In this, we’re talking about how to set up your data screens for your Garmin or Wahoo Cycling Computers and ensure you are recording good data.
Data Recording Settings
- Data Recording Settings – Ensure you have your Garmin/Bike Computer set to record zeros for cadence and power and that it is recording in 1second intervals (not smart recording). These settings are usually under Settings-System-Data Recording. See this link for more details
- Auto-Pause – We recommend (as does Training Peaks) to NOT use Auto-pause but rather use ‘start notice’ to remind you to restart the timer if you choose to stop. This setting is usually under Activity Profiles-Auto Features (you need to adjust for each bike or ‘activity’ profile) Here for details/help to adjust Auto-Pause on a Garmin bike computer.
Setting up your Profiles and Data Screens
What do you need/want to know for different rides (or points in a ride)?
Summary screen
What are the questions you ask yourself constantly during the ride? Here, we’re talking about the ride totals. Things like, How far have I gone? Total Climbing?
Consider setting up your data screen with:
- Power Values – TSS, KJ (work), max power, average power for the ride,
- Accent values = Total climbing, KJ (work was done),
- Time – Elapsed (includes stops) or Time (excludes paused time)
- Cadence – avg for the ride
- Heart rate – avg for the ride
- Temperature (this is optional)
Long rides
Questions you should be asking yourself: Am I in the right zone? How long have I been riding?
Consider setting up your data screen with:
- Heart rate
- cadence
- power – average, current as relevant
- Time – I often use lap time here to chunk up a big ride into smaller pieces instead of total time
Intervals
You should be thinking about things like ‘How many watts am I doing right now, what is the average for this hill interval?’
Consider setting up your data screen with:
- LAP TIME – this is often not used – use it and you will have better training
- 3sec power or %FTP or current watts *when I don’t have power I use 30secVAM (vertical speed)
- Lap power (not average power for the ride but for this interval/hill/lap/effort)
- Heart Rate (BPM or %MHR)
- Cadence (if relevant)
Related Post – Use the Lap Button (functions)
Race Screen
Short races and offroad races usually don’t need anything during the race, but using a computer to keep track of your warmups and making your start time are considerations. For racing, remember Less is more. You want to be careful you don’t see a Heart Rate or power that scares you (e.g. what do you NEED to know to race?)
Consider setting up your data screen with:
- Heart rate – I like to think of the warmup as getting my heart rate up to around the race average and sweaty. But I would likely switch the screen so it wouldn’t distract me during a race.
- Time of day – you need to start your warmup on time, get to staging on time
- If it is a long race (Fondo/marathon), I might put distance on the screen or use the map (e.g. the race has a GPX file) or ascent screens to track climbs.
- Some clients will use the lap count to count laps (but you need to remember to press lap!)
