Pinkbike Poll: Do You Run a GPS Bike Computer?

May 20, 2022
by Seb Stott  
photo
More stats, more laps?

Getting away from the hubbub of everyday life is one of the big draws of riding a bike, and for some, getting rid of any electronic distractions is key to enjoying the great outdoors. But personally, I really like having a GPS computer on my handlebars.

For one thing, it shows the time of day and basic navigation instructions right in front of me, which means I need to stop and look at my phone less often. For me, that means I'm usually less distracted by technology when using a GPS. I'm not one of those maniacs who has email notifications from their phone pop up on their bike computer, so it's just a progress report I can glance at occasionally, not an anxiety-inducing source of pings and pop-ups.

But most of all I like having a few basic numbers in front of me to keep tabs on my progress. I find it motivating to watch the vertical meters tick up as the climb drags on. I like seeing what my heart rate is doing so I know if I should ease off the pace for the sake of the long haul, or if I could afford to push a bit harder. I also find it useful to have an estimate of how many calories I've burned and how long my recovery time will be, based on my weight, ride time and heart rate. This may not be a precise number, but with experience, it gives me some idea of how much additional food and rest I should be getting before my next ride.

photo

Don't get me wrong, I don't always ride with a computer. But for longer rides and solo missions, I find they can be a useful tool for motivation, pacing and recovery.

What do you think?

Do you ride with a dedicated bike computer or GPS?



If you use a computer, which metrics do you find most useful?

Tick all that apply.



Posted In:
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161 Comments
  • 133 3
 "dedicated bike computer" - I always track my ride with a garmin watch that does all those things in the poll. Which I use as much as anything so that my wife can tell S&R where to find my body when my luck gives out. Does that count?
  • 169 0
 Exactly. Our conversations go like this:

me: “I’m heading out for a ride.”

wife: “Ok, have fun and don’t die.”

me: “If it shows I’ve stopped moving for more than 15 minutes at any location, that’s where you send the ambulance.”

wife: “Ok, then have fun until you die”
  • 141 17
 @mnhmb: Ha 15 minutes, you clearly don't smoke enough weed.
  • 7 0
 @mnhmb: Geez, at that rate S&R would come out every time I have a chat with a friend until they get tired of it. That'd be the time I need them.
  • 8 0
 @mnhmb: 15 minutes....? man, stop to smell the roses!
  • 4 0
 Yes as this is literally how a local legend was found on the trail after he passed while riding.
  • 1 0
 @mnhmb: ha, I've had almost that identical conversation.
  • 9 0
 @closetdutchman: I can think of worse ways to die.
  • 2 1
 @noapathy: It’s funny - often bump into friends on the trail and we stand around and BS while catching our breath. On those days, I’ll shoot a text out letting her know that “I’m alive and being social, no need for ambulance” (usually involves some sessioning, trail maintenance, etc)
  • 5 0
 My Garmin 830 has a crash sensor and will send an emergency distress signal to my selected contacts if not told not to within a certain time after it goes off. Only activated it once, screwed up a drop and slammed my nuts into the back of the seat as the then went cartwheeling about 50 feet.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to get to your bike and shut that damn thing off when you are hunched over in pain? It was comical. Got it there, shut it off, curled up, only to have it go off again and ask if I was sure I wanted it off.

FYI, my garmin transmits live tracking data to two people. First is my wife. Second is my son who actually knows the poach I ride and how to point S&R to where I am.
  • 4 0
 @carym: A mate of mine rides like such an ape that the crash alert on his Garmin watch is always going off...
  • 7 1
 @jasbushey: I just lay down places for a good while sometimes - it's not supposed to be work so I don't have a computer with me. I measure time and distance in beer(s).
  • 2 0
 @boozed: Yea, I hear the fast guys have that issue. I am old, if it starts going off while I am riding, it means slow down before I hurt myself. Smile
  • 4 0
 This! I also where a bright colored jersey just to make it easier to find my body. I try to be considerate.
  • 2 0
 @jasbushey: Salad break.
  • 2 0
 @carym: I was riding with my buddy, trying to show off a bit, long story short was a dislocated finger and broken ribs. I will never forget when I realized I wasn't going to cancel the Garmin alert that was going to go to yes my parents as a late 30 something guy and asking my buddy to get into my pocket for me to get my phone out to call them and tell them that yes I was ok and with a friend but that I would going to the hospital later. Oh man good times.
  • 1 0
 @mnhmb: you need more life insurance. She’ll stop telling you not to die.
  • 1 0
 @closetdutchman: @miramar ? If so, I know who you are talking about.
  • 1 0
 @boozed: That’s funny! We all know one of those guys.
  • 1 0
 Me to wife: Out riding, Life360 app location service is on, if I am not back in 4hrs use the app to locate me.
Wife: K
  • 1 0
 I 100% picked my watch for the live track and crash detection
  • 90 7
 NERDS
  • 54 11
 Says the guy who took time out of his day to post this on pinkbike.
  • 13 1
 @ratedgg13: Well, thats called a troll.
  • 2 2
 @eswebster: and irony to boot!
  • 19 0
 Easy guy. Save your nerd comment for the folks that mount their phones to their handlebars ok?
  • 1 0
 @ratedgg13: its called, we do a little trolling
  • 5 1
 The poll numbers must be wrong unless people are counting their Apple Watches. I’d say less than 1 in 10 people on my local trails have a dedicated, bar-mounted computer.
  • 4 0
 @gnarlysipes: Remember the selection bias of this poll: It's by definition only being answered by people who spend time geeking out on an MTB website.
  • 2 0
 @barp: Fair point.
  • 29 1
 Smart watch are the way to go. Keep track of elevation, heart beats, distance and more.
  • 11 0
 exactly and in my opinion better because its not in front of your face and distracting by looking at it too frequently. im a fan of the watch
  • 4 0
 @andraperrella27: or drop it on a rough trail and need to go back looking for it.
  • 1 0
 Is there one you can use for maps ? Don't know whether to get a watch or computer
  • 5 0
 @Deezruts: Garmin Fenix/ Enduro/ Forerunner 745 models have Trailforks capacity. I use a Instinct and it has a "track me" feature so you can see your path taken but that's it. Garmin has some great features
m.pinkbike.com/news/trailforks-now-on-garmin-wearables.html
  • 5 0
 @Deezruts: ya, I use the garmin fenix. functionally it's almost identical to a regular garmin except it doesn't have the jump data. You can upload routes for turn by turn, see your location, strava link, all that stuff.
  • 2 0
 @Deezruts: I believe some of the Garmin watches now have trailforks integration
  • 3 0
 I find having a watch eventually ends up bruising my wrist on rough trails, so I prefer a computer. Plus it's much easier to look down at the computer, especially with road bike hand position
  • 1 0
 @ybsurf: that's exactly what happened to me when wearing a watch.
  • 2 0
 If you get a gps fitness watch, make sure it has a barometric altimeter. Otherwise your elevation tracking will be off..
  • 1 2
 I'm in my 50's. I can't read my watch without glasses, so Garmin 830 it is. And no watch can measure all the cool things my Garmin does.
  • 1 0
 Currently in the market for a watch, what are opinions on Suunto? Guy in the local outdoors shop said he switched to Suunto from Garmin as he was having too many GPS blips, and that Suunto does every thing his old Garmin did for half the price?
Cheers
  • 1 0
 @naptime: I had a Suunto, it was alright but I switched to garmin because the metrics are just better. My Suunto also read less elevation than the garmin which compares much more closely to a topography map. I haven’t looked back and probably won’t buy a Suunto again unless there’s something they really do better than garmin.
  • 1 0
 @monkeybizz: cheers
  • 1 0
 @naptime: get a Garmin
  • 1 0
 @naptime: I’d go garmin
  • 11 1
 Far fewer senselessly furious people in the comments than the last time this question was asked. It is okay to mix technology with this wishy washy idea getting away from the world. For me, it's really helpful for a couple of reasons. Number one, I ride mostly in the evening, so knowing the time helps me plan when I should be heading back to avoid the darkness. Number two, as the majority of my riding is XC training, knowing my heartrate helps me to control my efforts. On that point, I will say this, that just because some people think that fun means not knowing anything about your ride, that doesn't apply to everybody. Some people, me included, find training fun, and there is nothing wrong with that.
  • 2 0
 I love my Garmin for being able to see my heart rate, feet climbed and track my performance. Otherwise I am a complete luddite about electronics on my bike. To each their own and what makes them happy.
  • 3 0
 Agree with all of that, though I never bother with HR any more. To add to it, using the maps properly was game changing for me, and allowed me to ride a load of stuff in new places whilst having an actual route and directions. Just riding and "working it out" sounds ideal until you're stopping every ten minutes to check your phone for directions or lost
  • 6 0
 I first got a bike GPS because tracking long rides would kill the battery in my phone, making the phone useless when i might need it most (it's late, it's dark, I'm lost, it's snowing,etc.) . As someone else said, having a basic map/compass in view is nice when you're trying to find your way home when exploring in the mountains
  • 5 0
 I use the smallest cheap garmin one. Always found using my phone inaccurate. Don’t really look at it while riding. It’s just to sync to Strava when I get home for the sake of tracking progress and stats.
  • 3 0
 Same here. The Garmin def acquires the satellites better than my phone.
  • 1 0
 @riderofmarin: I find the opposite. I've a Fenix 5 and if I'm riding with both, it will almost always be the Garmin which doesn't pick up the start of the trail or starts me too early or gives me a really slow segment time. I don't understand it.
  • 1 4
 phones are one thing, but WATCHES are the absolute worst!!
  • 2 0
 My main source of recording mileage/etc is Trailforks on my phone.

But I also usually record the ride on my Garmin watch. But I don't upload that data anywhere (not even to GarminConnect). Instead its used so I can 1) check my HR, and 2) not have to dig out my phone to check the time, distance, elevation gained sorts of info.
  • 2 0
 I picked "Other" because it's missing the only thing I carry a computer for: "Calculate route Home". When I'm exploring, which is often, I always want to be able to backtrack or compute a route home (second option can be risky). Watch isn't a good option for this due to battery life and collision exposure.
  • 2 0
 I'm interested in getting a Wahoo Elemnt Bolt, but not for $350 CAD. I ride in areas that I know, so unsure I'd get a benefit from having a bike computer over a phone (my ph battery never dies on ~2hr rides). Too much money for what it offers.

And if it's gathering more stats and revealing how slow I am, or how much better I could be vs others, then it's already robbing the joy out of mountain biking. Strava can have this tendency already.

Also very interested to gather heart rate info - not constantly but I'd like to see what my heart's doing at high intensity.
  • 1 1
 @jasbushey: I'll sell you a Suunto Ambit 3 Peak w/ a heart rate belt for $200 + shipping from Nelson. Then you can see your HR and sync it to Strava directly.
  • 2 0
 Just been using garmin edge for navigation- plot route ideas on laptop, download gpx and then ride new places without stopping to look at map all the time (this is for off road exploring, or gravelling as I believe it’s known these days
  • 4 0
 I don't use strava, computers etc as I don't need to be reminded how useless at going fast I am.I don't need tech to tell me I'm slow...I know that already.
  • 1 0
 ruins the ride for me, all that data. Its fun being in the woods and bombing trails. I am the only rider I know that does not record the shit out of their rides..
  • 8 6
 Riding by myself so I don't have to listen to other people's Garmin going beep beep at every casual stop. No instagram story mode nonsense either. Self over self absorbed IMO
  • 2 0
 I've run a GPS when riding on holiday. It was really handy a couple of years ago to rack up the trails around Whistler. At home I ride to get away from all the electro noise in my life, it stays in the cupboard.
  • 1 0
 I virtually always ride with my watch and/or my head unit. Sometimes I leave my phone behind and carry an old GoPro Session for photo memories. I can't check the photos until I finish my ride, so no time wasting making sure they are 'perfect'. No phone means no messages (I have an inReach if I need communication for safety).

I don't like having the device easy to see so I won't get distracted by it.
  • 4 0
 I go riding my purely mechanical/hydraulical mtb to shut off from those dam* electronics. So no bike computer for me...
  • 1 0
 I'd like to have Trailforks level trail nav with voice guidance so you don't have to mount a farkin TV to your bars to ride unfamiliar trail systems. Not a fan of headphones while riding but I'd plug 'em in for this in a second.
  • 1 0
 I'd be happy with a trailforks watch app.
  • 4 3
 Where's the option for F*ck GPS logging because Strava has created huge issues with conflicts with other user groups and made the sport even more race centric. The soul of mountain biking took a big beating the day a segment and associated KOM was created.

Signed ex Strava junkie
  • 2 1
 Could also say the same thing for 29ers, gravel snobs and Ebikes... trail braiding for KOM's fkng sucks.
  • 6 1
 No phone. No watch. No electronic tech. Just tools, snacks and water.
  • 2 0
 I carry the phone, but no strava, just turn on Life360 real-time location, let wifey know I am out. I solo ride a lot. Snacks, water, tools, minimal first aid kit, possible packed jacket..
  • 2 0
 @Matzadd: either the missus and/or the kids with me every ride so no need for electronics as anyone within 10km can hear us riding!
  • 5 4
 i just ride my F-ing bike no interest in complicating my peaceful rides with more gadgets. . Phone in pocket running the strava app. if not accurate WTF cares. If i need to call someone in an emergency, maybe i'll have service maybe i won't.
  • 15 0
 if you don't care why do you run strava?
  • 2 1
 Love the bike computer. I ran a watch for the longest time (Fenix 5X) but my puny wrists were taking a beating from that 47mm bezel (or whatever large absurd diameter it was). So I got a 530 then and 830 and haven’t looked back. For what it’s worth the riding near me is primarily road gravel, while weekends are for MTB. But the computer goes on both bikes. I find it very satisfying to watch feet climbed increase or monitor your HR or watch temperature trends or sunrise/sunset times conveniently on my bars without bruising my dainty wrists. So all in all good deal.
  • 1 0
 In the past few months started using a cycle computer for the first time in 16years of mountain biking. I love it, but I don't NEED it. It's a complete man gadget and you should upgrade every other aspect of your bike before you consider one.
  • 1 0
 My "GPS computer" is always with me, on my wrist, and records maybe 90% of the time, but mostly just to help remember where the fun shit is. Mileage is really only used for maintenance schedules. Ride time is my preferred metric and usually the one that has the most constraints (kids take sooo much time). Heart rate, etc, is good to have so I know my body isn't aging out that fast quite yet. And it's always nice to see resting heart rate go down in the spring as the ride/exercise frequency goes up.
  • 3 0
 Curious what people get out of a computer they they can't get out of a smart watch?
  • 12 0
 Maps?
  • 4 0
 Strictly for curiosity sake, jump metrics and more accurate temperatures. And since I use the same device on my roadie, radar information from the Varia tail light.

Also, after a large and technically difficult race (True Grit Epic), it took a week for my wrist to recover.
  • 1 0
 Strava Live Segments if you are into that kind of thing... I personally enjoy it on my ride to the office.
  • 1 0
 Powermeter compatibility, reliable altitude, navigation possibility between others
  • 4 0
 Watches don't work for my bony wrists. I don't like the added pressure on the forearm muscles as well. (Hate elbow pads for the same reason.)

AXS integration is neat too.
  • 2 0
 If you're just using a watch as a recording device and it captures everything you want then it can be a great solution. In my experience the optical heart rate on my Garmin watch is really unreliable/inconsistent. If you're doing any kind of intervals, laps, or connecting to external sensors like a HR monitor, power meter, etc. the head unit is a lot more user friendly. I push Trainerroad outside workouts to my Garmin head unit and it works a lot better on a head unit than a watch. Display is bigger (and front and center), buttons are bigger, sensor connections are easier.
  • 2 0
 Maps and jump metrics are both functions of a lot of Garmin watches now. I thought Strava live was too. A more accurate HR I can understand if that's extremely important to you.
  • 2 0
 I upload the GPX route into my unit and it provides me turn-by-turn direction and upcoming elevation. I don't wear watches.
  • 1 0
 @addisonchen: fair if you don't wear a watch, but that is also a Garmin watch function.
  • 4 0
 I don't like to wear a watch.
  • 1 0
 @addisonchen: how does Strava Live Segments work on a watch? I would guess you have to take it off your wrist????
  • 1 3
 @Narro2: Strava Live Segments? you guys ride in places where you actually have a cell signal? must be boring
  • 2 0
 @Narro2: why would you have to take it off your wrist?
  • 3 0
 @f00bar: It doesn't require a cell signal. You just lets you know that you are on a current Strava segment that you have an interest in and tells you where you are on that segment. No cell is required. You just have to sync your device at some point.
  • 1 0
 @warnerdamj: GPS accuracy, if that’s your thing. A lot of people that use GPS watches for Strava complain of very poor tracking, as compared to full head units. The receivers have to be much smaller in comparison in a watch, resulting in GPS location (and segment times) that drift wildly.
  • 1 1
 @JSTootell: ah ok, I never used Strava for the actual tracking, because it's simply way too trivial and the maps are a joke
  • 7 0
 For me, battery life. Garmin instinct can do max 8hrs GPS. My Garmin 530 can do multiple full days of riding without needing a charge.
  • 1 0
 Serious question, wouldn’t watch people need to continually let go of the bar to look at the watch? Like say I’m on long technical climb and I want to monitor my heart rate, don’t you need to let go? Seems very inconvenient if not impossible. Plus I ride in the winter with layers that I assume would cover the watch making it impossible to look at anything in real time.
  • 1 0
 @Rich-Izinia: Yeah, a watch's HR monitoring is most useful after the fact.

I use a head unit or watch depending on the situation.

Road/Gravel: head unit.
MTB when I need help navigating: head unit
MTB when I'm 100% confident I know where I'm going: watch. In this case I know the trails enough that I can meter my effort and not worry about my HR
  • 1 0
 wayyyyy better GPS accuracy, way better HR accuracy, more data on the screens, more reliable data in general. i hate wearing a watch while riding too, after so many big hits itll start digging in on the wrist.
  • 1 0
 @warmerdamj: live Segments shows your pace live and how far away you are from your PR or KOM also live, on the uphills only though. If you have your watch on your wrist you won't be able to see the screen or at least it will be very difficult.
  • 2 0
 @f00bar: haha, ok
  • 1 3
 curious why you need a smart watch?
  • 2 0
 @dinosaurmonkey: Nobody needs a smart watch or a computer. I asked what people get out of a computer vs a smart watch. Facetious comments fall flat when you don't read the original comment.
  • 1 2
 @warmerdamj: I read the original comment.
  • 6 6
 This is the second time I've weighed in on one of these polls to say basically the same thing: I call B.S.

If, by "dedicated bike computer" we are excluding fitness watches/smart phone apps and talking instead about mounted bike computers, then I struggle to understand how 45% of people claim to "always" + "usually" use bike computers. I ride at popular and crowded trail centers in Colorado, and I so rarely see dedicated bike computers on mountain bikes. Like, virtually never.

Granted, most of these ride centers cater to 140-170mm bikes - so perhaps I am discounting the trail/xc segment based on where I ride. Still - I checked with a pretty hardcore XC/gravel rider that I know and he said the same thing "people who use bike computers are more likely to weigh in on a poll about bike computers - I rarely see them on full suspension bikes."
  • 3 1
 maybe the people from your area havent answered the poll yet...
  • 3 1
 Why are you complaining about a non-scientific poll being non scientific? This poll is not intended to be scientific. It's designed to generate clicks, which it does.
  • 2 1
 i never leave for a ride without my garmin 530, whether its at a bike park, cross country ride, booze cruise... hell even DJ rides get the garmin!
  • 1 0
 Doesn't it say "dedicated bike computer or GPS"?

Wording isn't the best, but that sounds like Bike computer, it a GPS unit (eg. GPS watch). That's probably where the numbers are coming from (at least I answered "always" because I've always got my Garmin watch on)
  • 1 0
 I have a garmin edge 530 I use for pre-riding enduro race routes or exploring new area and have planned a route. Once I know the route or ride my regular stuff I don't bother. extra weight, chance of losing it etc...
  • 3 0
 Nothing here, no computer ,Strava, go pro ,trailforks. A few tools and a phone in case I tumble down a ravine, that's it.
  • 1 0
 I have a Garmin 130 that I use exhaustively to measure my pride and ego. How ironic that its battery life is far below stated expectations and that uploading rides is consistently inconsistent.
  • 4 0
 clock stem cap ftw
  • 1 0
 Not a metric per se, but I often upload my ride map on my GPS to guide me on new adventures. I plan unknowm rides using komoot.
  • 1 0
 I only use oruxmaps, trailguide and trailforks to navigate. Stopped tracking my rides because its kinda boring and unnessesary. Saves battery to not do it.
  • 9 10
 no, im against this and strava. i firmly believe strava is one of the main reasons for trail braiding which is a nightmare for trail builders and anyone that cares about their trail systems. keep electronics out of mountain biking.
  • 12 0
 @whitebullit - I'd argue that the root cause of people trail braiding or otherwise displaying stravassholish behavior (like sketchy passing, yelling at people to get out of the way, etc.) is not the electronics, but those people's inherent a*sholery. Now if only we could figure out how to keep a*sholery out of mountain biking (or politics, or the workplace, or really any life domain).
  • 1 0
 @g-42: yup always remember there are more Aholes than you expect. You can't keep them out but you can call them out. It's not trolling it's patrolling
  • 1 0
 @g-42: Agreed. I guess I don't ride enough of the busy trails because I can't think of a single case of someone making a sketchy pass on a trail or yelling at people to get out of the way while riding and I spend a lot of time on single track in Oregon. I get the evil eye from some hard core pedestrians at times when I meet them on the trail. I always smile and say hi. I do XC racing so I do train hard and fast some times but I'm never riding fast on busy trails. That just does not make any sense. If you really want to climb fast at your own speed, gravel roads or remote, low traffic trails are the only way to go. For going fast downhill, dedicated downhill only trails are the best but remote low traffic trails can work.
  • 3 0
 A lot of times the trail braiding is from all the knuckleheads that insist on buying super slack long travel bikes and can't handle riding singletrack. It's more and more common these days as all these dorks want perfectly smooth machine groomed trails.
  • 1 0
 I'd counter that and say that Strava actually helps the trail network. If you ride a lot on public land, then Strava heat maps provide tons of data on which trails get ridden the most etc so maintenance and funds can get allocated accurately. I always log my rides now I understand that system. People just have to realise that not every ride has to be a stravatard smash fest.
  • 2 0
 I will sometimes track my rides with my phone, but if it's a trail I know and ride a lot, I usually don't bother.
  • 1 0
 I only track rides on well known sanctioned trails. If I'm riding those trails then I'm mostly there for fitness.... don't track many of my rides lol.
  • 3 0
 Need a used to option, but don’t care anymore
  • 2 0
 If I were going to use anything, it would be an Apple Watch because of the fall feature.
  • 1 0
 I use an old Apple watch for tracking my rides and it works great especially if you don't like carrying your phone. One thing that I find useful is you can snap a photo of the trail map (with your phone) and then dump your phone in your car before you head out. The map photo will immediately populate to your watch 'Photos'. You can then pull the trail map up on your watch and zoom in with the dial as needed or if you get lost.
  • 4 0
 No computer. Clean bars.
  • 2 1
 don't get sucked into buying an expensive GPS or a giant handlebar mount for your iPhone, the minimal SIGMA Pure GPS gives you the data you need in a small cheap package
  • 1 0
 Hadn't heard of this. And $100 is a reasonably priced option.
  • 2 3
 Why? if you XC... the only time where it matters then yeah go ahead, if you use it for anything more youve turned the "fun" into something else, Wish more people rode for fun instead of worrying about their 63HTA and lack of front grip or How many calories they burnt on the way up.
Considering i ride atleast 8 hours a week on a min, i dont need a computer to tell me ive lost 20kg and had a heap of fun doing it.
  • 2 0
 I hear ya', brother.
  • 5 0
 Some people, myself included, are stats geeks and love to pour over numbers for anything and my bike gps lets me do exactly this for my riding. No matter what I’m doing, I’m always doing math in my head in relation to the task. Driving, mowing the lawn… everything.
  • 4 0
 To be fair, I think that these devices can be used in a constructive manner. Personally, I have a 1000 mile mtb goal in 2022 and my computer, in this case my phone, helps me track that. It doesn't take any fun out of my riding and the mileage goal has definitely helped with motivation on those tough days!
  • 2 0
 @Rich-Izinia: "pour over numbers" = statistics about your coffee brewing; "pore over numbers" = studying your data. Signed, a word geek.
  • 2 0
 @barp: Ha, touché!
  • 2 1
 Oh, dedicated bike "computer". I thought you asked if I was a dedicated bike "commuter". Either way, no. I live to ride and ride to live.
  • 1 0
 Suunto watch / app - does it all - also great for snowboarding as well - tracks my weekly / monthly total . I’ve never used strava - not my bag
  • 2 0
 Current and average speed are two quite interesting metrics to me
  • 2 0
 Most useful metric: Speed.

Keeps me honest on the climbs.
  • 2 0
 Yes If I need navigation.
  • 1 0
 The poll needed an option for "Not yet, but i really want one, and am still working on the explanation to justify it"
  • 1 0
 Why would u not bring a GPs unit and record your ride metrics for Strava or for personal history?
  • 3 0
 Because I know where I went and I don't care about the numbers.
  • 2 0
 My tv has a colour screen.
  • 2 0
 All I need is the time so I can be home in time to “parent”
  • 1 0
 I mostly use a Garmin as it allows me to get the battery percentage on my Shimano Ebike.
  • 1 0
 Cadence and heart rate only when I'm road riding. Distance, elevation gained/lost, and ride duration on all rides.
  • 2 0
 Still no device to measure the smiles per hour. Still not needed.
  • 1 0
 I use a map, the terrain, waterways, the horizon, sun or moon and practiced focus to navigate. Batteries not included.
  • 1 0
 And… I enjoy getting a little lost!
  • 1 0
 I don't need a computer to tell me if I had fun or not, and that's all that matters.
  • 1 0
 Why is there no option for " Im to broke to afford one so I use my shitty phone to record my rides."
  • 1 0
 I use a clock to track my rides. I check the time before I ride, and then I check it again when I come back.
  • 1 0
 My Garmin 520 doubles as my trucks speedometer
  • 1 0
 I run GPS so I can get lost with TrailForks on my Garmin device!
  • 1 0
 I just use my garmin watch
  • 3 2
 If it ain't on Strava, it never happened.
  • 1 0
 Indeed, I've said the same. Ha.
  • 1 2
 oh it happened... you just don't know about it.
  • 1 0
 Garmin Edge 130 and leave my phone at home.
  • 1 0
 I ride "naked".







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