New type of HR Monitor needed

[malkin]

http://store.sensoriafitness.com/products/

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[Catrin]

http://store.sensoriafitness.com/products/

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I may look into this further as budget permits now that my home KB herd/gym is complete. Their bras are VERY limited in size, perhaps something else might work. This is likely a new technology and they can't afford to offer an expanded set of bra sizes, but the sports bras look great, as long as you need a larger band than I and are a B cup (I am a E/F depending on the maker). They even have a SOCK solution! Interesting concept, and the Blue Tooth removes the need for a watch entirely.

[nuliajuk]

I had a club-mate years ago who made a monitor mount for his handlebars from one of those oval forms that watches come mounted on, when they're still in the manufacturer's packaging. He had a reputation for being a bit of a cheapskate, but that particular innovation was kind of clever. Last winter I mounted my Polar on my handlebars by winding an old sock around the bar and strapping the Polar watch to it. A necklace wouldn't work for the model that I have because holding it next to the chest strap changes the mode.

[OakLeaf]

http://store.sensoriafitness.com/products/

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Oh man, pressure sensing SOCKS!!!! I am such a data wh*** ... I NEED these to make my world complete!

[Catrin]

Oh man, pressure sensing SOCKS!!!! I am such a data wh*** ... I NEED these to make my world complete!

hehehehe, I am thinking the same thing myself - good for my budget that they don't also serve as a HRM

Nuliajuk, I've thought about that The real concern isn't on the bike (I've a thingie I strap my watch onto the bars if I want to see it when riding). I am more concerned with my long kettlebell lifting sessions. I don't always track, but there are workouts I would like to. So, for now, I just wear a tank top and strap the watch to my tank/bra straps and move it around to my back. I think hanging it around my neck puts it at risk if it swings to either side and I hit it when I clean the kettlebell. That also wouldn't feel very good...

Pity the sensorial fitness site has such a tiny choice of sizes for bras, I've no chance of that working for me. That would be the ideal solution and it really isn't any more expensive than my favorite sports bras.

[Becky]

Will your watch fit around your ankle, or can you get a replacement band for it that's long enough to wear it there?

[OakLeaf]

Looks like the Sensorial devices require BTLE (aka Bluetooth Smart) - which is a feature of only the very latest phones. There are other apps that will read Bluetooth HRMs, but at least the Polar BT-enabled HR strap requires BTLE. I'm guessing that's going to be universal, since BTLE is a lower powered protocol that's better for battery life on these little devices.

I don't know what kind of phone you have now, but ANT+ dongles for iPhones have been available for a good long time now. If a phone-based solution is what you're looking for (I'm assuming you have an upper arm armband in mind), you probably ought to be able to find an armband that can accommodate the dongle, and just about any HR strap uses ANT+.

ETA: List of ANT+ capable Android devices/plugins/accessories: http://www.thisisant.com/consumer/ant-101/ant-in-phones



As far as a necklace, lots of the smaller drybags designed for phones come with a cord that can be used for wearing around your neck. You can find those at any store that sells boating gear. But a phone would be more weight than I think you'd really want to wear around your neck, especially with your injuries.

[Blueberry]

If you can't get a long enough band for an ankle, what about getting a cheap neoprene phone pouch that will fit your leg, and putting the watch you have now in there? Or you could do upper arm. Or you could wrap the watch around a lanyard and tuck in your shirt.

[Catrin]

My phone is a huge Samsung Note II, so it won't be on my arm It doesn't have to be though, the kind of workouts where I couldn't actually wear my watch as intended has me in a stationary position in that I am not walking around. So depending on the optimum distance for the pairing to work, this might be the most elegant solution.

I greatly appreciate all of the suggestions as they are helping me to think through this. I will explore the Android ANT+ solution further, and also follow up with the ankle/leg solution. The more I think about it the more I can see that any necklace/lanyard/arm solution just isn't going to work due to neck injury and the nature of a KB clean - especially as I go up in weight. The only upper body solution is the one I'm currently using.