I’ve noticed that the recovery timer pauses when the power output is in the gray part of the arc and resumes when it’s in the blue part. If you’re not careful, you end up with more recovery time than intended. Why does MB work this way?
Would it be possible to add a data field to MB to show the average power output of the set being performed? This would allow for more precise control of the exercise, with power output over 3 seconds and this new field.
The gray band indicates watts well below LTP and the target for recovery watts.
If you drop into that band the timer will slow way down (as though stopped) because you aren’t accumulating XSS in the recovery target zone.
It’s similar to the fact you can’t fill the Low bucket on Endurance days by coasting.
Recovery is actually up to you. You don’t need to match it exactly.
You might, for example, decide to go again before Ready appears and rely on CL movement instead. Or extend how long you stay in Ready state and perform intervals in sets with breaks between sets.
I don’t think XMB on a Garmin has room for an additional power field.
It’s possible on EBC but how would you use it?
Are you concerned about target compliance?
The target wattage is actually a range +/- the value shown. No need to be precise.
On a Garmin as long as the circles intersect at some level, you’re within target range.
If you want to closely adhere to the central target concentrate on keeping the circles aligned (eclipsed). No need to monitor actual watts.
On EBC Android keep the arrow touching some part of the target circle or dead center for closer “compliance” but remember that’s relative.
If you consistently ride below or above the target range, XMB guidelines adjust to help you fill the buckets at an equitable rate.
Indoors in Slope mode you can be more precise about executing XMB guidelines to the letter (if that’s what you like to do) but the point is you don’t have to.
Note: On a Garmin you can change the default power smoothing from 3 seconds under XMB Connect IQ Settings.
@ridgerider2 already made some excellent points, thought I would just add one more thought on.
“recovery” intervals with Magic Buckets serve two purposes:
They literally allow your MPA to recover so that you can continue to do harder efforts. If you keep holding hard efforts, at some point you will need to rest & recover
Since your MPA is likely already pulled down a bit, “recovery” intervals leverage your fatigue and allow you to accrue Low XSS at a faster rate than you could noodling along at endurance/Zone2 pace. This makes high intensity trainings really time-efficient.
The timer for Recovery Intervals is based on the Low XSS accumulated during the interval. We designed the feature such that if you ride perfectly at the recovery target power for exactly the recovery duration, XMB will reset to the next lowest whole challenge level (e.g. if you’re at 5.3, you’ll recover down to CL 4, or if you’re at CL 7.8, you’ll recovery to CL 6, etc.)
If you noodle during the recovery interval, you’ll accumulate Low XSS more slowly than we projected and your MPA will recover more than expected, so your challenge level might drop more. Conversely, if you ride just under threshold for a recovery interval, you’ll accumulate XSS very quickly & the timer will decrease rapidly, but your Challenge Level won’t drop as quickly.
You can use this info to manipulate your workout - keep your recoveries harder early in an interval “set” to help you quickly reach higher challenge levels & noodle during your recoveries if you’re feeling fatigued and you’d like to move to a lower Challenge Level during your ride/workout.
I had the impression that the recovery counter was completely stuck. That said, I’m doing my best to complete the sessions with MB, and I love its approach, which I sometimes combine with structured training to diversify my road and gravel riding.
I also have another question here regarding doing Xert structured workouts on Garmin.
