When are we going to see a native application (not one run with parallels or VM Fusion) for Apple that can track watts (from SRM, Ergomo, Garmin 705) like Training Peaks, or even maybe a Training Peaks for Mac OSX. I apologize if this has been discussed but I have been under a lot of sand (Iraq) for the better half of 2007, then training for a marathon when I got back so looking to get back on the bike after the Phoenix Mary this weekend.
ummm, anyone?
Check out RaceDay, by our own Dr. Phil Skiba(Philbert). Pretty nice program, and his customer service is without compare. There’s a trial version at http://www.physfarm.com/
Good luck, and thanks!
Check out RaceDay…Mac native power and pace analysis program. (Disclosure: I’m the author…well, one of them anyway.)
Phil
EDIT: OOPS, he replied first!
Nice, looks like great software, no Ergomo compatibility I’m guessing. Ha, come back from Iraq and Ergomo is out of business, what a crock of crap…guess it could have been worse, at least I had it for about a year and a half prior to going over.
Yeah, unfortunately we had to make a decision about what meters to support. Since Ergomo went bust, we focused on the Garmin, SRM, iBike and Powertap. The unfortunate part for the users is that all the meters are now dying anyway. (The test unit I myself bought from them died after about 60 miles).
Phil
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How does Race Day compare with WKO+? I’ve been using WKO for a bit longer than two years, though I recently switched from a laptop PC to an iMac running XP in Parallels and a Macbook running XP in Fusion. I am not loving Parallels - no Garmin software (though it will run native in OS X) and WKO+ is twitchy. No issues using Fusion, but the iMac is my primary computer.
If I can get close to WKO+ functionality in Race Day native in OS X, I’ll switch. I’ve read Dr. Skiba’s Power Training book and found it useful.
Yea, I haven’t had mine die on me yet (knock on wood) but I have a feeling the battery is going to be shot soon, if it isn’t already shot. I don’t know for sure since I haven’t ridden since mid March of last year. sigh oh well, it was good while it lasted, now it’s just an expensive speedometer/powermeter.
As an alternative you can always try:
It is not as mature as RaceDay, but it has the basics to get you going.
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George
Bad ass man, thank you.
+1 on Golden Cheetah
Golden Cheetah is a great, free option. I’ve donated some of my training measurement stuff to the cause as well.
Phil
There is apparently a Google group now for users of the Ergomo. The original inventor is on it and (from what I hear) is trying to help people make repairs and things. Might be worth checking out.
Phil
Yea I saw that, they talk about battery replacements etc. going through Batteries Plus having them change it out. It will be worthwhile to have around if/when my battery crashes out. Thanks again for the recommendations and the heads up, appreciate it.
I suppose it would be great if you could actually get the thing to run. I couldn’t. Yep, I read the archives too. It appears GC is looking for the library for the FTDI drivers in a different directory. Not sure though. Honestly, if I have to spend this much time trying to figure out why I can’t even open the damn app then I can only imagine how many problems they’ll be once I start using it.
Personally, I wouldn’t waste your time unless you have some Unix skills and enjoy using them.
Thanks, Chris
How does Race Day compare with WKO+? I’ve been using WKO for a bit longer than two years, though I recently switched from a laptop PC to an iMac running XP in Parallels and a Macbook running XP in Fusion. I am not loving Parallels - no Garmin software (though it will run native in OS X) and WKO+ is twitchy. No issues using Fusion, but the iMac is my primary computer.
If I can get close to WKO+ functionality in Race Day native in OS X, I’ll switch. I’ve read Dr. Skiba’s Power Training book and found it useful.
Having never used WKO+, I couldn’t tell you. I like RaceDay, and as I said, Phil is exceptional in getting you up to speed with the software and it’s power. Do the trial, and you can have a direct comparison. There are some quicktime videos on the PhyFarm site to help as well.
WKO+ is a nice product. RaceDay offers similar functionality in many respects, but does have some important differences. For instance, RaceDay models training and predicts performance in watts, and plots your optimal training and taper strategy, neither of which is possible in WKO+. It also offers other triathlon specific features, such as training stress calculation for swimming, as well as running (automatic using gps or polar / footpod files, or manual entry if you are on a treadmill).
Phil
Nice, looks like great software, no Ergomo compatibility I’m guessing. Ha, come back from Iraq and Ergomo is out of business, what a crock of crap…guess it could have been worse, at least I had it for about a year and a half prior to going over.
You crack me up dude. “could have been worse”? Yeah, you culd not have made it back from Iraq at all. Thanks for your service!
Very true but I can’t think of it that way man, you’d never get any sleep in Iraq, not that you get much sleeping in with a loaded pistol under your pillow and 600+ Iraqis on your camp (transition team)
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Thank you Dr Skiba. One more question: is it possible to batch import files in WKO+ format or would I have to convert 2 years of power and a year of GPS data back to their original format?
Edited to add a second question - is there a discount on a second copy for users who have use more than one computer (desktop and home and laptop on the road)?
Enjoyed your most recent book very much.
Thanks for your kind words re: the book.
Unfortunately, the WKO+ file format is binary, and proprietary. They have not released the means to decode it. Apparently, the next version of WKO+ will also save files in an XML format that will be easy to decode, so that will solve problems for future workouts. However, for the moment the only way to get around the binary format probelm is to export the files as .CSV, HRM or TXT format in order to bring them into RaceDay. However, it is not quite as bad as it sounds and you can do it quite quickly once you get a rhythm going.
There is a 10% discount on the first additional copy and a 15% discount on the second additional copy, and this is good for any version of the program.
Phil