Garmin Edge and Indoor Trainer

[Tiny K]

Hi guys (and gals),

 

I have recently purchased an Indoor Trainer (thanks David16v ) and have got a trainer tyre at a decent price (thanks CWC ).

 

Thing is, I haven't thought of the fact that I normally use my Garmin for all my data, and distance via the GPS, not wheel magnet.

 

How do the guys with the Edge use it on a trainer? Do you just use it for the HRM and cadence? or do you put the wheel magnet on the back wheel to get distance too?

 

Thanks in advance

[Guest agteros]

I used the standard Garmin wheel sensor, as it gives cadence, distance and speed.

IDT without cadence is meaningless in my opinion. Use heart rate, cadence & resistance to control your IDT workout. speed/distance is academic on the IDT

 

I auto-calibrated it outside, did not do the wheel measuring exercise to set it.

[Spat]

Yes use the back wheel, get didtance too, you have to switch off GPS for that session

[Tiny K]

I used the standard Garmin wheel sensor, as it gives cadence, distance and speed.

IDT without cadence is meaningless in my opinion. Use heart rate, cadence & resistance to control your IDT workout. speed/distance is academic on the IDT

 

I auto-calibrated it outside, did not do the wheel measuring exercise to set it.

 

The wheel sensor will just give speed (and therefor calculate distance). I do have the cadence magnet on my pedal arm.

 

So in short, you are saying that I do not necessarily need to put the wheel magnet on.... it's just nice to know the kind of distance you put in.

[Bat-ass]

Have you got the Garmin speed/cadence sensor??

it fits on the the chainstay on the non-chain side.

the one side reads speed ie. magnet on spokes and the other side reads cadence ie. magnet on crank arm.....

if these are there then you will get your speed and cadence even on your IDT (in door trainer)

 

If you dont have the sensor, then your Garmin defaults its speed calculation from satalites...... which dont work in doors!!!!!

[Robrider]

The wheel sensor will just give speed (and therefor calculate distance). I do have the cadence magnet on my pedal arm.

 

So in short, you are saying that I do not necessarily need to put the wheel magnet on.... it's just nice to know the kind of distance you put in.

 

Distance on the IDT does not relate to distance on a bike. It can be used to compare one IDT session to another (if you also record resistance, etc) but as said before, its pretty academic.

[Tankman]

 

If you dont have the sensor, then your Garmin defaults its speed calculation from satalites...... which dont work in doors!!!!!

 

It doesn't work because you are stationary, mine picks up satellites just fine inside, I must be under surveillance by the FBI or something!

[Guest agteros]

It doesn't work because you are stationary, mine picks up satellites just fine inside, I must be under surveillance by the FBI or something!

 

Oh, what big windows you have Tankman

[Tiny K]

Have you got the Garmin speed/cadence sensor??

it fits on the the chainstay on the non-chain side.

the one side reads speed ie. magnet on spokes and the other side reads cadence ie. magnet on crank arm.....

if these are there then you will get your speed and cadence even on your IDT (in door trainer)

 

If you dont have the sensor, then your Garmin defaults its speed calculation from satalites...... which dont work in doors!!!!!

 

I think you got me wrong here......

 

I have an Edge 800. Cadence / Speed pickup is on. I am only using the cadence magnet at the moment because the GPS does the distance and speed for me.

 

My question is: Do the guys with garmins bother with the wheel magnet when they are using their IDT, or do they not bother with the distance and ave speed that they are putting out on their IDT?

[Tiny K]

Oh, what big windows you have Tankman

 

The better for you to spy on me with :clap:

[Guest agteros]

I think you got me wrong here......

 

I have an Edge 800. Cadence / Speed pickup is on. I am only using the cadence magnet at the moment because the GPS does the distance and speed for me.

 

My question is: Do the guys with garmins bother with the wheel magnet when they are using their IDT, or do they not bother with the distance and ave speed that they are putting out on their IDT?

 

I use the rear wheel magnet all the time (not that I cycle much these days), as I find that the max/current readings are more accurate instantaneous reading than with the GPS which uses an average across different GPS fix points.

[Minion]

This was actually one of the reasons why I bought an Edge 705 in the first place - I could never get my Polar speed sensor to work on the rear wheel.

 

I had a Cycle-Ops Fluid2 trainer, so speed was useful as an indication of power and as a way to compare workouts (before I got a power meter). I also use the distance measurement as a rough way to track the usage of all my equipment.

[Tiny K]

I use the rear wheel magnet all the time (not that I cycle much these days), as I find that the max/current readings are more accurate instantaneous reading than with the GPS which uses an average across different GPS fix points.

 

Hey man - with my weight, any savings are to my advantage

 

on a side note, I do have a spare set of wheels - so I am going to put the magnet onto it with my IDT specific trainer.

[Grebel]

The purpose of the rear wheel magnet it to measure the distance when you are out of satellite coverage. If you ride under trees or a bridge or something that will weaken your satellite reception. You will need the magnet fitted indoors if you are going to measure speed. Auto calibrate the wheel diameter outside and use the wheel sensor with the magnet. As Back Ox pointed out the readings are more accurate and instantaneous.

Edited August 24, 2011 by Grebel

[bikekid]

Thanks for the above guys - I was gonna get the Polar RCXC800 (or whatevere it was) but now I will get the Garmin Edge 500

Same features as far as I can tell and cheaper than the Polar!!!

[SeaBee]

...and you get all the really cool mapping data! (Which I don't presume the Polar will gove you.)

 

Do yoursels a favour and get decent software! (It's spelled SportTracks... )