ERG mode on a trainer: how it works and why pedalling gets harder

What changes when the cadence decreases

The power depends on the moment of force and the speed of rotation. To keep one target at a slower rotation, the resistance has to be increased. Therefore, trying to rest, turning the pedals slower and slower, can give the opposite feeling: each turn becomes harder.

A steady drop in cadence when the target is too high can lead to a state where it is already difficult to turn the pedals. This is not necessarily a breakdown. Wahoo describes such a situation and advises to stop pedaling, let the resistance decrease and reconsider too high intensity. Resume work according to the capabilities of your machine and application; do not try to beat the task with a jerk with your whole body.

ERG, resistance and virtual relief

ERG, or target power

You choose watts or a structured task, the equipment adjusts the resistance.

Resistance or level mode

You set the load level, then change the actual power by cadence and transmission.

Route simulation

The feeling of load is associated with virtual conditions. The purpose and set of parameters depend on the service.

The names of the modes are different. Wahoo separates target power, resistance and simulation. The presence of watts on the screen does not prove that it is the ERG that is active: the application can only receive data.

How to pass the interval change

Before the transition, look at the next target and keep pedaling even. The machine has a reaction time: you don't need to accelerate and switch every second, trying to manually catch up with the figure. Otherwise, both your speed and the controller command change at once, and the feeling of the load becomes incomprehensible.

Select the gear on which the machine is able to work out both the light and heavy parts of the task. There is no universal star for all devices: there are operating limits on power and speed. If the recovery interval remains too heavy, check the equipment range and manufacturer's recommendations. One-time correction of the transmission for this reason is different from constant switching for the sake of each new goal.

When should I choose a different mode

Very short accelerations can end before the equipment has stably worked out a new target. In tests and exercises where you need to choose the power yourself, a fixed ERG can also interfere with the task. Be guided by the test protocol or the coach's instructions, and not by the habit of always keeping one tick on.

If the goal is to get to know the machine, select a short familiar task without extreme effort and first check the controls. It is better not to master new equipment, a new test and an unfamiliar mode at the same time. Separately, study where the pause, decrease in intensity and completion of the lesson are located.

Is the task difficult or the machine is not obeying

1. Match the given watts with the FTP and interval percentage.
2. Make sure that the control connection is selected, and not just the power source.
3. Close other applications and devices that can control the same machine.
4. Check the reaction to a small change in goal in a quiet test session.
5. If the problem persists, re-check in the native hardware application according to its instructions.

Wahoo Diagnostic Memo separately considers the control connection and competing connections. For the FATRACING browser, use our analysis of Bluetooth. Take the calibration settings for your model: not all machines need the same procedure.

What to watch in the recording after training

Compare the target and the actual power at the interval, cadence and time of transitions. The smoothed line on the screen may look smoother than the original data. The virtual speed in ERG is also not equal to the speed of the trip on the road: it may depend on the application model or the revolutions of the flywheel.

A useful record of the problem sounds concrete: "the target has changed, the watts have remained the same, the cadence was stable" or "the resistance grew along with the drop in rpm." These are different cases. Save the FIT and description of the settings before reinstalling everything. For the next lesson, check FTP and the task itself.