Is Garmin Going to Auto Upload Tacx Workouts to Garmin Connect

Garmin quietly rolled out an update yesterday that ways you'll at present go training load updated on your Garmin devices for workouts done in Zwift, TrainerRoad, The Sufferfest, and the Tacx App, all without using a Garmin device to tape them.

You've long been able to link up your Zwift/TrainerRoad/Sufferfest/Tacx app accounts to Garmin Connect, which and so automatically sends completed rides/runs to Garmin Connect. Nevertheless, those workouts didn't accrue any training load or recovery time on your Garmin watch or bike computer. Thus, you nevertheless had to showtime a workout on your Garmin device, even for a simple indoor ride with Zwift. Else, y'all'd lack the correct information on your watch. But now, that's no longer required.

I've been testing this feature for a few months, and information technology works pretty darn well. It doesn't comprehend every single border case, but it does boom the core pieces people (including myself) accept been complaining near for years. And it sounds like this is sorta the offset layer of that onion that Garmin is trying to peel back and sort out. All of which notably coming later the Firstbeat acquisition terminal year (almost exactly a year ago).

How it works:

So, let's walk through how it works with some handy before/after type photos and screenshots. Simply first, at its core, this is the basics of it:

1) Ensure your Zwift/TrainerRoad/Tacx app business relationship is linked to Garmin Connect (if you did this before, you're skillful to go)
ii) Do a workout on one of those platforms, no need to commencement your watch
3) Mail service-workout, sync your watch, and it'll now show the proper training load and recovery time

Note that your watch volition sync automatically. And so realistically that by the time y'all get out of the shower, it'll accept done all this for you behind the scenes. Unless you don't shower afterwards a conditioning, in which example training load is the least of your issues.

To begin, here's my watch pre-ride. For this case I've got a nice easy recovery ride of sorts. Simply it shows exactly how this works. Note my current training load is 608, and as I got on my bicycle in the shed, my recovery time showed 0 hours:

At present, I leap on Zwift. In this case, the *Only* device I'm using to tape Zwift is Zwift itself. I'm wearing my watch, only not starting a conditioning. It doesn't matter if you wear your watch (or, if an Edge device, if information technology'southward sitting in your fridge). I'm just wearing information technology because that'south what yous do with a scout. In any instance, Zwift I go:

After completing the xxx-minute ride, you'll see the ride/conditioning show upwards on my Garmin Connect app. It's labeled from Zwift, and even includes a neat map outline:

(You can see how much I care about updating the default bicycle in Garmin Connect, for which I haven't changed in exactly 10 years to the twenty-four hours)

Note: What follows is explaining how this works for geekiness, but practically speaking, again, if y'all take a shower, this all happens quietly and invisibly behind the scenes by the fourth dimension you get the shampoo in your hair. There's nothing you have to exercise hither except ride your bike and save the workout on your Zwift/TrainerRoad/Sufferfest/Tacx app. That's it.

Still, what's notable is at this very moment (for the adjacent infinitesimal or and then), my preparation load hasn't actually updated yet – and information technology withal shows 608. Why?

Well, that gets into the nuances of how Garmin Training Load works, which is actually calculated on the Garmin device itself (not on Garmin Connect). That leads to lots of other quirks (and benefits), only we'll tabular array that rabbit hole for the moment. What this means is that in lodge to summate the grooming load, that Zwift workout needs to get to my sentinel. By default, Garmin Connect Mobile is ever syncing in the background, so realistically this but takes almost a infinitesimal or two until it shows upwards there. At which point, you'll now come across my increased preparation load on the picket (637 vs 608 prior):

And, if you scroll down a bit, yous'll run across my newly added recovery fourth dimension too:

Now, as shortly equally the picket gets this data, it actually has to send it dorsum to Garmin Connect so the app knows of the new training load value. Thus, again, there could be a slight bit of lag here. Mayhap a minute, maybe less…maybe more. But, once it does, you'll now meet the new training load value (637 now, instead of 608) in Garmin Connect too, and in fact the verbal load is shown in the training load section (Load: 29) on June 12th, and showing the proper benefit surface area "Recovery".

And thus, the circumvolve of life is consummate.

And again, all this happens for TrainerRoad the same way. Here'due south what the watch looked like pre-ride, note the load of 523:

Then, I did the workout on TrainerRoad, without starting my watch:

And then, post-workout/sync – at present showing a load of 655, some 132 units higher than the initial 523 value.

Slap-up, huh? Every bit I said, it'due south as simple as ride (or run), and information technology updates it.

FAQ:

Now, I'k gonna accept a stab at some FAQ'due south hither, though, I'one thousand sure there volition exist plenty.

How exercise I connect Zwift to Garmin Connect?

Simply go here, and so link your accounts together.

How exercise I link upward TrainerRoad to Garmin Connect?

Here'due south a skilful commodity explaining it.

How is this different than Physio True-Upwards?

It's part of Physio True-Up. That'due south the feature that syncs your workout-related data between multiple devices so that if you exercise a ride on your Border 530 it'll sync to your Forerunner 945. Of course, in exercise, we all know that tin exist messy. Though, I assure you – nobody has as messy an account as I do, with dozens upon dozens of devices. Garmin sticks pins in a Ray voodoo doll every time I stumble onto something with my Physio True-Up stats. Still, for the about part, it works until it doesn't. The cadre sticking bespeak is that training load is calculated on a per-device ground, and then y'all tin get weird sync problems, specially with not-ever-on devices like an Edge.

Which devices does this back up?

Essentially, anything with so-called 'Training Load', which ways you'll come across a load-specific number somewhere on your device. The current listing of devices supported by it:

D2 Delta series
Descent Mk1
Descent Mk2 series
Enduro
Edge 530
Edge 830
Edge 1030
Edge 1030 Plus
fenix 5 serial
fenix five Plus series
fenix 6 series
Precursor 645 series
Forerunner 745
Forerunner 935
Precursor 945 & 945 LTE
Marq Collection
quatix 5 serial
quatix six series

Can other apps practice this too?

Nope. At nowadays, it's only those iv (Zwift/TrainerRoad/Sufferfest/Tacx), largely because those are the only iv apps that accept permissions to button completed workouts INTO Garmin Connect. Countless apps can receive workouts from Garmin Connect, but simply these four are the all-powerful ones. I've long argued that Garmin could stand up to gain quite a bit by allowing more apps to button into Garmin Connect (alike to how Strava works), and they've long ignored.

Will my Wahoo bike calculator at present update my Garmin watch?

Nope. Per the previous one, simply workouts that come from those 4 sources are existence calculated. Trust me, I tried.

Why didn't my Zwift/TR/Sufferfest/Tacx ride instantly update the preparation load on Garmin Connect Mobile?

Remember, it has to talk to your Garmin device. That'southward especially notable for the Edge series devices, which y'all probably left powered off. Thus, if you want it to update training load in Garmin Connect, you demand to power that device on and let it sync (both directions, or basically, twice). For watches, this happens pretty quickly in the groundwork, so it'south less obvious.

Does this require annihilation on the Zwift/etc app?

Yes, it requires yous utilize at least a heart rate monitor, and ideally a power meter source (trainer or power meter) for the nigh authentic data.

Does it show Preparation Issue?

No, not at this time. So yous won't get the Aerobic/Anaerobic breakouts of training effect. Information technology sounds like this isn't a case of 'never', but more a case of 'trying not to boil the sea'.

I've long noted that Garmin has historically held off on these sorts of deployments as they endeavour and solve every unmarried little aspect of information technology, rather than fixing the core effect that people primarily care near, and and so circling back later to finish up the minor things almost people don't care about. And then I'thousand actually glad nosotros've got this today, versus waiting who knows how many months or something for things like Preparation Issue breakouts. Just my two cents though.

What about Zwift Running?

Don't worry, while Zwift might ignore Zwift running, Garmin didn't. A Zwift run with heart rate will provide Training Load, Training Effect, and Primary Benefit with one caveat, you will non get VO2Max estimates, as those require GPS speed/stride and so if you practise not become one of those for ii weeks outside, Training Status will go into a No Condition state as information technology does today.

–

I'll add more questions here every bit they come in.

With that – thanks for reading!

mayconifice.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2021/06/garmin-training-status-now-includes-zwift-trainerroad-the-sufferfest-and-tacx-app-workouts.html

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