First make sure you are displaying the NP for the lap, not the entire workout. I think I read somewhere too that it has to do with NP being calculated on a rolling 30 second power number. So right out of the gate there aren't enough data points and as the workout progresses the number starts going up. But either approach, using the lap feature or saving the workout/starting another, would work for your purposes.

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Non-Swimming Duathlete

Why do you care? If you're doing a TT the NP is going to end up the same as your AP if you pace properly. How long is your TT?

no exact correct on the two being exactly the same. depends on the course. yesterday's course was pretty linear but still had 5,6 turns which put in you off power for a bit, and then a surge back on.
if its a climb, you're going to be heavier on power on the climbs with the recovery after you're back up to full pace. i like NP as if my coach suggest that i should be able to handle 365 for the distance, and then gives me a good split strategy (basically , just harder by X% on climbs or into the wind), recover downhill or will a tailwind, then i just like to keep a loose eye on where i'm at so i dont under hit or over hit.
i also sometimes think it could be a cap which i dont want either. yesterday i won an event, fastest overall, but goofed the start and slipped a chain and had red mist for the first 1/2, was way over, but it worked like a charm and ended up setting a course record. so sometimes i wonder if all these data is a cap at times for someoen focused on power. but id still like to figure out the sceince behind my issue.

i put NP Lap and elapsed time lap etc.on the screen. i go with power, cadence, lap time, lap NP, and heart rate for my race screen. about all i need to know.

i dont mind if NP shows nothing for 30 seconds. my first 10, 12 is like full out blast, bike to full speed. then settle in but still real strong to get the bike to max velocity, then i find a groove.
what i have been seeing is OUT OF THE GATE if i glance down in the first 15, 20 (and i know a new file doesntshow anything till 30 seconds), i see a value and its like 180, 200, 210, 220 (grows) when ive been doing 360 to 380 for the first 30,40 seconds. so its taking in the zeros. my guess is i have to stop/save the previous and start fresh . but i wonder if those first 10 seconds of values come in.
ill test it today on my road bike.