Use your Phone as a Bike Computer for Heart Rate & Cadence Training!

If you thought you need a cycle computer for accurate cadence and heart rate data, think again! With the right sensors and the correct app on your smartphone, you can enjoy accurate data, both on your ride, and for post-ride analysis. A cadence sensor will cost ₹2000 / $16, and a heart rate monitor will cost ₹3000 / $20 - less than half the cost of the same setup with the cheapest cycle computers. If you have a fitness watch, you may be able to pair that with the app too, you won't need a heart rate monitor. If you buy a cycle computer later, use these same sensors with your computer - you won't have to buy new ones then.

00:00 Introduction
00:45 What is cycling cadence?
01:14 Benefits of using a heart rate monitor
01:34 Why do we need these stats?
02:28 Setting up the Wahoo app & sensors
04:34 Simpler & cheaper cycle computers
05:05 Riding with some basic training
06:34 Analyzing heart rate and cadence data
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Speed & Cadence Sensors:

Heart Rate Monitors:

Simpler Cycle Computers:

Alt stores:

Training Apps:

Training Videos:
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[TheIndianCyclist]

Until recently, I wasn't aware you could pair sensors with your smartphone for accurate data. Are you happy just, "being outdoors your bike", or would you like to do a bit of training to improve? Interested in your perspectives, let me know!

[SushantJoshi]

This video couldn't have come at a better time for me! After contemplating for months, I was planning to get a Garmin Edge 520. And for the express purpose of getting all the sensor data, I wasn't aware the sensors themselves work with phones directly! Changed my plans to start with sensors + phone for now.
Cheers

[wizkidcyclist]

Wow this a great video for folks starting in cycling. Data makes so much of difference. I have been passing similar points to all young riders in our group that are just focused on doing higher speeds. I was told by an experienced cyclist that 1) spend more time on the saddle, do continuous rides rather than rides with breaks. 2) Cadence is key. Higher cadence makes a big difference. 3) HRM helps identifying zones; and Z2/Z3 - Base and Tempo is key to being a better and fitter cyclist.
This is great content; keep it coming.. You now have a subscriber here!

[raghavsk]

Thanks! The perfect "quick exam review" video to get started simply and quickly, and funny 😄!

[kyfisher]

thanks mate i learnt a lot from this and appreciated the humour thrown in!

[martyjoseph]

Extremely funny and informative, though my 60 year old co-worker who rides 80 miles in cutoff jeans and cowboy boots will say I don't need all this info. But since I can only cover 15 miles I'll probably fucus on training correctly to improve faster.

[karlr]

In my experience, using a smartphone in this manner (along with turn-by-turn navigation in RidewithGPS) eats through battery power quickly. Granted, a smartphone has a larger screen which makes reading on-screen maps easier however, the bike computers are designed specifically for use on, well, a bike - in other words, longer battery life. Garmin Edge 500-series aren't all that more expensive than basic bike computers and you get more features. I have a Garmin Edge 830 paired with Garmin cadence sensors (one of each of my bikes so I don't have to keep moving it around) and a Polar H10 HRM. Set-up works well and bonus, Garmin Connect is a pretty solid mapping platform and for analyzing data after a ride.

[vipulkhardikar]

Thanks a lot for video. I am using this wahoo app instead of my bsc100 cycling computer with all sensors. Lot’s of data ❤

[davidshearin]

Thank you for this video. You saved me $$$. This makes so much sense.

[somaiah]

Get to da chopppaaa ... Bwahahaha. Good one.

[peteslamm]

Overall a great idea but you can buy a arduino + cadence sensor + heart rate w/ blue tooth for the price of 20USD.or 1600rupees. This price includes an lcd display and more importantly than all of this is that your data cannot be sold and used against you ( for example an insurance company could use it to see how fit you are and adjust prices accordingly )

[zoranpavlovic]

the powermeter is the most important for cyclists, and it also has a cadence sensor. But if you don't have it, this is also good, because driving without data means nothing. Maybe the cadence sensor is too high when it's on the foot?! I've used wahoo sensors on a spinner bike, they're great, but they eat batteries.

[milindbodas]

Very informative video. Coincidently, I got an hrm just a month ago and am trying to see how the data generated can be used to modify my cycling habits

[sriharivishnubhatla]

My dear cyclist.
You just earned a loyal sub ...
Kudos. Thank you.

I had a question though,
Does Garmin/wahoo software give us any additional analytics if we use them with their hardware? Example, training load, tiredness or any other things? That we might miss out and are actually useful in structuring our training? Or we're good with the free version of the app?

[ballom]

Amazing video, didnt know that we can pair sensors with the smartphone.

[ABDELLAHBOUGHROM]

I LOVE INDIANS BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS GO CHEAP AND STILL USABLE.

[westsoundcyclingclub]

One other item: Zone Training is the goal. Do you by any chance have a vlog or recommendations? Much appreciated; thanks!

[sudeepify]

Love your vlogs. It is a great idea to invest just in the sensors and use an app to get the data. Will definitely go down that route. BTW, what mount are you using for your phone?

[buster.keaton]

The big down side of using one's phone as a computer is battery life. If you leave the screen on, the phone battery will be drained quickly. If there was some way to use a phone as a cycling computer w/o quickly draining the battery, cycle computers would go the way of the dinosaur.

[westsoundcyclingclub]

Thanks for your awesome informative vlog! On my bike handlebar, I use iPhone w RWGPS already linked with Strava. Would Wahoo Fitness app be able to link up with Strava simultaneously? One more question here: what waterproof bag did you use for your smartphone shown on your handlebar? Again, thanks!😄