help menu

Join us on the Community Forums!

  • Community Guidelines

    The Fitbit Community is a gathering place for real people who wish to exchange ideas, solutions, tips, techniques, and insight about the Fitbit products and services they love. By joining our Community, you agree to uphold these guidelines, so please take a moment to look them over.

  • Learn the Basics

    Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for information on Community features, and tips to make the most of your time here.

  • Join the Community!

    Join an existing conversation, or start a new thread to ask your question. Creating your account is completely free, and takes about a minute.

Not finding your answer on the Community Forums?

Cancel
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Fitbit tracking on bike rides

‎08-09-2014 07:40

‎08-09-2014 07:40

Just thought I would share this with everyone - I had to stop wearing my Fitbit on bike rides because the jarring motion would put it in and out of sleep mode the whole time.  So, I started taking it off and attaching to my cell phone holder I take on every ride, which hangs from my handlebars.  Somehow, someway, it accurately tracks my calories for the ride, without wearing it but just hanging on the case!  I have tested it twice now and both time, it was correct down to the calorie so if you are adding your bike rides in by hand, try this trick and see if it works for you too!

Best Answer
6 REPLIES 6

‎08-09-2014 07:57

‎08-09-2014 07:57

Are you using an app with it? Like endo because I didn't think the fitbit had the ability to track calories on bike rides? Doesn't it only really track steps?

I just got mine so maybe I'm missing something..?
Outlaw trying to live on the righteous side of hell.
Best Answer
0 Votes

‎08-09-2014 08:45

In response to Kora

‎08-09-2014 08:45

That's exactly what I thought too!  No, I track my miles and time with a bike computer on my bike and when I came home and typed it into the Fitbit app, it gave me the same number of calories that had automatically added to my calories since the beginning of my ride.  I didn't think it would count them either because it would be like riding in a car.  I don't know if it is because the cell phone case kind of swings on my handlebars, rather than being stationary but it really does work.  Just a short cut to keep from typing more in than you have to.

Best Answer
0 Votes

‎08-09-2014 08:52

In response to CMichelle

‎08-09-2014 08:52

Hmm.. I haven't taken mine bike riding yet, but I'm planning on going mountain biking tomorrow and had wondered how it would react to all that bouncing and jumps.

Since I wasn't sure. I linked mine to endo. I had planned on just tracking my bike riding on endo and letting it over write whatever had happened with the fitbit on my ride. LOL But it had not occurred to me that the bouncing might put it to sleep!
Outlaw trying to live on the righteous side of hell.
Best Answer
0 Votes

‎08-09-2014 08:56

In response to Kora

‎08-09-2014 08:56

I stopped using Endomondo when I got my Fitbit, same with My Fitness Pal.  Prefer to keep all my info in just one place, but that's just my personal preference.  Plus, Fitbit tracks pretty much everything I need, except (previously) bike rides and weight training/Cross fit.  YES - the first time I wore my Fitbit for bike riding was incredibly annoying - I don't mountain bike, just road bike but every little bump or dip - sleep on, sleep off, sleep on, sleep off!  GRRRR!  Couldn't stand the constant vibration so that's what made me take it off in the middle of a ride and put it on the my cell phone case.  Thought it was pretty darn cool it still counted everything automatically.  Good luck and enjoy your ride!

Best Answer
0 Votes

‎08-09-2014 22:58 - edited ‎08-09-2014 22:59

In response to CMichelle

‎08-09-2014 22:58 - edited ‎08-09-2014 22:59

Well, the pace you happen to go on the bike happens to match the calorie burn Fitbit calculates from steps thinking you are walking or running (depending on impact seen, which obviously depends on road surface ridden on).

 

There are so many more ways that will not work.

 

It is pure coincidence. Count yourself lucky for now.

 

Wait until you get more fit and can bike faster, you will quickly leave behind the calorie burn for walking/running, and the Fitbit will be very inaccurate compared to a more accurate source.

 

My own Fitbit, either on ankle seeing half the steps, or on waist seeing less than half, is about 70% off best estimate calorie burn.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help the next searcher of answers, mark a reply as Solved if it was, or a thumbs up if it was a good idea too.
Best Answer
0 Votes

‎08-10-2014 05:30

In response to Heybales

‎08-10-2014 05:30

Could very well be true and if it changes, I will be sure to report here!

Best Answer
0 Votes