Cycling watch or computer

[YMFB]

As someone else said, how long you cycle for is an important consideration. At the weekend I cycled 56 miles for about five hours. I used my Garmin as I didn’t know the first 35 miles of the planned route. I think my Apple watch is too small for that level of detail. When I’m on holiday riding roads I’m unfamiliar with for 5/6 hours a computer is going to make sense. Which one is probably a bigger question.
If all you want to do is record your ride data for Strava a watch is going to work.

 

[Drago]

I've a Garmin Touring 800 or whatever its called, a Christmas pressie from some years back, but for normal riding without the need to use a device to navigate my ageing Fenix 7 Pro is so much easier.

 

[Pblakeney]

Whilst I have a garmin watch, trying to navigate or read anything off it on my wrist would be a pain, especially in winter.

This. Also, just glancing down is so much easier.
Personal preference obviously but I'd pick a computer that just does what you need it to do. Plenty of cheap options.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I look at mine all the time. I also have a forward facing radar to alert me when I'm going to run into things.

How does that affect how often the OP intends to look at theirs?

 

[roubaixtuesday]

On the contrary my experience with two watches, a Garmin Vivoactive and a Xiaomi Smart Band, is these easily outlast a computer battery. The longest I got from the Garmin was 14 hours, I never had the need to push it further.

My Wahoo computer has never run out, or even got below 50%, including very long rides ~12 hours

 

[Mo1959]

On the contrary my experience with two watches, a Garmin Vivoactive and a Xiaomi Smart Band, is these easily outlast a computer battery. The longest I got from the Garmin was 14 hours, I never had the need to push it further.

I've got the Garmin Enduro 3 now. I charged it a couple of days ago and it's still saying 23 days left!

 

[PaulSB]

My Wahoo computer has never run out, or even got below 50%, including very long rides ~12 hours

Yep, the longest on my Wahoo is 10:24, I've no idea what was left. It's only run out once - user error. With a cycle computer it does depend on whether or not one is using navigation and other features at the same time.

 

[PaulSB]

I've got the Garmin Enduro 3 now. I charged it a couple of days ago and it's still saying 23 days left!

Yes, my Xiaomi Smart Band Pro claims a battery life of 21 days. I use it to record activities most days. After the last charge I've used 30% in 6 days which would give a life of 20 days when using both the recording and GPS function alongside all the other gubbins.

Like you mine runs round the clock. That's 480 hours, a sight more than my Wahoo.

 

[Binky]

If you just want to log a ride then phone sufficient. If you want to use the device during a ride to monitor speed, cadence, effort etc then a specific bike computer is the way to go. Personally I rate Wahoo.

Anyway, only the OP knows what type of riding they do so can then decide.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I just want simple. Maybe a watch, press a button to start and stop, loads to Strava. Can look at it mid ride to see how slow I’m going.

I have a GPS equipped watch (and a number of bike GPS computers too). I do sometimes use the watch for "press a button to start and stop, automatically upload" when I'm off out on a ride and the route is in my head. Typically shorter rides. A watch (of your favoured brand) will be absolutely fine if this is all you want.

If I was still commuting by bike and wanted to record commutes I think this is probably what I'd do. I used to use my phone for that purpose.

I do find the track recorded by the watch can perhaps be a bit wobblier than that with the computer, but that's no biggie.

I don't have any battery life concerns these days. GPS units from 10 years ago, yes that was a problem. But both my modern watch and the GPS can last longer than I can (max about 10-12 hr). And anyway, I normally have a charge tank thingy with me - mainly to make sure my phone is OK.

Full disclosure: My watch and bike GPS are all Garmin. But other brands are just as good.

 

[wafter]

A watch is probably sufficient if you just want a record of the rides and have no interest in what's going on during the ride, while it'll obviously be better if you want to use it to record other activities / daily stuff.

While less of a speed fiend than I used to be I still like to know what's going on whilst in the saddle - speed, HR, grad, location / route so prefer a dedicated unit on the bike.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Btw a friend of mine who is a triathlete uses his watch as his only recording device. When out and about on his bike he does use a bike computer of some sort for navigation (not sure what) but because he does a lot of running and swimming he habitually uses the watch for recording.

 

[Pblakeney]

Btw a friend of mine who is a triathlete uses his watch as his only recording device. When out and about on his bike he does use a bike computer of some sort for navigation (not sure what) but because he does a lot of running and swimming he habitually uses the watch for recording.

Bike computers are not the best devices for running, and swimming in particular. Just saying.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Bike computers are not the best devices for running, and swimming in particular. Just saying.

Yeah, my point was that a watch is absolutely fine for recording bike rides, even for someone who does a lot of cycling.

 

[esoxlucius]

There's some great prices for brands like Coospo and igpsport on Amazon, was going to buy one until the Lezyne was in the Chain Reaction fire sale for £26 in '23

Thanks for posting that link to the chain reaction sale, I've just bought myself a splendid new top! Some of their prices have been totally slashed.