Tracking types of exercise via app (not on watch)

[MamaRhi]

I have been using my app to log my bike rides because my Fitbit doesn't have GPS. It allows me to have a really nice map view along with distance and time of my ride. However, I cannot for the life of me choose BIKE as an option.

When I choose the sprocket under "Exercise" for options I can see walk, run, outdoor bike, elliptical, sport, aerobic workout, and swimming.

When I manually try to log my exercise by clicking the little timer, under the drop down, my only options are Run, Walk or Hike.

I have clicked on everything I can think of. I have searched for previous topics about this. I am at a loss. I am hoping someone has figured this out or can tell me this feature isn't possible through the app so I stop looking 🙂

Thank you in advance to whomever unlocks this mystery for me! 🙂

[JohnnyRow]

You say you see 'Outdoor Bike' as an option.  Is that not what you want?

But if want to change the Exercise Shortcuts options, see

Can I reorder the exercise shortcuts on my Fitbit device? 

[MamaRhi]

Outdoor bike is an option under "Auto recognized Exercises" when you click on the sprocket for exercise goals. However, when you try to actually log an exercise my only options are "Run, walk hike"

I cannot choose anything else, there is no way to scroll or see anything else.

Yes, I want outdoor bike.....I cannot find how to add it 😔 

[JohnnyRow]

Sorry.  I misinterpreted.

Which Fitbit do you have?  That makes a big difference.  Although your Fitbit doesn't have GPS, if it has the Exercise App, you can start it from there.

If it does not have the Exercise App (maybe an Alta), then Walk, Run, Hike are the only options to be able to get the map.  The only way to keep the map would be to call the bike rides something else, say Hike so you would always know what that meant.

[MamaRhi]

I have a Versa.

I have been logging them as Walks. But other than distance & time nothing else is accurate. There's no way to edit it from the dashboard either. My pace makes me look like the fastest walker ever....cause duh, I'm biking.

I just don't understand why there are all of the options in settings & not under the actual tracking of the exercise.

Then when I do want to bike or walk it's hard to make any analysis.

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

@MamaRhi   This YouTube video shows you how to start a bike ride using your Versa and your phone's GPS.  You can see all that you need in less than a minute.  Choosing an exercise looks a little different now.  There was a firmware upgrade.  So now you tap on your Exercise icon, choose Bike and tap on that.  Wait for the phone to connect (your Versa will vibrate), then hit Start.

Tracking with the app is a feature known as MobileRun.  It was Fitbit's first way to do GPS tracking.  Biking is not a choice because Fitbit's focus was still on walking and it didn't have the algorithms to do the calculations for a bike ride.  MobileRun isn't designed for biking.

[MamaRhi]

Thank you. I guess I always have to just use my watch. Sometimes I forget it, or it's charging and I want to ride my bike. I was looking for a way to do it on my phone as a back-up.

Thank you for the video and the confirmation that the app isn't an option 🙂