Xert's workout players (Xert EBC for Android and iOS, and Xert Workout Player for Garmin Connect IQ) support multiple trainer modes that change how your smart trainer behaves during a ride. This article explains what each mode does and when to use it.
The short answer: for most workouts, leave your trainer in AUTO mode (or Power Control on Garmin). It's the default and the right choice for the vast majority of structured training.
Which Trainer Mode Should You Use?
Use this as a quick guide:
- Following a structured workout? → AUTO (EBC) or Power Control (Garmin)
- Doing a breakthrough effort? → Consider SLOPE for more control over the effort
- Self-paced warmup or steady endurance ride? → SLOPE at 1.5–2.5%, or ERG held at your target power
- Letting another app control your trainer (Zwift, etc.)? → OFF
The rest of this article explains each mode in more detail.
Trainer Modes in Xert EBC
To change trainer modes during a ride, tap the trainer mode indicator in the bottom left corner of the EBC recording screen.
[Screenshot placeholder: EBC recording screen with trainer mode indicator highlighted]
AUTO (default)
The trainer automatically follows the intensity of your workout — increasing resistance during hard intervals and reducing it during recovery.
AUTO also handles Mixed Mode workouts, which alternate between automatic resistance control and SLOPE segments. During a SLOPE segment of a Mixed Mode workout, EBC displays "SLOPE x.x%" so you know your trainer is in slope-simulation mode for that interval. See Mixed Mode Workouts for more.
When to use: Almost all structured workouts. This is the default, recommended mode.
SLOPE
Your trainer simulates riding up a hill at a fixed gradient. You control your power output through your gearing and cadence — just like riding outside.
Tap the up/down arrows to adjust the simulated slope by 0.5% per tap. A "false flat" of 1.5–2.5% generally provides the best feel for most workouts, but experiment to find what works for your trainer and gearing.
Why use SLOPE during structured workouts? Two scenarios:
- Breakthrough efforts. SLOPE lets you keep pushing past the planned interval end if you have more in you. In AUTO mode, the interval ends exactly when scheduled — even if you could have produced more power. In SLOPE, you control when to stop.
- Avoiding ERG resistance spirals. During hard intervals in AUTO mode, if your cadence drops too low, the trainer increases resistance to maintain the power target — which makes it even harder to spin, which drops your cadence further. SLOPE doesn't have this problem because the resistance is fixed.
When to use: Self-paced warmups, breakthrough workouts, or any time you want manual control over your effort.
ERG (manual)
Your trainer holds a fixed power target you set, regardless of your cadence or gearing.
Tap the up/down arrows to adjust the target power by 5 watts per tap.
Important: ERG mode does not automatically follow workout intervals. If you're doing a structured workout, use AUTO instead.
When to use: Steady endurance riding without a structured workout. For example, holding 150W for an hour while watching TV. AUTO mode handles this within workouts; ERG is for the same behavior outside of a workout.
RESISTANCE
Your trainer simulates a magnetic or fluid "dumb" trainer with adjustable resistance. Like SLOPE, you control power through gearing and cadence.
RESISTANCE mode is included for compatibility with older or non-standard trainers. The way resistance behaves varies significantly between trainer brands, so results are inconsistent. For most users and most situations, SLOPE is the better choice.
When to use: Niche cases where SLOPE doesn't work well with your specific trainer.
OFF
All trainer control from EBC is disabled, turning your smart trainer into an uncontrolled trainer. EBC can still record your power, cadence, and other data — it just won't change the resistance.
When to use: When you want another app (like Zwift) to control your trainer while EBC records data alongside it. Some trainers support multiple Bluetooth connections, so EBC can record while Zwift controls resistance.
Trainer Modes in the Xert Workout Player (Garmin Connect IQ)
To change trainer modes on a Garmin Edge device, the menu path varies by device:
- Edge x40 series (540, 840, 1040, 1050): Training > Smart Trainer
- Older Edge devices: Press the menu or back button on the bottom-right of the device to bring up the trainer menu (exact button varies by model)
Check your Edge device's manual if the path differs.
[Screenshot placeholder: Xert Workout Player trainer mode menu on a Garmin Edge]
Power Control (default)
Functionally similar to AUTO on EBC. The trainer automatically matches resistance to the workout's interval targets, and supports Mixed Mode workouts (switching between automatic control and SLOPE).
When to use: Almost all structured workouts.
Slope
Your trainer simulates a fixed gradient. Use up/down arrows to adjust the slope.
When to use: Same scenarios as SLOPE on EBC — breakthrough efforts, self-paced warmups, or avoiding resistance spirals.
Resistance
Simulates a "dumb" trainer with adjustable resistance. Like RESISTANCE on EBC, this is mostly legacy and inconsistent across trainers.
When to use: Niche cases.
Off
Turns off trainer control from the Xert Workout Player.
When to use: When another app should control your trainer.
A Note on Mode Names
EBC calls the default mode AUTO; the Garmin Workout Player calls it Power Control. They're functionally the same — both automatically control your trainer to match workout intervals and support Mixed Mode behavior. The naming difference is historical.
Tips for Breakthrough Workouts
Breakthrough efforts are where mode choice matters most. Two practical tips:
Use SLOPE (or RESISTANCE) for the hard interval, not AUTO. AUTO mode ends the interval exactly when scheduled. If you have more to give, you're cut off. In SLOPE, you can keep pushing until you genuinely can't pedal anymore — which is often what you need to actually trigger a breakthrough.
When you see your breakthrough notification, don't stop. Keep going! The notification triggers the moment Xert detects a breakthrough has occurred, but you may have more in you. Push until you truly reach failure.
For more on getting breakthroughs, see Breakthrough & Near-Breakthrough.
FAQ
"Why is my workout switching between AUTO and SLOPE mid-interval?"
You're doing a Mixed Mode workout. These workouts alternate between automatically-controlled resistance and SLOPE segments where you control power through gearing and cadence. SLOPE segments are typically used for sprints and all-out efforts where ERG-style control would interfere with your effort.
EBC displays "SLOPE x.x%" during SLOPE segments so you know what's happening. See Mixed Mode Workouts for more.
"Can I change trainer modes during a workout?"
Yes. On EBC, tap the trainer mode indicator in the bottom left corner of the recording screen and select a different mode. This is useful if you want to switch to SLOPE for a breakthrough effort partway through a workout, or to ERG for a self-paced cooldown.
On the Garmin Workout Player, change modes via the trainer menu (path varies by device).
"Why does ERG mode feel like it's fighting me?"
When you're doing a hard interval in ERG (or AUTO) mode and your cadence drops, the trainer increases resistance to maintain the target power. The increased resistance makes it harder to spin, which drops your cadence further, which causes the trainer to add more resistance — a feedback loop that can grind you to a halt.
To avoid this, keep your cadence above ~70 rpm during hard intervals, or use SLOPE mode for very hard efforts where you'd rather control resistance through gearing.
"My trainer isn't responding to mode changes. What's wrong?"
Common causes:
- Another app has trainer control. If Zwift, Rouvy, or another app is connected to your trainer with control enabled, EBC won't be able to take over. Disconnect or set the other app to "no control."
- Your trainer is paired but not selected for trainer control. In EBC's sensors menu, confirm your trainer is set as the source for Trainer Control — not just power or cadence.
- The trainer needs a power cycle. Smart trainers occasionally need a restart to clear stuck states.
- The trainer doesn't support the mode you're trying to use. Some trainers don't support all four modes. Check your trainer's documentation.
If none of these work, contact support@xertonline.com.
Need Help?
If a mode isn't behaving the way this article describes, or you have questions about which mode fits your training, contact support@xertonline.com.
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