The best wearable fitness tracker for cycling not only makes you a better cyclist but also provides some advanced features like a heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, live coaching, activity recording, route navigation and many more.
It doesn’t matter, that you want a fitness tracking for your heart rate monitoring while riding or you need a device for the whole day activity monitoring.
In the market, many fitness trackers are available for you but choosing the right device that meets your requirements is really a challenging task.
So, in this post, we have puts some fitness trackers that suits all types of cyclists needs.
There are many of benefit of regular cycling. Here are some of them below.
- It strengthens the bones.
- it can decrease your stress level.
- It helps to increase the muscle strength and flexibility.
- It can improve your joints mobility.
According to my personal experience, if you cycling regularly, then you don’t need to pay for the gym. I always prefer to go on the bicycle (where possible) instead of my bike or car.
Best Wearable Fitness Tracker for Cycling
Well, move on to the topic, we are talking about the fitness tracker. Nowadays, these fitness trackers have become very accurate and efficient, they almost blurred the line between the smartwatch and themselves. While you are riding they are capable to track your speed, distance, elevation and your body activities too.
If you already know which types of smartwatch you are looking for or you don’t have enough time, then you can go through our recommendation first. However, if you want to read our buyer’s guide, you can jump to anytime through sidebar or navigation link.
So, without wasting time let’s get started.
1. Apple Watch Series 3 (Smartest Fitness Tracker)
Everyone knows about Apple, no one can beat them in terms of the quality. And the Apple watch series 3 is their latest innovation, which comes in three different versions i.e. the Apple Watch (GPS, and GPS + Cellular), Apple Watch Nike+, and Apple Watch Edition.
But for the sports activity like running and cycling, we recommend Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS). We have chosen the GPS only version because the LTE version is having less battery life and that is very expensive too.
However, If you really need a smartwatch that can support the message, call, music playing, Siri integration and other advanced features, then you can check out this version here. Personally, I would not recommend this for the cyclist.
Design
The Apple Watch series 3 design is almost identical to the previous series but this latest version offers a slightly slim body.
However, you won’t be able to notice the difference. Despite to keeping the consistent size, Apple added a new dual-core processor and they are using the display as an antenna very cleverly.
Apple also claims that this watch is water resistance up to 50 meters and that is impressive, a diver only may able to fail this watch, but as a cyclist, a splash proof is quite enough.
The display of this watch is very sharp and bright you can read conveniently in even bright sunlight, and the screen is very responsive too. Overall this watch looks so gorgeous in hand.
Heart Rate Monitor
The inbuilt heart rate sensor of the Apple watch 3 is excellent and provides the accurate reading. The sensor automatically takes your heart rate every 10 minutes, and you can access that data into Apple’s health app.
The workout app allows you to keep your phone at home when you are going to exercise. This smartwatch can track your heart rate, calorie burn, and running distance. Moreover, you can enjoy your playlist with the Bluetooth earbuds.
The optical heart rate sensor of this watch is extremely accurate, that works really well when you are cycling or doing cardio exercises. When we compare to other fitness trackers most of them don’t provide the accurate heart rate like this smartwatch.
GPS
The built-in GPS of this watch is very precise that can record the distance, speed, and even route of your workout destination.
In this version, the altimeter is introduced, that allows you to track your elevation during your riding and your highest climb. If you want the more detailed status of your workout or riding, then you can check out in the health app within your iPhone.
The Apple watch is having unlimited usage possibilities, you can track any indoor or outdoor workouts like swimming, running, cycling or interval training.
The inbuilt GPS allows you to track record your navigation data without being connected to your smartphone. And after that, you can view all of your activity within the map on your smartphone but make sure the location service is enabled on your smartwatch.
Battery
Apple is offering 18 hours of battery backup, I think that is sufficient for any cyclist, but keep in mind that backup time can be slightly decreased on the GPS tracking. Overall this smartwatch is one of them that is having the ability to maintain the battery life along with the best performance.
Features
Besides the Heart rate, GPS, and altimeter apple also have something special in this edition. For making the exercises interesting you will get three rings on your daily routine and you have to fill them to complete the task.
For example, the first ring will complete when you archive your calorie burn goal, the second ring is about the exercise you have to do it at least 30 for minutes. And the last ring will remind you to get up of at least for a minute during 12 different hours in the day. This is the fun way to remain active and fit.
But there is a lack of sleep tracking. According to the manufacturer, any of the Apple Watch model, including Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3 do not offer any sleep tracking feature.
Cycling
As we said earlier, this smartwatch can track your distance, heart rate along with the calorie burn. Unlike other watches, this offers an altimeter that can able to track your riding height also. And you can access all of this data later from your smartphone.
Unlike previous series 2, you don’t need to take your smartphone with you for GPS tracking.
The Apple watch series 3 is the best fitness tracker for the cycling that provide very detailed data with the inbuilt heart rate, GPS, and altimeter sensors. Moreover, the build quality, responsive design, and ease of usage make it more attractive.
Honestly, this smartwatch is really expensive, but after considering the brand value, feature and performance, this unit totally worth it.
View at Amazon
Pros
- Built-in GPS and GLONASS
- Good battery life
- Customizable bands
- Accurate optical Heart rate
- Compass and accelerometer enabled
- Altimeter provided to track your elevation
- Guided breathing
- Bright sensitive display
- Water resistant up to 50 meters
Cons
- Expensive
- No sleep tracking
2. Ticwatch E (Great Choice for the Cyclist)
Mobvoi is a Chinese company which is well known for providing good and affordable smartwatches. The Ticwatch E is one of the rising products in their lineup. Here E letter stands for “Express”, that describe that what this smartwatch can do.
The Ticwatch E is recommended for the cyclist in the mid-price range. This watch offers inbuilt GPS along with the heart rate and calorie burn. And Android Wear 2.0 OS is very comfortable and easy to use, moreover you will also get the support of google assistant and other products.
Design
The Ticwatch is made of plastic material, so that is not too bulky even due to big size. And the strap is made of some flexible material that is very convenient to wear. You can easily swap this band from other 20mm bands easily, this is another freedom of customizability.
If you care about the colors most then this smartwatch is available in six colors. On the bottom side, the HR is implemented and inside there is GPS, which was different in the previous version Ticwatch S (In which GPS chip was inside the strap).
Overall, the design of this watch is not the premium one but this is not too bad also. It is something ok.
Features
This smartwatch is powered by Android Wear 2.0 OS, which makes it a powerful device. However, due to lack of the NFC, you’ll be missing the android pay feature here. But you will get music support and also you will get the notification for every app on your smartphone along with the play store. On the play store, you can download a host of apps for your watch as well.
There is also a music player provided, which allow you to sync your existing playlist from your smartphone.
For cycling
For health enthusiasts, there is an app called Tic Health app is provided, which allows you to record and track your activity, you are getting some goal complete rings also here like the Apple Watch Series 3.
As we said earlier, this smartwatch comes with inbuilt GPS and heart rate sensor, so that will provide you the whole day activity including heart rate, calorie burned, step counting and without being connected with the smartphone. Moreover, you can access that data in Tic Health app later.
There are many other health apps also available, which will provide you with more metrics and you can share them with your friends. You can get motivated from others.
With the help of the Mobvoi heart rate app you can get the quick reading and via swiping up you can check your whole day history that how is your heart rate is performing.
Battery
Mobvoi offers around a whole day battery life. If you will less use the GPS then this can last up to two days easily.
The Ticwatch E is an affordable smartwatch which offers some great features like inbuilt GPS, heart rate sensor calorie burned, activity tracker and sleep tracking along with the easy to use Android wear 2.0 OS and apps.
View at Amazon
Pros
- Built-in GPS and GLONASS
- Inbuilt Heart rate
- Compass and accelerometer supported
- Android wear 2.0 powerful OS
- Google assistant
- IP67 water and dust resistant
Cons
- Average battery life
- Somewhat traditional looks
3. Fitbit Charge 2 (Slim Fitness Tracker For Cycling)
Fitbit is a well-known brand in fitness trackers industry, they have a wide range of products and Fitbit Charge 2 is one of the most successful products of them.
The Fitbit Charge 2 is the slim wearable fitness tracker, that offers hear rate, calorie burn and connected GPS. If you love the slim and portable fitness trackers then this unit is the perfect choice for the cyclist in affordable price.
Design
The Fitbit Charge 2 is the upgraded version or combined version of the Fitbit Charge and Fitbit Charge HR. You are getting find both devices feature in one unit.
There is some design improvement has made, now you can change the strap quickly and easily according to your choice. You have to just unhook some metal clips.
Display
The Fitbit Charge 2 offers an OLED display, that is slightly larger than the Fitbit Charge. But this is still a tap display, and you have to cycle through the options.
You will get a single metric at a time on the screen like heart rate, distance traveled, active minutes, stairs climbed, calorie burns, the hourly activity, and call or message notification, and the time and date will remain fixed on top.
Cycling
This unit offers all standard features that must be in a fitness tracker. So, it can record your step count and calorie burned. Moreover, the heart rate metric of this fitness tracker is very good and reliable when compared to its rivals.
As we mentioned in the comparison table, the Fitbit Charge 2 don’t have inbuilt GPS feature. You’ll need a smartphone if you want to track your running more accurately.
However, if you run without your phone the Fitbit will still fill the detail based on your step and heart rate activity, and you can view it later in the smartphone.
Personally, I like this fitness tracker because its offer a slim design with tap display, that is very convenient to wear and easy to use when you are riding.
Battery
As we told this device is having lack of inbuilt GPS but this is the good thing for the battery life. However, compared to the previous model Fitbit Charge this one is having a large display but still, you will not need to charge this tracker before five days.
So, finally, the battery life of the Fitbit Charge 2 is quite awesome, when considering the features and performance.
The Fitbit Charge 2 having lots of features, like slim design, heart rate, calorie burn, sleep tracking, long battery life, that are very useful for the cyclist.
However, the inbuilt GPS feature is missing, but it works really well with your smartphone GPS. And in this price range, the Fitbit really has done a great job.
View at Amazon
Pros
- Optical heart rate
- Guided breathing
- Silent alarm
- Accelerometer supported
- Automatic sleep tracking
- Easy to use tap display
- Splash-proof
- Compact design
- brilliant battery life up to 5 days
Cons
- No GPS and compass
4. Moov Now (Affordable Fitness Tracker and Trainer)
Maybe, you still not heard about the Moov Now , this unit is not only a wearable fitness tracker but also it can be your personal coach. This device is one of the best wearable fitness trackers for the cycling. It doesn’t matter whether you have used a fitness tracker earlier or you are buying your first one, this unit is going to make a good impression on you.
Design
The Moov comes with a very versatile design, so you can wear it on your ankle or wrist that will provide you the more flexibility.
While you wear on your ankle this will give you the most accurate tracking. And, don’t worry Moov has included both types of bands with the required length to make wearing experience convenient.
Cycling
For cycling the Moov Now offers some great features. You can wear on your ankle while riding, and this will give you the reading that how much pedals do you make in a minute and what is the cadence between the speed and your pedaling. And that is the essential metrics for any cyclist. With the help of this analysis, this fitness tracker will provide you the live coaching.
But, there is also a downside of this fitness tracker, whenever you are riding you have to take your smartphone with you for live readout. It may be somewhat risky if you ride too fast or out of the road.
Features
The Moov Now offers sleep tracking, calorie burning metrics and your active minutes time of your whole day. And it comes with traditional coin battery, which can last up to 6 months. It’s good that you don’t need to charge them but you have to change manually.
This fitness tracker is very affordable but the heart rate sensor is missing here, I think that is a another major downside of this unit.
The Moov offers four types of live coaching programs with multiple workouts. You can get trained for running, cycling, swimming, and home exercises (like boxing and workouts).
The App provided by the Moov Now having the capability to convert that tracker data into a powerful piece of information. And for a cyclist, it also provides some great information like route difficulty and tallest climb.
However, the Moov Now lacks inbuilt GPS, but despite it is a good personal trainer that can fit on your wrist whether you are at home or cycling this will guide you to the live training.
Clearly, the Moov Now doesn’t have the support of GPS and Hear rate sensor, but still, this is a considerable option in wearable fitness tracker for the cyclist, and that will work like your personal coach. However, you can use can connect your smartphone for gathering accurate GPS data.
If we consider the features then you are getting more than that you are paying.
View at Amazon
Pros
- Very affordable
- Elevation, motion, distance, cadence, distance tracking
- Waterproof ideal for swimming
- Live coaching during workout or cycling
- Best battery life up to 6 month
- Wrist and ankle wearable
- Colorful tracking data in the app
Cons
- No Heart rate and GPS
- No display
Best Wearable Fitness Tracker for Cycling – Buyer’s Guide
There are various types of fitness tracker available on the market and they are offering some advanced technologies.
But which features should you consider before purchasing your smartwatch? And which features are useful for you?
Below we have tried our best to provide some useful information, I hope that will help you to choose your best wearable fitness tracker for cycling and provide the answer to your questions.
So, what should you consider before purchasing the best wearable fitness tracker for cycling?
1. Style
The wrist fitness tracker is the most popular for the cyclist, but it’s not the only option to choose from. If you don’t want them to wear around your wrist all of the time, then you can get tracker in the form of the rings or necklaces. But for the cyclist, I don’t recommend them.
If you choose a wrist wearable activity tracker, then there are many customizable options available. Most of them come with the customizable bands.
Also, you should consider the comfort level of the fitness tracker, it should not be too bulky and if you want to wear it 24/7. And when you are sleeping it should be comfortable as well.
2. Display
The display is not only the important factor in the fitness trackers but it plays the most important role in the smartphone, monitor, tablet, laptop etc. Because we mostly interact with them all of the time.
There are many specification terms of the display that should be considered.
- Black and white or color
- Side button
- Touch-enabled
- Size of the viewing area
- Visibility in different light condition
Additionally, you have to choose the fitness tracker that having responsive and easy to use interface, otherwise you have to struggle even after spending the money.
Moreover, the display material quality also matters. I mean, if you purchase the plastic screen fitness tracker that will be scratched out soon, while there are Gorilla Glass and many high-quality materials like Crystal and sapphire also available. So, that should also keep in mind.
3. Connectivity
Bluetooth is the most preferred method of connectivity except the Garmin company. Garmin has his unique protocol called ANT+.
The Bluetooth connectivity allows you to connect your fitness tracker with the smartphone. So you can analyze your tracking data and share with your friends.
Many trackers have the capability to connect with your Wi-Fi network, and you can share your data without connecting to them with the smartphones.
4. GPS
This feature is also recommended in the fitness trackers because you don’t need to depend on the smartphone connection. You can track your ride easily with inbuilt GPS.
And, you also should be aware that the GPS feature also reduces the life of the fitness tracker’s battery.
But, you should also keep in mind some fitness tracker needs to connect with the smartphone so that can provide some cycling metrics like distance and speed.
Inbuilt GPS is mandatory in the best wearable fitness tracker for the cycling. However, if your smartwatch uses the phone GPS then it can work also well and save your tracker’s battery.
5. Heart Rate Monitoring
Nowadays, most of the fitness trackers having this feature but you have to consider the accuracy of the data. The Heart rate monitor gathers the data from his optical sensor that count the blood pulse in your veins. In some high-end devices, they use even more advanced technology for reading the heart rate.
But, don’t worry most of the new devices can track your heart rate very accurately.
6. Bands Material
The silicon is the most used material in the smartwatch’s band. And due to their flexibility, they are very comfortable to wear for a long time. But in this fashionable world, you can find any type of bands like leather, metal or fabric too.
The important point is that, consider the comfort in mind when choosing the band of your fitness tracker. Moreover, some manufacturer also offers “tool-free” changeable strap system, so you can change your favorite band later if you need to.
Not all of them but some fitness tracker offers this feature. But for working this feature the route must be preloaded into the device in the form of waypoints and when you cross your waypoint the watch will notify that time.
8. Power Meter Support
If you like a bike that is having a power meter, then make sure your fitness tracker supports with the meter of your choice and provides your accurate watt reading.
Many of them fashionable smartwatches don’t have this feature and some of them are having limited functionality.
9. Battery and Charging
What will happen, when the tracker’s battery juice will run out. You can’t do anything with that. So make sure smartwatch is having sufficient battery capacity.
As I told you earlier, using the GPS will dramatically decrease the battery life and you need to charge your tracker much more frequently. However, many fitness trackers last up to 4-5 days with the single charge, and some others use disposable batteries that should be changed after some time.
Conclusion
Overall, I want to suggest you choose a wearable that should match your activity styles and requirements. I mean, if you need a simple activity tracker without spending more then why would you take a smartwatch that is having a music player, LTE support or many other useless features.
“Useless features” word may hurt you a little bit, but seriously if your smartwatch is having those extra features like LTE support music player, then can you imagine how worst the battery life will be.
If you think technically, there is not enough room for the bigger battery that you can implement inside the fitness tracker.
You can check this by yourself if you are using your Smartwatch even on GPS continuously, then how dramatically battery life will be decreased.
Due to this reason we didn’t include any smartwatch with LTE support in our rundown.
If you don’t have the budget issue then no one can beat the Apple Watch Series 3 that is the ultimate choice.
However, if you are looking for the slightly low-price fitness tracker then Ticwatch E is recommended, that is also having great feature including the inbuilt GPS, but if you are satisfied with the design.
And, if you are not satisfied with the Ticwatch E design, or you want a very simple fitness tracker then Fitbit Charge 2 is the considerable option, while Moov Now can be work like your personal coach.
I hope have you got your best wearable fitness tracker for cycling. if you have any suggestion or feedback please comment below.
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