Originally Posted by
Broctoon
I'm not sure that a Garmin Edge will not estimate V02max without power meter data. But I know that I have no power meter, and it has never shown me V02max estimates from biking. My Garmin watch (talking to the same app that the Edge uses) does in fact give V02max.
Fair enough, you don't know.
Here are some facts, I went from a recumbent with a CdA of around 0.160 m^2 to an upright with CdA of around 0.360 m^2 during which time my VO2 max power increased 46 watts. Logic would say my VO2 max increased during that time. Yet, my Garmin reported a decrease from 73 to 61 ml/kg.
What other explanation is there that firstbeatoff uses anything other than speed and HR as the primary determinants of VO2 max? Read the patent.