Charge 2 GPS tracking cycling

[TueRasmussen]

Hello everybody,

I recently got a Charge 2, and in the track exercise with GPS data I can only choose between run/walk/hike. Outdoor Bike is listed as an "Auto Recognized Exercises," but it says, that GPS will not be turned on.

Can it really be true, that FitBit doesn't offer any tracking with GPS for outdoor cycling?

I've looked at the forums and found this: Charge 2 Connected GPS

One accepted solution says to "Start bike mode on Charge 2, wait for connected GPS to activate," but I can't seem to find a "bike mode."

Can anybody help me with this?

Kind regards,

Tue

[Rich_Laue]

@kda1 the Alta does not have heart rate, do you mean the Alta HR? 

As for Strava with Heart Rate, you will need to track your exercise with gps. This means the app is needed, but the tracker must do a sync right before turning the run tracking off. I don't see a way to do this so I don't think sending the heart rate to Strava will be possible with the Alta HR. See the Strava post. 

[FitnessEh]

I have done this and it still doesn't work most of the time.

Some feedback on this... It's not at all obvious that when you manually initiate the bike exercise mode that you have to wait and ensure that it connects properly. This is especially confusing because as soon as you start the exercise mode it starts counting down! This makes you feel like you gotta get going, but no, you have to look for an easy to miss phone icon to see if it connects. Alas, even when you see it connect, it doesn't actually stay connected and properly track.

I can't believe this device is being targeted towards general consumers when it's so unintuitive and hard to get working.

[Bbur]

Hi,

Mine seems to be working now in bike mode.

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[RedglovesMike]

I've done that, but when I try to track a bike ride I still get the message "Check App"?

[Cas1203]

I have outdoor cycle being monitored but cannot turn on gps for this.  I have a charge 2.

Any help would be appreciated

Carol

[Rich_Laue]

@Cas1203 have you read the solution? At what step or you having problems? Are you carrying the phone with you for the connected gps to work? 

[Cas1203]

Thanks for reply. Yes both phone and charge2 are with me.

My account settings > exercise shortcuts have 7 listed. Both run and bike
have GPS enabled. Run works and provides route etc.

My account > exercise goals > outdoor bike states GPS will not be turned on.

In this area it states that it will be turned on for run.

My app is updated automatically.

Would you know what I have missed?

Thanks

Carol

[Cas1203]

Thanks for reply. Yes both phone and charge2 are with me.

My account settings > exercise shortcuts have 7 listed.  Both run and bike have GPS enabled. Run works and provides route etc.

My account > exercise goals > outdoor bike states GPS will not be turned on.

In this area it states that it will be turned on for run.

My app is updated automatically.

Would you know what I have missed?

Thanks 

Carol

[mikutzul]

Same issue here. Really hoping to find a solution

[Bob_Denny]

I found the device settings and made the changes. Now Walk, Bike, and Run are the first three listed, and all three say Connected GPS below their listings. 

Still, + button, Track Exercise, <- Track, Tracking, map shows correct coordinates, the exercise type menu contains only Run, Walk, and Hike. No Bike, and I have removed Hike from the device settings yet it still shows in the Track Exercise menu.

What am I doing wrong? I asee people tracking stuff. Plus after I finish tracking my map sits on a blank screen forever. Different problem I know. I do get the track for walking though I have to look later. 

[Bob_Denny]

I missed this reply capability sorry. I can't use @USAF-Larry's solution.

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-2/Charge-2-GPS-tracking-cycling/m-p/2701246#M157000

[Cas1203]

Hi

I continue to have the this issue...I cannot get outdoor bike using and
tracking via GPS.

I tried many settings ....I lost the GPS on run with all the changes during
the investigation process ....to correct I needed to remove and reconnect
phone / charge2...

I am now back where I started a few weeks ago....which is

Run is an exercise recognised and with connect to GPS.
Outdoor bike is an exercise recognised without a connection to GPS.

Help still required to resolve... Anyone?

Thanks

Carol

[Tritherapist]

I just got my Charge 2 for my birthday. I can’t figure out how to turn on the cycling tracker. Outdoor cycling is listed as one of exercise favorites. Not sure how to turn the GPS on for the cycling feature, please help.

[Cas1203]

I can't help , I have the same problem and not one person has been able to
advise me how to resolve. I am a simple user ....I would expect Fitbit
representative to step in and advise but alas not one has ventured to
assist..... disappointed.

[Mulvamj]

To map the route, make sure the bluetooth is on and synced with your phone.

Once you get to the cycle mode on the watch, hold the button down until it buzzes. That's when tracking starts. When done, hold the button down again until it buzzes to finish tracking.

I hope that helps.

[Mulvamj]

I got sufficiently frustrated with FitBit's tracking and started using Strava instead. It's a free app that seems a lot more accurate than FitBit, without all the frustration. The only advantage FitBit has is that it measures heart rate. So I use both apps together. 

After doing that for awhile, I unlinked the FitBit app from Strava because it kept double posting all my workouts.

Hope that helps some.

[Cas1203]

I can't get the cycle mode on my Fitbit dash.....I get run only !

How can I add a cycle option to the Fitbit charge 2 watch?

Thanks

Carol

[Mulvamj]

I think you need to do it using the website. Then you can re-order the workouts in the order that you like.

[Cas1203]

Thanks.

I have tried the website , logged into my account.

Exercise shortcuts includes run, walk & bike.

Auto excercise recognition has walk, run and outdoor bike set accordingly.

I do not see any other references.

Would you please advise where the setting might be to add the bike icon to
my Fitbit wrist band so that I can select from the device.

Thanks

Carol

[Mulvamj]

Maybe this would help from https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-2/How-to-re-order-exercise-tiles/td-p/2167505

Try from a PC @Jennlee

login to fitbit.com , click the gray'd gear in the upper right corner (settings)

click on the pic of your charge 2

scroll down to "exercise shortcuts"

Click Edit Exercise Shortcuts to choose the exercises you want on your tracker, then click Save. You must have at least one exercise on your tracker.

Click and drag the Row Reorder icons to arrange the exercises in the order you want to see them on your tracker. The next time you sync your tracker your changes will take effect.

(If you remove an exercise from your tracker, any existing stats for that exercise that you’ve already tracked are still available in your exercise history.)