Cycling data analysis

I am a geek with an obsessive cycling hobby. I like to see data to help me answer fitness, performance, and training questions I may have. Analyzing workouts and races are an interesting part of the hobby for me.

After a few years of evolution from just looking at my speed during a ride to using a most if not all the data from my Garmin Edge 705 I now use a bunch of different software products. I hope to find the One software to rule them all, and SportTracks is coming close, but other software has better ways to display some of the data. WKO+ is known to be superior software but it doesn't do it for me.

Garmin Training Center

The first software installed once I purchased my Garmin. I analyze heart rate, elevation, cadence, grade, on the same chart. I can also use a map displaying where a data point was captured, letting me know where my max power was recorded for example.

I use Garmin Training Center to create, plan, and upload workouts to my Garmin. Unfortunately I cannot manipulate workouts with power. I end up either manually editing the workout XML file or using the Garmin Edge 705 for those workouts.

Courses can be uploaded to the device using Garmin Training center as well. Courses cannot be edited through this software.

Connect.garmin.com

This is the online version of Garmin's software, but is really a compliment to Garmin Training Center. You can review rides with graphs and a ride map, make them publictly visible, and set up goals which I don't use. There is also a nice "player" that allows to replay the ride, watching some of the data captured change as the ride progresses.

Month view of training

PowerAgent 7.4.5

Once I got a PowerTap I installed PowerAgent and got accustomed to its available data. I do not use the latest PowerAgent software because it has trouble with "My Documents" folders pointing to a network location which I happen to have set up at home. PowerAgent allows to import Garmin TCX files directly from my device. One feature is reviewing my peak power records.

Another nice feature is selecting an arbitrary section of a ride to view its data and chart details.

On the activity summary I can view the current activity against my peak power records as well as effort distribution with power and heart rate.

SportTracks

SportTracks - with plugins - is the closest solution I found that gives me the data I have become used to in one place. Plus the much desired ability to trend fitness over time by calculating and graphing TRIMP (training impact), TSS (training stress score), and TSB (training stress balance).

SportTracks does many things well although differently than the other software. Some drawbacks:

• Cost. $39 for the software, and each plugin I use wants $ to unlock full features.
• Peak power. Although a peak power report is available I haven't found a way to compare a given activity against my power records.
• Effort distribution. I haven't found a power and heart rate distribution for a given activity. Maybe another plugin.
• The Garmin plugin is buggy. It allows to manipulate workouts, if I can get it to work long enough.

Benefits

• TSS!
• Plugins. Nice to have community improvements.
• Probably many more. I haven't used this software for very long.