Altimeter

Hi Everyone
This is my first posting ever on a forum. I’ve been reading this forum for a couple weeks now, and have received so much good information and motivation. Thank you all so much. My question:
I would like to get an altimeter for my bike so I can know how much climbing I do on a ride. So many of the centuries, will include in their description how many feet of climbing there is. It would be nice to know how much climbing I do on my weekend rides, so I can have some idea of what I would be capable of on a century ride.
It seems there’s a couple of ways I could go. I could get a new computer for my bike which would include an altimeter. I was looking at either the VETTA or the VDO MC 1.0. Or I could get one of the really fancy, (as in expensive) heart rate monitors, that does it all. I was looking at the Polar S720i or the Polar S625X. They are both quit expensive, but I would be able to download all my stats directly to my computer, which would save me manually recording stats from the bike computer and from my heart rate monitor, which is what I do now.
Does anyone use the VETTA or the VDO MC 1.0 and do you like it? Those of you that use the fancy heart rate monitors, have you found them to be worth the money? Are they easy enough to operate, so you really use all the features?

I have a Polar s720i and have had huge problems with interference from power lines. I have not yet called Polar so don't know what to tell you about its problems.

I recently bought a Ciclo 434. No HRM and no download feature but the things works really, really well. Seems to be accurate. Works consistently and the buttons are intuitive and easy to use on the bike. The screen is also easily read on the bike.

My LBS showed me a drawer full of Vetta parts which convinced me that that was not the way to go.

Hi
I have the VDO MC 1.0 and I really like it. Its very easy to use (which is good for me). It has all the normal computer stuff plus it gives trip altitude, avg climb, max climb, temperature etc.

It also tells you gradient as you are riding it - if you are game enough to look. I normally dont because if its nasty steep knowing the number seems to make it harder for me.

The instruction book is pretty thick so it probably does other cool things that I havent worked out yet.

SadieKate has the polar one I think and does cool downloads to her computer so she should be able to give you all the good gen on that one.

SK are you out there.
.:)

Hey SK - you are too quick girl.:D

I'll second the VDO mc1.0. easy to use. I actually do pick a look at the % climb when I'm at the end of the steepest pitch. It usually just confirms the obvious steepness.

I've had to reset once, the computer was acting strange. Otherwise, it has been great.

skm