Do I need to dual record to get training effect for Garmin connect? My understanding is that it’s calculated in real-time and that TR workouts that are synced over will not have TE.
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That’s correct, it’s device based, so if you want to use those Garmin features you will need to dual record.
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It’s complicated. If you let TrainerRoad (or Zwift) sync their recorded ride to Garmin Connect, the activity itself won’t show training effect. However, once it syncs to your primary device (like a Forerunner) that device then calculates the load and type of training effect and syncs that back. So after a few minutes, if you go to Garmin Connect and pull up Training Status → Load → Exercise Load you’ll see that the activity has load and the training effect benefit calculated and included in your overall status.
So while it works “good enough” for accounting purposes, I found that I missed the feedback enough on the activity itself that I record my indoor rides in my Garmin device and don’t let either app sync to Connect.
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I agree with the above that it doesn’t seem to capture all the data.
I get a training status on Garmin Connect, but for example, I’ve never had an FTP update detected on Garmin from a TR recorded effort. Only from my outdoor rides recorded directly on my 530.
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Thanks all. I guess I need to just decide which method works best for me. Dual recording probably is the way forward. I will just keep everything separated out.
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I used dual recording for awhile, and it worked fine as long as I adjusted syncing to minimize having to delete workouts on all the platforms I use (TrainingPeaks, Strava, WKO5, RideWithGPS, Garmin Connect, etc.). The other alternative is to mark as outdoor on TrainerRoad, and use your bike computer for power targets.
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I did this a year ago, for a while, I can’t remember why I decided to go back to dual recording.
I think it was for resilience and because it’s nicer to have the blue graph than working out ‘blind’.
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Blue graph?
TR blue bars versus Garmin grey bars, if you have a 530/830/1030/1040 bike computer. One user experience for reducing cognitive load, inside or outside.
I think many prefer TR on a bigger display for Erg control, or seeing workout notes.
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Yeah, with a fenix watch it’s less than that.
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Depending on your device, at least Intensity Minutes tracking has gotten a bit better. I have a Fenix 7 watch and, with the Heart Rate and MoveIQ both set to Auto detection, it’s passively tracking my activities pretty well. It won’t be as good as explicitly tracking the activity on the device, but it does get very close to what I would expect.
I guess I’m missing something. My understanding is that when using trainerroad, the blue graph would always be present. Are you importing the TR workouts into a different app and not using TR during the workout?
the point was that instead of dual recording, you could mark as outside workout and do it on your bike computer. Equivalent to doing an outside workout, except its on the trainer. No blue bars, but if you have a newer Garmin bike computer then you get grey bars and it is a very similar experience. No syncing issues, no cleaning up duplicates, TR rates it as outside workout (pass/fail), yada yada.
FWIW I found doing TR workouts as “outside workout playing on bike computer, but sitting in gym/garage on trainer” to be a better solution than dual recording.
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You can do TR workouts without the app, by synching them with Garmin. You set this up in the app or web.
It is a feature developed for doing workouts outside, but some of us have used it to get the workout into a Garmin device and then done it indoors anyway.
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I just have ride sync set one way between Garmin and TrainerRoad and dual record. It’s strava I have to delete one workout, but Garmin just takes records it’s own. (It still pushes outside workouts from TR to Garmin).
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