How to Auto-extend Workouts

Ever get into a good rhythm during a workout and want to keep going past the planned end time? The auto-extend feature lets your workouts continue until you're ready to stop pedaling, rather than cutting off at a predetermined time.

What Auto-Extend Does

Based on what users have told me, the default workout duration is typically set to one hour. Without auto-extend enabled, when that hour is up, the workout ends and you'll see a prompt asking you to save or delete the session. If you dismiss that prompt, it'll keep coming back every five minutes or so - which can be pretty annoying if you want to keep riding.

One user described exactly this situation: "After an hour it ended the workout and asked me to save or delete the workout. When I clicked away the prompt it came back 5 minutes later and so on."

How to Enable Auto-Extend

For auto-extend to work, you need to turn it on in the settings first. On Android, there's a cog icon to enter settings at the top of the quick workout tab. Once enabled, your workouts will continue beyond the default duration until you decide to stop.

This is particularly useful for open-ended sessions where you're not sure exactly how long you want to ride, or when you're feeling good and want to extend your planned workout.

When This Feature Shines

Auto-extend works great for several scenarios:

Just Ride Sessions: If you're using HR+ mode or doing an unstructured ride, you can set the default one-hour duration and let auto-extend handle the rest. You'll ride as long as you want without interruption.

Extending Planned Workouts: Sometimes you finish your structured intervals but feel like adding some extra easy spinning or want to extend your cool-down. Auto-extend lets you keep going seamlessly.

Variable Schedule Days: When your available training time isn't fixed, auto-extend gives you the flexibility to ride longer when time permits.

Working with Default Durations

Currently, the system uses a default duration (typically one hour) as the baseline. I just use that default time and rely on auto-extend for longer sessions. The feature handles the extension automatically once you've got it enabled in settings.

Additional Workout Extension Options

Beyond auto-extend, there are other ways to modify your workout duration on the fly. During active intervals, you can use the + button to add time in increments - this is handy for high-intensity intervals where you need a few extra seconds to dial in your resistance or power target.

There's also a merge workouts feature that lets you select a second workout before the first one ends, allowing you to chain workouts together for longer sessions.

Making the Most of Flexible Training

Auto-extend pairs well with TrainerDay's other flexibility features. You can start with a structured workout and then transition into an open-ended ride, or begin with a warm-up and let auto-extend handle an extended cool-down period.

This flexibility is especially valuable if your schedule varies week to week, or if you're the type of rider who likes to go by feel rather than strict time constraints.

The key is getting auto-extend enabled in your settings before you start your workout. Once it's on, you can focus on your training without worrying about arbitrary time cutoffs interrupting your session.