Heart Rate Monitors?

[surgtech1956]

Do you use a heart rate monitor? Are they necessary? Whats a good entry level heart rate monitor to start off with?

[pinkbikes]

I use one whenever I exercise. I got it because it was a gadget (love gadgets) but it made it quite clear to me that I was spending all my time exercising in heart rate zones that weren't helpful. I ran too hard and walked to slowly for my goal at the time, which was weight loss.

I started with a Polar F4, which is basic but has pretty much what I needed. If I could wish for just one more feature it would be a "pause" function. I still use ithe F4 (a pretty red one) whenever I run or swim or walk. But when I ride I have a Garmin Edge 705 GPS and I use its HRM. Now THAT is a gadget.

Mostly I use the HRM to make sure I am spending a decent duration in the right heart range(s) for the type of session I'm doing and to keep track of how many calories I'm burning (that constant fight with my weight). It is also handy to track your progress over time in terms of how your heart rate may reduce for a particular ride, or for measuring how quickly you return to resting heart rate.

FWIW I would not get a HRM that doesn't have a chest strap - I think the ones where you stick your fingers on it now and again are not really worth the effort. (Just my two cents worth)

[surgtech1956]

Thanks Pink, I'm going to check out the F4, I too am a lover of gadgets(+electronics)..

[TrekTheKaty]

Love my HR monitor. They are necessary to get an idea if you are exercising too hard or not hard enough. (When running, my HR was always too high--cycling too low. I have to do hill workouts on my bike to get it up). After a few weeks, you will be able to tell your exertion without it. I still use it to see if I can pick up speed with a lower heart rate. I have a Garmin Forerunner with GPS and heart rate monitor.

[pinkbikes]

Love my HR monitor. They are necessary to get an idea if you are exercising too hard or not hard enough. (When running, my HR was always too high--cycling too low. I have to do hill workouts on my bike to get it up). After a few weeks, you will be able to tell your exertion without it. I still use it to see if I can pick up speed with a lower heart rate. I have a Garmin Forerunner with GPS and heart rate monitor.

It's funny how you do get to a point quite quickly where you can tell your exertion without it. I used to have the alarms on for the top and bottom of range to give me a prod to either slow down or speed up. After a month or two I turned them off because I could tell and I had gotten into the habit of exercising at the right intensity!

[Aggie_Ama]

I have the Polar F6 because I needed a new watch and DH was convinced I didn't ride as hard as I felt so why not get a HRM? Still I haven't really figured it all out but I do know I ride in the right zone for weight loss but am anerobic when running. Yet I never lost weight cycling and did lose a boatload running. Like I said, still trying to "listen to my heart" but Polar seems like a good brand without dropping a ton of money.

[Miranda]

I think you would love owning a HRM... particularly if you love gadgets.

I own the Polar F6 in pink. Mine has the T31 coded strap. I'm pretty sure I just looked at the model you posted about in a sporting goods store this w/e. I was looking for a lower cost extra to keep in my gym bag for class (as a student loaner). Besides road riding & mtb, I'm certified through MDA to teach Spinning at my gym.

I have peeps ask me about calories they burned in class etc. I know my F6 Polar keeps track of that, and it is a really motivating factor. I'm not sure on the other model, but I'm thinking it does???

The only reason I didn't purchase is that I think even Walmart carries one in the $30 price range. My gym bag size has really grown with all this "class gear"--which unfortunately I don't get paid for owning. But, it's sure nice to have in teaching. Just looking for cheaper for that reason.

A couple things on monitors... they are a guide. Mine has a method you can set your "own zone" heart rate. Basically, there is a test you do to determine your personal threshhold. If you are really fit... your limits will be higher. For someone just starting exercise, the limits will be lower.

The Polar operates off the basic 220-your age= max heart rate. Take whatever percentage of work effort *times* that # for a percentage of heart rate zone. Mine has input for height, current weight, to aid in determining calories.

Also, if the Polar locks up periodically mid work out... it probably just needs cleaned and a manual reset (a Polar tech told me how to do this via E). I personally became the gym instructor tech support after figuring out why this was happening to everyone's Polars. The electrode strap can become clogged with sweat crystals and not read right. If the piece is the waterproof model, you just rinse w/clear H2O post work out. Takes care of maintenance.

Waterproofness and batteries... if you want your warranty to be good... do not change your batteries yourself. This will void the warranty. You send it off to an authorized Polar Service Center. Yea, I know it sounds like a PITA. But, it's worth it (free overall inspection included). And really the TAT was not that long. Going back to basics for PE is not such a bad thing either from time to time... keeps us more in tune w/our techy toys.

Happy Shopping !

[tzvia]

I bought a Polar F11 about 9 months ago and really love it. While it starts with the age old max heart rate forumla, you can alter it. It also does pause, which is nice for when I stop exercising to drink some water, or use the restroom. I have the bike mount on both my MTB and road bike, so I don't have to take my hand off the handlebar to read it, and it works well that way. The chest straps don't last forever and cost quite a bit, as I wear it 5 times a week and wash it after every use (per the instructions.) It is a great tool for showing you just what kind of intensity you are working at and has helped me loose weight (about 35 lbs.)

[Skierchickie]

Does anyone else have trouble with the chest strap losing contact while biking? I have a Timex one, which is great for skiing and running (I chose it because you can change the batteries yourself, and it had features that would have cost an arm and a leg on a Polar), but it seems to not like the biking body position, or something. I quit using it biking, because it would just drop to 30bpm, or it would jump to 300 (probably picking up the signal from my computer), or lose the signal completely. I'm assuming it gaps in front sometimes, due to body position, and loses body contact.

[sundial]

I had a Polar CS200 and it worked ok until the battery went out in the cadence sensor. Then I had to ship the entire thing back to the company. It cost me a min. of $25 to change out a $2 battery and it took them at least 2 weeks to return it. I went with a Garmin after that.

[wildeny]

Does anyone else have trouble with the chest strap losing contact while biking?

Occasionally because I didn't tighten the belt.

Mine is Sigma Onyx Fit, which is digital encoded.
surgtech1956, you need to think about what kind of functions you want in the HRM. That also depends on how you want to use your HRM (for instance, training). In my case, three HR zones & digital encoding are the must. I also heard that some models do not have the average heart rate function, which is very odd to me.

[OakLeaf]

Does anyone else have trouble with the chest strap losing contact while biking?

Not particularly (I have more trouble with it losing contact because it's too dry, too wet or too dirty), but the sports bras I wear have a wide band and a sort of pocket between the breasts where the business end of the strap tucks in nicely. So it gets held pretty steady.

The instructions on my HR strap said that cyclists may have better results wearing the strap backwards (with the contacts on your back). You might try that.

I use Garmins. But aside from the mapping and distance recording, I just love gadgets and definitely don't put the HRM to full use. What are you looking for in particular - zone training? You can manually enter zone limits in the Garmin units (five zones). It will auto-calculate running HR zones, but since there are so many variables that can radically affect cycling speed, it doesn't do that for cycling.

[Cataboo]

I have a suunto t3... it works pretty well, I haven't had any problems with it losing connection to the chest strap.

I have flattened handlebars on my bike, so I just strap the watch to my handlebars.

I don't use it all the time, because I find it a distraction... but every so often, I'll put it on and get an idea of what I'm really doing... I'd originally bought it because it was on sale and I'd been arguing with the bf about how hard I was actually working...

[Karma007]

I have a Polar F7 that I bought mostly for other excersizes. I love it! I was able to get an adapter so I can put it on my handle bars, which is nice.

[surgtech1956]

What about the Sigma models, either Performance Bike or Bike Nashbar(don't remember which one now) has a Sigma Sport PC14 or PC15 on sale? I don't think I like the Polar because of not being able to change the batteries. I see some recommendations for the Garmin 305 Forerunner. I would like something that I would be able to use for both running and cycling. I was just checking out www.pricepoint.com and they have their brand Sette, pretty inexpensive, but looks like alot of features. Not really sure what I need in a HRM, so I don't know if I should buy an expensive one.