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Logging exercise question

slgraha
slgraha Posts: 27 Member
edited December 2024 in Social Groups
Hi all. I have a question about whether or not to log my exercise. I don't log when I walk on the treadmill for obvious reasons but what about when I ride a bike? Three to four days a week, I walk 30 mins and then bike 30 mins. I am wearing my Fitbit for both. TIA!!

Replies

  • NancyN795
    NancyN795 Posts: 1,134 Member
    It may depend on which Fitbit you have. Some are supposed to have the ability to track bike rides, but purely step-based trackers - the One, Zip, Flex, Flex 2, Charge and Alta - certainly can't. I'm pretty sure the Blaze and Surge are supposed to have a mode that tracks bike rides. I think the Charge HR and the Charge 2 can, but I'm less certain.

    If you do need to log your bike ride, log it in Fitbit, not MFP. The algorithm that Fitbit uses to estimate calorie burn for non-tracked exercise is considered to be better than the one that MFP uses.
  • slgraha
    slgraha Posts: 27 Member
    Thank you. I have the Blaze but don't ever remember to start the bike mode.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    NancyN795 wrote: »
    It may depend on which Fitbit you have. Some are supposed to have the ability to track bike rides, but purely step-based trackers - the One, Zip, Flex, Flex 2, Charge and Alta - certainly can't. I'm pretty sure the Blaze and Surge are supposed to have a mode that tracks bike rides. I think the Charge HR and the Charge 2 can, but I'm less certain.

    If you do need to log your bike ride, log it in Fitbit, not MFP. The algorithm that Fitbit uses to estimate calorie burn for non-tracked exercise is considered to be better than the one that MFP uses.

    The Alta supposedly picks up bike riding, how i do not know... I've questioned how a step tracker picks up cycling on the Alta forum, but have not received a response.
    We've got an old bike sitting in the shed, i will give it a go one day, i'm not holding my breath for accuracy tho lol
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    The tagging the workout as Bike doesn't do anything that would change the calorie burn - it merely tags the Activity Record with a name for latter review.
    You can manually edit it later with more details anyway, which might be better for review too.
    Like the route taken, or avg speed, or miles the stationary said you did, or how hot - ect. Something worthy of comparing down the road to see if you are getting faster at it.
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