GOTOES Strava Tools Forum

I have a direct drive trainer, so my Garmin Edge 530 data has my power (from pedals) and heart rate (from strap). My Zwift session has the distance and elevation, as well as the same power and HR info from the pedals and HR strap. If I combine these 2 FIT files and then donate to get the Export To FIT File capability, will the exported file include the necessary data for Garmin to include the "Training Effect" such as VO2max, aerobic, and anaerobic gains?

Here is an excerpt from the FAQs that demonstrates which fields can be included in an activity file exported from GOTOES|Strava Tools:

https://gotoes.org/strava/features.php# ... _FIT_files

You can see that it is possible to include a value for "Training Effect" - both the Aerobic and Anaerobic value.
I don't believe that "VO2 Max" is included in the activity FIT file per se... I haven't seen any value for "VO2 max" in the messages of the SDK. My guess is that Garmin Connect does the calculation based on other values that you upload such as your weight, Training Effect (which as mentioned above, is in the activity files), and maybe the speed at which you complete the activity.

Maybe you can upload an image of which fields you're trying to manipulate within Garmin Connect, and I can check to see if they are influenced by your entries in my tool.

Yeah, I think it's all of those data points that I'm looking for. Look at my samplegarmin.jpg attachment which shows the fields from a different Garmin activity, but shows all the other data points. Compare that to the samplemergedtcx.jpg which not only omits that data, but also shows my cycling at Mach 5.

Is the solution to this for me to donate and unlock the "Export as FIT" feature? I'd just like to be able to see all the usual Garmin data and also have the Zwift map/elevation/distance data...

If you export as FIT, you will get more data exported as shown in the FAQ I sent you above. I looked at the screen shot you sent and I can tell you that there are a few fields that I haven't added to the FIT export yet (keep in mind there are hundreds of fields, and many don't even apply to 99.9% of my users).

Looking at the more complete screen shot you sent, I can tell you this:
1) Fluid Consumed is not in my FIT
2) Because that is missing, Fluid Net can't be estimated.
3) Respiration Rate during activities is not exported by my tool. It may transfer independently if you're using a fitness watch that is recording during your activity (I think Garmin sends that data separately if it is available).
4) Self Evaluation is not exported by my tool.
5) Total Strokes is not exported - so it may not appear. However, maybe Garmin will calculate it from cadence? Not sure.
6) For some reason, Garmin didn't show FTP Setting (even though my tool exports it) last time I checked. Not sure why they rejected that field...

The other fields should transport if you export as FIT.

I'm going on a long bike tour next month, so I probably won't be adding more FIT files until I get back... but I did recently add a checkbox that appears if you try to upload and FIT file. If you check that box, the tool will read in your cycling dynamics (and some of the other fields as discussed in the associated help link adjacent to the checkbox. Note the warning about slowing the tool down - which probably won't apply to workouts, but I do have some people trying to merge their 100 day walk across Africa, which will probably crash the tool)...

When I get back, I'll probably be adding some more FIT data fields.

My tool builds FIT files from scratch (the reason for that is because that way I have "guaranteed" control so that the file is NOT corrupted upon being uploaded to Garmin... I don't modify existing FIT Files because many of my users come to repair corrupted FIT files). Because of that fact (building from scratch), I have to add each field to the code at a time... and some of the fields need different handling than others.

**ABOUT THE MAX SPEED: There are many reasons this can happen, but it is probably caused by these possible reasons:

1) You selected two overlapping position streams. If you do this, the tool will calculate movement between the recording from two different GPS units. If these units are off by a meter or two, it will have you zig-zagging between the two GPS units... in the same second, which would be VERY fast. To overcome this:
a) For concatenating tracks, you will want to use the "Trim" feature so that the two tracks don't overlap anywhere.
b) For interlaced tracks (adding HR to position data, for example), you want to only select ONE position stream.

2) Maybe you selected to have GOTOES calculate distance. If there is a botch in your GPS track, the GOTOES tool will calc your speed as the amount of time it took you to travel that (incorrect) distance. You can use the "Edit Points" feature to delete the spurious point... or you can just use the "Use Existing Embedded Distance" option which will use the Garmin distance.

3) If #1 and #2 above don't solve it, you can elect to "Use Speed" to calculate Distance... The page will reload, but this ought to make the speed in Garmin Connect match the primary file that you're trying to merge.

There can be other reasons for weird speeds when merging files. I can help with this if you don't want to experiment yourself; I'm sure I can fix it, though.

Patreon contribution just made. When I get the donor code, I'll test the FIT merging and let you know how it goes...

I think I'm really close. See the attached images of what shows up now with the merging of the Garmin FIT file and the Zwift FIT file.

I've trimmed a couple of seconds off the beginning/end of the files so they start/stop at the same times. I've selected HR, Cadence, Power, Temperature, and Calories from the Garmin file. I've selected Position, Elevation, Distance, and Ascent from the Zwift file. I've also selected to Remove Duplicates for overlapping data points.

I only rode 11.3 miles. How do I get the output to NOT double the value?

Is there any way to get the Zwift map to display instead of the trans-global map?

I've uploaded the 2 FIT files, too, if there's anything you can tell me how to process them better in the future.

Thanks for including the files. I uploaded them to the tool and made the following selections (obfuscated your serial numbers):


Upon uploading to Garmin Connect, I got this result. Not sure how you managed to get double mileage...?

Brilliant, that's awesome, I just replicated it and I get all the data and the fancy Zwift map. Thanks so much! I'll definitely take note of your edits for how to complete each field. Thanks again!