Time Planner

Overview

This dialog can be found in ‘Menu-Project-Time Planner’. Its main purpose is to estimate the course timing during sports activities. Based on a given speed a forecast of splits and finish time can be computed. It is possible to consider the course gradient what in turn can have a significant impact on the estimated time, especially for running courses. Beyond that, periodic rests can be calculated as well as rests at points of interest.

CAUTION: Some features are highly experimental, especially the bike calculations with course gradient need to be used with special care.

Start Time of Day

Insert the wanted start time in hh:mm:ss format or as complete date using yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss format. If this field is empty the wizards takes a default time.

Average Speed

Insert the speed (or pace) you can maintain on a flat course. Use the combobox next to the field in order to choose the wanted unit.

Tip: For all pace units (seconds per …) the value can be specified in format: HH:MM:SS (hour:minute:second).

00:04:45 s/km means 4 minutes and 45 seconds per kilometer.
00:06:10 s/mi means 6 minutes and 10 seconds per mile.

This field must not be empty.

Consider Course Gradient

If this option is enabled the wizards takes the course elevation profile into account and adjusts the resulting speed. Ascents lead to speed loss whereas descents cause a performance gain within certain limits. In case the elevation profile is incomplete (if not all points have an elevation) the planner tries to obtain the elevation data from an offline elevation data source. The elevation setting can be found in ‘Menu-Options-Preferences-Elevation’. (see also Elevation Tutorial)

Running (experimental but reasonable)

This type of calculation is straight forward. Insert the pace you can maintain on a flat course in ‘Average Speed’ and go on. Based on this value and the actual gradient the algorithm calculates the uphill and downhill performance.

Cycling (experimental)

Based on the value in ‘Average Speed’ the algorithm calculates the power (Watt) the rider can maintain during a flat course with the given bike type. So insert the maximum speed you be sure you can hold on a flat course. That power value will be taken as basis for a speed calculation uphill and downhill. The physics behind considers more values, like the elevation, the gradient, type of bike etc. The algorithm assumes that you pedal with a constant power uphill and downhill. It further assumes that you be an average descender.

Info

For cycling this field shows the required average power needed to maintain the average speed on a flat course without considering the influence of wind nor drafting.

Periodic Rest

It can make sense to foresee recurring pauses during long exercises, like for drinking or nutrition. The pause time specifies the duration of each of the periodic pauses. The pause can be based on the covered distance or the elapsed time. After each pause the distance or time counter restarts until the distance or time for the pause expires again.

Rest at Points of Interest

Stops at aid stations or control points during organized races can be considered with this field. The planned pause time specifies the length of each stop. To select which of the waypoints within the project will be considered as control point specify the proximity distance. In order to avoid permanent stops on circular courses the minimum time between stops can be specified.

Tip: Periodic rest and rest at points of interest do not interfere each other. So if a point of interest immediately follows a periodic rest this planner would add another stop.

Further Options

Add summary to comments

If this option is checked a short summary of the time planner settings will be added to the course. It helps to remember the planning details, e.g. for a later refinement.

Export as course on ‘OK’

If this options is checked the Course Wizard will be invoked after the timing calculation is complete. Using the Course Wizard the current course can be exported to the device.

Default-Button

This button causes default values to be set for most of the fields.

OK-Button

This button starts the calculation after a sanity check of all fields.