Counting steps for Cycling!

[Smellie32]

So I have had my Fitbit for 6+ months. As I have researched issues, I have noticed that many people have struggles with not being able to count steps while cycling, I to get frustrated with this. Being a triathlete and competitive, want all my steps to count. What I don't understand is how after a few years of Fitbit knowing this is an issue, why have they not come up with a solution? It is more motivating when all your activities count as steps so when you are competing against friends on the Fitbit app that you feel you have a chance. I think Fitbit needs to expand their horizon to not only motivating customers to walk and run but all sports. Swimming and biking are my 2 favorites. 

[VeganBiker2]

Hey Diana2, Yes there still is a serious problem. I went on a 33 mile bike
ride today and earned more than 6,000 steps. I did have a good set of bumps
on a stretch of rode.

I really do not understand how a bump counts as a step. when I walk, I am
gliding across the sidewalk and not jolting. Steps still count.

Patrick

--
*Patrick Cavanaugh*
*35 years reporting on the industry*
Cell phone:* (559) 287-7090*

*PRINT*
*Editor*
*Pacific Nut Producer, *and* Vegetables West*
* www.malcolmmedia.com *

[VeganBiker2]

Hey Diana2, Yes there still is a serious problem. I went on a 33 mile bike
ride today and earned more than 6,000 steps. I did have a good set of bumps
on a stretch of rode.

I really do not understand how a bump counts as a step. when I walk, I am
gliding across the sidewalk and not jolting. Steps still count.

Patrick

--

[ColK]

I posted the initial thread a long time ago.  I have a bum ankle so jogging and too much walking are out but cycling is ok so I simply wanted to track my cycling.

[1director]

@Rich_Laue 

Wish there was a dislike button....this has been a long running topic for discussion and for many with a valid reason, like for insurance coverage to name only one. Your replies are pessimistic. 👎

I don’t read @Diana2’s comment a complaining. 

[ColK]

I went through a lot of ridicule that I was cheating by putting it on my ankle as bike strides and steps are not equivalent.  I responded to someone trying to have their bike activity count.  Feel free to express your concern to Fitbit - as for my responses this will be my last so..,,

[VeganBiker2]

Yep, That's what I do most of the time. Cycling--- count miles and activity
and not steps.
Swim--count activity--not steps. Lift weights----count activity---not
steps.
I know for a fact that the Fitbit engineers can fix this problem, because
it did not exist in Fitbit Charge device. I biked and no steps were counted.

Sorry about your ankle!



--
*Patrick Cavanaugh*

[VeganBiker2]

Hey at 1director; I'm pessimistic???

VeganBiker

[1director]

Hello VeganBiker2...no sir, I was directing that at Rich_Laue.

[xjonx]

I'm no longer interested in this topic. Please unsubscribe me.

[chadwick103]

Click the button at the bottom of the emails.

Sent from my iPhone

[Diana2]

Sent from my iPhone

[VeganBiker2]

1director, Thanks for getting back to me. I feel better now.

Patrick

[Heybales]

---

@VeganBiker2 wrote:
Hey Diana2, Yes there still is a serious problem. I went on a 33 mile bike
ride today and earned more than 6,000 steps. I did have a good set of bumps
on a stretch of rode.

I really do not understand how a bump counts as a step. when I walk, I am
gliding across the sidewalk and not jolting. Steps still count.

Patrick

---

Impacts are what the devices read. They assume it's a step.

From known weight and stride length setting and hang time, it's known if walking or running, and each observed impact can be calculated against expected impact - to see the distance of that "step" no matter what it may be.

Even with wrist device it's attempting to see good impact data despite the arm swinging.

On bikes road impacts usually overpower the minor pedal strokes.

Why some people get no steps seen when gripping a shopping cart, and some get tons of steps riding in old truck on country road.

And yeah, it would be nice if there was fitness challenges that used other stats for workouts, and increased daily activity challenges that just used steps.

[VeganBiker2]

Diana2, I have heard your explanation many times, but thanks for your
great efforts! I just want to ask Fitbit why none of these issues were
present with the Fitbit Blaze.

Patrick

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[Rich_Laue]

@VeganBiker2 can't really say why you didn't experience this with your blaze. Every tracker has plenty of posts on unwanted steps. 

On a bicycle, your arm is on the handle bar and can only see the bouncing over bumps on the road/path. 

While walking, your tracker being on the arm has no idea what the feet are doing. When the tracker sees specific arm movements that usually are made while walking, Fitbit assumes the feet are stepping. 

[t.parker]

@VeganBiker2  it shouldn't be hard for Fitbit to disable steps counting once you start tracking non-step based activity but I don't think they want to do this. Otherwise, they would have done it already. I use two other sports watches (different brands) which don't count steps for non-step based activities by design, which makes sense. On the other hand, there is number of users who expect to receive some steps and they even expect to implement sort of conversion mechanics. You can't please everyone so Fitbit decided to leave it as it is.

[Rich_Laue]

@t.parker did you add your vote to the suggestion. It there that users let the developers know what features are wanted. After 5 years and less than 400 votes, it doesn't look like users want steps removed. 

Option to remove steps earned when 

We also have this and other suggestions requesting all noon step based activities be converted to steps counted. 

So what should Fitbit do? Who should they decide to frustrate more, and who should they appease? 

[VeganBiker2]

@t.parker---Of course users do not want steps removed. Many of them are
clear cheaters who want to show how active they are, when they are not!

Patrick

[Kaprock63]

Steps are steps and should be able to covert the pedals to steps. The pounding on the knees vs riding a bike will prevent wear and tear. My knees are feel my 20k step days...

[Kaprock63]

it is technology and should be able to do it all. The pounding on the knees and back could be detrimental to your health...