Charge 3 counting steps while cycling

[kmaus]

Hi all,

I am new to Fitbit as I bought my Charge 3 this week and still figuring things out. However, I noticed that my Charge 3 continues to count steps while cycling. Is there a way to stop this?

I want my Fitbit to only count my real steps, as I commuting 5 times a week 20km to my work. For the past 3 days, I am over 15,000 steps on a daily basis, which I don't think is accurate.

Many thanks for your help!

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[RiseAndShine]

@Anders101, what is the benefit of not counting steps for biking? I'm sorry, I'm just not getting it... it's an exercise (and pretty hard and intensive one!) that is getting converted towards our step goal. Think of a steps as one of 'general' measures of your activity level. For example, average recommendation is reaching at least 10K steps per day. Now, if cycling is not counting (which I'd dare to strongly disagree with), then how'd those of us who cycle can estimate average day-to-day activity when steps are not included and cycling is a big part of our activities (among others)? 

Once again, instead of ruining stats for everyone else, why not think about separating the steps from different activities? You don't want to include cycling - that's fine, there should be a way to see your step count by activity. But why is it so tempting to take this feature away from many other users who find it helpful (and actually depend on it because many corporate apps sync with Fitbit app and base their health incentives on Fitbit metrics).

One more note... Charge 3 is measuring 'floors' (10 ft elevation), not 'stairs' based on changes in barometric pressure. Cycling uphill will result in 'floors' added, alternatively windy weather or changing weather conditions can result in the same result for any activity, not only cycling. (Or no activity at all...)

[Anders101]

It already exists a way of generally measuring how much different exercises impacts you, the measurement of burnt calories. That is and should be enough.

I do not want any conversions of steps and stairs when I go for a bike ride or a swim, which would be ridiculous and give false input to my steps and stairs goals. I do neither want any fake steps nor fake stairs, disturbing my goals on my Charge 3.

But as I already told you, if it should turn out that anyone would like to have the bug/conversion with fake steps and fake stairs anyway, make it at least configurable option for us that like facts. Though I bet that most users would like to have an accurate counting of steps and stairs.   

[RiseAndShine]

@Anders101, calories might be a good measure for someone targeting weight loss,  but their accuracy would be more prone to errors then steps (which are much easier to count than account for physiological specifics of each user). Once again, you can exclude steps counted for biking, but those users who would like to have them added will not be able to include them! You also keep forgetting about corporate users who rely on Fitbit app - I'm yet to see a requirement to reach certain calorie loss goal, but step count is always there (including cycling activities converted to steps). We can keep arguing forever, the fact is - you already can exclude steps from cycling for your personal goals, yet asking to exclude them for all users who don't find it helpful at all (rather harmful for many aspects). I have been using a few fitness apps over the years, and they all were  converting cycling to steps. Fitbit is not alone here.

[ma_wik]

I like the step counting when biking. I used to have a Polar a360. It did not survive the washing mashine. It was excelent for trining.

To me fitbit charge3 is not a traning supirt it is a fitnes support. I have this 10'000 step objecive every day to assure that I am moving.  I think it is good that I get my cycling partly "credited" as step.

There is very much where I have been disapointed  of fitbit but not of its support in getting me to move myself in any way.

Keep daily fit = Fitbit. Log your training = Polar.

[why_knot]

Another helpful metric is "minutes active", but I still don't understand how do you exclude steps? I think what we are all saying in this thread is a simple setup on/off toggle NOT to count steps when cycling is what we are suggesting, that way all users get what they are looking for... 

[RiseAndShine]

@NewbisFB, there're a lot more people that 2 who are happy with Charge 3, but this is totally different subject. There's plenty of info on-line to research different brands/trackers. I haven't seen a 'perfection' with any of them. Actually the best reviews are for really 'no-name' cheap bands out there.... maybe because people don't expect much from them? For other 'big name' brands/trackers reviews are rather similarly split with lots of votes on both pros and cons sides. 

@why_knot, I totally agree! An option that would satisfy those who would like to include converted steps in daily total or exclude them would totally work! (Or as I mentioned in previous posts - to have the ability to break down totals by activity type so you can see contribution from each activity type). What I disagree with is to simply turn it off for everyone...

@chrismcclain077, I honestly don't understand what 'double credit' you're talking about.... Pretty much any activity will give you "credit" for active minutes, calories, steps, etc... It's not one or another - it's a combination of multiple factors as a result of physical activity - isn't it how it works for majority of exercises? 

To wrap it up - some users would like to incorporate cycling into the daily step count, some don't... What I'm calling for is really trying to be considerate towards other users when coming up with suggestions to make sure those suggestions would rather add to existing functionality (thank you,  @why_knot!) and not take away functionality that others find useful.

Have a great day everyone!

[UltraNerd]

Many valuable replies in this thread in the last few days!

I can see both sides of the discussion about whether you would want steps added or not while cycling/swimming, even though my personal preference is to not count them.

For cycling this behavior might be up for debate, but going by that same logic it would be incorrect to count steps while driving a car or sitting in a bus or train.

And another real bug. The statistics for my exercise in the dashboard show that the impact of that exercise is "+0 steps added", but looking at the steps throughout the day it is clear to see that many steps got added anyway during the hours that I was on my bike. 

An acceptable solution for me would be to have exercise types that allow you to select your preferred behavior. Assuming that "+0 steps added" really means no steps are added. So a "cycling with steps" and a "cycling without steps".

[Anders101]

@RiseAndShine, what do you mean with calories measurements are even faultier than the step counts?
Does the heart beat measurements not work either?
I will get out my old pulse watch from the closet and compare with the Fitbit values.

You state that there is a way to exclude steps and stairs from biking, could you explain how to do it?
The support guys did not mention any workaround for the bike bug.

As it is today, you that prefer the bike bug are forcing fake data on us that want facts about our exercising. I totally understand that you do not want to do real steps when it is easier to get fake steps by getting out on the bike for a while and your company gets satisfied with you reaching the goal.

With that in mind, what I want is configurable options were the users can select if they want to have the bike bug remaining with its fake steps and stairs or actual facts about the exercise.

Not all fitness apps has the bike bug, it has been mentioned in the thread that the Garmin Vivosport does not add steps when biking.

If Garmin can solve the Bike Bug, why should not Bitfit be able to do it as well?

[RiseAndShine]

@chrismcclain077, I understand now what you're talking about double credits - thank you for clarification! Didn't know about it. It's interesting though - I checked my log, and don't really see it... I cannot quite compare the data one-to-one since total calories are shown in 15 min. increments, but checking calories burned shown on a daily graph for the time when I biked with calories burned calculated as an impact of cycling - they're very close (differences are due to time gap). Wonder if it used to be an old bug that has been fixed? Do I miss anything?

[AlejandraFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hello all, I hope you are doing well.

I appreciate all the feedback and efforts in trying to fix this steps while cycling issue by yourselves.

@RiseAndShine and @ma_wik, thanks for the input provided.

@chrismcclain077, @Anders101, @why_knot, @UltraNerd and @ashwin67, on bumpy trails it's possible that your device will register steps but these should be negligible in your overall stats. If you have a device with multisport mode, make sure you choose the Bike exercise before starting your workout.

If you're relying on SmartTrack to automatically detect your bike ride, make sure the Outdoor Bike exercise is on. (In the app, tap the exercise title and then tap the gear icon in the top right.) If your device doesn't offer multisport mode or SmartTrack, we recommend logging your bike ride manually to get the best calorie burn estimation. For more information see How do I track my exercise and activities with Fitbit?.

@FizzyFiona, I am sorry to see you go. If in the future there is anything we can help you with, do not hesitate to post it.

See you around. 

[WilliHaase]

I am quite disappointed with this behaviour of the FB charge3.
I checked how bad my FB behaves and wrote down the number of steps before and after I did a short test ride with manual started an 'bike' exercise.
Before I had 5,048 and after 5187 steps, the trip was 1.1 km long and took me 3:47 min, avg speed 17.4 kph. I have to admit, that the road is bumpy (all are in UK). But come on, 139 bumps are counting as steps, even when I never stopped at this ride?
How can I do a step, if I am cycling and NEVER stop?
I am commuting via bike every day and getting a ridiculous amount of floors and steps.

Even worse via my skiing exercise, which are not implemented for the Charge 3 at all, you have to use the HIKE mode......

Suggested solution: If I already take the effort to set up manual a bike exercise, then all bumps during this exercise which happen with a speed faster than 5kph shouldn't be considered as a step. 

[Sathyak]

Much worried of this, I daily ride my KTM bike of 30km to n fro and it's counting steps for 6k approx, 3k steps for one way. Really annoying and I've been hearing from my friends who happily own Charge2 (older version) which doesn't count steps while riding bike. Pls fix asap....

[RiseAndShine]

@Sathyak, Fitbit is converting biking to steps by design... just like majority of fitness apps out there (I personally haven't used any app that hadn't done so...). Since overall 10K step goal (one of the wide-accepted standards) is not limited to strictly walking/running activity, but is rather intended to work as a general indicator of individual's activity, biking is converted to steps to be accounted towards daily step goal. If you 'google' it, you'll find various methods of such conversions, but it's rather widely-accepted practice. 

Have a great day!

[odd1.4ever]

I know this is an older thread but I think its funny because I have the opposite problem. I wANT it to count my cycling as steps, I end up putting the band on my ankle to do so lol also when I am on a stairmachine because if I hold on, it wont count steps. LOL

I think if you guys set the watch to your dominant hand in the app (but don't actually put it there) it desensitizes it a bit.

[odd1.4ever]

Isnt the point of getting a lot of steps, to be more active? There fore being on a bike is also considered being more active. lol that's the reason I would want it counted.

[RiseAndShine]

@odd1.4ever, welcome on board! You're in luck because Charge 3 is converting biking to steps. And I totally agree that this is something that should be happening since cycling - just as you noted - is an  activity that should be counting towards overall daily goal. However, some cyclists don't want this to happen - in this case would be nice to have option to turn biking step conversion on or off - this would allow everyone to have what they want without limiting functionality for any party.

[odd1.4ever]

It doesnt count it in my spin class unless I put it on my ankle lol but
yeah for those who dont want it, should be able to do something.

[RiseAndShine]

Oh spinning... I see - fitbit might have hard time converting it to steps since actual riding (on a surface) is not taking place and GPS is not engaged... You found great solution though, @odd1.4ever ! Cheers! 

[Sathyak]

@RiseAndShineI would agree if this same behavior seen with Charge2 too, but Charge2 never counts steps while biking, only Charge3 has this bug, can you comment? 

[RiseAndShine]

@Sathyak, I cannot comment on Charge 2 since I've never used it. It's a different device though and previous version of C3 - some changes in functionalities would be expected. The simple fact that when I track biking with GPS the app includes step count as one of the impacts to my daily activity tells me that this conversion is intentional and not a bug. Can only mention that all the Fitness apps I've used converted biking to steps - and to me it makes sense... Have a great day!