Garmin Edge virtual pacer question

kingrollo

How does the virtual pacer on the edge 205 work - ie how does it calculate its position. I used it last night on my regular route - on the first half the ride (the faste bit) - I easily got ahead - but it caught me on the second half - hilly and headwind bit.

Im just wondering if the whole thing is crudley calculated on average speed - which would make it less usefull ?

Bronzie

Were you using a course file from an actual ride you did previously or calculated from a website like BikeRouteToaster?

If the former, then I think the Edge simply compares your current position to where you were after the same elapsed time previously.

If from a course file created from a routing website, then it's just done on average speed that you enter on the website, although some sites are also supposed to adjust for climbs based on your climbing speed.

craker

or if it's just a random route you were doing there's a preset virtual partner pace you can set. Your virtual partner in this case is oblivious to the likes of hills and headwinds :evil:

kingrollo

It was from a course I rode previously.

Its just seemed weired that I was way ahead on the fast bit of the course - but then it caught me on the harder bit - it was though the pacer went at an average speed no matter what.

Airwave

I've used the VP on the Edge305 quiet a lot.Found it works very well.If the conditions are different ,i.e opposite wind direction,from when you did the orginal ride then you will get the yo yo effect a lot .Also hills,you only need to be a liitle behind but if your VP crests the hill first it'll be desecding whilst your still climbing.It's surprising how quickly a gap opens up.It's good training aid for solo rides.I get determined not to get beat

kingrollo

Airwave wrote:

I've used the VP on the Edge305 quiet a lot.Found it works very well.If the conditions are different ,i.e opposite wind direction,from when you did the orginal ride then you will get the yo yo effect a lot .Also hills,you only need to be a liitle behind but if your VP crests the hill first it'll be desecding whilst your still climbing.It's surprising how quickly a gap opens up.It's good training aid for solo rides.I get determined not to get beat

Thats what I hoped. But last night I was faster on the faster bit - but slower on the slower bit - which just makes me think the calculation is on average speed

Airwave

Try going slower on the fast bit&faster on the slow bit.

kettrinboy

i ts done on average speed on quick workouts, so if your doing say a 10 mile ride at an ave of 20 mph and the first half is fast then you can do say 25 mph but the VP is stuck at 20 mph for the whole ride so you get way in front but then say the second half is hilly you are at maybe 15 mph but the VP is still doing 20 mph up the hills and reeling you back in, i thought that even if you are using the VP on a saved route it still just uses your previous ave speed, ive so far only used it on quick workouts where you input speed, distance and time.

fuzzynavel

kingrollo wrote:

How does the virtual pacer on the edge 205 work - ie how does it calculate its position. I used it last night on my regular route - on the first half the ride (the faste bit) - I easily got ahead - but it caught me on the second half - hilly and headwind bit.

Im just wondering if the whole thing is crudley calculated on average speed - which would make it less usefull ?

My 705 Virtual partner works well. I've not notiiced any of this problem with averages.

Is there a chance that you were just slower than last time on the second part of the course.

kingrollo

fuzzynavel wrote:

kingrollo wrote:

How does the virtual pacer on the edge 205 work - ie how does it calculate its position. I used it last night on my regular route - on the first half the ride (the faste bit) - I easily got ahead - but it caught me on the second half - hilly and headwind bit.

Im just wondering if the whole thing is crudley calculated on average speed - which would make it less usefull ?

My 705 Virtual partner works well. I've not notiiced any of this problem with averages.

Is there a chance that you were just slower than last time on the second part of the course.

Of course thats a possibility !!!! - Albeit a horrible one - will try again soon.

Another thing I want to record some of my longer rides - which include a stop - whats the best way to handle this ?

Airwave

Thinking back i can remember doing a 100miler with the VP.The original ride used for the VP had an ave. speed of 17.4mph.I went out in to a headwind so the first 50-60miles i was at least a mile behind the VP.But started to catch it on the homeward leg.When i did finaly catch the VP it was on a fast road,where i was doing around 22-24mph.But becuase its a fast road i did that sort of speed on the original ride.The point being that the VP overtook me a couple of times on that section of road,only by a few feet,this means it can't be using ave. speed because i was going 5-6mph above the original ave. speed when the VP overtook me...do you see?
As someone else said if you use the quick workout&put in 18mph for 2hrs it will use ave speed,so not so much fun as racing yourself,or your mates that have a Garmin too,as you can swap files.