The most frequent question.
How can I change gear via keyboard during indoor training?
Answer:
Versions 3.0.527 and higher support gear changing via keyboards + and - . You can use ENTER for changing of mode view between Google and VIDEO.
I saw the Real Life Videos are supported by the UniVET. I just download a demo, a short video in .rlv format but I can't manage to use it.
Answer:
You can choose Real Life Video for training in profile training wizard in step, where you should select the route. You can choose from local virtual routes(top part of screen) or you can select some RLV route (bottom part of screen). RLV routes have limitation:
- You cannot ride in RACE mode
- You cannot share route and rate the route with other users
- Only some TACX Real Life Video routes are supported. The list of verified routes you can find http://univetsystem.com/en/virtual-routes/ . All RLV routes from www.reallifevideo.de are compatible.
Is it possible to use just those routes which are downloaded from internet to local disc? Or can I train also on my own routes (made by me) not uploaded to internet?
Answer:
You can use both. Naturally we prefer sharing routes with other users. But if you really want to have a route just for yourself you don’t have to upload it to internet. But it has disadvantages. No records, passes, splits and other information can be registered from that route. And online race on this route is also impossible.
Most of videoroutes doesn’t have splits. If I want to add a split to the route do I have to upload the route as a new route afterwards? If anyone changes the route by adding a split, will be the existing records deleted?
Answer:
A route can be continously updated. But it can do only its author or someone who knows user password of the author. After modifications save changes and press „Upload to internet“. The route will be updated and number of its version will increase.
If you are just adding splits, interesting places, changing route name and so on, the history of splits, records and other recordings remains preserved. But if you are modifying route profile (route geometry) the existing records will be deleted and won’t be displayed any more. Records of the previous route are connected with different profile and would be misleading.
When are the splits displayed? When I finish the ride can I find split times anywhere?
Answer:
Splits are displayed in the application and also online on internet during your ride. But only on condition that you are training in the RACE mode and that the route contains some splits. Your results including splits are uploaded to VirtualTraining portal immediately after finishing your race. Result list including splits can be found on the portal in detail of particular virtual route.
Can the XML workout data which is saved for each workout be exported or saved to another format such as Garmin or Training Peaks?
Answer:
Currently we are working on a complex synchronization with MapMyRide.com internet portal.We will gradually add also possibility of download of training recordings in TCX format (Garmin file).
Conversion from kJ to cal is approximately 4,18. It means that if I would burn 1388kJ it should be just 332cal not 713cal as stated by you. Where is the mistake?
Answer:
It is hardly feasible to derive amount of burned calories from mechanical work. And this is the basic mistake of mentioned reflection. It would be possible only if a human body spent exactly as much energy as it would be mechanically necessary to cover the distance in certain conditions. But this is definitely not the real situation. Human body burns much more energy, the efficiency is far from 100%. It depends on heart rate zones, training, gender and so on, it means that it is absolutely individual. There is a lot of algorithms for deriving these units. We are using an algorithm which takes into consideration the biggest amount of information and parameters we have.
I have uploaded route from GPS device and made the virtual route, entered gear and circumference of my bike and I it seems to me that the load calculation model is not correct. When I compare ride on ergometer with my experience from the real ride it seems to me that the setted power is disproportionately high in relation to the slope.
Answer:
Generally, the load in UniVET 3 corresponds with calculations of www.bikecalculator.com modul and CycleOps http://www.cycleops.com/en/training/tools/calculators/watts.html . According to our tests, we have regulated invariables of the environment and the final load is more likely lower. For example: final load for training with the slope 1.8%, speed cca 21kmph, weight 80 kg, height 190 cm and weight of the bike 12 kg is:
UniVET 3 - 157 W
Bike calculator - 176 W
CycleOps calculator - 171 W
Alternatively, you can regulate the load by changing gear on ergometer (buttons + and -) or by lowering your weight in settings. But the load won’t correspond to reality after these steps.
Please, check also if the route has been marked as ‘Optimized for ergometer’.
I have Kettler X3 ergometer. Can I use USB ANT+ Stick to interconnect the device with computer? And if not, what cable shall I use in the new program version and how is designed gear changing?
Answer:
KETTLER ergometers don’t support ANT+ technology. It means that USB ANT+ Stick can’t be used in this case. You will need serial cable in the older X3 version or just USB cable of A-B type in the newer version. And alternatively also USB-COM reduction can be necessary if you don’t have COM port (RS232) in your computer.
How can I delete my result from route passes or records?
Answer:
You can delete your pass or record in virtual route detail after you log into VirtualTraining portal. Alternatively you can manage it in your personal profile (section personal routes) in „last route passes“ list.
I noticed that there are only 21 gears though it seems to be a triple gear change (30/39/53), which should provide 30 gears. In the following I tested the video track Stilserjoch, which I have tried out with my racing bike on the real track with compact 50/34 and 11/28. In reality I needed less strength to get uphill than with the software. Also in first gear there are actually always more than 200 Watt necessary. Therefore my question: is there anything that can be adjusted in order to get a smaller gear ratio to make a lower gear available?
Answer:
You can change the gears directly in desktop app. Select your user profile in user list and choose the button EDIT (left menu of selected user) or you can go to websites http://beta.virtualtraining.eu into your personal account.
The system of gears is little different against of real bike. Problem is you have only buttons plus and minus on ergometer‘s electronic panel. Therefore the gears are sorted by ratio of front crank and rear. Some combinations of gears on real bike are duplicated (it means they have the same ratio), therefore we use less gears than in real bike… You can add more gears if you want…
The power model – we use as much accuracy model as is possible. But you should compare real workout and indoor workout as complete training instead of to compare first 2 minutes only (for example). We have to calculate with some hardware limitations of ergometers therefore for example speed and power is increasing gradually and not immediately when you will speed up… that is because the ergometer doesn’t set the power so fast like in real… Of course, probably we can’t be accuracy 100% but we have comparison of some workouts recorded by PowerTap and the workouts of indoor training on the same route and it’s very similar…
Other factor could be the quality of virtual route. Maybe the slope is different than in real…that is responsibility of author, therefore users can rate routes after finish of training and you will be able to find some virtual route by good rating...
Last thing, you should check your weight in user account settings. The calculated power depends on your weight and height of course too.
Can I film my favorite route on the video then start this route in the program?
Answer:
Sure. Make a video record and save it. Within the route editor directly in the program you can create a virtual route and join the video record of the route. Complete help on how to create virtual routes can be found in the online manual and videotutorials.
In which languages is the software currently available?
Answer:
You can work with software in English, German, Czech.
Can I use my own bicycle in combination with a cycling simulator with the UniVET system?
Answer:
Essentially, you can use devices for which the power can be set remotely. Currently we support Kettler, Daum, CycleOps, Cyclus2 brands. An actual list of supported devices, including devices for data import into training devices, can be found here.
What is the difference between Box Distribution of the program and Electronic Distribution?
Answer:
The program may be obtained via electronic distribution or via Box distribution. The Box Distribution offers –the full package with 3 DVDs, connecting cable, and printed user manual. Electronic Distribution, by contrast, offers just the license number, which is sent via email. Installation and virtual tracks are downloaded from the internet
Why are the values on the ergometer display and on the UniVET screen different during training?
Answer:
With certain devices (KETTLER and DAUM), the UniVET system is unable to adjust to all preferred values . The program can adjust for power, but all other values are calculated by the ergometer independently using a different mathematical model. Therefore, we recommend following values from UniVET only.