Many of Firstbeat’s leading-edge metrics have found their way into the Edge 1030 announced today, 29 August. We have known about them all before but here is a handy guide as to what is new for the Edge products, what the metrics actually mean (via a link) and which need a powermeter to work.
First up: They all require a HRM
- Training Load (new to Edge series in the 1030) – 7 day averages based on EPOC
- Aerobic Training Effect (new to Edge series in the 1030)
- Anaerobic Training Effect (new to Edge series in the 1030)
- Training Status (new to Edge series in the 1030, needs a power meter) derived from VO2max changes and Training Load
- VO2max (needs a power meter)
- Performance Condition (needs a power meter)
- Functional Threshold Power (FTP) (needs a power meter), requires chest strap (see below comments)
- Recovery Time
- Stress Score requires chest strap (see below comments)
- Calories Burned
Last Updated on 11 March 2026 by the5krunner
My favourite kit and nutrition
- Maurten — the race nutrition trusted by elite athletes. Gels and drink mix engineered to be easy on the stomach.
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter — the small adapter that keeps your charging cable tidy at the stem. Essential for race day.
- Garmin charging puck — the fastest and most reliable way to top up your Garmin before a session.
- Ravemen FR300 — front light that mounts directly under your Garmin or Wahoo head unit. Keeps your bars clean and your beam pointed where it matters.
- Garmin Varia RTL515 — radar rear light that alerts you to vehicles approaching from behind. Pairs with your Edge or Garmin watch.
- Stryd — the footpod that brings running power to your Garmin. The single most useful running upgrade I have made.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2 — the power meter pedals most serious cyclists end up choosing. Accurate, easy to move between bikes.
Reader-Powered Content
This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love, which is this site, and I appreciate everyone who supports it.
Support the site: Follow (free, fewer ads) · Subscribe (paid, ad-free) · Buy Me A Coffee ❤️
All articles are written by real people, fact-checked, and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
Which ones require only HR (i.e. work with optical HR sensors) and which require HRV (i.e. R-R which isn’t reliable with optical) ?
I knew that question was going to come…
the answer is stress score and ftp/lactate threshold
but it’s more complex than that and this might or might not help: https://youtu.be/mV3JoR52adI