Heart rate monitors
Ian Peak
I have had two of them, both Polar.
My last (current ) one was a CS 300, specifically for use with a bike.
I have had 3 problems
1. The transmitter no longer works. This could be result of me wearing it swimming & in the
spa.
2. The watch is no longer water proof. The back of these watches has 4 screws, rather being screw in.
When I went to the watch repairer the seal had expanded a no longer fits.
3 Also there iis a crack in the outside of the watch , which is part of the case, near one of the screw points.
Which could let in water. I think
I know that heart rate moitors are a bit of a luxury, & fun for spinning classes, but recently my doctor diagnosed that have a accelerated
heart rate, as well as a heart murmur, & that I should monitor this.
Thus the desire for a good heart rate monitor.
Presumably these could be purchased on line from overeseas,
Thanks,
Ian D Peak
Steve Xerri
I also have used a Polar computer albeit a cs200 and have found it to
be a real pain, specifically the heart rate monitor which is now ready
for it's fourth chest strap in four years. It always starts with
occasional unusual readings and progress' to continual incorrect
readings, writing me off as dead on many an occasion and in the throws
of ecstasy with greatly exaggerated regularity.
The backlight is not bright enough and hopeless at dusk or dawn.
The heading tabs are (for me) too small to read.
The battery in the cadence and speed sensors can not be replaced
without cutting apart and glueing back together-farcical.
Someone I rode with recently is going through the process of trying to
get a refund as she finds it less than accurate and unreliable.
I have had experience with sigma computers and found them to be very
reliable with many usable features, the ROX, with HRM, series seems to
be the one of choice now and can be sourced at very reasonable
prices.
I see the garmin computers are hugely popular these days, the only
complaint I have heard from users to be battery life, but I get the
feeling you are just about to find out from the rest of the gang that
have used them extensively on Audax rides and much more as to quality.
You may even hear from the odd person with an irregular heart rate.
The main thing I would suggest is to identify what the main functions
you require/must have are and start from there.
Steve.
Keith Mcculloch
Ian,
I've been using Polar products for a number of years both a CS600 & more recently a RS 800CX. Both are excellent, can be used across several bikes, waterproof and have months of battery life. I also have a Garmin 500 that has been a profound disappointment. Poor battery life - less than 8 hrs on some rides, it drops contact with the satellites under heavy trees along roads, most recently during them ACE 250km climbing Hotham.
Cheers
Keith McCulloch
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Hamish Moffatt
problems with my Edge 800, but the battery always lasts the quoted time
for me and I had no problem with satellite reception climbing Hotham
either on the ACE or last weekend. There are software bugs (I've posted
here before about it crashing in the 430-450km mark).
However the online world seems to be full of unsatisfied Polar users..
The RS 800CX and CS600 don't seem comparable to the Edge because they
don't have GPS (unless you buy the add-on sensors).
A non-GPS unit will have a lot better battery life. I'd suggest looking
at Sigma etc.
Hamish
On Sun, Mar 04, 2012 at 06:45:37PM +1100, Keith Mcculloch wrote:
> Ian,
> I've been using Polar products for a number of years both a CS600 & more
> recently a RS 800CX. Both are excellent, can be used across several bikes,
> waterproof and have months of battery life. I also have a Garmin 500 that
> has been a profound disappointment. Poor battery life - less than 8 hrs on
> some rides, it drops contact with the satellites under heavy trees along
> roads, most recently during them ACE 250km climbing Hotham.*
> Cheers
> Keith McCulloch
>
> On 04/03/2012 5:37 PM, "Ian Peak" <[1]ian...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Has any one got suggestions on the best* heart rate monitors.
>
> I have had two of them, both Polar.
>
> My last (current ) one was a CS 300, specifically for use with a bike.
>
> I have had 3 problems
>
> 1.* The transmitter no longer works.* This could be result of me wearing
> it swimming & in the
>
> spa.
>
> 2.** The watch is no longer water proof.*** The back of these watches
> has 4 screws, rather being screw in.
>
> ****** When I went to the watch repairer the seal had expanded a no
> longer fits.
>
> *3 **** Also there iis a crack in the outside of the watch , which is
> part of the case, near one of the screw points.
>
> ****** Which could let in water. I think
>
> I know that heart rate moitors are a bit of a luxury, & fun for spinning
> classes, but recently my doctor diagnosed that have a accelerated
>
> heart rate, as well as a heart murmur, & that I should monitor this.
>
> Thus the desire for a good heart rate monitor.
>
> Presumably these could be purchased on line from overeseas,
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ian D Peak
>
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Keith Mcculloch
Hamish,
I think Ian was asking for people's experiences with heart rate monitors not GPS capability - I offered mine in response.
What I didn't ask for (neither did Ian I don't think ) was an unsolicited critique of my experiences. In terms of monitoring heart conditions none of the devices out there will provide anything other than a record of heart rate or a theoretical percentage of maximum heart rate. If that is what Ian wants to monitor then any of the reputable brands will do the job. I suspect there is many unhappy Garmin users out there too.
Keith McCulloch
Hamish Moffatt
I have no desire for an argument. I only offered my experience of
the battery life and GPS function of the Garmin as you did.
Hamish
On Mon, Mar 05, 2012 at 11:36:19AM +1100, Keith Mcculloch wrote:
> Hamish,
> I think Ian was asking for people's experiences with heart rate monitors
> not GPS capability - I offered mine in response.
> What I didn't ask for (neither did Ian I don't think ) was an unsolicited
> critique of my experiences. In terms of monitoring heart conditions none
> of the devices out there will provide anything other than a record of
> heart rate or a theoretical percentage of* maximum heart rate. If that is
> what Ian wants to monitor then any of the reputable brands will do the
> job. I suspect there is* many unhappy Garmin users out there too.
>
> Keith McCulloch
>
> On 04/03/2012 10:06 PM, "Hamish Moffatt" <[1]ham...@cloud.net.au> wrote:
>
> Well I'm not going to defend Garmin too staunchly because I've had
> problems with my Edge 800, but the battery always lasts the quoted time
> for me and I had no problem with satellite reception climbing Hotham
> either on the ACE or last weekend. There are software bugs (I've posted
> here before about it crashing in the 430-450km mark).
>
> However the online world seems to be full of unsatisfied Polar users..
>
> The RS 800CX and CS600 don't seem comparable to the Edge because they
> don't have GPS (unless you buy the add-on sensors).
>
> A non-GPS unit will have a lot better battery life. I'd suggest looking
> at Sigma etc.
>
> Hamish
>
> On Sun, Mar 04, 2012 at 06:45:37PM +1100, Keith Mcculloch wrote:
> > * *Ian,
> > * *I've been using Polar products for a number of years both a CS600 &
> more
> > * *recently a RS 800CX. Both are excellent, can be used across several
> bikes,
> > * *waterproof and have months of battery life. I also have a Garmin
> 500 that
> > * *has been a profound disappointment. Poor battery life - less than 8
> hrs on
> > * *some rides, it drops contact with the satellites under heavy trees
> along
> > * *roads, most recently during them ACE 250km climbing Hotham.*
> > * *Cheers
> > * *Keith McCulloch
> >
> > * *On 04/03/2012 5:37 PM, "Ian Peak" <[1][2]ian...@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > * * *Has any one got suggestions on the best* heart rate monitors.
> >
> > * * *I have had two of them, both Polar.
> >
> > * * *My last (current ) one was a CS 300, specifically for use with a
> bike.
> >
> > * * *I have had 3 problems
> >
> > * * *1.* The transmitter no longer works.* This could be result of me
> wearing
> > * * *it swimming & in the
> >
> > * * *spa.
> >
> > * * *2.** The watch is no longer water proof.*** The back of these
> watches
> > * * *has 4 screws, rather being screw in.
> >
> > * * ******* When I went to the watch repairer the seal had expanded a
> no
> > * * *longer fits.
> >
> > * * **3 **** Also there iis a crack in the outside of the watch ,
> which is
> > * * *part of the case, near one of the screw points.
> >
> > * * ******* Which could let in water. I think
> >
> > * * *I know that heart rate moitors are a bit of a luxury, & fun for
> spinning
> > * * *classes, but recently my doctor diagnosed that have a accelerated
> >
> > * * *heart rate, as well as a heart murmur, & that I should monitor
> this.
> >
> > * * *Thus the desire for a good heart rate monitor.
> >
> > * * *Presumably these could be purchased on line from overeseas,
> >
> > * * *Thanks,
> >
> > * * *Ian D Peak
> >
> > * * *--
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> > * * *Groups "audax oz" group.
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> > * *"audax oz" group.
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> [4]audax-oz+u...@googlegroups.com
> >
> > References
> >
> > * *Visible links
> > * *1. mailto:[5]ian...@hotmail.com
> > * *2. mailto:[6]audax-oz%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com
>
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Graham Stucley
Hi Ian,
Garmin recommend that the watches be pressure tested after changing batteries and that they may require seal changes.
You may be able to salvage your transmitter and monitor with new seal kits.
Maintenance for Australia is done here in Adelaide.
http://www.polaraustralia.com.au/au-en/support/service_price_list
May be worthwhile to give them a call and discuss.
Cheers,
Graham
--
Paul Baynham
Graham Stucley
Hi Ian,
Whoops, I meant to say: “Polar recommend… ……(not Garmin recommend).
Regards,
Graham
From: Graham Stucley [mailto:gstu...@bigpond.com]
Sent: Monday, 5 March 2012 2:07 PM
To: 'Ian Peak'; 'Audax all'
Subject: RE: [audax-oz] Heart rate monitors
Hi Ian,
Garmin recommend that the watches be pressure tested after changing batteries and that they may require seal changes.
You may be able to salvage your transmitter and monitor with new seal kits.
Maintenance for Australia is done here in Adelaide.
http://www.polaraustralia.com.au/au-en/support/service_price_list
May be worthwhile to give them a call and discuss.
Cheers,
Graham
From: auda...@googlegroups.com [mailto:auda...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ian Peak
Sent: Sunday, 4 March 2012 5:07 PM
To: Audax all
Subject: [audax-oz] Heart rate monitors
Has any one got suggestions on the best heart rate monitors.
--
david_w...@agilent.com
I have had 3 different heart monitors over the last couple of years.
- Crane heart rate watch/strap Cheap from Aldi
- Cateye V3 Computer
- Garmin edge with premium soft strap
It really depend on what other functions you may want with your heart rate monitor or if you just want heart rate.
The things I have considered for all of these product is
1- Comfort - how comfortable is the strap to wear? When you are riding all day It has to be comfortable. The Cateye and Aldi watch had hard plastic straps with an elastic back, with the Garmin being the soft one. The Aldi was the worst very inflexible and the Cat being not too bad. But both of these gave big red marks and rash if worn for long times. The Garmin is easily the most comfortable. Also being able to detach the transmitter on the Garmin and giving the strap a good wash is really good to get all the salt out. when the salt builds up it starts to rub and get uncomfortable.
2- Reliability of a read. All of these have suffered from poor reading especially when cold and you haven't got a sweat going yet to get a good contact. The harder straps seem to suffer the worst as they don't stick to your chest shape as easily. The pads on the Garmin do tend to stick very well and it is rare that I get problems with the Garmin. A wetting of the pads before fitting on all sorts is a good idea. One area where they all have suffered is on descents when your jersey flaps and you get false high readings. I understand that Garmin has a version 2 which reduces this effect.
3- Ability to change batteries yourself. All the types I have had take a standard battery and just take a coin in the slot to change it over. I discounted polar when looking at computers for the reason that they needed to be returned for the battery change. I think this is very important. The Cateye had a battery life of about 6 months which is not great, I have been very happy with the battery life of the Garmin strap
4. Ease of reading the HR. the watch mounted one was the worst as you may not want to take your hands off the bars to check your heart rate. The Cateye had a very small number set and was quite difficult at times. With the Garmin you can set the number size/position so this is no problem.
One thing to consider is that if you buy a computer/watch with ANT wireless capability then you could match an ANT heart rate strap from someone else, so you don't necessarily have to restrict yourself to that brands offerings.
Best regards,
David
-----Original Message-----
From: auda...@googlegroups.com [mailto:auda...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Hamish Moffatt
Sent: Monday, 5 March 2012 12:17 PM
To: Audax all
ber...@bigpond.net.au
I rang Polar in Adelaide and their advice was that it would cost more than the price of a new unit to repair it.
Now I use my Garmin 705, which I find to be less tempremental about finding a heart rate to monitor. The Polar was somewhat prone to regarding me as heartless at times.
Cheers,
Peter Jenkins
Sarah Chaplin
Sorry – Had to go there (that’s if the thread supports HTML format)
Seriously though I had Polar, Garmin and Suunto
All have been good but I have to admit the Garmin 500 705 and 800 which I own offer a lot of fun cycling stats but yes the battery will only last for 8 to 14 hours (yes you can get the external batteries and solar chargers), but the stats you get including HR zones, speed, altitude, gradient, cadence plus navigation and the ability to view and share rides, the training software bundles and online seems fantastic and you can view/share/export you rides in Google maps – fantastic. A lot of non HR functions bundles into a fun gizmo....
For a running, cycling bushwalking and climbing I love my Suunto but the altitude is a tad crap as it need recalibration but the HR function seemed to be better than the Polar as I had similar dropout issues and times when I was sitting drinking coffee with a HR or 225 bpm the Suunto has been more accurate but is cycling feature poor.
Remember – life is sweet!
Kindest Regards
Sarah
-----Original Message-----
From: auda...@googlegroups.com [mailto:auda...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of ber...@bigpond.net.au
Sent: Monday, 5 March 2012 6:12 PM
To: david_w...@agilent.com; auda...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [audax-oz] Heart rate monitors
FWIW, I had a Polar HRM for about 5 years and it worked well enough until about the 4th battery change, when the seal was obviously not replaced properly. Condensation built up under the watch glass in a day or two of typically humid Brisbane weather and that was, essentially, that!
-----
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Owen Bentley
Owen Bentley
davi...@tpg.com.au
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/garmin-external-battery-pack/
i know the NSW peeps have a tailored solution also
and yes ain't Strava (AKA facebike) a heap of fun!
cheers Deborah
Howard and Bec
From: "davi...@tpg.com.au" <davi...@tpg.com.au>
To: Owen Bentley <ben...@waterfront.net.au>
Cc: auda...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012 10:45 AM
Subject: Re: [audax-oz] Heart rate monitors
>
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Hamish Moffatt
> i bought one of these, seems to work well
> http://www.wiggle.co.uk/garmin-external-battery-pack/
>
> i know the NSW peeps have a tailored solution also
>
> and yes ain't Strava (AKA facebike) a heap of fun!
I use a simple battery holder containing 4xAA rechargeables with my 800:
http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MP3083&keywords=usb+charger&form=KEYWORD
I wouldn't recommend putting non-rechargeable AAs in it else you may damage
the Garmin.
Gareth tells me that when he connects an external charger to his 500, it
resets as if connected to a PC, meaning you can't continue to use it. The
800 doesn't do that (as long as you have v2.10 firmware or newer).
Hamish
davi...@tpg.com.au
garmin and comes with a case to attach to the bike should that be required.
Deb
On Tue, Mar 6th, 2012 at 11:04 AM, Howard and Bec <ram...@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
> Hi Owen
>
> For longer rides where we don't have any access to powerpoints (eg, PBP),
> Howard and I have used the Powermonkey Extreme
> -锟絟ttps://powertraveller.com.au/products/4918, which is basically just a
> big battery :) with different "tips" so you can charge a variety of
> things, including the Garmin. 锟絀t has worked well for us. 锟絎e also have a
> charger put together by Phillip Jang which takes 3xAA batteries which will
> fully charge the Garmin from flat.
>
> We don't use the heart rate monitor or speed/cadence sensors, so the
> Garmin battery life is generally pretty good. 锟絀've ridden for more than
> > To unsubscribe, send email to audax-oz+u...@googlegroups.com
> >
>
>
>
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Gareth
The Garmin HRM is still susceptible to interference from electricity lines but not to the same extent as the Polar.
The battery life is where the Polar has an advantage over the Garmin 500. I suspect the extra power required to run the GPS function is the reason for this.
However I did manage to get almost 17 hours use out of during the Great Alpine Road 300 last month. Its pretty quick to recharge though, so together with a Schmidt dynamo hub and a rechargeable battery it got me through PBP and several other long rides.
The only time I've had signal issues with the Garmin was when the speed sensor on the magnet slipped. The absence of a signal cause the unit to pause. Re aligning the magnet fixed the problem. During PBP I managed to break the magnet attachment completely. I was able to continue to record the ride without the operating speed sensor using the GPS function by switching the unit off then back on. The speed sensor seems to work in tandem with the GPS, I assume this is to smooth the data when the GPS signal is poor.
Gareth
Hamish
cld...@yahoo.com.au
i've been using a Sigma ROX9 for 3yrs. I've found the HR strap to be
comfortable even on very long rides, the readings to be mostly
reliable with only occasional glitches,along with a pretty
comprehensive set of data from the speed/cadence/temp/altimeter unit.
Batteries on the main unit and sensors have tended to last about 9
months.
The ROX9 comes with a USB docking gadget and PC/Mac standalone
software so no need for internet access once activated. The software
provides a wide array of analytical tools/displays etc
as with any bike computer, there are some frustrations, however, i've
found it very useful. The long battery life was a deal breaker for me
at the time
--
cheers, Claudio
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Claudio Pompili
Audax Membership ID 611501-2552
264 Milne Rd, MODBURY HEIGHTS SA 5092, Australia
tel/fax: +61-(0)8-8263 3137
mob: 0421 902 160
Skype: claudiop_5092
http://www.claudiopompili.net.au/
****************************************************
Owen Bentley
The power-monkey might just do the trick for me.
Cheers, Owen.
On 06/03/2012, at 10:45 AM, davi...@tpg.com.au wrote:
> i bought one of these, seems to work well
> http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gamin-external-battery-pack/
>
> i know the NSW peeps have a tailored solution also
>
> and yes ain't Strava (AKA face bike) a heap of fun!
>
> cheers Deborah
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 6th, 2012 at 10:15 AM, Owen Bentley <ben...@waterfront.net.au> wrote:
>
>> G'day Peaky,
>>
>> Like a lot of other users I've used both Polar and Garmin units over the
>> years. Both have worked well as HRM's but the Garmin Edge 500 I have at
Glen Thompson
been several months. After seeing this discussion, I hardly want to admit
that I thought its battery life was too short, as it was shorter than the
battery life of my computer unit (again a "plain vanilla" one). It seems
the comprehensive all-in-one units burn more battery power, especially if
they include GPS.
Glen T.
-----Original Message-----
From: auda...@googlegroups.com [mailto:auda...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf
Of cld...@yahoo.com.au
Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2012 3:25 PM
...
I've been using a Sigma ROX9 for 3yrs. I've found the HR strap to be
comfortable even on very long rides, the readings to be mostly
reliable with only occasional glitches,along with a pretty
comprehensive set of data from the speed/cadence/temp/altimeter unit.
Batteries on the main unit and sensors have tended to last about 9
months.
...