Toys

[Kano]

I'm not sure just where to ask, or what to search, though I'd be more than willing to be you all have talked about this stuff.

I was reading another thread, earllier today, where someone mentioned her Polar heart rate monitor that "does everything." This was in a nutrition thread, and apparently it counts calories burned too?

So anyway, liking toys as well as the next kid, this sounds like a cool toy. Are some better than others? I have a ski watch that tells me how many runs, how far down, and how fast down -- unless I goof and have it set to tell men how many ups and how far up. It's supposed to do hiking too, but I can't figure out how to adapt this to tell me how much climbing I've done on my bike, or between it and my very entry level bike computer, I'd probably be okay for now --

What all can we measure, what's the benefit of measuring these things,are there indeed toys that can do it all, can they do it at a reasonable price, is there a thread somewhere I should be reading, and what questions am I missing?????????

Karen in Boise

[Bikingmomof3]

Karen,
I bought a really cheap one at Target. It is on my bike right now, which is with DH (long story). I know it is red and put out by Schwinn-hey it was inexpensive. It has 12 functions (these are the ones I recall)-current time, distance, odometer, highest speed, average speed, time spent out biking, calories burned, fat caloires burned, outside temperature. It has a backlight for when it is dark. It was really inexpensive (around $25), works great. It is not wireless, but it is not obstructive either. I have been very happy with it.

Edited-forgot to add: You preset it with your age, weight, height, wheel diameter and probably a few other things I am blanking on, which is what helps it calculate the milage, calories, etc.

[Veronica]

I have the older version of that Polar - the 710, the current version is the 720.

It will tell you, speed, cadence, if you buy the cadence sensor, elevation, distance, temperature, calories burned and HR. You can download all that info to a computer program and keep track of your progress.


V.

[Cassandra_Cain]

karen - i'm pretty sure they now make watches that keep track of everything from how hard you pant on a tough climb to how many inches those 3 krispy kremes might put on one's backside....

Seriously though...

I've seen some watches/bike computers, that keep track of altitude, calories burned, laps, pace, cadence, power output, etc etc.

Most of those things really aren't worth it to me - with programs like toporoute.com for instance - i can keep track of how far i went and how much i climbed. For me, a HR monitor with programmable limits, zones, and lap ability is more than enough.

other folks though may want or really need the higher end features. (just look at this: http://polarusa.com/Products/Consumer/S725x.asp )

it is the eternal question of what's it worth to ya?

[cusepack]

I received the Polar CS200cad about three weeks ago for my birthday. I can't say enough good things about it. By inputting personal information (i.e., weight, age, height, etc.) it calculates your target max heart rate and has this super feature called "own zone" which lets you know when you're above/below your target heart rate. It also has calories burned, avg. cadence, high cadence, avg. speed, high speed . . just a bunch of great features. It doesn't have the altimeter, etc. and really, here, with all the flat roads in Miami, there's no need for it!!! It's wireless, which I really like. I previously had a Cateye Astrale 8 and now, with the Polar, my bike looks bare without the wires!!! Anyway, if you're looking for a good heart rate monitor, as well as some great features, I highly recommend it. Oh, and as Veronica mentioned, this watch too has a super feature that allows you to upload your riding info to a program and keep track of your progress.

[Kitsune06]

pricepoint.com has really cheap ones... down to $16, I think...

[chickwhorips]

i have the polar f11. i really like it. i got it back in january and its kept me modivated bc it gives me a program to follow. tells hr, hr average, hr max, calories burned, and keeps a diary of the last two weeks i think. its also coded so you don't pick up anyone else's hr.

though now i'm borrowing one of the garmin forerunner 301 it has a hr monitor with it instead of just your speed and route. really like that. i usually use the old garmin with no hr monitor and my f11. i just look like a dork with all the gadgets on my wrists.

[DDH]

Good Grief Karen, how scarry is this. I must have been reading the same post and was looking for and at them today while shopping for school supplies for DS. We must think on the same track. LOL

I looked at some today the POLAR's at Wal-Mart and Target today. One was around 50 and the other around 80 dollars. I would love to have one of these to help keep up with HR and Calories burned, but this will have to go on a wish list for now. To much money spent on school supplies and had to buy uniforms this year for my son. All new clothes for school, how expensive is that. ARRRGGGG