Creating and uploading own workouts
Answered
Dear Hammerhead team,
First off all congratulations on establishing the Karoo as a formidable cycling computer. I have been with you though most of the journey and have cursed, laughed and been surprised.
Now on the workout topic:
One of the functionalities which was introduced, but still not easily usable/ accessible is the workout section. I am not a premium user of Training peaks and have no desire to buy plans, as I can easily build plans myself.
However, this is not available as of yet.
Can you not make it possible to upload a format like .zwo, .mrc, .erg or .fit files in the dashboard?
...or even better, create a basic plan builder on the dashboard. Ideally based on power, hart rate and pace
Kind regards,
Peter
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I was excited about the Karoo2 until I received mine. I really thought it was going to be a less expensive and better product. The computer itself is great, having to add a sim card, cellular plan, and TrainingPeaks premium account negates the price savings on the Karoo2 itself. All of this is comparing to Garmin products.
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FTP testing is pretty simple. British cycling gives some guidance although if you follow their workout advice to the letter, you'll be fatigued before you start the test !
My method is to start spinning and build up over about 15 minutes, then press lap and go as hard as you can manage for 20 mins. I actually do it for about 23-25 minutes and then choose the best continuous 20 minute spell within it, then apply 95% to that power number. According to what i have read, this is "better" than a ramp. I would then spin for 10-20 mins but after a 1m drinks break.
In my limited experience you do get better at judging your effort once you have done the test 2 or 3 times. You can use your previous 20m power number as your target and try to build from there. I think my improved FTP number was probably from being better at the test (ie totally emptying the tank whilst still completing the test) in the first 3 goes.
It's still a very unpleasant way to spend half an hour of your life, though...
MB
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@tim I don't know this for sure, but i think that you can use a TP basic (free) account to build workouts and add them to a training calendar. People on these forums have confirmed this. You can certainly try it for yourself, but you would have to wait for the 14 day free premium trial to end, before confirming that it still works.
From my reading, a SIM card isn't 100% necessary as you can upload rides on wifi and always create a wifi hotspot on your phone for something unplanned. Saying that, it's an obvious drawback compared to the competition.
I'm posting from the perspective of a potential user and i'm only interested because of the navigation and sensor bugs in my garmin edge 530. if that unit worked as expected i would be happy enough....
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Yes of course doing a simple ftp test is easy, just go for 20 minutes and take 95% ...
The wahoo definitely gives you more options: 2x8min, 20min or even 1h
The one I like to use is :
- Warm up: 10min
- 3x 1min fast cadence 1min easy between
- 1x 5min spin
- 1x 5min all out
- 1x 10min recovery spin
- 1x 20min all out -> take 95% of that one
again Wahoo gives you that out of the box without to have to build it yourself, it gives you nice indications on what to expect in the next section etc...
The TP basic plan does not include the workout builder or planner :
https://www.trainingpeaks.com/pricing/
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Thanks. Might use that FTP w/o one next time. A bit more structure than mine.
I'm not sure of the difference between "map your workouts" (included in basic) and "workout planner" (not included). I guess you can use the workout builder in the free trial, assuming they stay in your library after the trial expires - but if you can't add to calendar i assume it wouldn't synch to the device?
Saying all that, i would regard having a workout library that can be accessed on the fly to be a pretty basic function.
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@Simon Yes you can build a workout with basic TrainingPeaks. I have a library full on TrainingPeaks from when I was a premium member. But, I can not drag those workouts that are already there to the calendar I have to build them one at a time. Maybe petty but it is still time out of the day that I already had covered with Garmin. Don't mean to sound like I'm whining I just want the Karoo2 to thrive.
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@Tim This isn't petty at all. I was looking seriously at the unit and didn't even think that you wouldn't have a library of workouts like a library of routes. It was only when i read DCRs review that i saw that. If a free version of whatever third party app solved it, that would be ok. I'm on the free trial of TP and may or may not become a premium member (after 3 days i don't yet have any garmin connect history and i want this). Even if i do take it, there's still a hassle factor for workouts, compared with other units.
I have read that someone has discovered another free app that allows workout building, which can be brought into the TP calendar, but this really is a step too far for me right now.
I've raised it with HH and they say it's on their roadmap but it isnt an immediate "fix".
Shame !
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I frequently use my Karoo 2 to run workouts to my TacX Flux smart trainer. Usually, I sync workouts from TrainingPeaks. However, the ability to design my own workouts (based on power or %FTP) would be really, really helpful. I know that Garmin Connect has this capability and allows the designed workouts to then be pushed to Edge devices. Thanks!
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The free version of TP does allow you to build a workout with interval stages, based on % of FTP (and many other metrics). It is extremely flexible but that does mean you have to spend a bit of time to familiarise yourself with it. As a premium TP member you can add them to your library for easy drag and drop to the calendar. As a free member you can add to today or tomorrow in the calendar only. If you want to do a workout a few weeks later you need to find it in you calendar from a previous session and copy/paste, so it's a bit of hassle. The best idea is to do the premium trial and create a load of workouts for your library before the trial ends. If you base it on % of FTP they will still be relevant later when your FTP varies.
Good Luck!
Simon
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