Garmin released a report indicating a global increase in cycling activities, both indoors and outdoors, as recorded by the Garmin Connect community. The report highlights that cyclists are logging more miles than ever, leading to notable positive health benefits. This surge in cycling activity is on an upward trend, showing no signs of decline, underscoring the growing popularity and health impact of cycling worldwide.
Here are some key takeaways from the past year:
- Cycling activities increased 7% while indoor cycling activities rose 12%.
- Women cyclists took the top spot as the fastest-growing cycling demographic in the Garmin community with a 9% increase in cycling activities.
- Garmin users who ride at least 70 miles per week average normalized power of more than 180 watts.
- Cyclists in the United Arab Emirates log the fastest rides, averaging 16 miles per hour.
- Cyclists in Denmark record the most powerful rides with an average normalized power output of 196 watts.
- Riders in Italy spend the most time on their bikes, with each ride lasting just over two hours. They also ride the furthest, with an average distance of 29 miles.
Professional athlete approved
Garmin sponsors some of the world’s top athletes, including professional cyclists and cycling teams. Here’s what some of them have to say about how Garmin’s latest cycling products help them crush the competition:
“As a professional off-road cyclist, 90% of my training is done on the bike and is power-based training. I use the Garmin Rally™ XC200 pedals for my power meter. I tested a lot of power meter options a few years ago and found that the Rally pedals are the most consistent to themselves and also seem to be the most accurate when compared with a calibrated smart trainer. Training or racing in general would really not be possible for me without my Edge® 1040 Solar. In so many ways this computer is like my training partner. A lot of off-road racing now requires self-navigation, so the map screen and ability to load a course with turn-by-turn directions are crucial for my success. Lastly, the Varia™ radar tail light is a game-changing training tool whenever I am on roads that are shared with cars. It’s extremely helpful during efforts to help me stay aware of my surroundings. I often pull over as far to the right as possible when I see a car passing on the screen.” –Hannah Shell, professional off-road cyclist and Garmin-sponsored athlete
“I love riding outdoors and on a range of different bikes – the road bike, TT bike, gravel bike; I even get the mountain bike out once in a while. A couple of things are stable across all those bikes though. My Edge 1040 Solar head unit and my Varia radar. In the summer I love the long days on the road bike or the gravel bike and the solar panel on the Edge 1040 Solar makes sure I have plenty of energy to keep going as long as I want. In the winter, however, it can be challenging at times up in Scandinavia as the winters can be dark and cold. In those times, the Varia radar makes an even bigger impact on my ability to get my rides done while bringing awareness to my surroundings. It makes me aware of the cars around me, and the light helps make them aware of me.” –Kasper Asgreen, Soudal Quick Step cyclist and Garmin-sponsored athlete
“I call the Garmin system the computer of my sporting life. I see the Edge 840 Solar and Forerunner® 955 Solar as tools that I need for my ‘work’ as a top athlete. The Edge is where all my training sessions are going through and are fully tracked. In combination with the Forerunner, other physical data such as the number of hours I sleep, is also monitored. That gives me enormous added value to properly monitor my work as a top athlete.” –Mischa Bredewold, Team SD Worx-Protime cyclist and Garmin-sponsored athlete
Get ready for your next ride
Whether enjoying a casual cruise around town or preparing for that next big race, Garmin cycling products are ready for any ride.
- Discover new routes with the Edge lineup of GPS cycling computers – including the Edge Explore 2, Edge 540, Edge 840, Edge 1040 and Edge 1050. These cycling computers combine superior navigation, performance tracking, cycling awareness and smart connectivity to help cyclists enjoy their ride and improve every day.
- See and be seen with the Varia lineup of rearview radars – including the Varia RTL515, Varia RCT715 and Varia eRTL615 – that warn of vehicles approaching from behind and feature a tail light that brightens and flashes to alert drivers of a cyclist ahead. Varia RCT715 even includes a built-in camera that continuously captures sharp, clear video during any ride.
- Whether riding on the streets or the trails, the Varia UT800 smart headlight works alone or pairs with an Edge device to help provide light in even the darkest riding conditions. It can even adjust its own brightness based on ambient light conditions when paired with a compatible Edge cycling computer.
- The Rally Series power meter pedals provide reliable power data and advanced cycling dynamics. Compatible with SHIMANO SPD-SL, SHIMANO SPD or LOOK KEO cleats, they install like any other pedal, making it easy to swap them between bikes.
- When it’s time to take training indoors, Tacx® trainers like the NEO 3M smart trainer and NEO Bike Plus all-in-one smart bike provide accurate data measurements (within 1%) and include unique features like road feel, dynamic inertia and descent simulation to make training feel more lifelike.
- Premium multisport smartwatches like the Forerunner 965 and fēnix® 7 Pro easily pair with Garmin’s lineup of cycling products to track power, advanced cycling dynamics and functional threshold power (FTP) while also monitoring health insights 24/7, like recovery time, sleep, stress and more.
Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionized life for runners, cyclists, swimmers and athletes of all levels and abilities. Committed to developing technology that helps people stay active and elevate performance, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
