Apple Watch Series 4?
09-13-18, 07:24 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Apple Watch Series 4?
Apple unveiled the Series 4 watch yesterday. Interested in the GPS model.
I currently ride with no tracking of any kind.
I would like to use an Apple Watch to track my rides, and more importantly, track real time speed and elevation gain. Would be great to raise my wrist and look at the watch and see my speed in real time.
Is the watch capable of this (Strava watch app maybe)?
I currently ride with no tracking of any kind.
I would like to use an Apple Watch to track my rides, and more importantly, track real time speed and elevation gain. Would be great to raise my wrist and look at the watch and see my speed in real time.
Is the watch capable of this (Strava watch app maybe)?
09-13-18, 07:36 PM
#2
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Yes, the strava watch app is capable of tracking rides including gps speed, altitude, and heart rate. The signal is not as strong and sampling rate is a little slower than a dedicated computer (at least on the series 3), but coming from nothing, it will definitely be an improvement.
09-13-18, 07:44 PM
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If you're going to get one anyway, sure, try it. If you're getting one primarily for this purpose, get a dedicated cycling GPS unit instead.
09-13-18, 09:44 PM
#4
SuperGimp
You can do that with an apple watch 2 and 3 as well if you want to save some shekels.
I think I've tried it and gave it up as not really functional. I really, really prefer having a garmin on my handlebars. Shockingly, the garmins are cheaper too unless you go crazy.
I think I've tried it and gave it up as not really functional. I really, really prefer having a garmin on my handlebars. Shockingly, the garmins are cheaper too unless you go crazy.
09-14-18, 10:50 AM
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I use an apple watch series 2 on the bike quite a lot. Works fine for most riding. I do not use it "exclusively."
I find its GPS distance accuracy to be within about 1% over legitimate mileage (20-50) relative to a calibrated on-handlebar cyclocomputer measuring wheel rotation. And that has its own accuracy uncertainty.
Not enough error for me to care. Some folks, of course, do care about that. Whatever.
I usually use it with the Strava watch app, but sometimes just use the Apple workout app. Always in conjunction with the handlebar cyclocomputer, cause the watch can be hard to "read at speed" on the smaller fields (like HR).
Yep, I'm sure the Garmins are much much more accurate, but they're not much good at anything else, and my apple watch is the ultimate augmentation to my phone for messaging, notifications, timers, alarms, Siri The Dog (separate conversation!), even my Weber Grill Temp Probe.
The watch does not yet support Strava Beacon or RoadID eCrumb, as far as I know, and I like that type of connection since I ride solo most of the time. No navigational or routing support, either, but I don't need that.
The watch would not be a great choice to support a dedicated race-training program with a lot of measurement. For a typical "I'm getting fit and healthy" rider, it's very very useful, and not limited to two-wheeled activity.
I find its GPS distance accuracy to be within about 1% over legitimate mileage (20-50) relative to a calibrated on-handlebar cyclocomputer measuring wheel rotation. And that has its own accuracy uncertainty.
Not enough error for me to care. Some folks, of course, do care about that. Whatever.
I usually use it with the Strava watch app, but sometimes just use the Apple workout app. Always in conjunction with the handlebar cyclocomputer, cause the watch can be hard to "read at speed" on the smaller fields (like HR).
Yep, I'm sure the Garmins are much much more accurate, but they're not much good at anything else, and my apple watch is the ultimate augmentation to my phone for messaging, notifications, timers, alarms, Siri The Dog (separate conversation!), even my Weber Grill Temp Probe.
The watch does not yet support Strava Beacon or RoadID eCrumb, as far as I know, and I like that type of connection since I ride solo most of the time. No navigational or routing support, either, but I don't need that.
The watch would not be a great choice to support a dedicated race-training program with a lot of measurement. For a typical "I'm getting fit and healthy" rider, it's very very useful, and not limited to two-wheeled activity.
09-14-18, 10:53 AM
#6
Pizzaiolo Americano
Apple unveiled the Series 4 watch yesterday. Interested in the GPS model.
I currently ride with no tracking of any kind.
I would like to use an Apple Watch to track my rides, and more importantly, track real time speed and elevation gain. Would be great to raise my wrist and look at the watch and see my speed in real time.
Is the watch capable of this (Strava watch app maybe)?
I currently ride with no tracking of any kind.
I would like to use an Apple Watch to track my rides, and more importantly, track real time speed and elevation gain. Would be great to raise my wrist and look at the watch and see my speed in real time.
Is the watch capable of this (Strava watch app maybe)?
09-14-18, 11:46 AM
#7
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Thread Starter
Thanks guys, might need to pick one up. I'd like to use it for both cycling and running.
09-14-18, 12:50 PM
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As mentioned above, I have a series 3 with GPS, but it is not my primary computer for cycling. I still use the polar suite with cadence, speed, HR, etc; and do not think the watch can replace a dedicated bike computer.
Running, however, is a different story. It is so nice to go out running and leave everything behind by my watch and a set of bluetooth headphones. The watch takes care of GPS, HR, and can stream music without any issue. Its been great not having to hold anything in my hands.
Running, however, is a different story. It is so nice to go out running and leave everything behind by my watch and a set of bluetooth headphones. The watch takes care of GPS, HR, and can stream music without any issue. Its been great not having to hold anything in my hands.
09-14-18, 02:48 PM
#9
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I use the watch 3 with Strava and am happy with it. Less happy with the bastards who always ring just as I'm in sight of the top of a steep incline!
I do use a cheap bicycle computer for speed/distance covered info, which is important for touring.
I do use a cheap bicycle computer for speed/distance covered info, which is important for touring.
09-14-18, 09:15 PM
#11
Senior Member
I'm a big fan, but it didn't start out that way. I have the cellular Series 3 which means I can leave my phone at home. I have a bike computer I use for my training rides, but when I ride to the store or other errand - of have my bike computer crash - the Series 3 does just fine. I also use the Strava app.
Here's the thing - at first, I was kind of ho-hum about them. But they grow on you and become part of your daily life. Now? I wouldn't want to be without one ever. They're that integrated into my day - weather, appointments, messages, alerts, phone, etc...
Here's the thing - at first, I was kind of ho-hum about them. But they grow on you and become part of your daily life. Now? I wouldn't want to be without one ever. They're that integrated into my day - weather, appointments, messages, alerts, phone, etc...
09-15-18, 09:13 AM
#12
Senior Member
Apple unveiled the Series 4 watch yesterday. Interested in the GPS model.
I currently ride with no tracking of any kind.
I would like to use an Apple Watch to track my rides, and more importantly, track real time speed and elevation gain. Would be great to raise my wrist and look at the watch and see my speed in real time.
Is the watch capable of this (Strava watch app maybe)?
I currently ride with no tracking of any kind.
I would like to use an Apple Watch to track my rides, and more importantly, track real time speed and elevation gain. Would be great to raise my wrist and look at the watch and see my speed in real time.
Is the watch capable of this (Strava watch app maybe)?
09-15-18, 12:37 PM
#13
Senior Member
Yes, get it. My first purchase was a Garmin 2 years ago and to be able to use the apple watch off the bike is the perfect combo in my eyes.
The more serious you get about riding, you will want a chest HR monitor and bike computer, but the good news is that combo is not nearly as pricey as the new Apple Watch.
Id strongly suggest a chest heart rate monitor as soon as possible though.
The more serious you get about riding, you will want a chest HR monitor and bike computer, but the good news is that combo is not nearly as pricey as the new Apple Watch.
Id strongly suggest a chest heart rate monitor as soon as possible though.
09-15-18, 02:40 PM
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I'm a big fan, but it didn't start out that way. I have the cellular Series 3 which means I can leave my phone at home. I have a bike computer I use for my training rides, but when I ride to the store or other errand - of have my bike computer crash - the Series 3 does just fine. I also use the Strava app.
Here's the thing - at first, I was kind of ho-hum about them. But they grow on you and become part of your daily life. Now? I wouldn't want to be without one ever. They're that integrated into my day - weather, appointments, messages, alerts, phone, etc...
Here's the thing - at first, I was kind of ho-hum about them. But they grow on you and become part of your daily life. Now? I wouldn't want to be without one ever. They're that integrated into my day - weather, appointments, messages, alerts, phone, etc...
