In Part 3 of our four-part reveal of the 2023 South African Mountain Biking Survey, presented by Garmin, we look at the performance questions. 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.
Since this has tables, it’s best viewed on a laptop or desktop computer. On a mobile phone, turn to landscape for best viewing.
Do you wear a GPS smart watch to monitor your riding performance?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Yes | 70.96% | 68.70% | 71.44% | 63.14% |
| No | 29.04% | 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. After a small drop in 2022, it’s up again with just over 70% wearing a smart watch to measure riding performance.
If yes, what brand do you currently use?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin | 76.75% | 76.90% | 74.05% | 70.86% |
| Apple Watch | 6.21% | 6.51% | 7.62% | 7.50% |
| Suunto | 4.00% | 4.97% | 5.27% | 6.49% |
| Polar | 4.00% | 3.42% | 4.29% | 5.43% |
| Samsung | 3.13% | 2.09% | 2.55% | 3.41% |
| Huawei | 1.46% | 2.09% | 2.04% | 1.96% |
| Wahoo | 1.06% | 0.60% | 0.87% | 0.33% |
| Other | 3.34% | 2.48% | 2.04% | 2.29% |
Garmin absolutely dominates this category. But it’s not surprising since the brand has so many models to that suit mountain bikers, including Fenix, Vivoactive, Forerunner and the recently launched Enduro.
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)?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A traditional non-GPS computer | 5.50% | 5.20% | 6.62% | 9.30% |
| A GPS cycling computer | 65.04% | 64.37% | 61.95% | 54.56% |
| Neither | 29.46% | 30.43% | 31.43% | 36.13% |
Not much change here in the past year. The 29.46% 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?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin | 75.32% | 77.39% | 72.93% | 71.53% |
| Wahoo | 8.16% | 6.19% | 7.42% | 6.48% |
| Xoss | 2.87% | 2.38% | – | – |
| Polar | 2.17% | 2.11% | 3.38% | 2.76% |
| Cateye | 1.59% | 1.85% | 2.76% | 2.76% |
| Giant | 0.89% | 1.79% | 1.94% | 1.88% |
| Ryder | 0.96% | 1.58% | 1.94% | 1.35% |
| Sigma | 1.02% | 1.27% | 1.69% | 1.82% |
| Bryton | 0.77% | 1.21% | 1.59% | 3.12% |
| Lezyne | 0.77% | 1.16% | 1.64% | 1.94% |
| Other | 5.48% | 2.96% | 4.71% | 6.36% |
Garmin is incredibly dominant again here, but it is the brand that created the cycling GPS category in the early 2000s and its expanding Edge range is very cycling-specific.
Which data metrics are most important to you?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance, speed & time | 92.32% | 93.04% | 92.95% | 93.08% |
| Heart rate | 81.66% | 82.72% | 82.57% | 80.03% |
| Average speed | 57.66% | 57.24% | 54.58% | 56.62% |
| Accumulated ascent | 47.30% | 46.00% | 44.35% | 43.27% |
| Time of day | 30.92% | 36.95% | 29.99% | 31.80% |
| Cadence | 30.57% | 33.76% | 32.98% | 29.03% |
| Calories burned | 22.44% | 27.80% | 28.49% | 27.96% |
| Navigation capabilities | 25.57% | 30.08% | 25.58% | 25.00% |
| Elevation above sea level | 12.53% | 23.60% | 21.45% | 21.63% |
| Slope gradient | 22.18% | 21.28% | 19.72% | 17.71% |
| Power metrics | 22.84% | 22.88% | 21.52% | 16.42% |
| Air temperature | 17.08% | 17.60% | 15.13% | 16.16% |
| Smart notifications | 12.63% | 15.60% | 13.10% | 14.64% |
| Advanced physiological metrics (VO2 max, training effect etc) | 13.41% | 13.56% | 13.14% | 10.95% |
| Safety features | 14.40% | 16.48% | 12.14% | 10.50% |
| Training plans & workouts | 13.63% | 14.60% | 11.95% | 10.02% |
| Motor vehicle sensor (Garmin Varia | 10.46% | _ | _ | _ |
| All of the above | 6.82% | 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. We added in the Garmin Varia question this time to get a sense of the importance of this incredible safety device.
Do you currently use a power meter?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 21.38% | 17.99% | 14.41% | 12.69% |
| No | 78.62% | 82.01% | 85.59% | 87.31% |
The percentage of power meter owners continues to grow. Not surprising when you consider that power is the best way to effectively measure cycling performance and more and more South Africans are committing to performance improvement.
If you use a power meter, what brand to you use?
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quarq | 21.37% | 20.24% |
| Power2Max | 21.37% | 18.53% |
| Garmin Vector | 15.42% | 13.90% |
| Stages | 12.56% | 19.51% |
| Sigeyi AXO | 9.47% | 4.87% |
| Xcadey | 5.73% | 2.92% |
| Favero Assioma | 4.63% | 5.14% |
| 4iiii | 4.19% | 6.09% |
| Rotor | 1.32% | 2.19% |
| Specialized Power Crank | 1.32% | 0.48% |
| Cyclops Power Tap | 1.10% | 2.92% |
| SRM | 0.66% | 0.24% |
| Shimano Force Vector | 0.22% | 1.70% |
| RaceFace Cinch | 0.22% | 0.24% |
| Giant Power Pro | – | 0.48% |
| Magene | – | 0.24% |
| Velocomp Power Pod | – | 0.24% |
We had 454 answers to this question. Some brands listed in 2022 didn’t get any selections for 2023, but we have kept them in for perspective as we anticipate this segment to continue to grow year on year.
Do you train indoors to achieve cycling fitness/strength?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, mostly on my home trainer | 46.99% | 48.23% | 49.62% | 43.85% | 35.11% |
| Yes, mostly at a power-training studio | 2.91% | 2.64% | 2.51% | 2.42% | 5.91% |
| Yes, mostly on the power-measured bike at my gym | 10.01% | 10.29% | 10.11% | 10.10% | 22.03% |
| No | 40.08% | 38.84% | 37.76% | 43.64% | 36.96% |
After the surge in 2021 and 2022, the numbers are gradually returning to pre-Covid-19 disruption figures, but the benefits of indoor training are now more widely appreciated.
If you use a home trainer, which do you have?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic manual resistance trainer | 23.73% | 27.00% | 35.64% | 48.19% | 42.70% |
| Smart trainer | 77.27% | 73.00% | 64.36% | 51.81% | 57.30% |
The popularity of Smart Trainers continues to rise, which is not surprising. The difference between the two types is like night and day.
If you use a home trainer, which brand and model do you have?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wahoo | 48.87% | 42.28% | 38.19% | 33.54% | 39.46% |
| Tacx | 20.16% | 20.46% | 19.99% | 18.29% | 17.01% |
| Elite | 6.19% | 7.36% | 6.64% | 6.65% | 3.40% |
| Saris/CycleOps | 5.52% | 6.06% | 6.70% | 7.56% | 9.98% |
| Giant | 4.51% | 5.99% | 9.55% | 13.31% | 11.34% |
| Trojan | 2.76% | 3.91% | 4.30% | 2.58% | 3.85% |
| Wattbike | 3.68% | 3.32% | 2.12% | 1.93% | 3.40% |
| Spinning bike | 3.09% | 3.00% | 4.63% | 1.42% | 0.91% |
| Raleigh | 1.42% | 1.89% | 3.85% | 1.80% | 1.59% |
| Other/Unknown | 3.76% | 5.73% | 4.02% | 12.15% | 7.93.% |
Wahoo gained market share in this category again with most other brands losing a little.
Whilst on your home trainer, do you use a cycling training/workout app?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 65.74% | 63.57% | 60.04% | 46.78% |
| No | 34.26% | 36.43% | 39.96% | 53.22% |
Home trainer apps are highly engaging and really great for motivation and even competition. It’s not really surprising that they’re increasing in popularity.
If you use a cycling training/workout app, which do you use?
| 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zwift | 63.85% | 62.67% | 70.42% | 66.70% |
| Rouvy | 7.09% | 6.37% | 7.19% | 7.41% |
| Wattbike | 6.71% | 7.99% | 1.25% | 1.71% |
| Tacx Training | 4.41% | 3.69% | 3.86% | 3.49% |
| Wahoo | 4.12% | 4.07% | 0.66% | 0.70% |
| TrainerRoad | 3.83% | 4.22% | 5.37% | 4.18% |
| My Whoosh | 2.20% | – | – | – |
| The Sufferfest | 1.15% | 1.46% | 3.93% | 3.49% |
| Training Peaks | 1.05% | – | – | – |
| FullGaz | 0.95% | 0.77% | 0.91% | 0.87% |
| RGT Cycling | 0.47% | 1.61% | 0.76% | 0.61% |
| Motosumo | 0.28% | – | – | – |
| Xert | 0.19% | – | – | – |
| Golden Cheetah | 0.09% | 0.38% | 0.23% | 0.26% |
| BKool Simulator | 0.09% | 0.23% | 0.08% | 0.26% |
| Kinetic Fit | 0.09% | 0.15% | 0.08% | 0.70% |
| Kino Map | 0.09% | – | – | – |
| Morpheus | 0.09% | – | – | – |
| Peloton | 0.09% | – | – | – |
| Think Rider | 0.09% | – | – | – |
| Shimano Connect | 0.09% | – | – | – |
| Other | 3.8% | 6.30% | 5.26% | 9.62% |
No real surprise that Zwift remains by far the most popular. It’s highly engaging and offers a wide range of challenges. We were surprised to see a few new brands, which we confirmed do indeed exist.
Did you miss Parts 1 and 2 of our four-part reveal of the 2023 South African Mountain Biking Survey, presented by Garmin? Check them out here:
Part 1 – Rider stats https://www.treadmtb.co.za/2023-sa-mountain-biking-survey-the-results/
Part 2 – Bike brands https://www.treadmtb.co.za/these-are-south-africas-most-popular-mtb-gravel-ebike-brands/
