Poor biking to steps conversion

If you would like to suggest that Apple considers adding an option for converting other activities to steps, you can do so here:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/watch.html

You're welcome! 🙂

Can you think of a way that a sensor in the watch can differentiate between leg movement turning pedals and leg movement walking or running? If you can you can produce a device that does that and make a fortune. That's why there's a workout app. To tell the phone what you are doing.

Hi

Apple Watch does not seek to convert cycling activity into an equivalent number of steps taken. It aims to count steps in respect of steps actually taken.

For the most accurate tracking of results from bike rides (in terms of calories and other data), record them using the Workout app, choosing Outdoor Cycle as the activity type. For cycling workouts tracked in this way:

- Available goals are: calories, distance or time.

- Available primary metrics (shown on the watch during the workout) are: elapsed time, active calories, total calories, heart rate, speed or distance.

- Available time metrics (also shown, at the upper-right of the display) are: time of day, elapsed time or speed.

If the paired iPhone is also taken along (with Location Services enabled), the watch can use GPS data when estimating speed and distance.

More information:

http://www.apple.com/watch/fitness/

Use the Workout app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

You may also wish to calibrate your watch. Calibration helps Apple Watch to improve the accuracy of various estimations made by the Activity app and Workout app.

The process teaches your watch how your arm movements relate to your stride lengths at each of your typical walking and running speeds. This is achieved by comparing data from the accelerometer with GPS (Location Services) data from your iPhone.

More information and instructions:

Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

I've found that I get the best results using my iPhone and an app specifically designed for cycling, such as Cyclometer. It doesn't convert to steps either, as any such conversion isn't particularly meaningful, but it does convert to calories, which IS meaningful. And it takes level of effort into consideration, both with respect to speed and altitude changes. Clearing cycling uphill requires a lot more energy than level cycling (or downhill).

You and/or your company may wish to try using a different app / website for fitness challenges.

For example:

activity.club

• "Compete against your friends, all in one place. No matter what type of wearables you use, or activities you do, in activity club you don't compete just for steps, but you compete for points, so can get them from doing any activity, from walking, to kayaking, soccer and yoga!"
• "Challenge your friends! You can directly challenge friends in activities such as step tracking and runs to bicycle distance challenges and more."

So... will bike rides still be tracked (erroneously) as taking steps when not using the Workout app with watchOS 4 or the Series 3?

Cheers!

I'm not an expert myself, but competitors have been doing it for a couple of years. :-)