Software analyzing ride stats

[dockay]

I have a edge 500 which is sweet. The computer does not have max grade % ascent, max grade % descent or average grade percentage for the ride.

The edge enables me to export a file that maps the ride. Does anyone know of software or websites that can read .tcx (or other related file types) and provide the max grade percentages for ascent and descent (plus average grade percentage)?

Thanks,

Michael

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[dockay]

Thanks Windermere. I'll give it a try.

[ukbloke]

Try SportTracks. It has a wide range of statistics which it can display. I'm not sure if it can download from the 500 directly yet since the file format changed. I'm also not 100% sure if the max ascent and descent are specifically picked out, but you can always pick them off one of its graphs.

Average grade percentage for a ride is usually not all that meaningful - for example, if you end up returning to the start your net elevation change is zero! You could compute total ascent over total distance, and total descent over total distance, I suppose. SportTracks can also report its stats on a lap by lap basis, and this can be really useful if you want to focus in on specific parts of your ride (e.g. a particular hill climb).

[dockay]

Thanks. I was not sufficiently specific about avg grade. The stat I'm looking for is average ascent grade and average descent grade. That's the helpful for me to gauge effort involved and especially in relation to average mph.

I like your idea about focusing on specific parts of the ride and tracking them via the laps.

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[Dr_John]

I'm not sure if it can download from the 500 directly yet since the file format changed.

It can't.

Also, if you export .tcx from Garmin Connect, it won't import power data. However, exporting from Garmin Training Center will give a .tcx file from which SportsTracks can import power data.

[danl1]

Training Center answers the meaningful questions you ask, and was built for the Garmin.

As noted earlier, average ascent / descent for a ride doesn't have much meaning, and really would always = zero. But you know that, as hinted by your 'in relation to speed' follow up comment. But kick that ball just a little forward - in looking at it in relation to speed, what you are really looking to gauge is VAM - vertical ascent (in meters per hour.)

OK, but TC, Sport Tracks, and ridewithgps don't calculate VAM. That's OK, because as a ride statistic, it's not very meaningful. It arguably only becomes meaningful during an ascent of roughly >7%. For how you seem to be using your stats, total ascent over time might be the closest thing to a useful metric.

One other suggestion: Give Trainingpeaks.com a try. Even the free version dusts the things recommended previously, and the subscription is very useful for those serious about training. A bit spendy for my tastes, but very nice.