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KetieSaner

Q: Is there a way to track cycling without using the Workout App?

I've been using the Apple Watch and Activity App for about a week now. When getting somewhere I usually use my bike. I've noticed that cycling rarely counts towards the activity goals (exercise and move). I now that I can track cycling via the Workout App but turning that on every time I use my bike is rather impractical. Is there a ways to auto-track cycling as other apps e.g. Moves do?

Apple Watch, Other OS

Posted on May 15, 2015 3:17 AM

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Q: Is there a way to track cycling without using the Workout App?

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  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 May 15, 2015 5:34 AM in response to KetieSaner
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    May 15, 2015 5:34 AM in response to KetieSaner

    I don't think there's a way of doing this, unless one of the 3rd party watch apps can do it. Run keeper on the phone has an option that automatically tracks walking, so there's a possibility.

     

    You might want to feed back to Apple a suggestion on this, for a future software update:

     

    http://www.apple.com/feedback

  • by swandy,

    swandy swandy May 15, 2015 2:07 PM in response to KetieSaner
    Level 4 (1,536 points)
    Apple Music
    May 15, 2015 2:07 PM in response to KetieSaner

    My "issue" is I sometimes forget to STOP any of the exercise apps AFTER I stop biking. (Was using May My Run before getting the Watch, now just generally using the Workout app.)

    Don't see what the "issue" is with remembering to start the app? Wouldn't what you want require (1) the app to be constantly running for it to realize you have started biking and (2) how would it determine if you are biking, riding in a car, etc.? Seems like a waste of the limited battery of the Watch to keep a workout/biking app running in the background.

    Just my thoughts.

  • by KetieSaner,

    KetieSaner KetieSaner May 18, 2015 11:26 AM in response to nick101
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 18, 2015 11:26 AM in response to nick101

    I've already gotten in contact with the support of Apple as well.

    I've been and still am using the App 'Moves' on the iPhone to auto-track all my activity during the day. It is recognizing cycling very well most of the time. As it is using the same hardware and sensors Apple's own Apps are using I guess they should be able to get the same results...

    Moves is in fact constantly running in the background and as it is using GPS as well it actually uses quite a lot of energy that is correct. Nevertheless for me it is not a matter of forgetting but of practicality as I constantly use my bike to get to places. If I want to track all this separately I always need to start and stop a Workout every time I move to a different place be it a 5 minute ride to the metro or a 1 hour ride across the town. This would require me to do this up to 10 times a day (Going to work, to a different place, getting food, going shopping, do something in my free time...).

  • by Robn Kester,

    Robn Kester Robn Kester Sep 2, 2015 11:02 AM in response to KetieSaner
    Level 2 (275 points)
    Sep 2, 2015 11:02 AM in response to KetieSaner

    This, as far as I can tell, is a known issue that Apple has yet to acknowledge. I've had my Watch replaced and showed the employees at the store it is not working right.

     

    If I do a walk without using workout, I get info on the Watch and nothing on the phone. I do same using Workout and the phone gets updated too. In the meantime RunMeter has NO problems tracking my steps and everything.

     

    The employee at the store told me to use a 3rd party app. Bad and unprofessional advice if you ask me. We are hoping Watch OS 2 will fix this or mine goes back for a refund since it is not working as advertised.

  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 Sep 3, 2015 2:58 AM in response to Robn Kester
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    Sep 3, 2015 2:58 AM in response to Robn Kester

    There's nothing in the advertised features of WatchOS 2 that changes any of this.

     

    As for it being a "known issue" - it's how the device and its software work. As someone else has pointed out, running a workout tracker constantly in the background would have a detrimental effect on battery life.

     

    The current reality is that the Apple Workout app is not a complete substitute, for Runkeeper, Record, Runtastic or many other full-featured workout trackers.