Many users are confused about Peloton bikes’ compatibility with Garmin smartwatches. Do the two devices talk seamlessly?
There is a clear cut mention on the Garmin website about compatibility of Garmin smartwatches and Peloton bikes.
As per Garmin, the Garmin smartwatches are not compatible with Peloton bikes or treadmills.
This is not, however, an open and shut answer. Let’s look at the complexity involved below.
There are two legs of communication or data exchange that can potentially happen between Garmin smartwatches and Peloton bikes.
Any data transmitted by a Peloton bike cannot be understood or recorded by the Garmin Connect app or the Garmin smartwatch.
So we know, for sure, that the Peloton to Garmin data exchange is not going to happen. For this data exchange, Garmin smartwatches are not compatible with Peloton bikes.
Now, let us look at the 2nd leg of this data exchange. We are talking about Garmin to Peloton data exchange.
The good news is that data transmitted by Garmin smartwatch can be received by a Peloton bike over ANT+ or Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
For this, the Garmin smartwatch must support ANT+ or Bluetooth wireless connectivity at the time of activity.
Now, we know that the Garmin Connect app has nothing to do with the Peloton software, data or information.
So, any data from Peloton is of no use because it cannot be stored by the Garmin Connect app.
Here is what happens when you use Garmin smartwatch with a Peloton bike:
The Heart rate data is broadcast from the Garmin smartwatch to the Peloton bike over ANT+ or Bluetooth.
This data forms a basis for calculating VO2 or volumetric oxygen. The data, is critically important, to capture and report the Heart-rate during cycling using a Peloton bike.
This data needs to be stored for analysis using a 3rd party app that can sit between Garmin smartwatch and the Peloton bikes.
The 3rd party app will store the Heart-rate data and produce data pertaining to volumetric oxygen or VO2 for tracking and monitoring performance data while using the Peloton bikes.
Therefore, the role of a 3rd party app or software is significant in tracking and evaluating metrics while using Peloton bikes and Garmin smartwatches.
Sync Peloton workouts to Garmin smartwatches
There are users who are inclined to sync Peloton activities to the Garmin smartwatches. This is not supported, per se, by Garmin. However, using the 3rd party apps can do the needful.
But, this would cost money. And, if you are technically versed, you could use a script to push Peloton workouts and sync with the Garmin Connect app.
Let us look at the two options available to sync Peloton workouts with Garmin Connect on Garmin smartwatches.
Sync My Workout – Syncmyworkout is a 3rd party website that will take Peloton activity data and push to Garmin Connect in the form that is understandable for the Garmin smartwatches and the Garmin Connect app.
Syncmyworkout is a paid subscription. Once you start the subscription, the tool imports data from all Peloton activities. It would then transfer the Peloton workout to the Garmin Connect app.
I think the Syncmyworkout costs $25 a year or $7 a month for monthly subscription.
If you intend to give it a pass and use a free alternative, you may consider a user-generated Peloton workout to Garmin Connect script.
This script is available through Github. But, this would call for some technical expertise to get it to work.