VirtualPower

My Non-Smart Trainer Is Not Listed — Can I Still Use TrainerRoad?

If your non-smart trainer is not listed in the Equipment Checker and you don't have a power meter, there’s a good chance you can still train with TrainerRoad using VirtualPower. You can do this by using the power curve from a different trainer. How to Train with Your Unlisted Non-Smart Trainer Use VirtualPower. VirtualPower allows riders to train with power reading derived without a power meter or smart trainer. You will only need a speed sensor and a non-smart trainer. How it all works: Every make, and model of a trainer has a unique speed-to-power ratio — this is known as the trainer's "power curve." TrainerRoad takes the speed readings from a rider's speed sensor and uses those to calculate VirtualPower based on the trainer's unique power curve. Your Solution: When you own a non-smart trainer we do not have listed, you can use a power curve of another trainer we support to train with VirtualPower. Will using a different power curve make my power less accurate? Yes; however, when it comes to training with VirtualPower, consistency is much more important than data accuracy. Even if your VirtualPower readings are not 100% representative of your outdoor power, you can still reap the benefits of training with power as long as you use the same trainer and power curve for each workout. Doing so means your results will be comparable, and you'll be able to track your progress. How to Find a Compatible Power Curve for Your Unlisted Non-Smart Trainer Non-smart trainers come in three varieties classified by how they apply resistance: fluid, magnetic, and wind. The three different types of trainers have slightly different power curves. When it comes to finding a compatible curve for your trainer, the most important thing is to choose a curve that matches the type of trainer you have. For example, if you have a magnetic trainer, you'll want to use the power curve from another included magnetic trainer. This quick guide should help: Fluid Trainers: These trainers use fluid chambers to produce resistance. They have non-linear, exponential power curves, which means that as the rider increases their speed, they will encounter more resistance. FluidTrainerCurve.png Compatible power curves we commonly recommend are: - CycleOps Fluid 2 - Giant Cyclotron Fluid - Kurt Kinetic Road Machine Magnetic Trainers: These trainers use a magnetic flywheel that creates resistance for the rear tire. These trainers have multiple resistance levels that you can usually change by using a tethered hand brake. They have linear power curves, which means that the same amount of resistance is applied regardless of how fast you're pedaling. MagTrainerCurve.png Compatible power curves we commonly recommend are: - Elite Mag (5 resistance levels) - Tacx i-magic (7 resistance levels) - Kurt Kinetic Mag (9 resistance levels) Wind Trainers: These trainers use a fan that is powered by the cyclist’s legs. Similar to fluid trainers, wind trainers have non-linear, exponential power. This means that they provide more resistance the faster you pedal. WindTrainerCurve.png Compatible power curves we commonly recommend are: - Kurt Kinetic Cyclone - CycleOps Wind How to set up VirtualPower (Desktop) Step 1: Open the TrainerRoad app, and go to the Devices section. Screen_Shot_2021-03-23_at_11.02.26_AM.png Step 2: Select Turn On in the VirtualPower section at the bottom of the window. Screen_Shot_2021-03-23_at_11.03.23_AM.png Step 3: Enable VirtualPower, select your trainer manufacturer/model, and select Save. Note: Make sure your trainer's resistance setting is set to the same level as your VirtualPower selection. If you change the setting, you'll need to change the selection in TrainerRoad. Screen_Shot_2021-03-23_at_11.03.35_AM.png How to set up VirtualPower (Mobile) Step 1: Enter the Devices section of the app, and tap Turn On next to VirtualPower. VP_RN1.PNG Step 2: Select your trainer's manufacturer VP_RN2.PNG Step 3: Tap on 'Model' and find your trainer from the list. VP_RN3.PNG Step 5: Select the correct resistance level (if applicable) Note: Make sure your trainer's resistance setting is set to the same level as your VirtualPower selection. If you change the setting, you'll need to change the selection in TrainerRoad. VP_RN4.PNG What to Do After You’ve Found a Compatible Power Curve for Your Non-Smart Trainer Test your chosen power curve with a “Free Ride.” Free Rides are workouts that do not have power targets. You can find one in the app by searching the Workout Page for “Free Ride.” It can take a little trial and error to find a good power curve for your non-listed, non-smart trainer. Before diving into a training plan, we recommend you doing a couple of Free Rides to test out a few different curves to discover which one is best for you. Once you’ve found a power curve that works for your unlisted non-smart trainer, it’s important to stick with it. Using the same power source, and thus the power curve is critical in training with power. Without this kind of consistency, the precision and effectiveness of your training will be greatly compromised. Worried This Solution is Not for You? If you start training with your unlisted non-smart trainer and discover this solution is not right for you, you have 30 days upon signing up for TrainerRoad to get your money back. No questions asked.

How VirtualPower Works

Today's world of cycling is dominated by data — namely, power data. Unfortunately, power meters are expensive, and not everyone has one. So, we created VirtualPower to solve this problem. How VirtualPower Works VirtualPower allows riders to derive power readings without a power meter. Each trainer make, and model has a unique speed-to-power ratio (also referred to as the trainer's "power curve"). TrainerRoad takes speed readings from a rider's speed sensor and uses those speed readings to calculate VirtualPower based on the trainer's power curve. We'll use a fictional trainer ("Trainer X") as a hypothetical example to explain this further. It takes 20 miles per hour to output 250 watts, 21 miles per hour to output 255 and so on on "Trainer X". TrainerRoad will be able to calculate your VirtualPower as long as you have a speed sensor connected and the make/model of your trainer input in our software. TrainerRoad has power curves for most trainers currently in production. Additionally, we do our best to add the power curves of new trainers that arrive on the market. How Accurate is VirtualPower? The answer to this question depends on the power curve of the trainer you're using. Some trainers have a more accurate and true-to-road curve than others. This is why consistency is the most important variable when training indoors. Even if your VirtualPower readings are not 100% representative of your outdoor power, you can still reap the benefits of training with power as long as you use the same trainer and VirtualPower curve for each workout. Doing so means your results will be comparable, and you'll be able to track your progress. Learn More Learn more about VirtualPower and check your trainer's compatibility.

VirtualPower Setup and Tips

If you're using VirtualPower, you'll want to make sure you have the correct VirtualPower trainer selected in order to get accurate power readings. Enabling VirtualPower will prompt TrainerRoad to use your speed readings and your trainer's speed-to-power ratio to calculate your power. Learn more about how VirtualPower works. How to set up VirtualPower (Desktop) Step 1: Open the TrainerRoad app, and go to the Devices section. Screen_Shot_2021-03-23_at_11.02.26_AM.png Step 2: Select Turn On in the VirtualPower section at the bottom of the window. Screen_Shot_2021-03-23_at_11.03.23_AM.png Step 3: Enable VirtualPower, select your trainer manufacturer/model, and select Save. Note: Make sure your trainer's resistance setting is set to the same level as your VirtualPower selection. If you change the setting, you'll need to change the selection in TrainerRoad. Screen_Shot_2021-03-23_at_11.03.35_AM.png Note: If you don't see your trainer listed, check out this article: My Non-Smart Trainer Is Not Listed — Can I Still Use TrainerRoad? How to set up VirtualPower (Mobile) Step 1: Enter the Devices section of the app, and select Turn On next to VirtualPower. VP_RN1.PNG Step 2: Select your trainer's manufacturer VP_RN2.PNG Step 3: Tap on 'Model' and find your trainer from the list. VP_RN3.PNG Step 4: Select the correct resistance level (if applicable) Note: Make sure your trainer's resistance setting is set to the same level as your VirtualPower selection. If you change the setting, you'll need to change the selection in TrainerRoad. VP_RN4.PNG What should I do if my trainer isn't listed? If you don't see your trainer listed, check out this article on what to do if your non-smart trainer isn't listed. We have power curves for most trainers in production today, and we try very hard to add new ones that appear on the market — however, we may not have power curves for some trainers. If you have a trainer that isn't listed, you're welcome to contact us at [email protected] or select a similar trainer with a compatible power curve; check out this article for more information on how to do that. Good Practices Since VirtualPower uses the speed-to-power ratios of trainers to convert your speed readings to power readings. You can do a couple of things to make sure that your VirtualPower readings are as consistent as possible. Trainer Pressure Rolling resistance (with regards to TrainerRoad) is defined as the amount of pressure on your tire from the trainer's roller. This is an important variable to keep consistent between rides as your VirtualPower readings will be more reliable and comparable as a result. Try to keep the same amount of rolling resistance on the tire each time you ride. Tire Pressure Tire pressure can also affect rolling resistance. Make sure you pump your tires up to the same amount of pressure for each workout. Trainers Affected by Heat As some trainers need a warm-up, you might see changes in their resistance levels. We suggest you take this into account and warm up your trainer before you do any big intervals. Since most of our workouts have 10-15 minute warm-ups, this isn't as big of a problem. Note: some trainers keep changing resistance EVEN after the warm-up period. These trainers won't work as well with VirtualPower as some of our other trainers. Check out our recommended trainers! VirtualPower Watts vs. Power Meter Watts The difference between actual watts and VirtualPower watts could range from just a few or up to 30 or so. It all depends on your rolling resistance, tire pressure, and how tight your rear wheel is. The good thing is that if you keep your variables consistent, your VirtualPower watts can be the same between workouts. This means if you see an increase in watts, you know that you're getting stronger. You shouldn't feel too bad if your watts are really low, and you shouldn't enter the Tour if your watts are really high. If you're using VirtualPower, just use your numbers to compare to yourself.

Trainers With Multiple Settings

How do I set up VirtualPower if my trainer has more than one setting? Magnetic and fluid trainers have variable resistance settings, and each of these settings have their own power curve (speed-to-power ratio). For more information on how these readings are derived, learn how VirtualPower works. This graph displays each power curve for every resistance level on a single trainer. The X-axis represents speed while the Y-axis represents power measured in watts. Since each resistance setting on your trainer has its own power curve, you'll need to choose which level you're training with. How to Select a Resistance Setting Desktop Step 1: Pair your speed/cadence sensor in the Device section of the app Step 2: Select Turn On next to VirtualPower, then select the Enable VirtualPower toggle Step 3: Select the make and model for your trainer Step 4: Choose a Resistance setting (if any) from the drop-down menu Note: Make sure the resistance setting you have on your trainer matches the selection within TrainerRoad's VirtualPower settings. If you change the setting, you'll need to change the selection in TrainerRoad. Screen_Shot_2021-03-23_at_11.03.35_AM.png Mobile Step 1: Pair your speed/cadence sensor in the Device section of the app Step 2: Select Turn On next to VirtualPower, then select the Enable VirtualPower toggle Step 3: Select the make and model for your trainer Step 4: Choose a Resistance setting (if any) from the drop-down menu Note: Make sure the resistance setting you have on your trainer matches the selection within TrainerRoad's VirtualPower settings. If you change the setting, you'll need to change the selection in TrainerRoad. VP_RN4.PNG Before Settling on a Setting It's recommended that you do a couple of short test rides to familiarize yourself with the settings and which seems to work best for you if you're not familiar with your trainer and your favored resistance setting. Ideally, you'll find a setting that allows you to shift into an easy enough gear to adequately recover but also allows you to shift into a gear that provides enough resistance for hard efforts. Generally, the mid to high resistance settings work best, as lower resistance settings tend to top out at less than 200 watts. Once you've selected an acceptable resistance setting, you'll want to establish your fitness level in relation to that resistance setting. We recommend that your next step be an FTP test. Thereafter, we strongly recommend that you continue to use the same resistance setting. As mentioned above, different resistance settings have different power curves. In other words, your FTP on one resistance setting may not be the same on another — even though each setting is for the same trainer. If you eventually decide that you'd like to use a different resistance setting, we recommend that you do a new FTP test.

VirtualPower vs. Power Meters

Looking for more information on what differentiates power and VirtualPower-based workouts? You're in the right place. VirtualPower Defined VirtualPower turns your indoor non-smart trainer into a power meter. Just hook up an ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart speed sensor and select your trainer in the VirtualPower settings. When you start to ride, your speed will be converted to power based on the known power curve for the trainer. How VirtualPower Works As your wheel speed increases, so does your power. Each trainer has a unique speed-to-power ratio, otherwise known as a resistance curve. This allows us to plug in your current speed and display watts. We've built this into our software, so it happens on the fly and is seamless to you. Training with Power Training with power means using a device that directly measures power, such as a power meter (e.g., PowerTap, SRM, Quarq) or a smart trainer (e.g., KICKR, Computrainer, Powerbeam Pro). VirtualPower vs. Power - Which is the right choice for me? The main factor to consider when choosing between power and VirtualPower is cost. Power meters and smart trainers are, simply put, expensive! If you're not ready to shell out USD$600-3,000, you'll want to use VirtualPower. Power meters are great to race and train with, but if you're not quite ready to make the leap or just want to get a feel for training with power, VirtualPower is a great option. We think VirtualPower is a much better way to train than by heart rate or RPE. Heart Rate based training often "lags" behind actual efforts since the heart needs time to respond, usually 90 - 120 seconds, but when it comes down to it, a power meter will still be more accurate than VirtualPower. Is my trainer compatible? If you're a cyclist planning on using VirtualPower, a power meter, or a smart trainer, check with our list of supported devices and trainers.