My health insurance actually requires I wear one to monitor activity. It allows me to obtain the lowest premium possible once I meet certain goals. I presently use a Fitlinxx Pebble attached to my shoe, which tracks steps but I also wear it while cycling and get credit for that too, though I’m not sure it’s a 1:1 ratio. Starting 2017, the Pebble is no longer an acceptable device, so I need to switch to a Fitbit or Garmin activity tracker of one model or another. They all seem to be worn around the wrist, so I’m not sure how they’ll track cycling cadence. Though I wonder if a couple of the ANT+ versions can be linked with an ANT+ cadence sensor and monitor it that way? Anyway, I’d like one that can monitor cycling. Here’s a list of eligible devices. Any recommendations?
I use a 235 and am mostly a runner. I don’t really keep track of steps though so don’t pay much attention to it. After your post I was a bit curious as to how it handles cycling. I happened to do a 2 hour ride on Saturday morning. Turns out for that 2 hours I was credited for about 700-800 steps. So, you get something but definitely not on a 1:1 basis.
I get quite a few “steps” when I ride with the Pebble (indoors and out). While I’m a runner too, I probably get at least half of my daily average tally from cycling. Thanks.
Any Garmin with a speed/cadence sensor on your bike will measure cycling. I use the Vivoactive (non-HR) since it is reasonable size for an everyday watch.
You could also take a Fitbit and just put it in your sock during rides. Not accurate, but you’ll get step credit.
I had the vivoactive and now have the vivoactive HR and liked them both. They are both good for everyday wear and track a lot of activities. The Vivo HR has run, bike pool swim, golf, walk, row, SUP, ski/board, xc ski and then bike, walk, run, row indoors. The only problem I see for any of these devices is they’ll measure your activity time and calories but I don’t think you’ll get accurate steps for biking. When I wear the vivo to ride indoors, outdoors or take a spin class I get some steps but not the sort of numbers you’d expect for 60+ mins of riding. I previously had the fitbit surge and recall the same issue although I feel like that one was closer on the steps.
My Garmin 920XT setup with my duotrap gets all of the cycling metrics you mention and/or need. Not necessarily a duotrap but most cadence sensors will work to get you the needed data.
I am sure the Garmin 735xt should be on the list… that’s the newest tri watch from Garmin with HR, and it does activity tracking with ANT+ support, even for a power meter.
Do you need speed AND cadence, or is the cadence sensor enough to track “steps”? In other words, is the device actively (can you see it incrementing stepss on the display) logging the cadence as you ride?
Just FYI…the fitbit in the sock or around the ankle doesn’t work too well on rough roads. Mine kept thinking that I was multi-tapping it to go to sleep. It ended up thinking I was going to sleep and waking up throughout my ride. I do live in Texas where the roads aren’t particularly smooth (think chip seal).
I wear a Fitbit Charge 2 24/7, and it actually decently captures steps for outdoor cycling. It is probably just reacting to movement on the road and some overall body movement as I pedal. But the eventual step count is about the same as if I had been running the same amount of time as I was cycling. It is imperfect, but it seems to work well enough.
On the other hand, any of the Garmins would perfectly track cycling. However, they would not capture the activity as steps, but it still might be OK for the insurer’s credit.
I looked into the requirements, and it’s more than just steps, so the Garmin will likely be fine. Though I used to make a killing on the “steps” when cycling was included with my Pebble.
“Participate with an approved activity monitor to track at least 100,000 steps or 600 physical activity minutes a month for six months by Sept. 30 of each year”
Just FYI…the fitbit in the sock or around the ankle doesn’t work too well on rough roads. Mine kept thinking that I was multi-tapping it to go to sleep. It ended up thinking I was going to sleep and waking up throughout my ride. I do live in Texas where the roads aren’t particularly smooth (think chip seal).
You can put it under your bibs on your thigh and it will work OK. I gave up on it though because it is too much hassle to do for every ride and because my health insurance carrier only cares about daily minutes of exercise.
It was reported to me that it was going to be 150,000 steps or 900 minutes per month of activity effective Jan 1, 2017.
I’m okay as long as they want activity minutes. I’m usually logging 700 hours a year…no problem. Hell, even being concussed for half the year I’ll still make their goal with much less hours than I’ve had in the past 4 years.
I’ve been using my Garmin Fenix 2 for a couple of years now for all sorts of training and races. The only drawback is tracking swims, but for all biking and running, etc work it’s been great. It also ties to any ANT+ device so I can connect to speedo and cadence monitors on my bikes.
Hope this helps!
Don Preston
Founder: TRILoot.com “Swim, Bike, Run, for all!”
My work has an incentive program through Jiff where we can earn gift cards for steps, so I’m in a similar boat.
I use the Forerunner 235 and I put it around my ankle while cycling to get my “credit”. I’ve been doing it this way for a couple of years now with thousands of miles of cycling, and never had any issues with it coming off.