Time for me to retire WKO+?

MattAaronson

Historically I have uploaded all my workouts to three logging/tracking applications:

1. TrainingPeaks...my main go-to for logging and an integrated view of my training (I have a premium membership)

2. WKO+...for power analysis, i.e. to get NP and IF for intervals

3. Garmin Connect...for record-keeping/backup

I was playing around with TrainingPeaks today and highlighted an interval in the "graph" view of a ride, and noticed that I can get all of the WKO stats to show: NP, IF, VI, etc..Perhaps this has been a feature of TrainingPeaks for a long time, but I never realized it. If you click on the various laps it also shows the stats for each lap. I doublechecked against WKO+ and (not surprisingly) the numbers match perfectly.

It looks like the only things I can't do in TP at this point are:

(a) a customized bin analysis of power distribution (yes, yes, I know this is what  R'nP use to determine their FTPs...)

(b) retroactively change FTP and have that cascade through all the data (it seems FTP and zones are associated with the workouts at the time of upload)

It would seem that for folks who are premium members of TrainingPeaks there is really no reason to upload to WKO+ anymore, unless you use the above two features or there are other advanced features of WKO+ that aren't in TrainingPeaks (and if so, please tell me about them!).For those who are not premium members of TrainingPeaks, it is an option to consider...although I know some people dislike cloud-based applications, subscription models, etc.

So as I prepare for the 2012 OS, I think TP may be retired!

ps. I also upload in bulk to SportTracks every few months, mostly to take advantage of the detailed equipment tracking functionality...yes, that is probably crazy...

GMAN 19030

I'll probably go 100% with Garmin Connect once they have the updated metrics but have been thinking about TP as well. I don't need the graphs and all that. I just like to review the numbers occasionally. I'm a Mac user so the whole WKO thing annoys the hell out of me since I have to dust off the one old PC in the house to use it. I much prefer a web based application.

Dino Sarti

Such a burn that WKO is not Mac friendly.....

William Jenks

I am a Mac guy too. My answer now might be a little different than in 6 months. TP works pretty well (I also have a membership) and I no longer feel any urge to use WKO. Golden Cheetah is working on a 3.0 version. When it comes out, it will be (a) free; (b) have all the graphs and metrics - including NP/TSS/etc, and (c) bike only.

If (c) isn't a deal breaker, then it will be a very good alternative.

Of course, if Garmin Connect starts calculating TSS/NP/etc well, then it (free, especially if it also does rTSS) in combination with GC would be another alternative.

TH3 FRB

Assuming you already own WKO why drop it? You can bulk download from TP into WKO so there isn't really any additional effort and you maintain the option of tinkering with your data. I guess as long as you maintain everything in TP yo can dump into WKO at any time. What do you like so much about TP that it's worth paying for a premium account?

MattAaronson

Posted By Joel on 02 Jan 2012 09:44 PM

What do you like so much about TP that it's worth paying for a premium account?

Actually I am a very dedicated user of the nutrition functionality. I'd keep it for that alone. The integration of nutrition and training is a bonus. I do like my "dashboard" too.

Cheers!

Kevin Walter

Matt,

You can retroactively recalculate the TSS and IF for a range of workouts on the dashboard based on new FTP/Zones in Training Peaks. If you go to recalculate TSS, it will let you choose the dates to recalculate as well as let you enter new threshold numbers for FTP/Threshold Pace/Swim Threshold, etc to base the recalculation on.

MattAaronson

@ Kevin, yes I know you can recalc TSS, but when you do that it only lets you change FTP / threshold value, not all of your zones. Unless there is a way to do it other than via the options on the PMC.

jhbinsc

I own WKO+ and have used it for a good 5 years+ now and am finally figuring it all out and have some back data for comparison. If I don't want to use the nutrition function on TP, what is the value of a premium TP account? I read this thread twice trying to figure out why I'd drop WKO. Maybe I missed something in a prior thread...help.

[Deleted User]

I really hope that Garmin Connects adds on a few more metrics, but not to the point where it gets overly complicated. Personally, I don't like using TP or WKO because it just presents a load of information that I don't always find useful. I guess that's kind of ironic given my background as a scientist who likes to have metrics/numbers of everything, but there comes a point for me where the practical utility of an application starts to diminish when there's a potential for information overload.

I only use WKO for determining the occasional TSS or NP, but other than that, I prefer Garmin as a log for all my activities. There was a point when I used TP (as a free member), but I found all the bells and whistles too distracting and took my focus away from a lot of the more important elements of training.

Tom Glynn

@Jeff,

I've paid for the premium TP account and don't use the nutritional stuff. I have been looking for a way to ditch my really old PC as we have slowly evolved into a Mac house. A lot of my sports stuff is just glitchy on the Mac. The premium account has some analytical stuff that is almost as good as WKO. I still have the PC and will bulk download from TP once in a while or to look at critical race or training files.

Before I had the Mac, I slugged everything into WKO and used the free TP as a back up resource.

I've also been playing with Golden Cheetah as a free Mac piece of software. It's very good, just not quite as good as WKO+, IMHO.

Anyway, a buch of pretty good programs, none of which are way ahead of the others.

jelmermd

A little off track, but all you fellow MAC-o-philes, is there is an indoor trainer that is MAC friendly?
I've been migrating away from WKO to Golden Cheetah too...looking forward to NP at least in the next version.

Tom Glynn

For my indoor training I just use my PT with my Garmin for data capture. I also have a CompuTrainer, but that software is not only Mac un-friendly, it's PC un-friendly!