Biking With a Smartwatch

[6zfshdb]

I've been considering a Garmin Smartwatch for some time and am looking for ways it can be used while biking.
Specifically, I'm interested in getting alerts, like texts, calls and other devices paired with my iPhone 14 while it's in my pocket.

Garmin has a sale going now with some significant discounts:

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I'm looking at the Epix Pro2 Sapphire edition on sale for 50% off

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYFCZZ9F/?coliid=IQ7KISFYXFML&colid=1KERB770YRAW3&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1

I have an iPhone14 though and Garmin watches work best with Android phones.

For those who have Smartwatches, how do you use them while biking and what apps do you use?

 

[RunForTheHills]

I use my Fenix E to record all my outdoor activities, including bike rides. I have an android phone. The alerts work fine and you can filter which apps you want alerts from. I haven't added any apps and use one of the built in watch faces.

 

[RunForTheHills]

I just want to add that it is generally better to use a built in watch face as some of the third party watch faces drain the battery much quicker than the optimized built in watch faces. Particularly faces that show seconds or other fields that update frequently. As far as apps go, I just haven't needed any of the apps available. All the functionality I need is already in the firmware. I also use it to send heartrate info to an Apple TV running Zwift when on my treadmill. It is just a setting in the treadmill activity. I have paired previous Garmin watches with ANT accessories on my bike, like speed and cadence sensors, but not this watch. I have also used a Stryd running power meter / foot pod with a previous Garmin Fenix 5 Plus and I think that needed app to add the extra fields.

 

[DaveMatthews]

I have a Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 which was a freebie when I got my last smartphone.
Somehow it knows that I started a bike ride and end it. I know that it will sync with Strava etc. so it would log all my rides.
As I have a Garmin Edge 530 I just use that instead.