TrainerRoad Ramp Test - ERG mode - broken? (Video included)

TrainerRoad Software
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For clarity, my concern relates to the ERG Mode Power Smoothing within the Wahoo app. It alters the apparent output from the trainer to any device or app and makes it look super smooth. Wahoo is the only company to do this.

  1. My personal dislike of the Wahoo smoothing is the fact that it shows a very unnatural and unrealistic power graph. It makes people believe that they are applying smooth power, when the opposite is often true. It could be that they are being smooth, but it can also be them being inconsistent.

  2. Even in ERG mode, there is constant variation in power delivery. The small changes in the power and smoothness of our cadence all impact the real power as captured in the workout. ERG isn’t magic, and it doesn’t make perfect workouts without proper use by the rider.

    • I think seeing a more accurate representation of the power as generated by the rider is a more useful set of data. It shows if the are being smooth or not and gives appropriate information for people to learn and adjust their power delivery in the active workout, and in future ones.

  3. Additionally, we see many complaints and questions when Wahoo users (who often don’t know about the setting, and get used to the glassy smooth power data) make a move to another trainer brand or get a real power meter. They are shocked about how rough the power is and assume the new meter or trainer is broken. The truth is that Wahoo was feeding them false information and skewing their expectations.

I agree, it’s personal preference and people can choose what suits them. But at the very least I think they should understand the options available and how one of them is quite unrealistic.

Agreed, focusing in cadence is exactly the right thing to do when using ERG. It’s the common recommendation I make (examples below) when I see people having issues with ERG because they are “chasing the power target” like they would in Resistance mode.

  1. That focus on cadence is still possible and advisable no matter which setting the Wahoo users choose. So it doesn’t matter in that sense at all. That is also true for every other trainer brand since none of them offer the ERG mode smoothing. People do just fine with the rougher looking graphs, as long as they apply proper ERG techniques.
  1. I think the smoothing hides the potential for riders to have more accurate data that they can use and review to improve their riding on the trainer. It could also translate to outside if they improve their power delivery based upon the real picture from the unsmoothed data.
    • I don’t necessarily think they need to pay attention to the graph during the workout, assuming that they focus on cadence as mentioned. But I do think it can be helpful in review of the workout after completion, to see how well they did with their cadence and the output as measured and reported more accurately without the Wahoo ERG smoothing.

Edit to add, I just happened to be listening to the podcast (on repeat in my commute) and catch one of the mentions about the Wahoo smoothing. https://youtu.be/I0TegxHfj-8?t=3630