There is one big reason that the iPhone isn’t the most ideal cycling computer – the longevity of the battery. While there are seemingly limitless apps for the iPhone related to fitness, the handset probably won’t go the distance. Typically the phone will give out before a lot of riders, especially those who are serious enough to take advantage of the advanced features the smartphone offers as a training monitor, especially the handset’s GPS mode.
However, Wahoo Fitness and Heart Rate Watch Company have come up with a solution, namely an auxiliary battery pack. It is a simple solution, but one that is key to turning the iPhone into a true bike computer. This extra juice can provide up to triple the run time for the smartphone. The drawback is that it does add up in the weight category when you factor in the phone, case and auxiliary battery. This comes in at about 1.25 pounds, which is quite hefty compared to the two ounces of standalone devices.