Hi.
My boyfriend did a 5min VO2max test and got an FTP estimate calculated from it. I did my workout with a 5min VO2max test and did not get an estimate from Intervals. How do I get it? Can it be turned on, where does it come from?
Garmin bike computer gave me an estimate on the summary screen after saving the ride but the info from there is nowhere to be found. It is my best effort for 5min ever (also using a power meter for about 8 months, an indoor trainer for two winters and there was no so good a result as this one - not by a lot, but still best ever), I also have seasons set and that could mean something.
We both use the same (but separate) device (Garmin 540) and power meters (Favero Uno) but different Garmin watches to supply the remaining data - like weight, it’s up-to-date - nonetheless he gets a VO2max estimate (the blue rectangle) every now and then and I get it on the days when I went for a run only. We both have Garmin watches (Forerunner vs Fenix) but the main sport for both of us is cycling. I now read that Forerunner is more for running and maybe that’s why I get the VO2max estimate only from running? I do multisport, it could be taking it from anything. My watch does show me a cycling VO2max when I browse the stats - it’s higher than the running one LOL. I would prefer Intervals to show me the cycling VO2max estimate, because I barely run. The weight is pulled from Garmin Connect for both of us.
Also a factor could be that a month ago I got an “FTP +5 to 147w from 21m at 152w” from a group ride.
the blue rectangle VO2max estimates - based on what do they appear?
why did I not get an FTP estimate from a 5min VO2max test?
alternatively - what is the calculation for it so I can count it myself, we found the Intervals estimates to we within 1-2 of the actual FTP test result before.
Go to the activity, and you’ll see on the top right eFTP value and Activity eFTP value. You’ll only get the “new eFTP” achievement, if the Activity eFTP is higher than eFTP.
Okay so, if this is what it counts then this is not what I’m asking for… the eFTP here is 145, from the group ride a month ago I got 147 so, idk, let’s say I’m so shitty with my training that it fell by 2 in a month. The “activity eFTP” is entirely inapplicable here - it takes the estimate from 20 minutes. I want it from 5minutes because I made a 5minute test effort. I didn’t do a 20minute test effort. It was an interval training… I did hard 5mins, took a break, hard 4 mins, took a break etc. and the “Activity eFTP” is taken from 2mins riding hard + a 4 minute break riding very easy + a 1 min effort (last interval) + almost 13min ride home where I had to overtake a couple times + a segment effort for 1min. This is not reliable data. My actual tested 20min FTP was 158W (based on 166W avg in 20min).
It’s like the algorithm is not for what I want.
My boyfriend’s example below:
, it says it counted from 5min @ XYZ. I’m cross-referencing this calculator that for his results gives perfect estimates that match the Intervals’ estimates.
That isn’t a fix calculator. It models a power curve. You found the popup, if you read it, it states:
Estimated FTP is calculated using power curves from FastFitness.Tips and Morton’s 3 parameter critical power model. The algorithm requires just 1 maximal effort of between 180 seconds and 30 minutes. Your estimated FTP will stay the same if you maintain your training load and decline slowly when you reduce training. To get it to go up you need to put in a max effort! The minimum duration required is configured in settings.
So either, you increased the minimum duration to 20min in the settings (so that it doesn’t use less duration), or it wasn’t “enough” power to change the model to increase the estimated value.
This comes from Garmin, but if I remember correctly, it doesn’t provide the source (if it’s from running or cycling). And it’s somehow unreliable, that it’s coming in only for running, or only cycling or once from running, once from cycling and so on. There are different posts about that, and I can’t tell for sure, because I don’t use Garmin.
Just for information, there is an estimated VO2max on the power page calculated from intervals (based on 5min power).
The Garmin calculations for VO2max are explained here:
Cycling VO2 Max Estimate
A cycling VO2 max estimate requires that you maintain a steady effort. If you have difficulty obtaining a score, try using an indoor trainer.
NOTE: If you are using an Indoor trainer the activity must be recorded on a Garmin device that supports VO2 max.
Power meter is required.
Cycling activity must be 20 minutes or longer without stopping.
Heart rate data must be recorded from a built-in optical heart rate sensor or from a chest strap.
Heart rate must be elevated to at least 70% of your maximum heart rate for at least 20 minutes continuously.
