General Cycling Discussion - Need a HR monitor

I’m looking in to buying a heart rate monitor for this summer’s training. It’s going to be used on road mostly. I’m planning to spend around $100. I would also like one without chest bend (or do they all come with one??), something you put on your wrist just like a watch. Another important thing is relative ease of operation and accuracy. Not that I’m not electronically inclined, but I don’t want to spend half of the ride pressing buttons. I also need it to be reliable. I’m not a neat freak nor too careful with things (except for my bikes that is :D ) and most likely I’ll manage to bang them on to something sometime :rolleyes: … What would you suggest? Thanks!

Yeah, you'll be wearing a chest band. But don't worry, you'll honestly forget it's there. Check out Polar's line at http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/productfinder/productfinder.asp

They offer a few models that are also cycling computers, so you can have all of your functions in one place. If you want something that just tells your current HR without storing data, zones, etc, go with the A1. It works just fine and is well under your price limit.

Wrist watch style HRM:
http://www.sportsinstruments.com/hrms.html


Cyclocomputer with HRM:
http://www.sportsinstruments.com/si90hr.html

Thanks for the links, they are helpful. But I wanted someone’s experience with their HR monitor. Advantages, disadvantages, what functions you actually use and what functions are not actually necessary (just something extra). You can’t learn about personal experience on the manufacturer’s site, they just give you the description of the product not how it actually “handles”.

It’s funny how threads like “What sun block to use?” or “Do you wear underwear when riding?” or better yet “Do you shave down there?” get dozens of replies. Isn’t there something wrong? But it probably me!. It’s just that more people can relate to shaving own genitalia then heart rate monitors.
Cheers!

I have a Polar A5. I use it for cycling and for the Spinning classes I teach. It was $99 at a local sporting goods store. I got the A5 over the lower models just to get the backlight, which you activate by moving the watch up to the chest strap. It then lights up and scrolls through HR and watch modes, so you get your HR and the current time, which is very handy. BTW, they all have chest straps. Anything that doesn't can only measure your pulse, not true heart rate, and pulse meters are dreadfully inaccurate.

Yah, I was looking at them on the oficial site. They look good and the features are pretty much all I want/need. I'll check out prices at my local stores, see what they offer. Thanks!

I just picked up an M61 on E-Bay. I liked it because of the WearLink strap, and some of the other tricky things about zones.

Paid about $135 after shipping

Try this site, you do have to call to get the lowest prices but they are the lowest prices. For the same $100 you might be able to get a better unit OR just save money on the unit you want. http://heartratemonitorman.com/#prices

It’s funny how threads like “What sun block to use?” or “Do you wear underwear when riding?” or better yet “Do you shave down there?” get dozens of replies. Isn’t there something wrong? But it probably me!. It’s just that more people can relate to shaving own genitalia then heart rate monitors.
Cheers!

Could it be because this topic has been done before?

thread one (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=46699&highlight=hrm)
thread two (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=46480&highlight=hrm)
thread three (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=43945&highlight=hrm)
thread four (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=42627&highlight=hrm)
thread five (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=40515&highlight=hrm)
thread six (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=33327&highlight=hrm)

you get the idea.

-mark

Every topic on this forum have been done before........ :rolleyes: And since you have so much skill searching for old topics you can see it yourself

Thanks for the links, they are helpful. But I wanted someone’s experience with their HR monitor. Advantages, disadvantages, what functions you actually use and what functions are not actually necessary (just something extra). You can’t learn about personal experience on the manufacturer’s site, they just give you the description of the product not how it actually “handles”.

I have used a heart monitor for about 5 years now, and to be quite honest, I do not really need it. The only pointer it does give me is that I am working too hard/ not enough/ or that I am not fit this morning. I have tried several, and have finished up on the most basic, and all that does is give me the current heart rate. That is all I need, as I could never be bothered with keeping records of how I compare with the last ride, or how I have improved over the year.
Thing is, I do not like riding without it now, and it does give me an indication of my optimum work level/ endurance speed for that ride.

I have a pls S-710 which has so many features its amazing. For you budget I would look at the Polar S-150

This has full HR Features and doubles as your bike computer, all wireless. Check the details at excel for 119.00

http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=S%2D150&vendorCode=POLAR&major=3&minor=2