This article applies equally to the RaceBox Micro. Neither the RaceBox Mini S nor the RaceBox Micro can directly capture heart rate data, but there are some easy ways to work around this and get combined heart rate data (including from a chest-worn heart rate strap) alongside your GPS data in your analytics. The steps below apply the same way whether you're using a Mini S or a Micro.
Below we describe how to get the most accurate position data from your RaceBox device along with heart rate data, which must be collected from a GPS watch or a heart rate strap connected to a GPS watch.
(Optional) use a chest-worn heart rate strap like the Garmin Dual HRM, or the Polar H10 for highest accuracy
The following applies to all of the GPS watch types referenced in this article. Follow your GPS watch manufacturer's guide to pairing the watch with a chest-worn heart rate strap. If you have a heart rate strap connected to your watch, the data from the heart rate strap always overrides the heart rate data from the reading on your wrist coming from the bottom sensors of your watch. This is an easy step on all watches we've tested and the accuracy is really good!
Using Apple Watch (iOS only) along with your RaceBox Mini S or Micro
First, see the note above about using a chest-worn heart rate strap. Follow these steps to combine the heart rate data from your Apple Watch with the GPS data from your RaceBox device. The important steps to get right are the last two — the others are loose suggestions and can be done in any order.
- Start any workout on your Apple Watch (for example, "Traditional Strength Training"). Ideally, use a workout type that doesn't track GPS, since that unnecessarily drains your watch's battery faster — the GPS data from this workout is discarded anyway.
- Start recording on your RaceBox device (Smart Mode works well)
- Go ride (one session or any number of sessions)
- IMPORTANT: end the workout on your Apple Watch first
- IMPORTANT: end recording on your RaceBox device second
Once your sync (downloading from your RaceBox device) completes, you'll see your lap times and heart rate data combined in one view, including on all other analytics screens in the app.
Using any Garmin or Polar GPS watch with your RaceBox Mini S or Micro
First, see the note above about using a chest-worn heart rate strap. Follow these steps to combine the heart rate data from your Garmin or Polar GPS watch with the GPS data from your RaceBox device. The important steps to get right are the last two.
- Start a GPS activity or workout on your watch (whatever your watch calls mountain biking works well). It must be a workout type that records GPS (even though that GPS data is discarded later), and if you're using a Garmin watch, it must be a non-motorsport type activity. Any kind of running or mountain biking activity will work.
- Start recording on your RaceBox device (Smart Mode works well)
- Go ride (one session or any number of sessions)
- IMPORTANT: end the workout on your GPS watch first and sync it to your Garmin or Polar app
- IMPORTANT: end recording on your RaceBox device second
Once your sync (downloading from your RaceBox device) completes, you'll see your lap times and heart rate data combined in one view, including on all other analytics screens in the app.
Using just a heart rate strap
Note, this does not work, you must also have a GPS watch.