Best Garmin Watch for Cycling to Track Your Rides [Buying Guide]

Jun 21, 2024 - Views: 530

Rating: 4.7 - 50Votes

What makes the Garmin wristwatch a better option for riders than a cycling computer? 

Although they both work similarly, wristbands have a lot of advantages to cycling computers. 

Not only can the best Garmin watch for cycling sync with smartphones, but also with ANT+ equipment, such as heart monitors pedal sensors, and Bluetooth devices. 

Hence, these watches will improve your performance on and off the saddle, regardless of your preference for a basic tracker or an advanced gadget.

So read our blog post to discover the best product and how to choose a Garmin cycling watch!

Which Garmin watch is best for cycling?Which Garmin watch is best for cycling?

What to Consider Before Buying the Best Garmin Watch Cycling?

In this part, we go over some of the most crucial features to consider when purchasing Garmin cycling watches.

We will also compare best Garmin watches to smartphone apps and bike computers for when you are out and about on two wheels.

Check them out now!

How to buy the best Garmin cycling watch?

How to buy the best Garmin cycling watch?

Price

How much would you be willing to spend on Garmin watches for cycling? 

Never forget that a product's pricing ought to match its features. Thus, carefully examine the pricing while keeping the following factors in mind.

Read on to find out our suggestion for the best budget Garmin watch for cycling!

Tracking and/or GPS

GPS is a feature that almost all Garmin watches include. 

The GPS on a smartphone allows you to track your travels even on devices without GPS sensors. 

You should get the best Garmin GPS watch for cycling

You should get the best Garmin GPS watch for cycling

Further, more advanced watches can connect to several GPS navigation devices and even let other people follow your progress along a path. 

In case you get lost, the navigation capabilities on the majority of Garmin watches can assist you in getting back on track.

Cycling modes

There is at least one cycling mode available on every Garmin wristwatch. 

But there are several cycling modes available on its more advanced ones, such as the Fenix series, which includes Biking, Mountain Biking, Indoor Biking, and Triathlon.

These riding modes, which are based on more sophisticated biometrics, offer more detailed information that you can view both during and after a ride.

Check the cycling modes

Check the cycling modes

These data points also include variations in speed, altitude, and energy production. 

Therefore, if you lead an active lifestyle with hobbies other than cycling, you should look for a wristwatch with modes specifically designed for those activities.

Read also: Garmin watch for fishing

Connectivity

Cycling watch Garmin can connect with other apps by connecting over Bluetooth to your smartphone and the Connect app. 

Nevertheless, to access that extra data, ensure the gadget you are using has ANT+ and/or Bluetooth capabilities, such as heart rate monitors or pressure sensors built into your pedals.

Your wristwatch should be able to connect to other apps

Your wristwatch should be able to connect to other apps

Wrist-based heart rate monitor

A lot of smartwatches include wrist-based heart rate monitors built in to give you information about how hard you're exercising in addition to other fitness measures like recuperation and quality of sleep.

Since wrist-based heart rate monitors rely on optical sensors that must remain in touch with the skin to provide an accurate measurement, they are often less accurate than chest strap monitors.

Still, many of them work effectively and offer useful information about heart rate—specifically, averages rather than peaks.

Heart rate monitor feature of a Garmin watch

Heart rate monitor feature of a Garmin watch

Battery life

You don't need a smartwatch Garmin for cycling watch that has a long battery life if you simply want to use it for quick daily excursions and don't mind charging it every day. 

On the other hand, you'll need a watch with a larger battery unless you intend to charge it every day or if you're going to be traveling on lengthy or multiday excursions. 

Garmin also makes solar watches that can be partially charged by the sun.

Durability

Select a durable Garmin GPS cycling watch

Select a durable Garmin GPS cycling watch

You might not need a heavier, more robust watch like the Fenix if you use your smartwatch mostly for commuting.

In contrast, if you engage in a lot of activities that require you to bang it up against rocks or walls, you'll need a watch that can withstand pressure.

Additionally, most Garmin watches have a 5 ATM rating, which qualifies them for swimming and protects them from sweat and water.

Music

Certain smartwatches can allow you to download music and connect to headphones if you prefer to listen to music while riding and don't want to pack a phone. 

Although not essential, this feature is wonderful.

Do you want a Garmin watch cycle with music?

Do you want a Garmin watch cycle with music?

Best Garmin Watch for Cycling

You now know what has to be taken into account when purchasing the best cycling Garmin watch.

It's time to examine which of the products below will satisfy those requirements!

Trending Garmin Watch for Cycling

The Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar is the company's flagship solar-enhanced GPS multisport wristwatch, which has been popular these days.

It replaced the Garmin Fenix 6 with a redesigned touch screen, better battery life, and more training options.

Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar

Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar

More than 60 activity profiles, ranging from cycling to climbing and gym exercises to parachuting, are pre-loaded into this smartwatch. 

Further, the Garmin Connect app offers more activity kinds for download, or you may make your own.

Road cycling, cyclocross, mountain biking, gravel riding, and electric bikes are just a few of the cycling profiles. 

You may modify the data panels on each profile to meet your specific requirements.

Read also: Best Garmin watch for mountain biking

Best Selling Garmin Watch for Cycling

Although a cycling watch will always be more difficult to see than a riding computer with a huge face-up screen, it will free up bar space for bikepacking luggage. 

Here are some top-selling products with great deals.

Garmin Forerunner 945

Garmin Vivoactive 4

Garmin Forerunner 945

Garmin Vivoactive 4

  • Premium GPS smartwatch with music

  • Full color, onboard maps guide

  • Safety and tracking features

  • Keep track of several workouts regularly

  • Affordable entry-level unit

  • Accurate tracking of location and heart rate

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Other Garmin Watch Cycling

Cycle technology is already simple, yet Garmin watches make it much easier. Riding has always been appealing because of its simplicity.

Take a look at the following best Garmin watch for cyclists:

Garmin Venu 2: Best for casual cycling

Garmin Instinct 2: Best for cycling modes

Garmin Forerunner 45: Best budget

Garmin Venu 2

Garmin Instinct 2

Garmin Forerunner 45

  • Screen size: 33mm

  • Weight: 49g

  • Min battery life: 8 hours

  • Max battery life: Up to 12 days

  • Screen size: 23mm

  • Weight: 52g

  • Min battery life: Up to 30 hours

  • Max battery life: Up to 65 days

  • Screen size: 26mm

  • Weight: 36g

  • Min battery life: Up to 13 hours

  • Max battery life: Up to 7 days

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Garmin work for cycling?
There's a riding option on every Garmin model available. Some of its best Garmin watches for cycling, such as the Fenix series, provide various cycling modes, such as Biking, Mountain Biking, Indoor Biking, as well as Triathlon.
Is the Garmin Forerunner 55 good for cycling?
Despite being promoted as a running watch, the Garmin Forerunner 55 can be used to monitor and collect statistics for a far wider range of activities, such as walking, cycling, swimming, general cardio, and more.
Is Garmin Fenix good for cycling?
The Garmin Fenix series is ideal for cycling. For example, cyclists may find the many quality-of-life features of the Fenix 6 smartwatch useful.

Conclusion

These days, a lot of smartwatches enable GPS tracking, offer cycling-specific settings, and can connect to other training tools like power meters. Certain smartwatches—like the best Garmin watch for cycling—come with more features than cycling computers, including built-in heart rate monitors and other metrics for tracking health, such as sleep quality monitors, step counts, and calorie counters.

It's well known that Garmin produces some of the greatest smartwatches available. Its products will improve your performance on and off the saddle, regardless of your preference for a basic tracker or an advanced gadget.

Rating: 4.7 - 50Votes

10 Comments

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  1. Brad Greenwood

    Brad Greenwood

    I have a Forerunner 235. Can i use it for cycling?

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    1. Barcodelive

      The Forerunner 235 was designed primarily for runners. It can also be used to track cycling activities and “other outdoor activities,” but these options are not its main focus.

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  2. Ramiro Hayden

    Ramiro Hayden

    Can you recommend a good Garmin cycling camera?

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    1. Barcodelive

      Garmin Varia RTL515 is worth purchasing (https://amzn.to/3RCsqRi). It provides awareness of vehicles approaching from behind up to 153 yards (140 meters) away. Compact vertical design mounts easily to most road-use bicycles

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  3. Stephanie Salas

    Stephanie Salas

    Can Garmin calculate VO2 max from cycling?

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    1. Barcodelive

      Garmin cycling computers only calculate VO2 max during cycling. If you are, however, recording your cycling activities with a Garmin multisport watch, it can also calculate your VO2 max when you are out for a run. The primary difference in the analysis for running versus cycling is the source of external workload data.

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  4. Robert Hardy

    Robert Hardy

    Great article, love it

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    1. Barcodelive

      Many thanks

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  5. Derrick Draper

    Derrick Draper

    I have been interested in getting a Garmin watch for some of my summer activities, but I'm finding the choices/options a little overwhelming - especially when balancing my needs. I'm interested in the best all-around watch that would give me info/feedback for cycling, goft, and sleep data

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