tomreece Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 I am trying to decide between these two products: Garmin Instinct Smartwatch or Wahoo ELEMNT Bike Computer Just curious what you guys are using to track your cycling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheX Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 I use a Garmin Edge 520 on the bike, and a Samsung Galaxy Watch for everything else. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Fitbit Surge. It was cheap (used) and has its own dedicated GPS. It tracks my general physical activity and uploads the data to Strava when I ride or run. It's also just a watch that I wear every day. The app allows me to input what foods I am eating so Big Brother knows if I am healthy. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridenfool Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 (edited) Amazfit Bip on the wrist. Great for gathering/monitoring lots of ride data including elevation, heart rate, time of day, GPS tracking, sleep cycles, activity (steps and such), and more, with access to details on the phone app. The fact that the battery will run it for about six weeks on a charge is nice. Yes, six weeks. All that, and how it cost $79.00 is pretty sweet too. Â Â Planet Bike Wireless Computer on the handlebars. I like the accuracy of the Hall Effect sensor over GPS. It will usually record a higher mileage than the Bip on winding trails. Edited September 4, 2019 by Ridenfool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericbike6 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 I have the Garmin Forerunner 235 on my wrist, and a Garmin 830 on the bar normally. Using a cadence sensor and a wheel sensor, helps with accuracy. And both my watch and normal Garmin use the same single at the same time.  And everyone I know who has the Wahoo loves them by the way also. I am sure it comes down to personal preference, we are all using the same satellites.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheX Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 I've heard good things about Wahoo. My Edge 520 seems like it's going to last forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Txduc Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Suunto 9 Baro here. I use it because it does just about everything. Wrist and strap heart rate, displays heart rate zones, altitude, temp, built in GPS, steps, sleep tracking, recovery time, etc. I use a mount for the handlebars when riding and wear it all other times. Battery life is great too. I have it sync'd up with Strava and trainingpeaks. I do use a basic garmin 25 to load routes when I'm riding in a new location travelling or for things like gravel grinders to make sure I stay on track. If I had to choose one it would be the watch as I use it every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taco_junkie Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 I live that Wahoo lifestyle. I used to have to take my Garmin off my bike and plug it in to the computer to manually upload rides. Now as soon as I'm within wifi range of the house or I connect it to my phone I get that sweet sweet Strava karma. But really they are dead simple to set up and use with the smart phone and at least when I was doing comparisons came up cheaper than the comparable Garmin. I'd buy whatever is cheapest tho TBH. Had a Garmin Edge 500 for years it was fine. I like having a screen to look at and I don't like watches YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 I use a Garmin 510 on my bike. The battery is getting old (~3-4 years now) so it no longer lasts a week, I get about 5 days on a charge still and that is pretty good. Bluetooth back to the phone means it never leaves the garage. On my wrist I have a Fitbit Charge 3. That gives me calories for the day (my primary goal) and also tracks my sleep. I believe that the Fitbit will also track my rides if I let it but the reason that I like the Garmin is that it gives me something to look at and push myself during the rides. For riding I have a goal of 14 miles per day average so I know that if I am feeling tired I need to keep going if I have taken a couple of days off that week. Also, watching the average miles per hour it is good to push yourself to try to make it to the next 1/10th MPH mark. Little head games to keep the ride interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 And, ideally, I would like an Apple Watch, but the battery life sucks. They need some multi day battery life and quick charging. I plug the Fitbit in while I am showering every day and it stays in the 80-90% range. Left for Chicago for 5 days and accidentally forgot the charger. It was ~85% when I left and ~25% when I returned. I don't need apple at that level but I would love to have 2 days of life and maybe a 1-hour charge. The biggest reason to want the Apple Watch is being able to actually read texts on the trail. Right now the Fitbit is unreadable so when I get a text I have to stop, open my pack and pull out my phone. Pain in the ass, but I need to stay connected most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cxagent Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 3 hours ago, AustinBike said: Â The biggest reason to want the Apple Watch is being able to actually read texts on the trail. Right now the Fitbit is unreadable so when I get a text I have to stop, open my pack and pull out my phone. Pain in the ass, but I need to stay connected most of the time. I thought you were retired. Eventually, you will get over that 'stay connected' conundrum. Just go ride. Your 'patients' will survive until you get back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomreece Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 Thanks for your opinions everyone. It sounds like most of you have both anyway. I decided to order the Garmin Instinct smartwatch I'll give it a go for a while and then think about getting the Wahoo Element later if the watch isn't sufficient.  Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 (edited) @AustinBike check out the Whithings watches.  I also refuse to get a watch that has a battery that has to be recharged daily. https://www.withings.com/us/en/watches Edited September 4, 2019 by AntonioGG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridenfool Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 (edited) 6 hours ago, AustinBike said: And, ideally, I would like an Apple Watch, but the battery life sucks. They need some multi day battery life and quick charging. I plug the Fitbit in while I am showering every day and it stays in the 80-90% range. Left for Chicago for 5 days and accidentally forgot the charger. It was ~85% when I left and ~25% when I returned. I don't need apple at that level but I would love to have 2 days of life and maybe a 1-hour charge. The biggest reason to want the Apple Watch is being able to actually read texts on the trail. Right now the Fitbit is unreadable so when I get a text I have to stop, open my pack and pull out my phone. Pain in the ass, but I need to stay connected most of the time. THIS ^^^^ was the driving reason for my purchasing the Amazfit Bip. It offers OVER A MONTH of battery life on each charge, and has all the bells and whistles, for about eighty bucks. Though it will only notify you of texts and calls, which is preferable for me. Edited September 4, 2019 by Ridenfool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fontarin Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 I used to have a Vivoactive, but the battery wouldn't last more than 4 hours on rides with GPS going. Swapped to the Wahoo Element Bolt and prefer it - battery lasts much longer and the navigation features are nice to have, especially on gravel events. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidingAgain Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 20 hours ago, mack_turtle said: Fitbit Surge. It was cheap (used)... Nice. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Handle Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 I have a Garmin 520 and tried out the Trail Forks feature while I was in Colorado this summer. In short, it was awesome. I didn't realize that my old 520 could do that. Basically, I made a route in Trail Forks with my PC browser, put it into my "favorites" and it downloaded to the Garmin Trail Forks app. Once loaded, it showed me the route and other nearby trail features, tried to tell me when to turn and warned me when I was off course. I personally like having a dedicated computer and a heart rate strap but having a HRM built into a watch is nice too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 8 minutes ago, Anita Handle said: I have a Garmin 520 and tried out the Trail Forks feature while I was in Colorado this summer. In short, it was awesome. I didn't realize that my old 520 could do that. Basically, I made a route in Trail Forks with my PC browser, put it into my "favorites" and it downloaded to the Garmin Trail Forks app. Once loaded, it showed me the route and other nearby trail features, tried to tell me when to turn and warned me when I was off course. I personally like having a dedicated computer and a heart rate strap but having a HRM built into a watch is nice too. That is good to know. Â I find it maddening to transfer files to my 520+ from RidewithGPS. Â It should be way easier. Â I'll give Trailforks a try. Â Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 9 hours ago, cxagent said: I thought you were retired. Eventually, you will get over that 'stay connected' conundrum. Just go ride. Your 'patients' will survive until you get back. I still do a bit of consulting. It pays for health insurance and bike parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 8 hours ago, AntonioGG said: @AustinBike check out the Whithings watches.  I also refuse to get a watch that has a battery that has to be recharged daily. https://www.withings.com/us/en/watches We have their connected scale and love it. Their text notifications look small though and they scroll. My old Fitbit did that and it drove me crazy. When this one dies I will keep them on my short list and see what they are offering at that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 If anyone who has a Garmin Edge 420 wants to take a picture of a text notification for me, that would be cool. Been thinking I need an updated one eventually, that might push me to get off my ass and actually buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Handle Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 4 hours ago, AustinBike said: If anyone who has a Garmin Edge 420 wants to take a picture of a text notification for me, that would be cool. Been thinking I need an updated one eventually, that might push me to get off my ass and actually buy one. ahh yisssss, Edge fo tweezy... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Handle Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 (edited) I haven't re-enabled the text notifications since I moved over to an iPhone but here is a pic from the internets (caution, picture appears to be written in metric): Â Edited September 5, 2019 by Anita Handle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Honestly I can't read the texts on my 520 while riding. I just know I got one. Â I often just turn them off unless I'm expecting an important one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita Handle Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 I've asked my wife to try to do short one-way messages while I'm on the bike, to let me know something, but to call me if she needs me to respond, since I likely have my headphones on. What does she send me in the text? "do you need anything from the grocery store?" 😙 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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