If you're coming from the Garmin / Wahoo ecosystem, you may have looked at the Apple Watch and wondered if one would make an acceptable substitute for your GPS-based handlebar mounted cycle computer. It makes sense to consider, as Apple has added additional functionality that makes the more recent Watch models interesting to cyclists (especially for cyclocross - more on that specifically in a minute.)
Let's take a look at some of the features and functionality of the Apple Watch* and learn what it can, and can't do for cyclists.
Apple Watch features for cyclists
Here are the basics of what the Apple Watch can do by itself while riding your bicycle - even without a GPS-based handlebar unit like a Garmin Edge:
- Connect to a power meter: you can connect your Apple Watch to many power meters to capture and display power stats.
- Track speed, distance, riding time, etc. - the usual cycle computer stats.
- Upload the finished ride to Strava.
- Detect crashes and notify emergency services: if you're unresponsive the watch may be able to automatically dial 911 on your behalf
- Display an estimate of FTP (functional threshold power)
- Track non-cycling metrics that may be appealing to athletes, like resting heart rate and sleep quality
- Monitor power zones, based on your FTP.
You'll note that some of these clearly rely on also having a paired mobile phone in your possesion, since the non-cellular versions of the Apple Watch otherwise have no connectivity of their own when you're away from WiFi (as you'll often be while bicycle riding.)
Can Apple Watch cellular replace carrying your phone on a ride?
For some cyclists, yes. The cellular version of the Apple Watch allows you to make and receive phone calls and send text messages, as well as access crude, cut-down apps (like basic weather checks or looking at a calendar.)
While it's no replacement for a full size iPhone or Android device, using the Apple Watch cellular is very appealing, because it allows you to have the safety and security without carrying a mobile phone in your jersey pocket (subject to the availability of the cellular network, of course.)
What cycle computer app should you use on the Apple Watch?
Two of the most obvious are both quite popular:
- Use the Apple-supplied "workout" app, and select "outdoor cycle." This built-in functionality is basic, but displays time, distance, elevation, heart rate, cadence, and so on.
- Use the Strava companion app in tandem with the Strava app on your mobile phone. It's more limited in functionality, but may be appealing to riders who use the Strava ecosystem.
- There are also a variety of additional apps, both paid and free, for the Apple Watch to experiment with for users who have some specific requirement.
Notable shortcomings of the Apple Watch for cyclists
While the Apple Watch has added quite a bit of new features for cyclists, it's far from perfect. These are some of the notable pieces of missing functionality:
- There's no native Garmin Connect support. If you mix/match devices, you may have some data in the Garmin connect ecosystem, for example, from rides completed with an Edge head unit. Apple Watch does not directly write to Garmin Connect, although, some workarounds are possible by using other pieces of software like RunGap or Apple Health as a go-between.
- Battery life: the Apple Watch isn't a good choice for all-day adventures or overnights, because the battery is just too small. It's quite a compact device with limited space for a larger battery. If you're heading out on a bikepacking trip, for example, you'll still want a traditional Wahoo or Garmin device. The Watch has a lower power mode that can help preserve battery life... but enabling disables features that many users would consider critical - especially if they're leaving their mobile phone at home.
- It's designed for your wrist, not the handlebar. That means you have to take a hand off the bar to look at the watch face. While there are handlebar mounts for the Apple Watch, in that scenario you can't use it to monitor your heart rate, and the display is also quite small to view at that distance. Finally I'm not sure how the fall detection feature would or wouldn't work if the watch isn't on your wrist.
Recent features and updates
Until recently, you could sync rides captured on the Watch to Strava, but they were missing power data from connected power meters. Strava has recently added support for this feature and power meter data that was captured on Apple Watch can now be synced to Strava.
My wishlist for future Apple Watch features
Apple continues to develop new features for the Apple Watch. Here are some I'd like to see in future hardware/software revisions:
- Blood Oxygen monitoring. Apple was sued over their initial Blood Oxygen monitoring feature and had to remove it. That's now resolved, and Blood Oxygen monitoring features are expected to be restored (on more recent models, anyway) shortly.
Why is the Apple Watch great for cyclocross?
For cyclocross racing specifically, the Apple Watch can be ideal for performance tracking. Here are the key reasons why:
- Cyclocross racers often change bikes repeatedly during races. Handlebar mounted GPS computers don't work well for this application. An Apple Watch on the rider's wrist solves this problem because it stays with the rider, not the bike. Professional cyclocross riders are often seen with wrist-worn GPS devices for this exact reason.
- The Apple Watch is very compact and lightweight, and keeps the weight off your bike, which is nice when you often carry your bike on your shoulder.
- While battery life on the watch is limited, it's still plenty to get through a warmup, race, and cooldown.
- Having metrics on your wrist instead of the handlebar isn't typically a big deal, since riders are much less likely to engage with metrics during a short, intense cyclocross race - devices are used for recording and analysis more than actually looking at them during the race.
- Similarly, mapping and navigation simply aren't needed on a short, controlled course.
Apple Watch Series 10 is the current hardware
* many of these features require a newer version of the Apple Watch and matching software. As of this writing, the "current" version of the Watch is Series 10, which was released in September, 2024 (i.e. it's due for a revision, based on Apple's typical Fall / annual refresh cycle.)