Track Cycling on Mobile App with GPS

What would be a great addition to the mobile app would be the ability to track cycling as well as the run, walk, hike options.

Moderator Edit: Edited title for clarity.

792 Comments
bwoodworth
Jogger

Already a thread going for this. Give it a vote so it gets noticed.

 

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Requests/Biking-support-to-Charge-HR/idc-p/925074#M29209

Mennecla
First Steps
How would the hiking or running mode be possibile then? They are already
supported with GPS tracking supplied by the smatphone! It would be just the
same with bike. It's just a matter of adding a line in the menu...
bwoodworth
Jogger

Mennecla: Exactly. That's my point. You aren't adding this feature to the Charge HR, you're adding the feature to the app. You can track a run/hike/walk using the Fitbit smartphone app without even owning a piece of Fitbit hardware.

 

There have been a few comments here that seem to be asking for GPS bike tracking on the Charge HR. All I'm doing is clarifying to some poeple that that isn't technically possible. A "bike mode" in the app would benefit all Fitbit users... not just Charge HR owners.

 

Soupthrilla
First Steps
They have to be working on it, the tech is already out there with other companies. I went for a bike ride yesterday and had the "run" mode set on the app, the person I was biking with had bike tracking software...long story short, the miles matched up but he had more stats...top speed...avg mph...calories...etc That is what you need, because if I was "running" 21 miles yesterday, I would have been breaking all kinds of records
Frosty999
Jogger
It is a bike track in the app that is requested so I do have to go between
different apps.
jkbrzt
Recovery Runner

Please add a biking mode. As of now, biking actually makes the overall data quality worse as it introduces false steps, etc.

rameshn
First Steps

Hey Guys, 

 

Thanks for clarifying. What I meant exactly is to have a bike mode on Fitbit app so that we can track our biking similar to walking/running/hiking, 

 

Thanks for the support and votes. 

 

Ramesh 

GregorEAU
Jogger
Why isn't there an option to track a cycle within the app and use the gps. No need to track steps, but it would be good to have the route tracked and hr data overlaid on the tracked exercise.
GregorEAU
Jogger

Ditto to the above... seems like we have lots of ppl who want this feature..

 

All that is required is to add cycling to the track exercise drop down in the app.

A bonus would be to include smarts to disable step counting when doing a cycle.

 

This has to be the only reason that I haven't bought a fitbit yet!

bruno123
Jogger

Bike option for Chargge HR would be much appreciated. so we can use charge HR easy and convenient.

Thank you.

EZ123
First Steps

Would it be feasible to have a velcro strap that would hold the fitbit, allowing it to be strapped above the ankle away from the gears, have a hole in the back for direct contact to skin to
allow for HR reading, and on the top for HR viewing? The the firmware would then merely need to figure out the difference between a step and a circular motion. Maybe just one counting up/down as a "step". A really high one 🙂

 

No need at first to be overly accurate, the amount of rotations counting as virtual steps. And yes, it might be inconveient to read ones HR at any given time. I'd stop first. 

 

Calculating actual distance is very diffcult as its dependent upon gear, wheel size, sprocket size, etc. so its a case of perfect not being the enemy of good.

bluefoxicy
Runner

FitBit could do this best using the motion trackers and such, especially in the HR.  The hand doesn't bob up and down as when walking, wheras the heartrate and velocity of movement both increase.  You'll have speeds between 5mph and 20mph (with peaks as high as 30mph-40mph) cycling; but your heart rate will be largely resting when driving.

 

The altimeter can detect when you're climbing hills, while the heart rate meter in the HR can detect when your heart rate increases.

Gancy
First Steps

Fitbit are you even listening? Nobody from Fitbit has said anything yet. Come on

Soupthrilla
First Steps
Are you there FITBIT, it's me, Margaret
SunsetRunner
Not applicable
It feels weird that this still isn't implemented. It shouldn't be that hard to implement a biking exercise mode in the Fitbit App. I hope they'll do that at some point...
shifty12
Jogger
The option to be able to track cycling defo needs to be added.. what's the point otherwise .. fitbit that fit won't. ..
Taylorworlds
First Steps
Hi, Like so many others I do not want to log manually and would love biking to be GPS tracked😊
GregorEAU
Jogger

What is more annoying, is that FitBit thinks that they have implemented this.

 

Either we are not making ourselves clear, or this is an administrative error.


 

 

Marcuscribb
Jogger
Please add bike option to iOS exercise tracking.
robertwhathorne
First Steps

I completely agree. Please add the ability to select "Bike" as an exercise in the GPS activity tracker on the mobile app.

 

Cycling is my primary exercise. Without the ability track a trip in the mobile app as you can with a run, my tracker accuracy is way out of wack. Using just the Charge HR on a bike without the GPS tracking, five mile bike trips are recorded as two mile runs.

Status changed to: Reviewed By Moderator
DerrickS
Premium User
Moderator Alum
Moderator Alum

@SunsetRunner I like this idea a lot! I'll be sure to relay this feature request on to the rest of the team to review further.

Thanks for sharing your idea with us on the Feature Request Board!

SunsetRunner
Not applicable
Thank you. There are a lot of Fitbit users who look forward to a positive result.

Sent from iPhone
WiserOne
Base Runner
Can someone reply on why this isn't an option? In fact, all activities that cover distance should be included! Make it smart, take in data from the altimeter in the fitbit or iPhone. Make it great, perhaps sell extra parts to attach to the bike to track cadence!
shifty12
Jogger
Please add bike tracking option for fitbit... what's the point otherwise. . Manually logging the information seems crazy and a long winded approach to something other apps are able to do.
Arifyusof
Recovery Runner
How do we change the status? It is not complete.
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