Garmin 520 Owners?
- Thread starter bpsmith
- Start date
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Sbudge
Cyclist
- Location
- NW London & The Chilterns
Sorry for the delay replying. Biggest bad habit is consistently starting off too hard and then suffering later in the ride. I'd seen it to some extent in the timings but the power data really showed how much harder I tend to go earlier on. Other key piece is lack of consistency/fluency during what should be fairly even stretches of the ride. Early days but I'm finding it a more useful training aid that just theusual App + HRM I've been using for the running etc.
Just did a 6 min test ride to set the Tacx up with the 520 @Milkfloat. Have only done 1 ride on the 520 so far, so used that as a test.
Initial thoughts are that I could not see the trainer resistance setting show up on the Garmin and no elevation data showing. Live comparison shows along with the map. Wasn't sure whether the resistance was working correctly as its a relatively flat route with a series of downhill sections near the start, with only small climbs of a few metres. I did feel some resistance at times, but think it was slightly laggy against the graph. Will do fine for indoor training though.
What always amazes me is how quickly it starts running down my forehead!
Initial thoughts are that I could not see the trainer resistance setting show up on the Garmin and no elevation data showing. Live comparison shows along with the map. Wasn't sure whether the resistance was working correctly as its a relatively flat route with a series of downhill sections near the start, with only small climbs of a few metres. I did feel some resistance at times, but think it was slightly laggy against the graph. Will do fine for indoor training though.
What always amazes me is how quickly it starts running down my forehead!
So you got the map working, is that with an already ridden course or one you just planned?
For the resistance, I find it a bit jerky, either lots of resistance or none, even of last areas, there does not seem to be a lot of subtlety. I do think I have an issue with my Tacx Vortex though as the resistance and power output seems way off the Watt Bikes I use. Which Tacx do you have?
For the resistance, I find it a bit jerky, either lots of resistance or none, even of last areas, there does not seem to be a lot of subtlety. I do think I have an issue with my Tacx Vortex though as the resistance and power output seems way off the Watt Bikes I use. Which Tacx do you have?
About 25-30% lower and the resistance matches - following the real life videos or a previously ridden course is incredibly hard work. Tacx have not been too helpful - my current ploy is to loosen off the pressure on the wheel a bit after I have calibrated.
Interesting. So my 170 watts average over 43 mins is more like 225 watts.
I felt my brief test was harder than real world too. Good workout, but not as good an experience as if it were more accurate.
Interesting. So my 170 watts average over 43 mins is more like 225 watts.
I felt my brief test was harder than real world too. Good workout, but not as good an experience as if it were more accurate.
Consensus on the Tacx forums is that my unit is far worse than others report, some people report the opposite from me. i have got to the point where I have given up trying to compare to real world or other trainers and use the figures in isolation. It does however give me a significant disadvantage on Zwift.
I do not expect to recreate the real-world phenomenon of being able to freewheel downhill. Not on this model anyway. But I do expect the rest of it to be able to match more closely when actually following a previously completed Activity. I have only done 6 mins, but it seemed a lot tougher in fairness.
Zwift looks interesting. I am intrigued at how well it works and how motivating it is. I too would expect to be challenging myself on the same basis as others though. If a Turbo is harder than on the road, then I would expect that to be the same for everyone, rather than being let down by a specific model like you appear to be.
One of the issues in online play is that there is such a wide variety of hardware out there that it is impossible to compare like with like. Even exactly the same hardware seems to have some big disparities due to setup and calibration. You may be lucky - but you have encouraged me to have another moan at Tacx.
Not my intention. Just interested in your experience as have been using this kit longer.
I am glad you did - I might finally get it sorted. The problem I have is that I don't have a power meter to run concurrently to prove all this to Tacx.
Power Meter is on my list, but pricier than I can justify right now.
Power Meter is on my list, but pricier than I can justify right now.
Even with my Garmin discount I cannot justify it either. I might try and borrow a bike with one on though.
