Choose Only The Best Mountain Biking Watch

For serious mountain bikers, a handlebar-mounted bike computer was the only reliable option for storing correct ride data and GPS route tracking until recently. However, with technological advancements, you can now find watches with biking-specific features and those with compatible biking apps and a dedicated cycling mode.

What Is A Mountain Biking Watch?

In a nutshell, a mountain bike watch is design for tracking the distance, duration, and speed of the course you take during your biking sessions. Apart from this, it can also provide information on elevation, calories burned, heart rate, and the total climbing distance. Fitbit have introduced the Fitbit Surge, which is a powerful watch designed for biking.

Why A Mountain Biking Watch?

The main reason you might opt to purchase a mountain biking watch is to obtain valuable information such as calories burned, how much distance you travel, and the speed you achieve on a particular route. The aim is to improve your biking performance and gauge your performance level during the training or racing period. In addition, if you are on a serious biking and training program, the watch will also guide you on how many calories you burn during each training session.

How Mountain Biking Watch Helps You In Biking?

However, biking watches are not just meant for professional bikers. There is no denying the fact that the watch, in general, offers tons of benefits to ordinary biking fans. Biking enthusiasts who are constantly searching for an effective way to improve their performance on the field, also start using biking watches to obtain the data and relevant information which can help to make them move a step ahead.

How Do You Choose The Best Mountain Biking Watch?

It’s a little bit tricky to choose the best mountain bike watch as the criteria for choosing the best watch for a mountain biking activity lies in the perception of the rider about the watch. In simple words, it’s highly debatable to decide what is best for the mountain biker and what information he/she wishes to get from the watch. In one way, the mountain biking is all about riding your bike over various courses, as with any standard bicycle riding. In this regard, one may not require any fancy features in the watch, as the simple time and date display in the watch will suffice the need. However, there is no denying the fact that advanced technology in your biking watch could prove to be very efficient and beneficial.

Why Can’t I Just Use My Phone?

A number of high-end phones now feature built-in GPS capabilities. They can also track your cycling activities either through a specialized app or by working with a third party app. Furthermore, some phones even come with a heart rate monitor for heart rate related data. So, why do you need a specialized watch to track your biking data?

Well, there are several reasons why using your phone to track biking data is not a feasible option. First of all, not all phones come with an accurate GPS or heart rate monitor. However, when it comes to watches, you are guaranteed to get the correct information at all times.

Most phones have a maximum of 7 days of battery life. Biking for 2 hours each day (the highest acceptable amount), will drain your battery entirely. The battery will last an hour longer than that if you use your phone as a GPS tracker, but again, that’s nowhere near enough for those who wish to track biking data.

However, you don’t have to keep checking your phone to see how fast and how far you’ve gone. A biking watch shows you all the data you need at a glance.

Not only that, but with a dedicated biking watch, you’ll also have a built-in heart rate monitor to check when you’re recovering or to plan for your next workout.

What Features You Should Consider When Choosing A Mountain Biking Watch?

Battery Life – A revolutionary bike watch should get more than 7 to 10 hours of battery life. Otherwise, you will be constantly charging the watch or take it off while you’re out.
A revolutionary bike watch should get more than 7 to 10 hours of battery life. Otherwise, you will be constantly charging the watch or take it off while you’re out. Screen – An easily readable screen is something everyone prefers in their watches. With a large screen size, you will get a better view of the biking data.
An easily readable screen is something everyone prefers in their watches. With a large screen size, you will get a better view of the biking data. Price – The high-end watches can be quite expensive, with a cost of over $200. However, you will still find a number of great watches in the $100 range, which can be a good investment for a serious mountain biker.
The high-end watches can be quite expensive, with a cost of over $200. However, you will still find a number of great watches in the $100 range, which can be a good investment for a serious mountain biker. Navigation – The latest models feature easy navigation systems with a touch screen and easy to navigate screens.
The latest models feature easy navigation systems with a touch screen and easy to navigate screens. Messaging – With a messenger, you can have an instant contact with your family, friends or your other cyclists, before and during your biking session.
With a messenger, you can have an instant contact with your family, friends or your other cyclists, before and during your biking session. Tracking – You can automatically log your biking activities with your GPS watch, or you can use existing smartphone apps to track information like heart rate, distance, speed, etc.

Garmin Fenix 5 Sapphire

This product was recommended by Jessica Miller from Bike Inquire

Garmin Fenix Performer Bundle 5 Sapphire is classic in the field of watches. This calculates the quality of heart activity, sleep, and has GPS features and handles emails and text messages. This watch offers almost everything you are seeking. It also has the ability to replace bands so you can effortlessly romp through the wilderness in the daytime, and have a night out around town during the night while putting on a similar watch. Fenix 5 includes maps and the ability to incorporate with the power meters. It is one of only a few watches with that capability. Its unit supports Bluetooth Smart Cadence/speed sensors and Bluetooth “smart-power” meters. While connected, you’ll be able to see all the information from that power meter when riding.

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Fitbit Ionic Watch

This product was recommended by Eddie Johnson from Anabolic Bodies

It has a built-in GPS so you can see your key stats and shows a map of the route you took. It’s a good all round watch and tracker that is great for beginners or kids. Being water resistant if you want to cool off during your ride it’s not a problem. You can choose your own style with a choice of a leather or plastic strap.

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Polar M430 GPS Running Watch

This product was recommended by Noman Asghar from Fan Jackets

One of the best GPS watches for biking because it has a reliable GPS. It is impeccable because it has not only a GPS feature but also has a heart rate and a fitness tracker. The amazing thing is you can use it during rain because it is waterproof.

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