A few months ago Xert dropped my TP about 40 watts completely out of the blue as far as I can tell. Same power meter on the same bike. I wasn’t really training for anything so I just ignored it figuring it was some sort of glitch that would work itself out in time.
Today I get this for training advice:
OK, so apparently I had to click on Adapt Forecast. It seems I have to do this almost every time I look at Xert. Now I have to go back to figure out what changed and what I have to do to make Xert a useful tool again. I don’t understand the point of having to click on Adapt Forecast but I think this entire line of training advice is not for me. It is starting to require way too much “inside” knowledge to efficiently use…
I just want to add target events/goals to a calendar and get training advice on how to best achieve them with a glance (as in automatically, not by having to click on all sorts of obfuscated buttons scattered all over the web pages of Xertdumb). Somewhat kidding but you have to wonder when all this “pleasing everyone” with every option and contortion has gone too far.
KISSes? It’s often the case that the simplest solution is best and there are LOTS of people that feel the same way judging by many forum threads along the same lines…
PS. Still not idea why my TP has so suddenly dropped off but it has done so according to other platforms as well so it may be real, or at least a product of the power data.
Xert is not for everyone. The learning curve is steep, the documentation is scattered all around and the fundamental concept is somewhat different from the traditional way of training. But once you get a grasp on the fundamentals Xert is a powerful tool.
Adapt Forecast needs to be run if there has been some changes to your availability or you have trained more/harder than the plan originally calculated. In these cases there will be a red dot showing on the Adapt Forecast button. When you click the button Xert will recalculate the training plan to meet your set goal. You can then look at the new training plan and either accept it or discard it. It won’t overwrite your existing plan until you click save.
When the red dot appears you can look at the Forecast Chart under the Training tab and see why Xert wants you to re-adapt the forecast. Hover over the magenta matchsticks to see an explanation. Often the reason is that you have done to much work the previous week(s) and your training status is in the red on a high intensity day. Xert will only schedule a high intensity day when your training status is blue.
As for the sudden drop in TP it’s hard to say without more context. Have a look at the Fitness Signature chart under the Progression tab with Threshold Power and Breakthroughs highlighted to see if it may be a “fakethrough” that brought your TP down. You can click the breakthrough circle to go directly to the activity in question. If this wasn’t an all out effort and you disagree with the drop in TP you can flag the activity and Xert won’t recalculate the signature based on this activity.
Thanks for the reply. Some of it was helpful. I think what’s confusing is that clicking on Adapt Forecast possibly resulting in a change of Training Plan. To me, the term “forecast” would encompass the expected state of my fitness at the end of the training plan and should just always reflect that without having to click on anything. If clicking “Adapt Forecast” could adjust my Training Plan, it should say “Adapt Training Plan” but that is also confusing because that’s supposed to be continually “adapting” anyway, within the parameters I’ve set (availability/hours, rate, recovery needs, etc.).
Also, I haven’t been able to figure out why Xert wants to adapt the forecast. I saw no explanation anywhere other than “my availability has changed” or something to that effect, which makes no sense to me. Of course the time I ride will NEVER match what I plan very well, especially when training outdoors on a mountain bike. I expect Xert to just monitor and adjust the workout recommendations to take care of that.
I’ve never understood the “fakethrough” thing completely. I don’t think it’s that. I now think the sudden drop in fitness was real from damage done by COVID back in July. Just not bouncing back from that adaptive scourge like previous times. My LT and max HR have dropped over 20 bpm!
