PerfPRO Studio in Workout and Course Mode.
Workout Modes
Below are the various workout modes PerfPRO Studio allows. For all modes, a performance data file is saved for each rider and loaded into PerfPRO Analyzer:
Just Ride - Manual Mode (no files loaded):
This is the most basic of the modes and allows you to bounce between power and course mode without a course or workout file loaded. You can switch back-and-forth anytime during your ride without interruption. In
power mode you can set the slider on the main timer to run at a percentage of your FTP. Switching over to course mode the slider adjusts the grade. In either mode, using the
plus/minus (+/-) keys on the
PerfPRO Remote Control or a CompuTrainer
Handlebar Controller adjusts the slider.
Workout Mode (workout file loaded, no course file loaded):
This mode is also called Power or ERG mode and is usually FTP percentage based with a workout file loaded from the Workout database. Pure wattage or gradient workout types may be used as well. The
smart trainer sets the load resistance to the watts the athlete is supposed to ride. Riders then have to match the load. This is the preferred method of riding a wattage/percentage based workout
and will arguably give the athletes the best quality training. When analyzing the performance files within PerfPRO Analyzer you will see very small deviations from the watts an athlete was supposed to hold
compared to what they actually held. It's hard to beat that kind of quality training.
Course Mode (course file loaded, no workout file loaded):
With only a course file loaded riders simply ride the gradients of the road. There is no workout interaction. The riders' names are displayed on the course profile to show where
they are at as well as what position they are in, which can be handy if racing. Start/Stop distances can be adjusted as well as the number of laps. You can ride multiple laps for any course file.
Workout Only Mode with Course Mode option selected:
With an FTP or ERG workout loaded by itself you may also enable the option to ride at a steady grade in
course mode. This allows you to do the same workout in course mode without having to load a course. This at times is the
preferred way of riding so the athletes have to hold their own power like they would outdoors, but you don't want to change
the terrain or see the progress within a course. When this option is enabled you are also able to change the grade % for everyone
or each athlete can using the PerfPRO Remote App.
Workout and Course Mode (both workout and course files loaded):
With both workout and course files loaded athletes ride the gradients on the road, but also get workout interaction. Each rider’s display shows the LOAD they are supposed to be riding, but
the trainer does not add the load resistance. It only changes resistanced based on the course's current grade. So this would be similar to power training outside on the road. This can be a realistic workout, but can also be challenging to match the
watts you are supposed to be riding, especially when going downhill. When analyzed in PerfPRO Analyzer you will see much greater deviations from the watts athletes held compared to what they were
supposed to hold opposed to a Workout Only mode workout.
Using a past performance file as a power workout.
Course-to-FTP Mode (performance file containing power/wattage data loaded):
When riding someone’s past performance file, you can do one of two things:
-
Ride the past performance as a power workout (arguably the coolest of the two). In this case, you provide the FTP of the rider whom did the past performance at that time. All
of the wattage values within the performance file are converted to percentages of their FTP. So then each athlete rides the same effort based on their own FTP. Make sense? The goal is
everyone feels the same effort as the originator based on their own abilities. No course can be loaded when riding in this mode, it is a pure power workout. Also, there is an option to
smooth out the wattage spikes so your trainers are not constantly changing loads if the performance file was all over the place in wattages.
- Ride the course gradients that are associated with the performance file. In this case a Pacer is added (optional). The pacer’s data matches the past performance so they are then treated like a virtual rider. A workout file can
also be loaded when choosing this method, which is nearly identical to the Workout and Course Mode with the addition of a Pacer.
- Another cool feature is you may associate a video with these types of workouts and ride the course virtually. So if you
want to ride a course with your helmet cam and a Garmin you can create your own virtual course. Just load up the Garmin performance file from the Workout Database then associate the video with the workout. You're good to go!
Final note on courses and performances:
Most file types such as Garmin, PowerTap, SRM are fully compatible with PerfPRO Studio. So if you want to bring in your own performance file on a thumb drive it’s very easy to import into your library and use.
No additional conversions are necessary with PerfPRO Studio!