The Best Garmin Watch for Cycling

Learn Why The Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro Are perfect for tracking your rides.

For cyclists, there is no question – a GPS bike computer is the best tool for on-the-bike data, but what if you want a device that can handle every activity you do? For multi-sport athletes, Garmin watches provide a single do-it-all option that’s perfect for riding, running, swimming, hiking, and so much more. Garmin’s list of supported profiles is extensive – including everything from backcountry skiing to pickleball and kayaking to golf. There are even profiles for organized sports such as soccer, baseball, or basketball. Garmin watches are already well-loved by runners, but how can you best utilize their features for cycling? Let’s take a look at the Garmin Epix Pro and Fenix 7 Pro and explore how to use them for rides.

The first step to getting the most out of your Garmin watch is to get it off your wrist and onto the handlebars. The latest generation of the Epix Pro and the Fenix 7 Pro are compatible with Garmin’s Smartwatch Bike Mount. Simply remove the watch straps, snap the watch into the mount, and you can place your watch into any quarter-turn style bike computer mount. There are mounts for just about any location on a bike, so you can easily customize this setup to your taste. The swap is quick and takes less than 10 seconds.

This is literally a lifesaver. Both the Epic Pro and Fenix 7 Pro boast a built-in flashlight. When mounted on the bike mount, it is in the perfect position to be used as a headlight. While it’s not bright enough to bomb down mountain roads, it offers sufficient light to make you visible to drivers and ride around town. If you’re prone to riding longer than intended and cutting it close with daylight, the flashlight is a game changer.

These watches are available in 3 different case/screen sizes. The best one for you depends on the size of your wrist and the amount of data you like to view on the screen. For all-day wearing, the smaller sizes are nice, but when it comes to on-the-bike viewing, a larger screen makes it easier to view your metrics.

There are many options for configuring the data screens on these watches. When riding, it is nice to keep it simple with 3-4 fields depending on your preference. Ideal candidates for data fields include current speed, total distance, elapsed time, and current power. The touchscreen on these watches makes it easy to swipe between multiple data screens so you can quickly view a second or third screen with lesser used fields.

These watches can connect with other devices via Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wi-Fi – making them compatible with nearly all speed sensors, power meters, heart rate monitors, and even electronic shifting such as SRAM AXS and Shimano Di2.

When off the bike, these watches are ready to help with all elements of recovery and training. Features like Sleep Monitoring, Body Battery, Stress Tracking, and Pulse Ox Sensor are perfect for understanding how your body responds to training and identifying when to rest and when to power on.

These two watches are incredibly similar and have nearly all the same features. The Epix Pro is priced slightly higher due to its high-quality AMOLDED screen – which may be worth the extra money if on-screen visuals are important to you. The Fenix 7 Pro on the other hand has solar charging capacities which helps to extend the battery life of the unit.