ARTICLE: Why some amateur athletes are giving up on smartwatches
#26
dot dash
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,568
Bikes: Shmikes
Liked 6,167 Times
in
3,320 Posts
I track it all because I'm a physiologist and a physician and data is (are?) my life. However, the main benefit of all the numbers, since I started running with a Polar watch back in the 90s, has been to help me calibrate my perceptions of internal states and degrees of effort. I think I could drop the gizmos and self-coach about as well at this point.
Likes For MoAlpha:
#29
Perceptual Dullard
Anyone with young kids knows the most important info that must always be displayed isn't power, or speed, or HR; it's time of day, so you know when to turn around and head back. If you're late and your kid is standing on the sidewalk waiting you may never get another chance to ride. That's why you display the time on the head unit and also carry a watch with an alarm. It's a belt-and-suspenders thing.
Likes For RChung:
#30
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,510
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Liked 4,058 Times
in
1,999 Posts
* text messages
* directions if I get lost
* tells the time
* emergency contact due to a fall
* Mrs tm can track my location
* can make the phone call of shame
#32
Senior Member
Anyone with young kids knows the most important info that must always be displayed isn't power, or speed, or HR; it's time of day, so you know when to turn around and head back. If you're late and your kid is standing on the sidewalk waiting you may never get another chance to ride. That's why you display the time on the head unit and also carry a watch with an alarm. It's a belt-and-suspenders thing.
#33
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,510
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Liked 4,058 Times
in
1,999 Posts
Likes For terrymorse:
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Right where I'm supposed to be
Posts: 1,702
Bikes: Franklin Frames Custom, Rivendell Bombadil
Liked 241 Times
in
149 Posts
All of Bike Forums seems to be full of folks that are averse to anything pertaining to training or tracked improvement. Those types seem to be compelled for whatever reasons known only to themselves to interject into every topic that has to do with actual or perceived improvement. As if we GAF about their lack of motivation. As if they believe to be in some way superior because they are over the whole improvement or training aspects of cycling..
Well that's a whole lotta assumptions as to how "those types" live their life .
Do you mean the rascals, the trouble makers, throw a monkey wrench into your verbal spokes type ? Sure, BF is also full of rascals, and I can't deny that I play one at times too . Calling out "those types" is also playing a rascal ! Very good ! Who but a fellow rascal can identify one ?
Back to the topic, I read the article. It doesn't surprise me that some people realize their dependence on such devices have become burdens, addictions, dependencies, you name it. It's no different than keeping track of anything, and it's nothing new. The form has changed, but the demand on ones attention has not. I grew up in family obsessed with bodily image/weight and food/nutrition, this was before the idea of personal computer. It was was no different than today, the idea of improving, which infers of course that you're flawed/incomplete/inadequate to begin with. So there's no winning that game. No matter how you think you improve, it's never enough to satisfy the idea of being flawed, every bit of "success" is met with another failure to prove. It's self-defeating. Every move is met with a greater counter move. It's a game you can't win. The only "win/cure" is in seeing this.
I like to ride fast at times, as a form of play. Cycling is inherently playful, as is Life Itself. Gadgets can be part of the play, just don't take them so seriously as having any ability of themselves to affect your life whatsoever. The computer I'm writing this on is a gadget. It as no say to who or what I Be. It's a prop, a means to the play, of itself ... dust in the wind.
#35
Perceptual Dullard
Well, we rode with a dumb watch, and turned around earlier instead of playing brinkmanship. I guess some guys didn't care about picking up their kids on time, but I tried never to be a dick and today my kids seem either to enjoy spending time with me or else they do a good job of faking it, which is almost as good. Though the youngest is still in high school so the jury isn't fully out yet on that.
#36
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,480
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Liked 2,753 Times
in
1,280 Posts
I used a FitBit for about a year some years ago. Basically, it did little for me except provide some info on sleep patterns. But FitBits were very unreliable at that time, maybe still are if they even still exist. Had more than one warranty replacement.
I use a Garmin bike computer religiously, and really enjoy the numbers and playing with data. I dont train but do target miles and hours per week, as well as have some power goals on most rides. But sometimes these goals are to hold the power below a certain level. Not always to push to some target.
I use a Garmin bike computer religiously, and really enjoy the numbers and playing with data. I dont train but do target miles and hours per week, as well as have some power goals on most rides. But sometimes these goals are to hold the power below a certain level. Not always to push to some target.
But as far as the article. My Garmin bike computer is mostly a shiny toy that I use during rides and my Forerunner is the same for my runs.
But my running and cycling are I guess more amateurish that many amateurs. If I was younger and had time to train I expect I would heavily rely on my tech. These days, with my job, a small business and grandchildren, I don't have the time to keep a training schedule and am lucky to find time to ride as much as I would like.
And I may be a cynic, but I got the feel that the article used a lot of AI in its writing.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#37
dot dash
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,568
Bikes: Shmikes
Liked 6,167 Times
in
3,320 Posts
Well, we rode with a dumb watch, and turned around earlier instead of playing brinkmanship. I guess some guys didn't care about picking up their kids on time, but I tried never to be a dick and today my kids seem either to enjoy spending time with me or else they do a good job of faking it, which is almost as good. Though the youngest is still in high school so the jury isn't fully out yet on that.
#38
Perceptual Dullard
Likes For RChung:
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: South shore, L.I., NY
Posts: 7,316
Bikes: Flyxii FR322, Cannondale Topstone, Miyata City Liner, Specialized Chisel, Specialized Epic Evo
Liked 2,396 Times
in
1,352 Posts
Yes, you need a phone BT porting notifications, etc…. when I mt bike, my phone is in my CamelBak, so the watch will buzz and show a text message to view later, watch also sends HR to my 1040, so I can see how hard I am working. If my Hammerhead battery goes south, I can still GPS track with the watch.I like and use my Instinct, it was worth the money. If I do a lot of kayaking, the solar charge bonus has seen 42 days of battery life.
Likes For Steve B.:
#40
Senior Member
If not I can see the merit of a smartwatch. Still wouldn't take one given the sweat/tanline issue, but I can see why someone would.
#41
Senior Member
I am curious: what tan lines do you find acceptable? Probably a question which I will regret asking, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
#42
Senior Member
Well, we rode with a dumb watch, and turned around earlier instead of playing brinkmanship. I guess some guys didn't care about picking up their kids on time, but I tried never to be a dick and today my kids seem either to enjoy spending time with me or else they do a good job of faking it, which is almost as good. Though the youngest is still in high school so the jury isn't fully out yet on that.
#43
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,510
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Liked 4,058 Times
in
1,999 Posts
I take the phone with me sometimes, but I'm fine leaving it home. A couple of things I can't do with my watch:
I remembered one more thing I can do with just my watch -- make contactless payments:
- take photos
- pre-order at Starbucks
I remembered one more thing I can do with just my watch -- make contactless payments:
Last edited by terrymorse; 01-16-24 at 12:58 PM.
#44
Senior Member
Based on clothes, not some random white line on the arm from a watch I don't really need. I also don't ride with gloves for the same reason. It just looks weird to me, with clothes, like say your legs there is a pretty clear boundary and it's normal. But that's just my preference, not saying this is a rule every cyclist should follow.
#45
Senior Member
Based on clothes, not some random white line on the arm from a watch I don't really need. I also don't ride with gloves for the same reason. It just looks weird to me, with clothes, like say your legs there is a pretty clear boundary and it's normal. But that's just my preference, not saying this is a rule every cyclist should follow.
#47
Version 7.0
My racing team designed compression socks that are slightly longer and thicker. They feel great on but are hot in warmer weather. I have the racing, thin higher socks. I have to glue the top of the socks to my leg otherwise they fall down - a pain in the ass. I like the very short socks that cover the foot in the shoe for hot weather and sometimes for kicks, I ride without socks - tan line management.
Likes For Hermes:
#48
Happy With My Bikes
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,480
Bikes: Hi-Ten bike boomers, a Trek Domane and some projects
Liked 2,753 Times
in
1,280 Posts
I've never used adhesives to attach anything to my body, and I don't know what you are using, but there are some adhesive strips and glues for things like toupees and strapless gowns that I suppose may be good for this.
__________________
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
"It is the unknown around the corner that turns my wheels." -- Heinz Stücke
#49
Version 7.0
Let's get the discussion back to watches.
Last edited by Hermes; 01-16-24 at 10:39 AM.
#50
Senior Member
My racing team designed compression socks that are slightly longer and thicker. They feel great on but are hot in warmer weather. I have the racing, thin higher socks. I have to glue the top of the socks to my leg otherwise they fall down - a pain in the ass. I like the very short socks that cover the foot in the shoe for hot weather and sometimes for kicks, I ride without socks - tan line management.