GROUPTEST
On-the-wrist data and GPS trackers
What runners have known for some time cyclists are now starting to appreciate – there’s a lot to be said for a smartwatch. While you’ve likely been wedded to your cycling computer because of its navigational nous, today’s smartwatches are often just as capable of getting you successfully from A to B, while at the same time offering a plethora of health and performance data that your bikemounted computer can’t match.
It turns out that by being on the wrist a smartwatch is better able to track your health, even while you sleep. This round-the-clock surveillance can be turned into valuable information, letting you know when you should train and when you should rest. It’s tantamount to having your own cycling coach with you at all times.
And as it’s always on you, there’s one less thing to have to remember if you regularly switch between bikes.
As with head units, there’s a wide range of watches to choose from, with varying price tags to match. Our cheapest watch in the group test, the Garmin Forerunner 255, is a penny under £300, while the most expensive, the Apple Watch Ultra is almost three times the price. How much you end up spending will likely correlate to your needs and whether you’re looking for a smartwatch to replace your cycling computer or rather to complement it.
Apple Watch Ultra £849
The Apple Watch Ultra is designed to be rugged and features a screen constructed from sapphire glass, which apparently is second 61g only to diamonds in terms of its ‘hardness’. A bold claim, but one substantiated through our experience. The watch is also dustproof and waterproof to 40m.
The watch has large side buttons and a digital crown, which worked well even when wearing gloves. However, we tended to rely on the touchscreen – it’s fantastically bright in all weather conditions and very responsive.
If you’re an iPhone user it’s quick and easy to set up. The watch will work with other smartphone brands, but the functionality is decreased. Using the Wayfinder watch face option, we selected the battery life, start activity, music, move rings, date, heart rate, temperature, and sleep tracking options. This face also turns into a compass if you tap it and there is the option for night mode.
The watch features several health tracking features, including heart rate (HR), ECG, which tracks how your heart is beating and checks for arrhythmia, blood oxygen, temperature and sleep, which is broken down into awake, light sleep, deep sleep and rapid eye movement.
Using the watch for different activities was straightforward. To compare HR data, we did a mixed interval session on the indoor trainer, just to track how HR tracked compared to a Wahoo Tickr chest strap. Our BPM was always within a
