Is it hard to adjust to a HRM?

I recently overdid my ride on the weekend. See ride reports for Saturday if intrested. This is not the first time I have done this. So I thought of using a HRM. A few questions though.

1. Are they hard/easy to adjust using while training? I have never used one before for either cycling or running but after this, it will put me in the right "zone" so I do not overdue my exercise again.

2. Recomendations for a "basic" version that can be used cycling and running? I have a SigmaSport Shapewatch. I checked out their website and they do not even list it as product anymore. I'm not sure how it will do in both cycling and running.

Oh, I am working with my doc on all of this. When I go in and see him, I will mention the use of the HRM and see what he says.

Thank you,
Red Rock/Ellen

Generally you adjust them to your zones, then you use the monitor to tell you your heart rate, what zone you are in, and possibly alarm you when you exceed a certain rate/zone. You usually do all that setting up of stuff ahead of time, so when you're riding most days, you just put on the heart monitor and use it to see how hard you're working (or overworking, or not working, as the case may be). That would probably be where you start anyway, though some HRMs have a test you can run through that it uses to predict your zones, or if you already have some sense of your zones and relatively how things work, you can use the HRM as feedback and then dial in the data as you go.

Features add $. If you want calories burned, customizations, GPS, add-ons, that all adds $. A basic heart monitor will work no matter what you're doing - you just strap it on and go. :) Polar has some good base models that do that (and many that do that+calories), they've been into the heart monitor thing for a long time, and you should be able to get one for <$100.

Thank you Colby. I have been looking at them. The Polar that is. I really do not need many features. I guess it is not hard to add on the list of things to have when running or cycling and use. It's the use part that I was wondering about. Once you have your parameters set up, it should be easy to use from there.

Thank you,
Red Rock

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Originally Posted by Red Rock

Thank you Colby. I have been looking at them. The Polar that is. I really do not need many features. I guess it is not hard to add on the list of things to have when running or cycling and use. It's the use part that I was wondering about. Once you have your parameters set up, it should be easy to use from there.

Thank you,
Red Rock

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Well, I had to start wearing a HRM and watch my exertion because of a heart condition. Most HRMs come out of the box with a basic HR calculation based off of age, etc. You may find that you don't fit that 'mold'. I set mine to alarm about 5 bpm below where I start experiencing heart related symptoms. That gives me enough warning that I can back off on my effort level to keep from crossing the threshhold.

I have a Garmin 310XT, mainly because it has a vibrating alarm (I couldn't always hear my old Reebok HRM). Prior to that, my Reebok HRM worked just fine for most situations. I don't have any experience with Polar HRMs, but when I was investigating, I would've gone with one that has the coded strap transmitter to cut back on crosstalk, particularly at the gym.

A lot of it will just be learning where you're most comfortable. After awhile, you'll figure out how to stay in your 'zones' without the HRM just based on how you feel.

Another thing to consider if you are just looking for a base model HRM is strap comfort. I loved my Polar (never felt the strap at all) but I know a lot of people find it uncomfortable. My Garmin strap sucks - it hurts after awhile. I also have a Timex Ironman HRM and that strap is ok but not great.

If you will ever wear your HRM for swimming, then go with Polar. They make the only ones designed to be used while in water. Timex is waterproof to prevent damage, but it won't transmit under water. The problem with the waterproof Polar is that you cannot change the battery yourself so when it runs out, you need to send it in for service. Timex (and I think Garmin) both allow you to change the battery in the strap yourself.

Oooo....definitely strap comfort! You won't use it if it's uncomfortable to wear.

My Suunto has one of the nicest chest straps I've tried. Occasionally, I'll find myself still wearing it a couple of hours after a workout becasue I've forgotten that it's there. My older Timex was ok, but not "forget about it" comfortable.

I don't really use the whole zone thing and alarms. I'm lazy, I guess. I roughly know where I "blow up", so i'll check the display if I feel like I'm getting close to that HR and make adjustments to my effort to keep from "self-destructing".

Not quite sure what you mean about adjusting - but if you mean programming zones and setting alarms, I think it's a lot easier to do that when you're not in the middle of a workout. Some watches let you do it on your computer and sync it to the watch, others you have to do on the watch itself.

FWIW, a lot of people report problems with the new "premium" Garmin soft strap. I have the older "hard" strap and don't find it uncomfortable at all. I sometimes get a tiny bit of chafing under the clips on long runs, but not enough or often enough that I consider it a problem, and never on the bike. The strap I have, the battery is under one of those eighth-turn covers that you open with a coin. Not sure about the soft strap, but I believe you have to unscrew a cover to get to the battery in that one.

Whatever you go with, when it comes time to replace the battery, get a medical-grade one, they last about three times as long as the regular batteries that are supplied with the straps.


ETA: not sure why you're replacing your Sigma either - but if it's just that you can't find the manual, here's a link from their German site (in English) (thanks Google).

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

If you will ever wear your HRM for swimming, then go with Polar. They make the only ones designed to be used while in water. Timex is waterproof to prevent damage, but it won't transmit under water. The problem with the waterproof Polar is that you cannot change the battery yourself so when it runs out, you need to send it in for service. Timex (and I think Garmin) both allow you to change the battery in the strap yourself.

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The Garmin 310XT with soft strap is supposed to be usable in the water.... It's waterproof for sure. Not sure about HR readings in the water. I haven't tested that. I really like the 'premium' soft strap compared to my older hard strap with the Reebok.

Thank you for all of your collective inputs here.

Oakleaf I have taken my sigma out twice to do tests runs/rides with it and it is not showing that I am even alive. I have programmed it according to directions and all, it does not even show a basic heart rate upon putting on the chest strap. According to the directions it should at least show that I am alive.

Yea, the reason behind all of this is so I totally do not over exert myself and end up back in the ER as a heart attack victim. My brain thinks one thing and my body has limits especially as I am getting older. I would rather be safer about this and still do my exercise without totally overdoing it.

I have been looking at the polars because they will still give me everything I need. Versatility on the bike and running and they are not so expensive. I was drooling at the Garmin 305 but I think a Polar F6 or F7 would do just fine.

Red Rock

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Originally Posted by Red Rock

I have been looking at the polars because they will still give me everything I need. Versatility on the bike and running and they are not so expensive. I was drooling at the Garmin 305 but I think a Polar F6 or F7 would do just fine.

Red Rock

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I have the Polar 7 and it works great. It was easy to learn how to use it, and I don't feel the fabric strap that comes with it like I thought I might.

Catrin thank you for your input.

On your chest strap, is that the one that it came with originally or could you choose which one you wanted? My brother has them and all he said was to get a strap that you can replace the battery because it is much easier that way.

Thank you for all of your help.

Red Rock

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Originally Posted by Red Rock

Catrin thank you for your input.

On your chest strap, is that the one that it came with originally or could you choose which one you wanted? My brother has them and all he said was to get a strap that you can replace the battery because it is much easier that way.

Thank you for all of your help.

Red Rock

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My strap came with the HRM.

Well my HRM Polar FT7 arrived today:D. It looks great. Now I have to go read intructions on the computer to make sure I understand how the thing works. Before I do that I need to get another battery for the chest strap so it will work.

Once I get it all figured out, I can run and bike with some sort of confidence that I will not blow myself up and be able to maintain myself. Yea!! That will be such a relief.

I have also been looking into kettlebells. I did not know they were such diverse pieces of equipment.

Red Rock

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Originally Posted by Red Rock

Well my HRM Polar FT7 arrived today:D. It looks great. Now I have to go read intructions on the computer to make sure I understand how the thing works. Before I do that I need to get another battery for the chest strap so it will work.

Once I get it all figured out, I can run and bike with some sort of confidence that I will not blow myself up and be able to maintain myself. Yea!! That will be such a relief.

I have also been looking into kettlebells. I did not know they were such diverse pieces of equipment.

Red Rock

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You shouldn't need another battery for the chest strap, it should already be in the strap.... or am I missing something?

Catrin-yes, I believe the battery is in the chest strap. I went online to look at their instructions and it says that the battery is "plugged" right into the top piece for water protection purposes. Ok, I can handle that.

Next question...

When it says to throw the whole thing in the washer without soaking, spinning dry etc. How do you do that? My washer tempoarily soaks while it is getting its water, it spins in between wash and rinse cycles.. Do you just hand wash yours?

Thank you
Red Rock

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Originally Posted by Red Rock

Catrin-yes, I believe the battery is in the chest strap. I went online to look at their instructions and it says that the battery is "plugged" right into the top piece for water protection purposes. Ok, I can handle that.


When it says to throw the whole thing in the washer without soaking, spinning dry etc. How do you do that? My washer tempoarily soaks while it is getting its water, it spins in between wash and rinse cycles.. Do you just hand wash yours?

Thank you
Red Rock

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Yep, it is provided and you just plug it straight into the chest strap. Some models you can switch out the battery yourself, others have to be sent into Polar - or so I have been told.

I hand-wash mine with every use - and it gets used a LOT - for all of my exercise/biking activities. A short time ago it started acting strange, couldn't get a signal, or the heart rate it picked up was something insane like 220, just weird stuff. I talked with them and they said it was time to put it in the washer. I put it in the most gentle cycle my washer has and it was fine - and it took care of the problem. I would not do that regularly however. Others may have better information on this.

I don't know how your HRM is set up, but with mine, you can detach the strap from the part with the contacts and the transmitter. Periodically I'll throw the strap into the washer (front-loader) in a lingerie bag, usually with stuff like cycling gloves, and air dry it.

I wouldn't put the transmitter or the contacts in the washer, whether they're separate pieces or one piece, just because of all the twisting, even in a front-loader. They have to have some degree of water resistance to deal with sweat and rain, and some of them are used by triathletes in the water. When the contacts get cruddy (which happens more often with some designs than others, and also more often with some types of electrode gel than others, if you use any) - I take a toothbrush to it. Takes two minutes and gets it cleaner than machine washing would, anyway.

I assume you're talking about the type of HRM that rest just underneath your bra, in which case they are very easy to adjust without lifting your shirt because of their elastic strap. Once you get it fitted around you the only adjustment you'd have to make is *maybe* hiking it back up if it feel down though that has never been my experience.

Catrin,OakLeaf,and mariacycle thank you for all of your help and input. I will have to look at it more carefully after this input.

There is a difference between the electrodes and the strap in the back. I would think if one part gets sweaty, so would the other; so it would be good to throw the whole thing in and wash it well a few times, when needed of course.

As far as placement goes, I think I have that figured out. I will have to adjust placement depending on what I am wearing each day. As the temperatures go up, I wear fewer clothes, or more breathable ones at least.

Now for more happy exercising...It totally made my day in that I did not "explode" when I ran today. It was also nice to be able to get feedback while exercising. Then to top things off I had a whole lot of recorded information on my run afterward. Now it makes sense to write it down and journal. Maybe that is all I needed to get some postive feedback on what I am doing. Lets hope this never gets boring.

Red Rock