It’s been nearly 10 months since the announcement that TSS/NP/IF metrics would come to the Edge 500, and as of 11AM central time – it’s finally available.

For those that want to get right to the action, you can swing over to here and download the update (or if you have the WebUpdater software installed on your computer, just plug the unit in and update).

The update follows in the steps of the Edge 800 update we saw back in October, and adds the following capabilities (official listing):

– Added two additional training pages.

– Added various power-related data fields, including left and right balance for supported power meters, Normalized Power (NP), Intensity Factor (IF), Training Stress Score (TSS), maximum lap power, last lap power, and Watts/kg power.

– Improved support for power-based workouts.

– Added the ability to modify the FTP value and to recalculate the power zones based on the new FTP value.

– Made improvements to the power meter calibration process.

– Fixed an issue where Auto Zero was incorrectly displayed as an option when paired to the PowerTap hub.

– Improved the calculation of elevation gain/loss.

– Improved the calculation of time behind on the Virtual Partner page.

– Fixed various issues with viewing activities in history.

– Fixed various issues related to courses.

– Fixed various other issues.

– Updated translations.

Updating the Edge 500 is pretty straight forward. Assuming you’re using the new dashboard driven process, it’ll go ahead and see your device, then download the update:

Alternatively, you can use the WebUpdater software instead. I prefer this method – it’s worked for years.

After that’s complete, the unit will restart and start installing the software:

For most, it’s these two lines that are the big ticket items:

– Added various power-related data fields, including left and right balance for supported power meters, Normalized Power (NP), Intensity Factor (IF), Training Stress Score (TSS), maximum lap power, last lap power, and Watts/kg power

– Added two additional training pages.

The first item is the addition of TSS/NP/IF, along with some additional power data fields. The TSS/NP/IF calculations are exactly the same as how TrainingPeaks calculates them, and are the resultant of a partnership between the two companies that started last summer. This ultimately ensures that the different sites and devices align.

This means that in order for metrics to align between the device, Garmin Connect, and Training Peaks, you must have your profile settings identical between the three. In particular – your FTP (Functional Threshold Power) must be identical. Any deviation from that will result in differences between the device and the site.

On the device itself, TSS/NP/IF can be added as a data field just like any other data field:

In total, here are the power related data fields now on the Edge 500:

– Balance (Instant)

– Balance – 3s Avg

– Balance – 10s Avg

– Balance – 30s Avg

– Balance – Avg

– Balance – Lap

– Power (Instant)

– Power – %FTP

– Power – 3s Avg

– Power – 10s Avg

– Power – 30s Avg

– Power – Avg.

– Power – IF

– Power – Lap

– Power – Last Lap

– Power – Max

– Power – Max Lap

– Power – NP

– Power – NP Lap

– Power – NP Last Lap

– Power – TSS

– Power – W/kg

– Power – kJ

– Power Zone

On the second big item of two additional training pages, it brings you to 5 training pages in total. On the Edge 500 you can add up to 8 data fields per data page.

Note that this isn’t the new lap-summary information that was added to the Edge 800, that feature didn’t make it to the Edge 500.

Finally, this update adds support for left/right power metrics – in line with supporting Garmin Vector (once it releases), as well as current generation power meters supporting power balance, like the newer Quarq 2012 units. This will also support other left/right power meters down the road, like the Brim Brothers cleat-based unit, the Pioneer unit and the O-Synce unit.

At present, while I have the software successfully loaded, I won’t be able to give it a full whirl until this weekend. So feel free to drop your post-update feedback below in the comments.

Thanks for reading!