When I first started riding bikes as a teenager, GPS devices were not readily available for on-bike use. I timed my rides in what I assume was the usual way: by looking at the digital clock on the oven before dashing out the door, riding the same clockwise loop out of town at breakneck speed, then running back into the kitchen to check the clock again immediately upon returning home.
Since then, things have changed. I now have an extremely powerful Garmin GPS unit tracking my rides at all times. In addition, I carry a phone stowed in my pocket for emergencies (such as the Garmin running out of battery). For specific workouts, I wear a heart rate monitor and track wattage with a power meter, which I have on multiple bikes.
