Does the fitbit not record when you are cycling?

[Leafster]

My fitbit does not record my work on my stationary bike. Is that due to the fact that my wrist is not moving?

[MXRocker]

I have the same issue.  It does not record your cycling time, unless you ride with your hands on your legs/knees.

I normally log in my cycling time on the "activity" log. 

[Mary]

This paste from the support pages mentions the Force but it's the same for all Fitbits.  

Can I use my Force for cycling or other non-step-based activities?

Though Force is most accurate for step-based activities like walking and running, you can receive credit and estimated caloric burn for any activity you log on your dashboard.

[ammulder]

Have you tried strapping the band to your ankle while biking?  Not sure how accurate it would be, but it would give you something...

[Baltoscott]

I have a fitbit one which I wear in my pocket. As compared to walking, it records about 25% of the steps/mile -- for example I get roughly 2000 steps/mile when I walk and I get 500 steps/mile on my bike commute. Because it is moving when I ride it records hills as "stairs" which tends to motivate me toward hillier commutes so I can hit my daily goal of 100 floors.

[Pinyonhill3]

Mine wasn't recording either until a friend told me to attach the bracelet to my shoelace. Now it counts every step (pedal).

[LewWagner]

I wear my Fitbit Zip at the 11 o'clock position on my shorts waistband and use a recumbent cycle.  I ride for 8 miles (cycling) at around 15.63 mph and burn around 490 calories.  I repeat this segment about another 3-4 times during the day so I get in around 4K calories burned daily.

I find on my logging and dashboard that the Zip has recorded steps, distance, calories burned, and VAM.  Granted, the steps and distance are not the 8 miles of cycling but a lesser amount.  Still. it is recording what I do.  I get just enough hip action and there is still some shrinking fat "love handles" that contribute to that movelment.

Hope this helps.

[camper823]

someone told me to remove it  from the wrist band and put it in my sock or tie the wrist band to my shoe.

I haven't tried it though.

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@MXRocker wrote:

I have the same issue.  It does not record your cycling time, unless you ride with your hands on your legs/knees.

I normally log in my cycling time on the "activity" log. 

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[Heybales]

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@Pinyonhill3 wrote:
Mine wasn't recording either until a friend told me to attach the bracelet to my shoelace. Now it counts every step (pedal).

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So normally you get counted every left step, right step.

Is your method really counting every step, or every step of the foot it's on?

So really half the steps you actually are taking. Even though, lets be honest, they aren't steps.

Also, the formula for coming up with calorie count from steps is based on walking and running. Not biking.

So the calorie count is most likely off, usually by decent amount since half steps. Unless you do your biking really easy.

Well, if calories is off, VAM time is off too, likely not hitting it.