Wait until you try measuring how much altitude you covered. Results can vary greatly, e.g. even 20% on the same dataset depending on the app’s or software’s algorithm. Additionally I’ve also seen huge altitude measuring errors on devices, that had a just small error on latitude and longitude.
Top speed is something that can vary a lot. Different calculation methods are used which yield very different results. It’s also more susceptible to measuring errors (compared to total distance, where errors “even out” a bit).
I thought it’d be nice to know, which algorithm software and devices use for measuring and error correction. Unfortunately I have found almost no information about that on consumer software and hardware so far.
I use Mapmyride on my phone to track my rides. I chose it because it has a “unicycling” activity tag, and it doesn’t draw much battery. I don’t take it that seriously, but I think it’s nice to have a rough idea of distance, time and average speed.
Instantaneous speed is obviously very sensitive to measuring errors, but the total distance reported by Mapmyride seems quite accurate. My last ride is listed as 7.43 km, versus 7.3 km according to Google Maps. Seems likely that I messed around for an extra 130 m.
Edit: The elevation and elevation gain was waaay off, though. Apparently I was 50 meters above the ground at one point. Is elevation more difficult for GPS to determine than latitude/longtitude?
Yes. Some devices do a better job by comparing your initial location to a DEM database (list of location altitudes based on surveys) and then using a barometric altimeter during your activity to provide deltas. Still not perfect if you have a long activity with varied weather.
Strava has a “correct distance” button which discards some of the metrics you recorded and recalculates them by snapping your path to their map.
After fumbling with finding ways to use my cell phone attached to my body or ny unicycle, I decided on a $25 mielan mini gps I bought on amazon. It measures 2 x 2.5 inches, is rechargable, mounts to my T Bar, unclips easily so I can use it on other Unicycles and my bike. It gives me my speed and distance in real time at a glance. It also gives me average speed, max speed, duration of ride and altitude. My distance traveled is saved upon ride completion and added to my total distance traveled. This is all the info I need and is simple and compact. Love it.
I feel everything is over analyzed today, I’m out for the ride and the real life experience, I like to know my speeds and distance primarily. Having my phone show me I rode in a squiggly oval does not enhance my experience, and my body tells me I had a good work out.
I have been using cyclemeter on my phone for a couple years now and have been pretty happy with it. it seems pretty accurate for the most part, sometimes the top speed it picks up is a little off.
I started unicycling on a 24" muni last November 2020 and got a Garmin Forerunner 45S (“S” for small wrist) on sale just a bit ago. It’s designed for running, but includes cycling. I wanted to get a sense for speeds, esp for my 32inch which I am still running quite slow as it is new to me, but I want to be aware of average speeds esp when I start going over 10mph and upwards on it. I learned I go a bit faster than I thought on my 24" (and not counting the one-off highs often noted on these boards). It’s my first smart watch and I like it for its other functions. It turns out I have a much lower resting heart rate than I ever knew. As far as knowing what zone I am in for intense exercise, I thought I knew by feel, and it turns out I do, but it is still interesting to see. It is hard for me to get into a high HB zone on the 24" for intense exercise, but I recently found the cure to that: HILLS omg. Recently a monster hill which I will be working on a while lol. Oh even easy muni trails will raise my HB pretty well, but I am exploring that in doses and baby steps esp now that high heat has set in here in Pennsylvania. I view the trip data on the connect app on phone/computer and so far I have not felt the need to use strava or anything else in conjunction with it. I also record hikes and some other stuff. It’s very handy to see what mile a certain plant or feature is at etc. Find phone is very handy and sleep data interesting even if analyzed to be only about 67% accurate on average. It would be nice if they had a unicycle activity option, but I saw that it has been requested for going on ten years at least and is still not added, lol.
Welcome to the world of smartwatches and heartrate data kat181 ! I don’t use HR for unicycling, but I do for running. Same experience for me, I thought I wouldn’t care about HR data, but as it turns out, it is quite an interesting thing to look at and can be pretty great to help understand intensity.
One important tip if you want to actually want to make your data a bit more useful is to do a max heartrate test (you can find instructions on how to perform one online). Don’t rely on those 220 - age estimates, they really are only a rough guess - I think it’s worth the 30 minutes of hard exercise to do a test yourself.
I’ve been sucked in by Strava myself, but if you don’t want a social media platform for exercise, the manufacturers apps/programms offer everything Strava has to offer already.
(Also your comment somewhat confirms my long held theory that on flat ground, even for a relative beginner the cardiovascular load you can achieve on a smaller wheel is not much).
Hey finnspin, thanks for the welcome! Yes, I did make a mental note to do my own max heartrate measurement in the beginning and completely forgot about that. I’ll do that soon on some not too crazy hot day. I agree, that age algorithm is no good if not insulting, lol, esp as you get older.
I wish I could log separate activity types for say unicycling or kick scooting. Or at least opt to have PRs per “bike”
P.S. I was in a bit of a hurry but I certainly was not aiming for any records. I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt and this was steel bike with 3-Speed Sturmey-Archer gears and heavy drum brakes. But bikes are fast compared with unicycles.
At some point someone on this forum mentioned the program MapMyRun, which has been working fine for me. Caloriewise it doesn’t know anything, because it only knows either running or cycling. I think unicycles are in the middle, but it tracks the route I rode nicely and gives me an idea about how fast I have been riding approximately.
Map my ride is a free app from under armour and has a separate catagory for unicycling . I use it sometimes and like it but I actually prefer my $25 mini gps. It tells me real time mph, distance, time, average speed max, speed and has and odometer. Simple to operate, easy to read and for the most part that is all of the info I’m looking for any ways. It fits neatly on my handle bar and I can see my mph at a glance.
Yes that is why Bug mentions it I reckon. I didn’t know there was a unicycle category.
Does the mini gps register max speeds correctly? Various of these applications go haywire with max speed. Every exact detail is not important for me. Most of the times I use it, it is to have an idea for the the total number of kilometres I’ve ridden. My wife always complains that I should run more and cycle less, because with running I use more muscles or something and will lose weight faster. I dunno if it is true. Unicycling makes me sweaty in no time and I think balancing requires a lot of energy as well. Besides, I like unicycling more than running. During a uni ride, I can practice some tricks. There aren’t that many tricks you can do while running. Im no free runner - Im too old for that.
I’m not sure if there is a difference between map my ride and map my run. Map my ride has a lot of activities listed including running, walking and hiking that you can track. I have mine set to unicycling, long distance unicycling.
I used my mini gps on a 150 mile bike trail ride a few months ago. It matched mile marker posts exactly and I have compared it to the speedometer in my car and it is accurate I don’t have it in front of me but I believe the brand is Milan, purchased on amazon. I also purchased extra mounts so I can move between my Unicycles and my bike. Also it is rechargable. And maintained salalite connection when my phone did not have service.
