I’ve used Garmn Connect, the Polar software and now Movescount. I used Training Peaks, and even the paid version, for a while, but the extra step of moving the data to it wasn’t a big deal, but left me wondering why I bothered.
So, in short, why Training Peaks? Other that just a record of time and distance, what do you guys/gals really use it for and how does it benefit my progress?
Michael
I agree. I haven’t really seen the benefit of TP over other programs like Sporttracks, GC and WKO+. I think Garmin Connect is improving all the time and the simplicity, if you use garmin products, is unparalleled… and it’s free
You can easily have GC autosync with training peaks.
I’ve used Garmn Connect, the Polar software and now Movescount. I used Training Peaks, and even the paid version, for a while, but the extra step of moving the data to it wasn’t a big deal, but left me wondering why I bothered.
So, in short, why Training Peaks? Other that just a record of time and distance, what do you guys/gals really use it for and how does it benefit my progress?
Michael
If you are using the paid version and learn to understand the Performance Management Chart (PMC) it’s quite a powerful tool. If you are just uploading the data and never looking at it and just need something to count minutes and miles than any tool will suffice.
Whatever tool you use, first figure out if you can bulk export your data out of it, or not.
If you can’t, then it is a bullshit tool that should not get your business ( Gramin, I’m talking to you)
If you are using the paid version and learn to understand the Performance Management Chart (PMC) it’s quite a powerful tool. If you are just uploading the data and never looking at it and just need something to count minutes and miles than any tool will suffice.
I’ll look into the PMC, and maybe even pay for a quarter. I had a Polar for a while, and have a few years of those files on my PC. Then I got the 901xt and defaulted to GC, just because it was there. Now I’m getting an Ambit, so I would transition to Movescount, again, just by default. Because GC doesn’t even let you plan, I use a separate Outlook calendar for building my schedule. What a mess.
I guess I would like to actually learn to look at the work I’m doing and know if it’s effective. I do an FTP test every now and then, but I’m otherwise not very systematic about what I’m doing. And I don’t race often enough (and usually on a different course) to use race results as a metric.
Even a piece of paper could keep track of miles and hours.
Thanks for the tip. And yes, no bulk export from GC is pretty irritating, but I’m not staying in Garmin’s world just for that.
Michael
I thought you could bulk export out of Strava. Or at least I thought you could at one point into a big zip file. BTW I’m not saying to use Strava, as you have to pay for the power stuff that GC gets you (plus a lot more) for free.
Yep, you could once upon a time. Then they hijacked everyone’s data.
EDIT: apparently you can bulk export from strava again
I thought you could bulk export out of Strava. Or at least I thought you could at one point into a big zip file. BTW I’m not saying to use Strava, as you have to pay for the power stuff that GC gets you (plus a lot more) for free.
Well good I don’t have to look into it now. I suppose you could call all your own files through their api… what a pain.
As for garmin you could do that with their api as well it will just cost you a $5000 dollar set up charge…
If all you’re doing is tracking the past, then most tools will work.
But TP with the PMC used, gives you the ability to plan a season better.
It let’s you plan base, build, peak, taper etc on advance and gives an easy way to track reminders of workouts as well.
The other options seem more geared to historical performance.
As for garmin you could do that with their api as well it will just cost you a $5000 dollar set up charge…
there is a 3rd party website, that will currently export your data from garmin connect. but I wouldn’t expect that to keep working forever.
been working for quite a while for syncing training
Yep, you could once upon a time. Then they hijacked everyone’s data.
Profile page, lower right corner:
Well praise freedom, they brought it back!
You get back power data and everything?
Yep, you could once upon a time. Then they hijacked everyone’s data.
Profile page, lower right corner:
Well praise freedom, they brought it back!
You get back power data and everything?
Well, I’d have to test it to know that for sure - and own a power meter 
But looks like (according to this: https://strava.zendesk.com/entries/22555481-Exporting-your-Data-and-Bulk-Export) power is NOT exported.
I’ve used Garmn Connect, the Polar software and now Movescount. I used Training Peaks, and even the paid version, for a while, but the extra step of moving the data to it wasn’t a big deal, but left me wondering why I bothered.
So, in short, why Training Peaks? Other that just a record of time and distance, what do you guys/gals really use it for and how does it benefit my progress?
Michael
Training peaks and WKO let you download data from almost all devices. If you have multiple devices or switch every few years, your data stays in the same place. I’ve used Garmin, polar and powertap and haven’t every used the associated software, only WKO.
As for garmin you could do that with their api as well it will just cost you a $5000 dollar set up charge…
there is a 3rd party website, that will currently export your data from garmin connect. but I wouldn’t expect that to keep working forever.
It worked perfectly for me as of 2 weeks ago when I exported nearly 2 years of workouts from GC & imported them all into TP.
Sweet. That solves the “how”, now what is your impression of “why”? While I love data (HR, watts, elevation, laps, averages, etc), other than being cool, how can I make it valuable to me? Just because I CAN get everything in one place doesn’t really mean it will make me a better athlete if I’m not using it effectively. So how do YOU use historical data?
Michael
(Edit: it’s working great so far. Garmin data is going into Dropbox. Can’t sync with TrainingPeaks without a Premium account. I’ll test moving my Polar files into Dropbox, and see if they go to GC next)
I’ve used Garmn Connect, the Polar software and now Movescount. I used Training Peaks, and even the paid version, for a while, but the extra step of moving the data to it wasn’t a big deal, but left me wondering why I bothered.
So, in short, why Training Peaks? Other that just a record of time and distance, what do you guys/gals really use it for and how does it benefit my progress?
Michael
If you are using the paid version and learn to understand the Performance Management Chart (PMC) it’s quite a powerful tool. If you are just uploading the data and never looking at it and just need something to count minutes and miles than any tool will suffice.
Given the ongoing trend, surely the PMC will be discontinued soon? “Not enough people using it, lets bin it”???