Training & Nutrition - Looking for recommendations on a affordable heart rate monitor.

Just finally getting around to looking for a heart rate monitor now. I'm doing more sprinting than long distance riding right now (though I occassionally mix it up). Just trying to build up my strength, and endurance. I should definetly mention that I'm riding is a track bike, gearing is 48X16/14 (I ride on the lower gear to push myself harder. I won't use 48X14 unless I'm racing). Not trying to push myself to hard here. I've got a shoulder injury that I've been working on in conjuction with riding. So less is more for me.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I'd only look at Polar brand. The straps are the most comfortable, their support is the best and last forever.

Just finally getting around to looking for a heart rate monitor now. I'm doing more sprinting than long distance riding right now (though I occassionally mix it up). Just trying to build up my strength, and endurance. I should definetly mention that I'm riding is a track bike, gearing is 48X16/14 (I ride on the lower gear to push myself harder. I won't use 48X14 unless I'm racing). Not trying to push myself to hard here. I've got a shoulder injury that I've been working on in conjuction with riding. So less is more for me.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Define affordable?
I like sportsinstruments ones. They can be had for under a hundred bucks, and you can wear them off the bike. Their customer support is excellent. I had ECG3, before going with something in higher price range from another company.

Define affordable?
I like sportsinstruments ones. They can be had for under a hundred bucks, and you can wear them off the bike. Their customer support is excellent. I had ECG3, before going with something in higher price range from another company.

Sorry, I should've included my price range. The max I would like to spend on this is about $100.

I don't know how well it works:
http://www.rei.com/REI-Outlet/product/756970

I started training to participate in duathlons about a week ago. My wife asked me what I wanted for Father's Day & I was thinking a bike workstand, but now I'm wondering if I might be better off getting a HRM. I will probable see a nutritionist in a week or two because I'm rather clueless & know someone who got amazing results from vistiting one. The questions I have are, is a HRM pretty crucial for my traning & weight loss? Will I get more use out of it than a bike workstand? Will the nutritionist use the data from it?

My neices each have the Polar S150 ($70 @ Nashbar & Performance) and like them. I have a Sports instruments Fit 3 which is OK now. Had to send it back because the screen froze and it wouldn't stop beeping. Works now. A little sketchy.

I'd go cheap first, and if you decide you want more, get one of the Polar RS models. They've got some nice features-but only if you need them.

Yeah the S150 has been on sale for two years now at Nashbar. :) I think though the strap is not user serviceable. Look for an REI scratch and dent sale and pick up a Polar for real cheap and use that strap.

I have a Timex that works well and was cheap, but I buy Polar if I were to do it again. During the winter, all the indoor bikes and elipticals are equipped to pick up Polar signals.

Acumens are also Polar compatible. I have one of those as well.

I have a Timex that works well and was cheap, but I buy Polar if I were to do it again. During the winter, all the indoor bikes and elipticals are equipped to pick up Polar signals.

My $40 Sigma also picks up all the indoor bikes and elliptical signals.

Regards,

Sports Instruments FIT2 is only ~$30 if you want something very basic.

I appreciate everyones help on this thread. It's given me a better direction to go in. My next thread will probably be on websites that will help me to use the heart rate monitor.

Yeah the S150 has been on sale for two years now at Nashbar. :) I think though the strap is not user serviceable.

True. But my wife has had her strap for her S210 for something like 5 years and it still works. With that kind of longevity, who cares?

I started training to participate in duathlons about a week ago. My wife asked me what I wanted for Father's Day & I was thinking a bike workstand, but now I'm wondering if I might be better off getting a HRM. I will probable see a nutritionist in a week or two because I'm rather clueless & know someone who got amazing results from vistiting one. The questions I have are, is a HRM pretty crucial for my traning & weight loss? Will I get more use out of it than a bike workstand? Will the nutritionist use the data from it?

I've found my HR monitor to be very helpful in training. It's especially useful to keep you from riding too hard when you don't need to.

My guess is that most nutritionists wouldn't be equipped to deal with the data.

I'm annoyed with the bidding frenzy today on ebay, I've been outbid on several Polar HRMs, usually by $1. I've done the research on what the lower price range for each model I've bid on. Now I'm starting to wonder, I got outbid on a Polar S725 by a dollar, the final bid was $202, should I just pick up a Garmin 305 Forerunner. It has all the features I'm looking for & there are several venders on ebay that have buyouts for around $225.

I want to monitor & track my heart rate at different activities, keep track of my miles & speeds both running & riding, & be able to put all the data in a usable format. For the most part the reviews I've read on the Garmin have been favorable & it seems I'd get more bang for the buck than with the Polars. Any opinions?

I've found my HR monitor to be very helpful in training. It's especially useful to keep you from riding too hard when you don't need to.

My guess is that most nutritionists wouldn't be equipped to deal with the data.
Yeah don't think it would be all that useful for loosing weight, now power data maybe...