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Steps for bikers/rowers...

Good day!

I will post this here, as this is not related to any wearable. It is a general suggestion.

Many of us do a lot of bike or row, and those workouts do not count on steps, so we are far behind those who run, walk, or hike.
Would it be an innovative idea to include as steps the cadence from bikes and row machines??

Thanks!!!

0 e7andy over 2 years ago

That would be really odd since you are not taking any steps. The watches measure steps. Not an estimated value from the work you do.

Wouldn't it be a little like adding bike distance from walking/hiking/running to those that doesn't bike so they won't be that far behind? I don't think it is a good idea to artificially create values. Just accept that you don't take that many steps or run that long or bike that long. Another more natural way to handle it would be to start to run/walk/hike.

With that said: You can add steps if you use multiple devices. For biking use a second device to log the ride and put the watch on the ankle. For rowing you can do the same, but have both watches on the arms. When you row the step counter will start to count.

0 JoMiSan-Tokage over 2 years ago in reply to e7andy

This is why I said to count cadence as steps. Because if wearing two wearables, it will be counted as steps... and it sounds stupid!

0 trux over 2 years ago in reply to JoMiSan-Tokage

There is a way to do it - record the activity using a profile not blocking the steps counter. Practically only cycling, rowing, driving (and perhaps some less common activity profiles) disable the steps counter. You can also create your own activity based on the type Other. The watch will then continue counting the steps even during your rowing/cycling workouts. At rowing, it would count the strokes, at cycling, you'd need to attach the watch to your ankle in order that it can sense the cadence. Once the activity is recorded and saved, you can then change the activity type to the true one in Garmin Connect.

Another option is extracting older cycling and rowing profiles from an older firmware, or from an older watch. Garmin started to block the steps counter in some activity profiles only approximately 2-3 years ago. Hacking the sports definition file is yet another option, but it requires certain knowledge and appropriate tools.