Feature request: The ability to upload a GPS route for an event (instead of just picking a predefined category like “Mountainous Gran Fondo”), and have Xert calculate the estimated fitness required to complete the route based on user weight, route & altitude data, and desired completion time. Alternately to tell how long it would take to complete the route given the current or desired fitness profile.
It’d be great to have a more accurate training target for an event that doesn’t fit some non-specific archetype like “Mountainous Gran Fondo”. What if the event is 75 miles? 150 miles? 4000ft vs 8000ft of climbing? 2% average slope vs 8%?
I know the result won’t be 100% accurate, but it would be more accurate than an event that falls outside of the limited choices available in the program section.
This seems like an achievable feature with a clearly defined implementation path.
Seems pretty much what you’re looking for, though of course you need power and weight of someone else that’s done it… is that the problem you’re trying to solve?
There are many reasons why you need power and weight for a viable analysis.
Here’s a crapshoot method that may be worth a try –
Assuming others have ridden the same event course in the past you can search for the race results, pick a name, and check to see if they are on Strava.
Look for top competitors who likely have lots of followers and post their rides publicly with power data.
Search the rider’s history by date on Strava to locate the event/activity.
Install Strava Sauce so you can download the FIT file for that activity.
Next follow them and ask how much they weighed at that time.
That’s a workaround, yes… and for weight you can sometimes see people’s weight if they use Zwift and upload screenshots showing both w and w/kg… if you care enough / want to get more accurate you can average across a few of those screenshots…
Agree with the OP that it would be nicer not to have to do those admin steps though… that said, there is a big assumption needed re aerodynamics, regardless of the approach… part of that is about the aerodynamics of your position vs others in general… and for group rides / pack racing it’s even harder due to drafting vs riding solo… I think Xert currently assumes you have the same aerodynamics (and drafting benefit) as the ride you uploaded
Agreed, I would love to see this feature (of uploading the event route, and let Xert calculate targets based on the events duration, elevation, your weight, current fitness etc).
But staying on the same topic - I signed for Xert to train for a ride called “Triple Bypass” in Colorado. The ride is 118 miles with almost 11k feet of climbing → Would “Mountainous Competitive Gran Fondo” be the right program for it?
(Results in:
Focus: Climber - 10 minute power
Specificity: Mixed Some Threshold
XSS: 600
Low: 555
High: 40.8
Peak: 4.5 )
That looks good for your event.
Pay particular attention to the TL and Signature table deltas that indicate where you are now versus predicted changes.
Also view the forecast chart by various key metrics to visualize those changes. Example -
If you don’t see significant deltas in the table and chart views you can modify the program settings to increase what is practical to acheive by your event date.
I’ve never tried it but what happens if you just upload a fit file that is just a gps course (i.e. no ride data - no power, no mph, etc.)?
I did try that. There is no power data for every data point in the file, which ends up getting interpreted by Xert as zero Watts. So the entire route ends up showing zero Watts required to complete.
Yes there will be variables that can’t be 100% accounted for, but that’s the same even with the existing system, including when power data is uploaded. Aerodynamics, wind, weather, rolling resistance, daily caffeine consumption, size and number of water bottles, whatever etc… The analysis will always be an estimate.
In my particular case at the moment, I just want to know how achievable specific events/routes are for me. My next event has a new route every year. I know what the route is, but I’m not local. I have no idea if anyone has ridden the exact route before. And yeah, I’m not keen on doing hours of internet research attempting to find power data from other riders that may or may not exist to use as a baseline. I’m not a racer and am mainly interested in training to complete events solo.
