What is the best smarwatch can be used as a cycling computer
 

Hi everybody, I am looking for a smartwatch which I can use as a cycling computer as well. I want to start my ride with a button click and it will auto sync to strava. I don't want to install strava and start like in samsung watch. I want something like lezyne cycling computers. I will mount the watch to my bicycle, start the ride with a button and it will sync automatically after I finish the ride. Is there any smartwatch like that in the market? If there are multiple options, which one do you suggest?
Thank you

gamin is the best choice. though you don't get your heart rate with it on the bars. with the garmin you can get one that will connect to cadence speed and heart rate sensors. this guy is what I wear it to get my heart rate. I use it to pump heart rate to my bike computer https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1 it records my cadence too

I looked at a lot, ended up going "dedicated device" instead of watch. Garmin 130 Plus, about the size of an Oreo. Quite pleased with it. I use it with my iPhone in my back pocket and a Polar H10 HR strap. Does sync to Strava, but I fell "outta love" with Strava about a year ago.

I have a Garmin Vivo Active 3 that does all that very well. it seemed dead simple for me to sync it up with Strava and stuff. you have a wear it on your wrist so it can measure heart rate if you want that data. you can also install third party apps like Dynamic Maps to turn it into an unoffical turn-by-turn nav computer. there's a learning curve to it just like any other technology.
unfortunately, there's always an extra step, so you're just going to have to change your expectations and get used to that. here's how I log a ride:
1. click button on watch. GPS fires up in about ten seconds and I click it again to start.
2. ride, observe data on watch face. if someone texts me during a ride, my phone sends the message to my watch face so I don't have to stop and dig the phone out of my pack/ pocket.
3. finish ride, click button on side of watch. tap "save" button. watch goes back to regular watch mode.
4. when I put my bike away, I open the Garmin Connect app in my phone and the app automatically syncs my ride data in Connect. Connect can also be linked to several other services like Strava. Connect automatically loads my data to Strava within a few minutes.

I use the Garmin 6X which is amazing, upgraded from the 3HR. Has all the features of the most advanced cycle computers including built-in maps and routing.

I use Garmin but not alone as is. I pair it with my Garmin edge 1030 and they work together.

The best any kind of consumer good is usually one of the more expensive ones of its kind. Case in point, the 6X is one of the best cycling computer watches available, you could buy 3 Vivoactives for the same price. It's a different question what's the best for somebody given the way they ride. If the OP wants to give some more detail, I'm sure people can give much better suggestions. We don't know your budget, if you need to connect to a power meter, etc.

That said, @velopig, I use a F6X too, absolutely love it. Agree it has basically everything feature wise, and it's also useful for hiking, skiing, swimming, etc. Without any qualifications, that's my advice too.

Best depends too much on things that are too subjective.

As for smart watches or anything on my wrist, I wouldn't want to have to take my eyes that far off the road to look, much less take a hand off the bar at certain times when I might want to glance at speed or such. Out front mounts put that information in a better position for me to see.

But what "best" for me isn't necessarily "best" for you.

I couldn't find any "all in one" solution that I loved so I use a Garmin bike computer with an Apple watch and record on both of them.

One of the nice things about the current crop of watches is that they've got pretty decent HRMs built in, but that's thrown out of the window when you mount it on your bike. So... why a watch, then?

I mean, that's what I did for my first "cycling computer," - I bought a Garmin 310XT and got a stem mount. It was totally dumb, though - I should have just gotten an EDGE unit, instead.

If you do want to go with a watch, the other thing that you'll want to consider is connectivity - some will pair to a cadence sensor. Few will pair with a power meter.

I use my Apple watch that is connected to my Iphone running the Map my ride app. Seems to work okay but still have to touch the watch if I need info mid ride.

Thank you for your answers. By the best, I mean best price performance. I would say something around $300-$400

Still, why a watch? The 945 is an amazing watch but it's utter overkill for your use, and you can get everything you need from an Edge 130. Or a Wahoo Bolt. And they'd cost less, and do what you're talking about. Can you elaborate on your specific goals?

And they'd still need to pop for an HRM if they want to mount the watch on the bike.

My experience is that there's no way I'd trust the OHR while cycling; I tried that briefly and it was an absolute no-go.

But still, it sounds like the OP heard about a smartwatch being used as a cyclocomputer instead of a phone and isn't aware that there are yet-better devices, but then doesn't want to hear about them. Ah well.

I want a watch because I want to use it with my other activities as well. I though this would be easier and cost affective.

I kept killing the battery on mine. the apple watch does ok on recording but not a huge amount of detail and the heart rate is only every minute.

That helps considerably. Which activities? The 945 is the clear leader in the clubhouse then, for me.

Sometimes the OHR in my Fenix is plausible on the bike, sometimes it's obviously way off. I never know which one it's going to be, if I did I'd only wear the chest strap when the watch was going to get it wrong. So, yeah, not really useful. I have several chest straps, they're cheap.

lol my Fenix can beat up your Forerunner.

I am keeping it simple for now. Map my ride is a fairly basic app. Not sure how to get a current speed.

I cycle, run, ski, hike, swim, paddleboard, surf etc. I am in between Garmin 945 and Garmin Fenix 5X sapphire.

Fenixes are cute; my wife has one.

I tried the apple watch app and stravia both were not super accurate they don't even agree with each other if you run them both at the same time.

I use the Map My Ride app on the Iphone and it also shows on the apple watch. They seem to be on the same page when I compare. Since I already have both and not competing the general info is fine for my needs.