Using the XMB Generated Workouts feature to plan your outdoor rides

How To
1

Hey everyone,

If you’re using the Magic Buckets (XMB) feature for outdoor training, one handy trick is to use the XMB Generated Workouts tool (more info here) - not to follow a workout, but to help pre-plan your ride duration, route, and effort level before heading out.

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how I’ve been using this tool to plan some of my training:

:white_check_mark: Step-by-step:

  1. Go to your Fitness Planner on Xert

  2. Open the Magic Buckets tab from the Recommended Training modal:

    image
    image1920×1080 273 KB

  • If you’re using XFAI: Click the ‘Magic Buckets’ button on the forecast placeholder
  • If you’re using XATA: Click the “+” button on a day, then select the ‘Magic Buckets’ tab
  1. From there, you’ll be able to:
    1. Preview your training duration
    2. See the estimated difficulty rating
    3. Adjust the interval duration or max Challenge Level to see how it affects ride time and difficulty

:magnifying_glass_tilted_right: Tip: If you’ve got a large Low XSS target (like on a “Polar” specificity day), lower CL intervals are fine - you’ll accumulate plenty of XSS during the recovery segments.

For Mixed or Pure specificity, you’ll often find that higher CLs are more efficient.

  1. Since I’ll be using the Magic Buckets data field on my Edge 840 (or Xert EBC app on Android/Karoo), I don’t need to save the workout — just previewing is enough!

:light_bulb: Why it’s helpful

You’re not going to perfectly follow this workout. Instead, you’re using it to answer:
“How long should I ride, and how hard should I go?”

Example:

image
image379×512 29.5 KB

If my daily target is 169 | 12.6 | 2.4 XSS, the generated workout might tell me:

So now I know:

  • I should aim to select a 2.25-hour route (~65km/40mi for me)

  • Most of my efforts should be around CL 4–5

  • From there, I can fill my targets using Magic Buckets in real-time (on Android/Karoo or Garmin CIQ)

:compass: Additional tips:

  • You can still ride freely - no need to perfectly follow a fixed interval structure

  • Want to push yourself? Spend more time at higher CLs and shorten the ride (or shoot for CL 10 to trigger a Breakthrough :collision:)

  • Want an easier day? Stay around CL 2–3 and extend your ride a bit

Hope this helps! Let me know if you’ve tried this or want help interpreting your Magic Buckets for a ride you’re planning!

Cheers! :man_biking:
Scott

7 Likes