While not all athletes are equally serious about running and cycling, the combination of the two is still quite popular. This is especially true of those training for a duathlon, or just looking to add variety to their daily exercise routine.

Some of the watches leading in the market come with attachments and accessories to make them versatile enough for bicycle use. For instance, the foot pod feature for running to measure stride length can be adapted for cycling use to measure pedal cadence. Having a digitally recorded and mapped report of the whole ride’s cadence provides essential information for competitive cyclers looking to improve their performance.

Other information recorded by some GPS running watches that is easily adapted to a cycling regimen is heart rate monitoring. Most high end watches come with (or are compatible with) a heart rate monitor in the form of a belt.

These belts are specifically designed to be comfortable enough to wear while running and cycling. They wirelessly transmit the pulse information to the wrist (or handlebar) display for instant feedback on how your body is responding.

This information is also recorded and included in the post-ride report that’s automatically analyzed when you plug the display into your computer at home. In fact, everything from distance, time, speed, heart rate, cadence (or stride length) is all analyzed together.

This means that GPS running watches don’t just help you see where you’ve been and how fast you’ve gone. They can show you how your heart rate and cycling cadence responded to changes in your route. Because the GPS signal (in some watches, not all) also records changes in altitude, you can see exactly how going up a hill impacts the way you ride and the way your body responds.

While these watches are more popular for runners, there is a strong segment of cycling use. Stationary bikes have long recorded this type of information, and those who enjoy riding outdoors and covering actual distance should be able to take advantage of technological development, and this type of watch certainly helps them do so.

Accessories might make the difference in the watch you ultimately choose. Besides looking at the various features presented by different watches, you’ll want to keep an eye out for what sorts of accessories they come with.

In terms of charging and syncing with your computer, GPS running watches have different ways of syncing with your computer, as well as charging. From USB connection charging docs to wireless transmitters, see what’s compatible with your computer before purchasing the watch itself.

Shoe pods are a really popular accessory for running watches that utilize GPS technology. With a second device that attaches to your shoe (and connects wirelessly to the watch), you can measure not just distance and pace, but stride length as well. Useful for advanced runners.

For runners looking for heart rate monitoring, many of these watches come with a wireless belt style monitor, which instantly transmits information straight to the watch’s display screen for easy reading.

Are you a runner, but also a biker? Many wrist-mounted GPS displays feature adapters or add on pods (like foot pods, but for your bike) to help measure your cycling cadence. And to track your speed and distance while biking without having to look at your wrist, you can find a handle bar attachment to mount the watch securely for easy viewing. This is great for those training for a duathlon.

What about triathlons? While not an accessory per se, you’ll find that many of the top GPS running watches are also water proof up to a certain depth, making it easy to monitor your entire training process.

Just like with girls running shoes, which come in a million different types and styles, there is no single watch that is right for everyone: and that ability to choose is a good thing. With different features and accessories available, the best way to select the GPS watch that’s right for you is to look at what you want and what the watch has to offer.