Near perfect watch use for trail running and mountain biking

This watch is great. I don't need my iPod, I can switch out the leather strap for the black one easily. It is super cool for skiing, kayaking, hiking, etc. and has countless awesome features. But if you run tight trails and mountain bike switch-back laden trails, it is off 4-8% consistently at least. Worse on the bike.

Here is how to get perfection:
Spend another 170 dollars US. Buy:
Garmin speed and cadence sensors
Stryd

Garmin speed and cadence sensor - attaches to the hub. Measure the wheel, then compare to a very straight gps reading of 2 -5 miles. I had to multiply my millimeter measurement (2311) by .985 to get a very accurate distance.

Then, use Stryd (200 dollars) or Stryd Live (100 dollars) for running / hiking. That thing is the most spot-on miracle I have seen. I am so happy now that my runs and rides are accurate and I don't get frustrated when I know a loop is 8.4 miles but the watch reports 6.8.

I even bought the Cateye speed cadence sensor because I thought the garmin magnetless one was reading too high and both validated my distances.

This has been a multi-year pursuit of just wanting to know how far I really went. I had the Fenix (cool 1st gen watch), Fenix 3 (returned - distanced), Fenix 3HR (pretty good), Fenix 5x+ (best features with accuracy like 3hr.

0 iacchos over 6 years ago

Yes, Stryd is super cool... but last no more 8h. To short for long (and ultra) trail :-( Moreover it's drained the Fenix battery (to manage ANT+ communication) !

0 joshtee over 6 years ago

I really like my 5x plus for all the reasons you stated, but I too have the same issues with distance on my 5x plus (most all my cycling is tight singletrack). I did buy a Garmin speed sensor, but still trying to get it dialed in. On auto setting, it seems to over calculate distance. I need to get a accurate measurement manually.

I think this is somewhat of a solution, it is still very disappointing to have to buy extra accessories to fix the distance issues.

0 indymtb over 6 years ago

I really like my 5x plus for all the reasons you stated, but I too have the same issues with distance on my 5x plus (most all my cycling is tight singletrack). I did buy a Garmin speed sensor, but still trying to get it dialed in. On auto setting, it seems to over calculate distance. I need to get a accurate measurement manually.

I think this is somewhat of a solution, it is still very disappointing to have to buy extra accessories to fix the distance issues.

Here is what you do. I am loving the accuracy. DO NOT USE AUTOMATIC.
1) Chalk the side if your tire. Get the line so it is perfectly perpendicular to the ground & mark. Rotate once. Mark the ground to get the circumference. Enter that. Mine was 2311 for a 29er tire.
2) Find a really straight open road that is 2 miles or more and has a very clear view of the sky. Its easier if you have 2 gps devices. Particularly a bike gps.
3) Let the GPS acquire for 2-3 minutes before taking off.
4) Ride for for 2-3 miles and mark the spot where you stop.
5) Assume that GPS on a straight road is pretty darn accurate.
6) Ride again with the speed sensor. Make note of the distance.
7) divide distance of the gps by the distance of the speed sensor. Mine was 2.00 / 2.04.
8) Multiply the tire mm by result. 2311 * .9803 = 2265.
9) Use that as the wheel size in the watch.
10) Measure the 2 miles again to verify.

It will show more distance than any gps you or your friends use but it will be accurate. All gps cuts distance on tight single track.

And the Stryd is an absolute marvel at distance with a foot pod. Have no idea how they can be so accurate with it.

0 joshtee over 6 years ago

I will give this a try and report back.

Although all gps devices may cut some distance in tight single track (this is debatable), most, none that I have or friends have used, are as bad at cutting distance then what my Fenix cuts.

0 indymtb over 6 years ago

Yes - The GPS is terrible for tight trails. Most people run/ride roads or are on more open trails like you find out west so you'll get some decent push back and denial about the quality of GPS on the boards from time to time. If you are in an area with parks for the trails, it really is bad. Having said that, I love the watch and am dumb enough to keep buying the new one every time they introduce a new one.