Heart Rate monitor choices

[GC75]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking into buying a heart rate monitor, but there so many choices it has become a bit overwhelming. Does anyone recommend a good heart rate monitor that I can use for my triathlon training?
Thanks
GC

[Melody]

I think it mostly depends on what you're looking for. I use the Suunto Advizor, which I love. However, it can't transfer its data to a computer, so I may be changing devices.

Mel

[Veronica]

I use the Polar 720. I like the altitude sensor. We also got the cadence sensor for Christmas last year. That's great to have when you're doing a workout on the trainer. All the info downloads to the computer.

V.

[SadieKate]

Veronica, I meant to ask you on the Polar 720 -- do you have to buy a magnet for each bike? What is the set up for using with multiple bikes.

Here's hoping that REI carries this thing so we can use our dividend towards one.

SK

[Veronica]

You have to buy multiple speed sensors and the magnets come with those. But for where I like to mount them, the magnets were too weak. Thom had ordered some huge super magnets with hooks for me for school (which sucks right now BTW) and the company included for free some little but very powerful magnets and I added them to the speed sensor magnets. Problem solved.

V.

[SadieKate]

Thom had ordered some huge super magnets with hooks for me for school (which sucks right now BTW)
School sucks? What, the little beasties, oh I mean darlings, on a rampage right now?

[Veronica]

Not really - it's conference week and that always stresses me out. We had a Literacy Day thing yesterday - which was great - but threw my routine off. Today we had our awards assembly - which I hate - it also throws off my routine. Perfect Attendance Award - you're supposed to go to school -unless you're sick and then you're supposed to stay home. That shouldn't be an award. One of my little "darlings" asked me if I thought he'd get an award next time. I wanted to say, "Only if you get a lobotomy." But of course I didn't. Instead I said, "Well that depends on YOUR behavior." I like a routine. :D

Ahh... morale continues to be low. How would you like your pay tied into producing a quality product from substandard materials? That sounds harsh, but the bottom line is not all people are academic powerhouses. I teach 5th grade - but the reading range of my students is low 3rd - 12+. The low baby came to me reading at high first. But she is still going to be reading at least two grades below at the end of the year.

My boss is a very nice woman, but not a great leader. A lot falls onto our shoulders.

I could keep on whining...

I just got back from a great ride though. I like my new speedometer. It shows average speed. That encourages me to ride harder.

BTW my HRM is a 710 not a 720. And yes, I ride with a speedometer and a HRM. I'm obsessive about my numbers.

V.

[Steph_in_TX]

There is a Polar 625...think it's a new model. I just happened to notice it while perusing one of the many catalogues we get. It said something about being geared towards tri's. I have no clue about it, but thought I'd pass along the info.

Stephanie

[SadieKate]

Veronica, I don't want to hijack the thread any further, but I'm a product of multiple generations of school teachers. I totally understand.

I have an HRM I just have to dig it back out. I think I bought it bit early in the product evolution as I'd really like to have download capabilities.

[SadieKate]

Was just on www.polarusa.com. They apparently have a demo program with certain participating dealers.

Off to check it out some more.

[susan.wells]

Another vote for the Polar 710. You can also move the jumpers within the cadence & speed sensors to increase the functional distance range. The Australian Polar (http://www.pursuit-performance.com.au/polar/html/local/faq/faq_speed_cadence.html) web site shows you how. This is the method I used. I would love to get the Power Option also.

[Veronica]

I know we have moved the jumpers on at least one of them. But on my mountain bike I couldn't get pick up when I was actually riding. The extra magnet definitely helped that.

The hard part for me is remembering to tell the watch which bike I"m riding. It's easy to do, but sometimes I forget. :p

V.

[SadieKate]

Whoopee!! It's on backorder, but I just ordered a Polar 720i from REI, got 20% off plus my dividend credit so it came to a much more attractive number. Now, I have to order the IR option as the home compooter doesn't have it, then bribe the Big Bother to upgrade it to XP, burn some back up disks and install/test the software. It is so much easier to just hand him the computer and cook him dinner.

I was reading www.mtbr.com reviews on the 710 and someone mentioned the transmission issues:


this monitor works as advertised. for those of you losing the signal regularly, there is a fix. the transmitters, either speed or cadence have 3 output settings adjustable inside the case. they come from polar set at the lowest output so they do not interfere with another riders monitor. if you open the case of the transmitter you will see a dip switch as i remember. just change the setting and give it a try, you'll not see an indication of what setting does what but trial and error will solve your problem. just make sure that the oring is seated properly when you close the case.

Not sure if this applies, Veronica, but I thought it might be a factoid to keep in the back of my pea brain.

[Veronica]

Yep - we did that and I still couldn't get the watch to pick it while I was on my mountain bike. I wondered if it had something to do with the forks. Whatever... the extra trick magnet trick worked.

V.

[fixedgeargirl]

Several of you raved about the Polars, but they are out of my price range. Not to hijack the thread, but what about monitors sized for smaller wrists? I would like to find one to use primarily for riding, so would need a handlebar mount, but would also use it for spinning and the (very occasional) run. I saw a Sports Instruments ECG5L (the L is for Lady) on sale on nashbar. Anyone use one of these?

[Dogmama]

I don't know about the Nashbar HRM, but I bought a Polar that ran around $120, I think. I just wanted something to measure heart rate and give me a few other readings. I'm not into downloading stuff onto my computer and I have a great cyclometer, so I went with the simpler version.

After dissing Polar on these boards, I have to admit that this one is a sweetie. :o The chest strap is flexible, so it makes contact much better. And the wristband does fit smaller wrists (like mine.)

I did a lot of research on the web, and it seemed that Polar always won, hands down.

[Barb, USA]

"Thom had ordered some huge super magnets with hooks for me for school (which sucks right now BTW) and the company included for free some little but very powerful magnets and I added them to the speed sensor magnets. Problem solved." Veronica.[/QUOTE

Sorry, I'm a bit behind. We have had the same problems. Where did Thom get these magnets? How big are they? Apparently there's no problem attaching them. I'm going to the States to visit my grandkids on April 1. If possible, I could order them and have them sent to my son's house.

Thanks for your help

We enjoy your comments, Veronica. I hope I'll be able to comment soon...when the work lets up. Meanwhile, my secretary monitors everything for me.

Good biking. Barb

[Melody]

After talking to the hubby yesterday about cadence, etc., I decided to pick up an S725 w/ a cadence sensor today. I've not had a chance to really use it yet, but I've been playing with all of the little buttons and reading the manual. :p

Mmm new toys :D

Mel

[Veronica]

We got our magnets at kjmagnetics.com

V.

[Melody]

So, after riding today, I noticed that the watch is only intermittently recieving sensor information from the speed sensor and not at all from the cadence sensor. :( I do know that the sensors are working since if the watch is near the sensors, it picks things up fine. :rolleyes: So I'm going to pick up some jeweler's screwdrivers tonight and see if I can set the sensors to high power as was described before. I'll have to let everyone know how that goes. :)

Mel who hasn't given up yet.

[doc]

I have the poalr 510 which I notice no-one mentioned. It's quite a bit cheaper than the 710 which has altimeter and watts as the only difference that I can tell. It has cadence also and can be uploaded to the computer. BUT the watch is HUGE. Of course you can always mount it to the bike. I am sure the 710 and 720 are the same. The difference between 10's and 20's is the watch case. 10's are rubber or plastic or whatever. 20's are stainless.
Anyone considering a polar should go to:
polarusa.com
Select cycling (or tri) and then choose comparison. I believe the 625 is the most expensive and I can't see that it adds much.
Finally, I got mine on ebay. Brand new in box. Waaaaaay cheaper than retail. Ebay always has tons of heart monitors for sale.
Happy hunting.

[SadieKate]

Thanks for all the info, doc, on the different models. One thing of note, Polar clearly states on their web site that they will not honor the warranty for purchased from eBay or non-authorized dealers.

[Melody]

So, I was able to open up the speed sensor and swap the pins and now it works great. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to open up the cadence sensor. :( I even went out and picked up a new one to see if maybe I screwed up the first one. :( Still couldn't get it opened. I could unscrew one side, but not the other.

So, I tried putting the sensor on the downtube and the magnet all the way at the end of the crank, near the peddle. In initial tests it seems to be working, but I won't know truly until I take it out tomorrow during the morning commute.

In other news, on my commute home, something happened. I heard a massive "PING" which startled me. Everything seemed to be fine afterwards, but as I got near home, I started hearing scraping coming from the back wheel. I noticed that the wheel was no longer true and was scraping against the side of one of the brake pads. No spoke was broken so I'm not sure what happened.

I did have to straighten the wheel by tightening and loosening various spokes. I guess it's time to take the wheel into the LBS and have them check things out. :rolleyes: I've only put a little less than 300 miles in the last month. :D (which is good for me since I used to live a _very_ seditary life)

Mel