Garmin Edge 500

dotcatlin

Does anyone use a Garmin Edge 500 on the bike? How do you set up your data fields and use the device to get the most out of EN workouts. I want to keep accountable for avg power in intervals, but find I start/stop and reset a lot, when my running device has an avg pace by lap function and I just keep hitting the lap button. Feel like I'm missing something!!! Thanks!

ezellrh

Dottie, for indoor (pain cave) workouts, I preprogram the workouts using Garmin Training Center. That way once my warmup is done (which varies according to how I feel), I hit lap and the EN assignment starts and automatically progresses according to time targets. For displays, I have 5 data field visible (3 Sec Power on top, total time, lap time, current heart rate, and cadence). Personally, I don't worry about lap / workout average power because all I'm worried about is what I'm doing right now (i.e. if for some reason I was low for a portion, I'm not going to go high / over a target to "make up" the gap). But that's just me and how I prioritize it. At the end of the MS, I have three more intervals set to move on lap press: a variable rest interval (to give me to time get "rested"), a 85% interval (for any time I can get some z3 time), and then a cool down interval. Some times I work the 85% zone, sometimes I just keep hitting lap until the workout ends. It all depends on how I feel and time remaining.

I haven't figured out how I program / execute outdoor workouts yet, as much of the outdoor ride is beyond my control (traffic, lights/signs, terrain). Will learn as I get outside on that one.

TH3 FRB

No reason to start/stop/reset during a workout. You have 3 difference screens to configure with up to 5 fields per screen. My first screen shows 3s avg power, cadence, and speed. My second screen (what I use most often) has 3s avg power, lap average power, lap time, and cadence. Every time you hit the interval/lap button the lap average power and lap time reset and it marks a new interval in the data file as well. This is what you'd use to track your intervals. My third screen has total time, total distance, average power and time of day.

dotcatlin

Just want to throw this out there again, now that there's been an update and additions of NP, IF, TSS, etc. NOW WHAT do people setup their Edge 500?! Thanks!

tuckerm

@Dottie, now you are given 5 screens to choose from. I have setup an interval screen. On it I have LAP NP at top. LAP TIME below. You really don't need anything else for intervals. Of course if you like HR and Cadence that can be added as well.

John Withrow

I basically only use 1 screen on my Edge 500 for Training and/or Racing. And I just updated the firmware on Friday.



I use the following 7 cells:



       [ Elapsed Time ]

[ 3s Power ] - [ Lap NP    ]

[ Cadence  ] - [ HR          ]

[ Speed     ] - [ Distance ]



I also have mine setup to auto-lap every 2 miles. This allows me to stay in a very small box the entire race. So basically every 6-8 minutes I have a new Lap NP target to hit and I can forget about what happened before that. I also have an alarm go off every 30 mins to remind me to take nutritions, etc. I don't look at HR much, but it's on there anyways. I really only have speed on there to give myself permission to get out of the aero position if I'm below like 9mph and permission to coast if I'm above like 35mph. I like to see distance on there so I know when to expect aid stations or the finish, etc.



Sometimes if doing intervals on the trainer, I will just hit the lap button at the beginning of a set, but I don't mess with that outside.



I have been experimenting with a 2nd screen for more of a maco-information page. This 2nd screen has NP for the whole ride as well as IF, TSS and Total Ascent and a few other things that are fun to look at every once in a while on a long training ride. If you update to the new firmware, make sure to update your FTP on your device so the IF and TSS are correct.

MattAaronson

A bit late to replhy to this but here goes.

On my Edge 500 for workouts I have 5 fields showing:

Top half: 3s average watts

Bottom half:
- upper R: lap time
- lower R: lap average watts
- upper L: cadence
- lower L hear rate

Regarding lap average watts, unlike Roy, I view this as a very key metric...but in races you need to set it to autolap regularly so you do not try to "average up" the watts over a long time interval. However, for EN work intervals I think this is perfectly appropriate and in some cases motivational. For FTP tests it is critical!!

I also set up the other screens with speed, total time and time of day, although I rarely flip to those.

Joseph Lombardi

If you focusing on keeping watts steady ALL THE TIME...why is Lap Avg. Watts of concern?  once the Lap is done...its done...Just Curious the rationale and how you use it during a race...(and you guys are all better riders than I am so if I can pick up  something helpful I'm game...) Thanx.

John Withrow

@Joe- for me, having "Lap Power" on my screen is WAY more valuable than simple having "Average Power". We can debate how long a lap should be and everyone will have their own personal preference (none of which being right or wrong). I personally choose every 2 miles to auto-lap because that gives me a new game to play every 6 minutes or so. Others like every 15 mins or every 30 mins while some people like certain "segments" of their known race course... I personally don't use "Average Power" because once you get several hours into a ride, this number barely changes. So if you we're undercooking or over cooking for a while, your AP is unlikely to change by more than a watt or two. But with a new Lap Power every 6 minutes or so, it forces me to forget about what I did an hour ago or three hours ago and only care about what I am doing right at this moment. I basically get to play 56 consecutive games throughout my bike leg. You could theoretically do this by just looking at 3s power all the time, but its hard to mentally keep track of coasting or uphill mini spikes and I like these to be accounted for in my Lap Power so I can smooth them out quickly and know if I am holding back or going too hard over time. Again, I will not get this feedback from AP in the second half of any race.

The rules are as follows for my repetitive "games" to keep my mind occupied:

1) keep a close eye on my 3 second power, but try to keep my lap power pegged at my goal watts for every lap
2) keep my cadence in my very tight goal range (for me this is 90-95 rpm)
3) shift gears as necessary to make #1 and #2 actually happen

Regardless if I succeed or fail at my game, I try to win the next one and it keeps my mind occupied for hours, but allows me to immediately erase the past and stay sharp.

I also glance at my HR every once and a while and pay attention to the clock so I can keep my nutrition on schedule, but I personally try to ignore RPE most of the time because I have the confidence from training that I am capable to race effectively at that effort. Many people very effectively use RPE to tweak their race day, but I am not one of those people. My RPE sensor lies to me and always tells me that things hurt and I should slow down... Prolly one of the things I should eventually learn to use to benefit me (maybe next yr...).

[Deleted User]

Thoughts on non-zero averaging vs zero averaging?  Never been sure which is preferred in the Haus.

Ken

[Deleted User]

Found a recent threat, looks like zero averaging. I ride a old train track that was converted to a bike trail. There are several cross roads where I need to stop. Today, I will try the auto stop feature and include zero's. What about data recording? Every second?

Steve West

It's important to include zeros to account for those times when you coast. With the EN style of riding, coasting is only done when you spin out at higher speeds, like > 32 for some, > 35 or more for others.

Look at it this way, if 2 riders (identical twins in all ways) have the same average power (with zeros) but 1 peddled continuously while the other took frequent coasting breaks. In order for the 'coaster' to get the same average, he/she would have to spike watts to achieve it. Resulting in a much higher VI and more importantly higher NP. They may finish with the same bike split but the steady rider would carry less fatigue into the run then the 'coaster'.

Joseph Lombardi

@John...Okay...I see what your doing with Lap Power....I currently just stare at 3s power...but can see how having "Lap" can be of benefit....Thanks.

tim cronk

@Joe that is just too funny.... Yes definitely some type of Lap NP is the way to go..... Whether its auto lap by time , distance, or manual.... I have always just done manual at approximately every 30 minutes.... BUT... after a hard reset of my 500 ... it went back to default 5mile intervals and I didnt correct it back to manual.... After riding with it twice like that and then reading this thread mostly John Withrow's comments I have decided to leave it at autolap 5 mile intervals...

Currently have 2 screens set up ... 1 of them with 8 windows of data... the other one has 3 windows of data.... I ride with the 3 windows displayed with 3s power on top , Lap NP middle , Time on the bottom ..... The only reason I have time is so that I can correlate my 15minute alerts to eat..... The more I ride like this the less I care about speed, cadence, HR , etc.... Just doesnt matter to me anyway....

rlh2000

Just got a Garmin 500- very helpful guys! Thanks!

Bruce Thompson

Guys -- this is a very helpful tread.  I recently got a 500 and have been trying to figure out the right data to put on the screens.  I rode today for the first time using the avg lap watts with the auto lap set every 5 miles.  Wow that was different and good.  I like it.  Now I'm sitting here redoing all my screens based on the collective wisdom detailed in these posts.  I'm picking up stuff  from each of you.  But one question:  why doesn't anybody have temperature displayed?  I've found that to be very useful in the past, especially on long rides.  It helps me determine my fluid needs.   I sweat a lot so more hot means more water.

[Deleted User]

I am racing Quassy this weekend and just got my Garmin Edge 510.  I have been using the Edge 500 until the buttons stopped responding then upgraded.  My thought on the data fields for racing is:

First line: 3s PWR

Line 2: IF

Line 3: NP

Line 4: cadence

I have the garmin setup for a reminder to eat/drink every 15 minutes.

I have the Laps at every mile. To keep track of distance and relative speed.

Anything I am missing or thoughts about the above?

Ken

Al Truscott

@ Ken ... Why have both IF and NP.?

[Deleted User]

Al, thank you for your reply.  I guess that is a good point, would be somewhat redundant.  When riding, I try to maintain my target IF for the race.  I then would always check to see what my NP is as well.  But I did not think that they basically represent the same during a race.  Would I be correct in stating that?  Is there anything else that would be benefital to have on the garmin data field that I would add in the NP place?

Ken

John Withrow

I personally have a lot more data fields than that, but my training and race day setups are the same (see above in this thread)...

I like to have "Lap NP" (auto-lapping every 2 miles) because over the course of a 3 hour ride, your IF (or NP) will kind of get pegged into a spot and to me become somewhat meaningless... I want to stay in a small box and mostly forget about what I did 1-2 hours ago and want to continually try to generate my goal power. During races, I also personally like distance (so I know when the aid stations will be coming up or halfway point, etc...). I also like to see time as a reminder to eat if you miss the reminder... I also like to do the math on how I'm doing (even thought I shouldn't necessarily do this). And finally I have speed on mine so I feel less guilty about getting in the bullhorns while climbing (say below 11 or 12 mph) or coasting (say above 34mph)...