This being Apple, even information such as general health and wellness metrics are presented in an entertaining way rather than solely in charts or raw numbers (which are there and can be accessed). The integrated trackers for exercise movement (which pick up and cumulate any intensity beyond light walking, really), active calorie burn, and how often you stand are presented in colored rings that progress toward being a complete circle as you approach your goal.
The fourth advantage the Watch has, at least for me, is style. Mostly for aesthetic reasons, I abhor mounting computers on my bike, so when I want to track metrics or follow a route, I prefer wrist-mounted devices. But because those scream sport or geek-tech, I don't like wearing them off the bike. The case of the Apple Watch (thank you Johnny Ive) is understated, the screen goes black until you lift or turn your wrist to use the watch, and the available faces range from super-minimal to bold, color-curated choices. The $349 Sport model I'm testing—the lowest-priced option--came with a fluo-green rubber band, but with a simple click on the underside of the watch I can change it out to a stainless steel link or mesh bracelet, or French or Italian leather.
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It's this all-day wearability and integrated-across-my-life functionality that just might make the Apple Watch an essential for me. It's not just a ride computer, and not just a smart watch, and not just a health and fitness tracker. It makes lots of things, from controlling the tunes played on my office bluetooth speaker, to staying in touch with my family while riding, a little more convenient. And, whereas some studies have shown that health-and-wellness features such as the stand-up-now alerts on fitness trackers can come to be seen as gimmicky and eventually ignored, if the Apple Watch stays on my wrist for many other reasons, I'm more likely to end up using and benefiting from the stand alert. (Common revelation: I sit way too much.)
I was a first-generation iPod and iPad buyer, so I'm excited to keep trying out the Watch. I don't know yet if it will be the magic, always-on device that crosses all the parts of my life. Already, I know that in minor ways it's certainly not perfect: The haptic--the wrist-tapping notification—is too weak to feel on an intense bike ride, even turned to its highest level; the screen can be so tough to read in sunlight that you need to shade it with another hand or in some other way; on long rides, the heart monitor will drain the battery—although you can avoid this by pairing with any Bluetooth-capable chest strap. (The heart monitor, by the way, is fairly accurate, and during general rides as well as an intense criterium gave me readings consistent with those I've gotten from dedicated monitors.) And I kind of already miss wearing my mechanical, automatic, limited-edition John Coltrane Oris. One of the main criticisms for some athletes, such as runners and swimmers—for full functionality, including GPS, you need a Bluetooth or WiFfi connection to your phone—isn't really an issue for cyclists, who are used to having our phones in our jersey pockets.
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At the least, the Apple Watch seems to me far better than any other smart fitness tracker, and a cool extension of my phone when it comes to everyday living. It's certainly not vital but definitely some kind of life upgrade to not have to pull my phone out of my pocket to text, or turn the music volume down, or find out who's posted on Instagram lately. (The pictures are too tiny to really see, but you can quickly judge if your stream is worth checking out for real on your phone.) The playful elements are, you know, fun.
Will it make the riding experience, and our overall lives as cyclists, better? Almost certainly. Transformative? Maybe—a lot of that depends on the creation of third-party apps still not to market or perhaps even imagined yet. (Think of how Strava made GPS bike computers about so much more than capturing ride data or viewing maps.) Should you buy one? You likely were already leaning toward your answer, and just needed some more information or some confirmation to make the choice. While you decide, I'm going to stand up and walk around a little—my watch just reminded me I should if I want to stay healthy and strong.
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