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Today, TrainerRoad announced sweeping changes to the platform, which they dubbed Adaptive Training. This means that they start using machine learning algorithms to modify workouts based on your progress towards a given goal. A workout is scored as you complete it, and then the rest of your scheduled workouts change accordingly to adapt accordingly. However, although it was announced today, it will not happen on most people’s desktops for some time.
What’s on your desktop so far is their new TrainNow feature, which will give you unique workout recommendations in three workout categories, based on your past workout history, as well as the ability to choose how long to train for. training. TrainNow uses the machine learning foundations of adaptive training to generate these training recommendations. So, in fact, this is your first window into the bigger changes to TrainerRoad.
While this may sound basic, the reality is that with far fewer people with a set goal to train or run in 2020/2021, doing ad hoc workouts has become increasingly common for otherwise very high athletes. structured. This feature is intended entirely for those who use TrainerRoad but without a specific TrainerRoad plan, which TrainerRoad says there are more users than you might think (however, it works if you have a loaded plan and prefer to just ignore the plan. ).
The main point is that many of us want to do structured workout, but frankly can’t decide which one to choose. Whether on TrainerRoad, Zwift, Xert or others – you are often presented with hundreds or thousands of choices without any real advice, or even basic suggestions. In fact, I’d say that’s why platforms like Peloton have worked so well: They give you these suggested workouts, removing all the indecision blockers.
So let’s get right to the point.
How it works:
To get started, you’ll first update your TrainerRoad app, then once that’s done click on “ Workouts ” on the left side, then on the “ TrainNow ” tab at the top:
Then you can choose a specific duration for the workout, from 30 minutes to 120 minutes. These of course correspond to the specific durations of the TrainerRoad library.
In my case for today I will choose the 45min option and then you will notice how below it changes the workout options to different ones. As usual, the thin line in the middle of the workout is your FTP level, so you can quickly gauge how much suction this workout will result. Or, those who are more scientific can just look at the TSS & IF (Training Stress Score & Intensity Factor) scores listed alongside.
You don’t like the look of the options presented? Isn’t that your favorite blue style? Don’t like the name of the workout? No problem, hit the “Refresh” button to clear these options and be presented with three new ones. It’s like pulling the arm of the slot machine, appropriate for a business based in Reno, Nevada.
In the end, I hit refresh a few more times, until I got “Goddard –4”, which I found interesting. Note: You will notice that the intensity and TSS scores for all of these workouts in each category are almost identical. It is not by accident. And that’s not something for today’s post either.
Once you’ve decided on a workout, you can tap it to open it. You’ll get a preview with a bit more descriptive detail, as usual:
And from there you will go ahead and pair all the training devices and do the training normally.
And then just suffer and do the training as usual. There is no difference at this point – it’s like doing your regular TrainerRoad workouts.
And then you will get the summary information, along with the results in the app and online for analysis (and also, as usual, synced with other training platforms like TrainingPeaks and Strava):
See… easy peasy!
Wrap:
It’s a smart move for TrainerRoad, and I had long hoped to see. Like I said earlier, the idea of ad hoc workouts isn’t much different from what Peloton does, or even Zwift. For example, on Zwift, when I open the companion app, I’m shown all of the upcoming group rides that are about to begin. When I decide on Zwift, 95% of the time, I will choose one of these workouts within an hour, based entirely on this little section.
However, Zwift doesn’t have the same concept for structured workouts. I mean, sure, if any of those group rides happen to be a group workout – then yes. But there is currently no recommendation engine in Zwift’s ever-growing library of structured workouts. And that ignores the fact that it’s a nightmare to find anything in the Windows 95-style nested folder schema which is the UI for drives. There might be a lot of gold out there, but I give up and go for Jon’s Mix’s short or long form half the time – because I could at least find it in the files quickly.
But what’s probably more interesting about the TrainerRoad side is actually the otherwise harmless text just above the TrainNow workouts, which reads, “Allow us to suggest other options, depending on your history. ‘recent training. “
This is remarkable, because so far TrainerRoad has not actually taken any historical data except RAMP / FTP testing details, and has done nothing with it that is recommendation or evolutionary in nature. . So this single line essentially refers to the broader platform changes driven by the machine learning of adaptive training. But that’s a different thing or two for another day.
With that – thanks for reading!
[Can’t decide on a trainer app to use? Ask no more, and hit up this massively long and detailed cycling trainer apps guide.]
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