There are really two things to talk about today, and one of them is far more interesting than the other.
The first is that TrainingPeaks Virtual actually has an option, which I’ve never noticed before, that allows me to use the power meter as the primary source when available. I’m not entirely sure what this option means in practice, but I decided to enable it. From what I can tell, this might solve a big part of the issues I’ve been facing, though I’ll need to test it further to confirm.
The second topic, which is far less interesting, is my fitness—or, more accurately, my current lack of it.
Going into the ride today, I knew I wanted to try a structured workout. I hadn’t done one yet on TrainingPeaks Virtual, and I was curious to see how the system would respond. Would it work like Zwift, where everything aligns seamlessly when I use my Asioma Duo pedals? Or would it behave like the other apps I’ve tried, where I’ve had to resort to using the Tacx Neo as the power source, which results in a lower power output?
It turns out, as I mentioned earlier, that TrainingPeaks Virtual is the only software I’ve come across that has an option labeled “Power Meter Preferred: Use the power meter as the primary when available.” This option isn’t enabled by default, so I ticked it right away before starting the workout.
Thankfully, touch wood, everything matched up perfectly during today’s ride. That said, the numbers weren’t quite what I’d like them to be—but that’s a story for another time.
Connectivity / Drop Out Issues
Actually, there’s a third thing that came up today—and it’s something I’ve noticed on every ride so far on TrainingPeaks Virtual. I’ve been experiencing a lot of power dropouts. While it’s not critical, it happens more frequently than I can recall on either of the other platforms I’ve used.
It feels like this issue is more hardware-related rather than software-related. As the end-of-ride graph shows (and previous ride graphs confirm), I’m seeing frequent power drops—probably every two to three minutes at some points, and every four to five minutes at others. These dropouts aren’t lengthy, maybe just a second or two, but they’re noticeable.
I tend to notice it most during racing, but it was a consistent issue during today’s ride as well. What makes it challenging is that, in erg mode, these power dips often require a sudden push to compensate. That little jolt can really take a toll on a prolonged effort, adding unnecessary strain to the workout.
Before the ride started, I took a moment to see if I could connect the Asioma Duo pedals via Bluetooth, but I wasn’t able to make it work. Currently, I’m plugged in using a long USB extension cable that connects to a port on the front of my PC case.
I’m considering switching things up and plugging directly into a USB port on the motherboard. My thinking is that this might improve the connection quality and potentially reduce the frequency of power dropouts. I’ll give it a try and see if it makes a difference.
Workout Session
The workout I picked today was called Sweet Spot, a 45-minute session. In theory, it was easier than the one I used to do on Zwift, but in truth, I struggled with it.
It was easier for a couple of reasons. First, my target wattage was lower than what I’d typically have to hit on Zwift. Second, the structure was more forgiving. The blocks were 4 minutes each instead of 5, and there was a 4-minute recovery period sandwiched between two 16-minute blocks. Overall, in terms of TSS, it was definitely less demanding.
That said, I still found myself mentally struggling, particularly towards the end. I did manage to get through it, though, and I’m glad I did—because I would have been really kicking myself if I hadn’t finished. However, I wouldn’t describe it as a walk in the park—far from it.
Anyway, like I said, I’m glad to have that workout done and in the bag. I’m also looking forward to going for a walk tomorrow instead of riding. I almost went for a walk today, but for anyone in the UK, you’ll know it’s been pretty frosty lately. Temperatures have been in the minuses for the past week or so.
That said, the road ice situation doesn’t look too bad at the moment, so I’m hoping to get out tomorrow morning for some fresh air. I definitely need a breather from the bike.
That being said, I’m really enjoying TrainingPeaks Virtual. In fact, I think I’ll probably stick with it and subscribe, which feels like a positive step forward.
