TechSmartwatchesApple Watch’s new cycling feature might make me throw away my bike computerYour Apple Watch can turn your iPhone into a full-fledged bike computer, and I love itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechSmartwatchesApple Watch’s new cycling feature might make me throw away my bike computerYour Apple Watch can turn your iPhone into a full-fledged bike computer, and I love itWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Your Apple Watch can turn your iPhone into a full-fledged bike computer, and I love it
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
What makes the new cycling update special isn’t just the ability to connect Bluetooth-enabled cycling accessories, such as power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors, to the watch. It’s not even the new algorithm that combines sensor data from the watch and connected power meters and can estimate Functional Threshold Power (FTP).
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
This is a powerful feature. You can browse different Workout Views, such as Heart Rate Zones, Elevation, Race Route, Custom Workouts, and a new Cycling Speed view, which has been optimised for the display size of an iPhone. For non-competitive cyclists such as myself, the Workout Views provide more than enough information to pore over.
Of course, I won’t pretend that the data on offer is enough for professional athletes. I can’t see Ironman champions mounting their iPhones on theirtriathlon bikesto track the cycling leg of their next triathlon. (To be fair, theApple Watch Ultrais pretty good in the water and has decent running features, but this isn’t the article to discuss the multisport prowess of this wearable.)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
As for my personal experience with the new setup, it went buttery smooth despite WatchOS 10 only being available as a beta. I found it hard to take proper photos of the screen, but the phone’s display was easy to read on a sunny day. As a side note, I must say that thePeak Design Out Front Bike Mount(retailer link) is a superb phone mount; I thoroughly enjoyed using it.
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My bike ride wasn’t too strenuous, and I didn’t have any power meters or other Bluetooth accessories connected, so data was limited to what Apple Watch and the iPhone could capture. Not surprisingly, data was plentiful and easy to access; all I had to do was swipe my finger across the screen to access more data. User experience was always a strong point of Apple devices.
That said, I can see the appeal of the new Apple Watch cycling features, and I look forward to testing it more once it’s out of beta with some accessories. I’d be curious to see a data comparison between aGarminbike computer and the Apple Watch setup…
Today’s best Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Ultra$939.93ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 8$399ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Ultra$939.93ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 8$399ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Ultra$939.93ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 8$399ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Apple Watch deals
Apple Watch Ultra$939.93ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 8$399ViewSee all pricesApple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel$10.99$8.99ViewSee all pricesApple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Ultra$939.93ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Ultra$939.93ViewSee all prices
$939.93View
$939.93
$939.93
See all prices
Apple Watch Series 8$399ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Series 8$399ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel
Apple Watch Series 7 - stainless steel
$10.99$8.99View
$10.99$8.99
$8.99
See all prices
Apple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch SE (2022)$249$199ViewSee all prices
Apple Watch SE (2022)
Apple Watch SE (2022)
$249$199View
$249$199
$199
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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