fields I should display on my Garmin Edge 800.  I have the latest software update so I think all of the power matrics are available.  I'm starting week 9 of the OS so I'm doing a lot of intervals.  Suggestions for data feilds displayed would be great.  How does everyone prefer to veiw there data to facilitate nailing their workouts?

Thanks, 

Gene

tuckerm

@Gene, while I don't have the 800 I am fairly familiar with all the available fields. I would setup a page for intervals. On that I would have Time - Lap, NP - Lap, 3s Ave Power. You can throw in %FTP for kicks but I really don't see anything else you would need to nail your workouts.
Have you created your workouts in Garmin Connect and imported to your 800?

Gene

 @Tucker, Thanks for your insight.  No I have not set up any workouts using the Garmin Connect website.  I don't know why not, I assume I just don't want that little computer beeping at me.  

If I set the display to 3s Power, it's just for display purposes right?  It will still record and download at 1second intervals right?

Also, Do I need to worry about the "zeros" for cadence or power?  I understand the idea behind them, but I'm not really sure what would be prefered for training. 

Thanks, 

Gene

tuckerm

@Gene, I'm not sure it really matters as your data will match WKO exactly and NP excludes zeroes.
The 3s is just for display purposes. Instant power would probably jump around too much for you. 3s smooths it a little.

mancona

Gene, I use the new lap summary page on the 800 for intervals and really like it. On the top half of the screen it shows 4 fields, I have 1 sec power, 30 sec power, lap NP, lap time. On the bottom I there is a scrolling list where you can see a summary of all of your laps, which is useful when doing many laps like in a v02 workout...or if you lose count often. It's also motivating as I try to get my numbers perfect every single lap.

For racing use a different screen and add cadence and heart rate to the 4 fields above.

MattAaronson

You guys are making me dream of the 800. That scrolling lap summary sounds really cool and useful.

On the 500 I have 5 fields on my training page. The big "double-height" field is 3sec power. Then the other smaller 4 are:
- Lap average power
- Lap time
- Cadence
- HR

If I had all the new power fields I'd for sure replace lap average power with lap NP, although on the trainer my VI is always 1, and it usually is outdoors too for the z3 and z4 stuff. Lap average power (or NP) is really an important field for me during those z4 intervals. Actually, since AP will always be equal to or lower than NP, maybe AP really is better than NP since it'll force you to do more work!!!

I think % of FTP would be interesting, but since your zones need to be burned into your head anyway (because 3sec power is watts, and that's the main "speedometer") I'm not sure I'd use it.

Cadence and HR I don't really use too much, other than in VO2 intervals where I do like to know my cadence. I don't use HR at all other than to feel good about using power as the key metric on those days when my HR is inexplicably high or low!

I can't wait to try out the 800 and experiment with some new screens. It was on my Christmas list but my birthday is in November, so maybe I'll get one sooner!!!

Gene

 Thanks for all of the tactics everyone!

I have now read the book (Racing and Training with Power 2nd ed.) and am listining to the power webinar.  The learning cure is still steep and this helps a bunch.  I'll post my preferences after I get a handle on training with power.

Anyone with more techniques/tactics please share.  

[Deleted User]

Personally, I like having only one page of information to look at on my Edge 500. Power 3s is on the largest field of course . I also like seeing elapsed time, speed, and FTP%. I think FTP% is useful just so I don't have to think as much to see what zone I'm in when I'm going hard. Yes, I realize it's not much thinking to do, but I tend to turn stupid when I'm riding in Z4. FTP% is a metric that doesn't require re-tweaking when your FTP changes.

I also tweak my fields when I'm riding indoors vs. outdoors. For example, I have lap time displayed on the front page when riding indoors (since I'm doing strict intervals and such on the trainer), but elapsed time outdoors (when there's a little more noodling around).