Garmin Load Focus Decoded: Mastering Your 28-Day Metabolic Shadow

A cumulative stacked bar chart showing 42 days of training load volume (EPOC), categorized by Low Aerobic, High Aerobic, and Anaerobic debt layers.

The Rolling Debt of Fitness: How I Use Garmin’s “Load Focus” to Build Better Athletes As a cycling coach with over 20 years of training history, I’ve seen every metric come and go. I used to believe “Power is King,” but my coaching philosophy has evolved into something far more precise: Physiology is King. Your […]

Decoding the Flux: How the Reverse Fibonacci Protocol Re-Maps Your Threshold

Stacked line graphs showing physiological data from a Reverse Fibonacci cycling workout, including power output, heart rate, SmO2 desaturation, and VO2 plateaus across 8, 5, 3, 2, and 1-minute intervals.

    Beyond the Score The Garmin Guru Series | Decoding the Fast-Adapter | By OnlineBikeCoach.com Programming Reverse Fibonacci intervals is the ultimate way to shatter the lie of the “Static Zone” in high-performance cycling. We move past the idea that a single FTP test or a heart rate formula from a 1980s textbook is […]

Garmin Stamina VO2 Threshold: Mapping the Fatigue Trigger

A multi-metric physiological graph showing the decline of Garmin Stamina during 2x14 minute 22/8 cycling intervals alongside SmO2, DFAA-1, and VO2 data.

Garmin Stamina VO2 Threshold: Mapping the Fatigue Trigger In my ongoing pursuit of the “Physiology First” training approach at Onlinebikecoach.com, I have used the Garmin Stamina VO2 Threshold to map exactly where my internal stability ends and metabolic exhaustion begins. To build a more resilient aerobic engine, I need to know my limits. With my […]

Physiology First: Navigating a “Red Light” Morning with AlphaHRV

Screenshot of a Garmin HRV Stress test showing a high stress score of 75.

    Physiology First: My Red Light Recovery Ride This morning was a masterclass in why I apply a Physiology First framework to every session, looking at the internal engine before I look at the wattage. Between a late meal and the devastating news about my friend Murray being struck by a motorist—suffering a serious […]

My Morning Ritual: The 3-Minute Test That Dictates My Entire Training Day

Garmin Connect Sleep Stress timeline showing high stress spikes during the first half of the night and subsequent recovery.

After over 20 years of chasing wattage and focusing on what my power meter says I can do, I’ve realized the real secret to long-term gains is knowing when to pull back. It’s about listening to the engine. Today, I’m breaking down one of the most underutilized tools in the Garmin ecosystem: the HRV Stress […]

Decoding the Hard-Start: How Ronnestad Intervals Impact Garmin Stamina & Training Effect

A dual-axis line graph showing a tight-scale view of Stamina (%) and Heart Rate (bpm) during three 10-minute intervals.

The “Hard-Start” Evolution: Pushing the Limits of the Rønnestad Protocol Testing the Ronnestad Hard-Start Intervals protocol this week provided a fascinating look at oxygen kinetics and internal load. Before this session, I attempted to link my VO2 Master to the phone for a full metabolic calibration. Despite several attempts, the mask simply wouldn’t handshake. Rather […]