TPV needs to display target wattage range (vs single number) for workouts
I ride my bike on rollers using a Garmin Edge cycling computer and TPV on my iPad on a stand about 3 feet from my front wheel. I have tested and compared doing planned target wattage oriented workouts using one or the other and both. One thing that the Garmin Edge does that is far superior for displaying target wattage in a workout is it shows you a wattage range (in green) in which you are considered compliant, and outside of which is non-compliant and displayed in red. TPV on the other hand display just the single target wattage number. Having that range displayed is far better for smoothing your pedal stroke and staying in the acceptable wattage range that bouncing higher and lower continually around a single number. If TPV and Garmin Edge real-time synced rides, this would be no issue, I could just reference my Garmin, or if TPV displayed the range, I could just use TPV. As it is, I’m probably going to stop trying to use TPV for planned workouts targetting wattage. But I’d highly prefer to use TPV and ride the virtual routes during my workouts.
Bradley OHearne
shared this idea
Many thanks for your suggestion, and support for TrainingPeaks Virtual.
Where a workout contains a target range, then TPV will already display that range for you...exactly as you suggest.
I suspect that the Garmin in this case is making up a range that isn't included in the workout definition. If you can please share the workout with the support team (virtual@trainingpeaks.com) and we can take a look to confirm (or if it contains the range, fix any bug that's preventing it from being displayed!).
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Bradley OHearne
commented
It isn’t a specific workout, it is how Garmin displays all workouts. Rather than display a power wattage target as a single point you are trying to hit, it displays it as a range bracketing the target. This is very helpful when riding, because if trying to hold to a specific wattage number, it is a constant back-and-forth above/below the wattage number to try to hold it. With a range, it is much easier to smooth your pedal stroke to stay in that range. It might be just a perspective thing, but I have switched back and forth multiple times, the experience seems pretty consistent: holding to a range helps to visualize and achieve compliance much better.