How to Compare the Time Trial

Compare the Time Trials is designed to enable athletes and teams to analyze and compare performance metrics across time trials or any cycling activities. This tool is ideal for visualizing key data points like speed, power and cadence at matched GPS locations along a course.

How it works

• File Selection: Users select multiple .fit files of the same route.
• Main File Determination: The tool selects the longest ride as the "Main" file for comparison.
• Data Alignment: Metrics from other files are aligned against the Main file using GPS coordinates, ensuring a seamless comparison across different participants.
• Visualization: The tool generates charts displaying each rider's metrics at corresponding locations on the course, with the X-axis representing time for the Main file and matched GPS locations for the others.

Enough already, I'm ready to Compare my rides

Features

• Compare performances from time trials, road races, or even casual rides with friends.
• Visualise where time was lost and gained.
• Analyze specific aspects of racing, such as effort during breakaways and cornering speed.
• Explore data across different sports, runs, rowing, Moto GP, Formula 1... provided you have .fit files for the activities.

Usage Tips

• If the automatic selection of the Main file isn't optimal, you can manually select a different file for comparison.
• For activities with varying start and end points, zoom in the the section of interest and use the "Trim main at zoom".
• The map feature enhances analysis by highlighting the course location corresponding to the data points on the chart.
• The stats for a given ride only include records that are matched to the Main. They are there as a guide only.

Limitations

Our algorithms use various metrics to match your rides as accurately as possible, but matching GPS points is hard. Here are some of the most troublesome considerations.

• The accuracy of comparisons is dependent on the quality of GPS data and the consistency of fit file fields and formats.
• In areas of poor GPS signal and at slow speeds matching quality can degrade - looking at you Hill Climbers!
• Very short laps (under 1km) with high speeds can lead to unexpected lap matching. If any track riders are having issues, please send your fit files in!

What not to do

This tool is NOT for comparing power meter accuracy. You may be able to see if a power meter is obviously giving very bad data, but you CANNOT infer inaccurate power meter recordings based on another riders power.

There are many reasons why 2 riders weighing "about the same" on a hill riding side by side will have different power numbers. It's interesting to see, for sure, but please don't take this as a comparison.

You can use our main tool to compare your watts if you have dual recorded your power meter.

Start Analysing now