In Part 3 of our four-part reveal of the 2022 South African Mountain Biking Survey, presented by Garmin, we look at the performance segment of the survey. The 13 questions were designed to find out more about how mountain bikers measure their training/racing performance and which brands they choose for GPS devices, home trainers, workout apps and more. Where relevant, we have included previous-year stats for comparison. There was a total of 3000 respondents to the survey.
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Do you wear a GPS smart watch to monitor your riding performance?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Yes | 68.70% | 71.44% | 63.14% |
| No | 31.30% | 28.56% | 36.86% |
GPS Smart watches have become popular due to their convenience and the fact that they have so many cycling-specific features. They’re also ‘lifestyle-measuring’ devices, offering stats on sleep quality, weather and recovery – and they tell the time, like a regular watch. Just over a 2% drop in the number that use a GPS Smart watch to monitor their mountain biking performance over the previous year.
If yes, what brand and model do you currently use?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Garmin | 76.90% | 74.05% | 70.86% |
| Apple Watch | 6.51% | 7.62% | 7.50% |
| Suunto | 4.97% | 5.27% | 6.49% |
| Polar | 3.42% | 4.29% | 5.43% |
| Samsung | 2.09% | 2.55% | 3.41% |
| Huawei | 2.09% | 2.04% | 1.96% |
| Wahoo | 0.60% | 0.87% | 0.33% |
| TomTom | 0.49% | 0.40% | 0.67% |
| FitBit | 0.38% | 0.87% | 1.06% |
| Other | 2.48% | 2.04% | 2.29% |
Garmin continues to gain market share in this category, while all other brands, except for TomTom, dropped.
Garmin’s Fenix is essentially the benchmark in smart watches for cyclists, while its Vivoactive (Active Lifestyle) and Forerunner (Committed Athlete) models also showed significant popularity in our survey. And the new Enduro, the one Greg Minnaar uses, is also now showing a presence.
Do you use a traditional non-GPS cycling computer or a GPS cycling computer to measure your performance whilst you ride (that’s mounted to your handlebar)?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| A traditional non-GPS computer | 5.20% | 6.62% | 9.30% |
| A GPS cycling computer | 64.37% | 61.95% | 54.56% |
| Neither | 30.43% | 31.43% | 36.13% |
The traditional non-GPS computer continues to diminish in popularity with the GPS computer gaining 2.5% in 12 months. The 30.43% that said ‘neither’, are likely using a cycling-aligned smart watch, which measures most of what a handlebar-mounted device measures, as well as off-the-bike measurement, such as sleep, recovery and other activities.
If yes, what brand and model do you currently use?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Garmin | 77.39% | 72.93% | 71.53% |
| Wahoo | 6.19% | 7.42% | 6.48% |
| Xoss | 2.38% | – | – |
| Polar | 2.11% | 3.38% | 2.76% |
| Cateye | 1.85% | 2.76% | 2.76% |
| Giant | 1.79% | 1.94% | 1.88% |
| Ryder | 1.58% | 1.94% | 1.35% |
| Sigma | 1.27% | 1.69% | 1.82% |
| Bryton | 1.21% | 1.59% | 3.12% |
| Lezyne | 1.16% | 1.64% | 1.94% |
| Other | 2.96% | 4.71% | 6.36% |
Garmin is incredibly dominant again here, but it is the brand that essentially created the cycling GPS category in the early 2000s. Xoss pretty much arrived with a bang, moving straight to third, while all other brands dropped slightly in relation to their 2021 market share.
Which data metrics are most important to you?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Distance, speed & time | 93.04% | 92.95% | 93.08% |
| Heart rate | 82.72% | 82.57% | 80.03% |
| Average speed | 57.24% | 54.58% | 56.62% |
| Accumulated ascent | 46.00% | 44.35% | 43.27% |
| Time of day | 36.95% | 29.99% | 31.80% |
| Cadence | 33.76% | 32.98% | 29.03% |
| Calories burned | 27.80% | 28.49% | 27.96% |
| Navigation capabilities | 30.08% | 25.58% | 25.00% |
| Elevation above sea level | 23.60% | 21.45% | 21.63% |
| Slope gradient | 21.28% | 19.72% | 17.71% |
| Power metrics | 22.88% | 21.52% | 16.42% |
| Air temperature | 17.60% | 15.13% | 16.16% |
| Smart notifications | 15.60% | 13.10% | 14.64% |
| Advanced physiological metrics (VO2 max, training effect etc) | 13.56% | 13.14% | 10.95% |
| Safety features | 16.48% | 12.14% | 10.50% |
| Training plans & workouts | 14.60% | 11.95% | 10.02% |
| All of the above | 9.24% | 8.50% | 8.65% |
Survey-takers could choose as many as they felt necessary. This does give an indication what the priority features are on cycling-specific devices for South African mountain bikers.
Do you use a Garmin Varia Radar to warn you of motor vehicles approaching from behind?
| 2022 | 2021 | |
| Yes | 8.94% | 6.29% |
| No | 88.27% | 91.58% |
| I ride with others that have it and I connect to theirs | 2.19% | 1.32% |
| Other | 0.60% | 0.81% |
After testing this product, we actually can’t see how anyone that regularly rides on public roads would not invest in one! Here’s our review. The ‘other’ was mainly comments saying they intend buying one, it’s the best thing they have every bought and they wish they could afford one. Drink one less R30 cappuccino for 143 days and you will save enough money to buy the Varia Radar Tail Light. It could save your life!
Do you currently use a power meter?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Yes | 17.99% | 14.41% | 12.69% |
| No | 82.01% | 85.59% | 87.31% |
The percentage of power meter owners is growing gradually. Not surprising when you consider that power is the best (actually the only) way to effectively measure cycling performance. Price has always been a barrier, but if you really want to improve your performance, you’ll find a way to afford one. Also, new, better-priced brands are arriving on the market that are making the investment a little easier for many.
If you use a power meter, what brand to you use?
| 2022 | |
| Quarq | 20.24% |
| Stages | 19.51% |
| Power2Max | 18.53% |
| Garmin Vector | 13.90% |
| 4iiii | 6.09% |
| Favero Assioma | 5.14% |
| Sigeyi AXO | 4.87% |
| Cyclops Power Tap | 2.92% |
| Xcadey | 2.92% |
| Rotor | 2.19% |
| Shimano Force Vector | 1.70% |
| Giant Power Pro | 0.48% |
| Specialized Power Crank | 0.48% |
| SRM | 0.24% |
| Magene | 0.24% |
| Velocomp Power Pod | 0.24% |
| RaceFace Cinch | 0.24% |
We had 410 answers to this question. Well, we had more, but some listed their smart trainers, which is technically correct, but we were after bike-mounted power meters. We’ll be more specific with this question in future. Anyway, it’s interesting to see 16 brands in the category, some of which we had to look up to confirm they’re indeed real.
Do you train indoors to achieve cycling fitness/strength?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Yes, mostly on my home trainer | 48.23% | 49.62% | 43.85% | 35.11% |
| Yes, mostly at a power-training studio | 2.64% | 2.51% | 2.42% | 5.91% |
| Yes, mostly on the power-measured bike at my gym | 10.29% | 10.11% | 10.10% | 22.03% |
| No | 38.84% | 37.76% | 43.64% | 36.96% |
Similar to 2021, aka The Year of the Home Trainer, thanks to the South African government’s reaction to the Covid-19 virus.
If you use a home trainer, which do you have?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Basic manual resistance trainer | 27.00% | 35.64% | 48.19% | 42.70% |
| Smart trainer | 73.00% | 64.36% | 51.81% | 57.30% |
Definitely an increase in popularity of Smart Trainers. If you have used one for a reasonable amount of time, you’ll understand why…
If you use a home trainer, which brand and model do you have?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Wahoo | 42.28% | 38.19% | 33.54% | 39.46% |
| Tacx | 20.46% | 19.99% | 18.29% | 17.01% |
| Elite | 7.36% | 6.64% | 6.65% | 3.40% |
| Saris/
CycleOps |
6.06% | 6.70% | 7.56% | 9.98% |
| Giant | 5.99% | 9.55% | 13.31% | 11.34% |
| Trojan | 3.91% | 4.30% | 2.58% | 3.85% |
| Wattbike | 3.32% | 2.12% | 1.93% | 3.40% |
| Spinning bike | 3.00% | 4.63% | 1.42% | 0.91% |
| Raleigh | 1.89% | 3.85% | 1.80% | 1.59% |
| Other/Unknown | 5.73% | 4.02% | 12.15% | 7.93.% |
Wahoo continues to gain market share in this category, while Tacx and Elite both increased slightly. Of those that lost market share, Giant lost the most.
Whilst on your home trainer, do you use a cycling training/workout app?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Yes | 63.57% | 60.04% | 46.78% |
| No | 36.43% | 39.96% | 53.22% |
A smaller increase than the previous 12 months, but not really surprising. Home trainer apps are highly engaging and really great for motivation and even competition.
If you use a cycling training/workout app, which do you use?
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Zwift | 62.67% | 70.42% | 66.70% |
| Wattbike | 7.99% | 1.25% | 1.71% |
| Rouvy | 6.37% | 7.19% | 7.41% |
| TrainerRoad | 4.22% | 5.37% | 4.18% |
| Wahoo | 4.07% | 0.66% | 0.70% |
| Tacx Training | 3.69% | 3.86% | 3.49% |
| RGT Cycling | 1.61% | 0.76% | 0.61% |
| The Sufferfest | 1.46% | 3.93% | 3.49% |
| FullGaz | 0.77% | 0.91% | 0.87% |
| Golden Cheetah | 0.38% | 0.23% | 0.26% |
| BKool Simulator | 0.23% | 0.08% | 0.26% |
| Kinetic Fit | 0.15% | 0.08% | 0.70% |
| Other | 6.30% | 5.26% | 9.62% |
No real surprise that Zwift remains by far the most popular. We have used at least half of those listed here and can confirm that Zwift is certainly the most engaging and customisable. Interesting to see the sharp rise in popularity of Wattbike’s app, likely due to being allowed back into gyms/studios after not being allowed in 2020 and 2021… Wahoo’s app also saw a healthy increase in popularity.
Did you miss Parts 1 and 2 of our four-part reveal of the 2022 South African Mountain Biking Survey, presented by Garmin? Check them out here:
Part 1 – Rider stats
Part 2 – Bike brands
