How do you use iPhone SE, iOS 10.1, with Garmin Mobile Connect?

A lot of questions ;)

First of all the Connect app doesn't seem to be fully compatible with iOS 10 as several other apps too, e.g. my guitar amp simulation, that forces me to stay on iOS 9.3.5 for a while. So do yourself a favour and don't update so shortly after a new OS release next time ... when iOS 9 was released it was simlar, not to forget the iOS bugs itself.

Check all the other iOS 10 and iPhone 7 threads here in the iOS forum and see, if there is a tip regarding the pairing question, that works for you ... in short ... pairing needs to be done with Garmin Connect Mobile, not with the iOS bluetooth feature!

Regarding live maps on your bike, maybe check out, if Strava helps here, which can be synched with Connect. GCM can only record a bicycle activity and show the GPS tracked route after you saved it. I'm still searching for an ideal solution myself.

Currently I have a Vivoactive HR and a bike computer by the German vendor Sigma, which are not compatible. But when I see all those Garmin issues reported here in the forums, I'm sceptic, if my plan to replace the Sigma with a Garmin, is a good idea, because the Sigma works as expected without any issues.

Hi, If I'm missing something I apologize in advance, but there's a big gap between the iPhone SE and the Garmin Mobile Connect iOS app. It seems like Garmin Connect offers very little on the Mobile app. How do they sync together and function? Is there bluetooth pairing? All I see in the iOS Dashboard is step recording and my past activity. For comparison on my Edge 500 I get tons of information in real time and its 7 years old. (Cadence still won't work with a new battery.) How do I pair the iPhone SE with my bike GSC10?

What I thought was going to happen was I could use the iPhone with Garmin Connect Mobile app on my bike to put together real time data and maps. Guess I was dreaming. I'm no where close to this. Isn't this the point? Is there another app out there you would recommend? Thanks in advance

What you do can't be done. Garmin Connect mobile works with Garmin devices not accessories such as the GSC-10. It's nothing to do with compatibility between iOS 10 and GCM. GCM interfaces with your device after the activity, not during. That was never the intent of GCM.

As suggested, you need to look to some other app like Strava.

What you do can't be done.

Yes, because the Edge 500 needs to be upgraded to a more modern model as it seems. I guess it can't be done with an iOS app, at least not live.

The following article gives some insight, how it would work with a newer Edge model:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/07/introduce-segments-series.html

And here is the Strava list of supported Garmin models:

https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/articles/216918277-Strava-Live-Segments-on-your-Garmin

PS: Here's an interesting article about a new app, that not only supports Garmin, but also GoPro cameras or even the iPhone camera:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/bycle-case-and-app-turns-turns-iphone-into-bike-computer-for-tracking-rides/

Interesting stuff ;) ... downside ... currently no iPhone SE support, only iPhone 6 models. But it seems this is still a kickstarter project and further supported phones will follow.

I have an "ancient" FR 305 which I can only sync via PC as it isn't bluetooth. Maybe the same sort of issue for you?

More function information

Yes, because the Edge 500 needs to be upgraded to a more modern model as it seems. I guess it can't be done with an iOS app, at least not live.

The following article gives some insight, how it would work with a newer Edge model:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/07/introduce-segments-series.html

And here is the Strava list of supported Garmin models:

https://support.strava.com/hc/en-us/articles/216918277-Strava-Live-Segments-on-your-Garmin

PS: Here's an interesting article about a new app, that not only supports Garmin, but also GoPro cameras or even the iPhone camera:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/bycle-case-and-app-turns-turns-iphone-into-bike-computer-for-tracking-rides/

Interesting stuff ;) ... downside ... currently no iPhone SE support, only iPhone 6 models. But it seems this is still a kickstarter project and further supported phones will follow.

OK so I like the looks for the Bycle website. Thanks for the ideas.
But these are my comments to that page. I couldn't add my comments on the page bc I refuse to use FB. I couldn't login to post.
Looks interesting but not enough details about the combination of iPhone SE, Google Maps, with cycling. Whats the functionality? I need bilingual Chinese/English map functions for small roads in mountains. That's what I'm interested in. Garmin Edge 500 has a lot of data already and its 7+ years old. I use the Course function to navigate new farm roads. Can this case with software do that? This is the functionality I need.

I'm not interested in competing with other cyclists which seems like Strava's main point. But I may be wrong. I wasn't able to create a profile on their website so I sent a request for assistance. Its been 3 days. I also use the Map My Ride app too.

It still seems like the Edge 500 has more functional use. I'm surprised the market hasn't filled this niche better by now. The 500 seems old compared with all the color stuff out there but if the functions aren't covered what's the point on an upgrade? Just my .02. Thanks in advance.

... I refuse to use FB.

Welcome to the FB Boycott Club ;)

Looks interesting but not enough details ...

It's still a kickstarter project as far as I understood, so it will need some time for a full release and further features, e.g. more supported phones. The whole fitness tracking market is still in it's "infant phase" and I guess it will develop noticeably over the next two years.

You can looks where you want, no product is perfect ... Garmin Connect has it's downsides as other apps too. A good example is the new Apple Watch Series 2, which is better than the first generation, but still not good enough for serious sports tracking.

So from my research so far, the Edge (newer models) combination with Strava currently seems to be the best option for cyclists. Check DC Rainmaker's article again.

As I said, I'm in the same boat as you, and so far I found no solution, that convinced me to replace the "old" tech installed on my bike.

I'm not interested in competing with other cyclists which seems like Strava's main point.

I didn't test Strava myself so far, but I guess it's similar to Garmin Connect, where the community features are a bonus, but not a must.

I'm surprised the market hasn't filled this niche better by now.

Yes, but high quality cyclist apps are not products for a mass market, so currently I see a trend more in the direction of the fashion fitness trackers, than serious sports devices, that hopefully will follow in the near future. Currently the Garmin Edge series seems to be hard to beat.

I hope that other cyclists charm in here to share their experiences with different products, but I fear, that won't happen, because the thread title is misleading. Maybe open a new thread "Cyclist Solutions"? But in which forum? Here in the iOS forum it will be overseen.

While doing further research I found Cyclemeter to be interesting, but it mianly focusses on Wahoo solutions as it seems:

https://abvio.com/question/devices/