Road Cycling - advice on HRM as main computer

Recomendations on a heart rate monitor to be used for speed, cadance and HR monitoring.
Or...do you prefere a seperate computer and a HRM?
Thanks

I have both a polar 720i and a flight deck. If I had it all over to do again I would forget the flight deck and just go with the polar 720i.

Cat Eye MSC3DX

G'day,

Polar 720i...it does (almost) everything that I need, (anyone know a logical reason why you can't get it to 'beep' while doing intervals & have 'bike' switched on?)

cheers,

Hitchy

The more the better- I'm salivating at the thought of getting the new Polar 725- it's supposed to have all the functions and do-dads, when with the 720, you had to buy some of the stuff separately. I get tired of dealing with all the different toys for my bike. I need one toy with all the different functions. Once I get the 725, I'll put my 720 up for sale.

Koffee

The more the better- I'm salivating at the thought of getting the new Polar 725- it's supposed to have all the functions and do-dads, when with the 720, you had to buy some of the stuff separately.

Um... the 725 seems to be the same bundle and same functions as the 710i/720i. I've got the 710i and the feature list looks identical.

Item-wise... you still get watch, chest belt and speed sensor. Cadence, power and IR receiver are optional (although the 710i/720i didn't need it if your PC has a IR port). The only new feature is connectivity to a Nokia phone and a change in chest sensor design.

the ciclosport HAC 4 is on sale in a coupla places (performance and colorado cyclist, last i checked). i just picked one up for around $100 less than the polars go for. it does everything (cadence is optional, though i've always just watched the clock and counted...) including grade, total climbing, watts (approximate), etc. plus, the batteries are replaceable on the strap. the polar i had, if the strap dies, you send it back. that costs money. i'd highly recommend the ciclosport.

Um... the 725 seems to be the same bundle and same functions as the 710i/720i. I've got the 710i and the feature list looks identical.

Item-wise... you still get watch, chest belt and speed sensor. Cadence, power and IR receiver are optional (although the 710i/720i didn't need it if your PC has a IR port). The only new feature is connectivity to a Nokia phone and a change in chest sensor design.


........& presumably you have to have the 'right' Nokia phone?. I could see this being handy for people who are 'remote' from their coach. You could send all the 'feedback' info by SMS....me, I'll just email him the info,

cheers,

Hitchy

........& presumably you have to have the 'right' Nokia phone?. I could see this being handy for people who are 'remote' from their coach. You could send all the 'feedback' info by SMS....me, I'll just email him the info,


Yeah, Nokia 5140.

I'm not even sure it's a phone that's widely available in North America.

http://www.polar.fi/polar/channels/eng/segments/products/MobileLink/MobileLinktoCycling.html

Nuh-uh. The 725 has slightly different features and different software- it has a little more than the 720. I do agree, though, that the 710 is identical to the 720. I believe they came out with the 720 to correct the minute flaws of the 710, but the 710 is still a superior watch.

I'm always looking for the tech-geek stuff, though. Even if most folks don't think the upgrade is much, I like the extras, no matter how little, so I'm going for it. I may even go up to the Polar 810 i if the Polar folks can explain to me the difference between the 725 and the 810.

Question for you, though. Can you really set exercise training sessions in the 720, because with the 725, you can actually create your training sessions and program them into the heart rate monitor. I have to say, I haven't used the 720 to the point where I know all the functions yet (still a new watch, and I've been using my Timex Data Recorder system).

Koffee

Can you really set exercise training sessions in the 720, because with the 725, you can actually create your training sessions and program them into the heart rate monitor.

Dunno about the 720 but you can with the 710. However, the functionality is a bit limited and the Polar software bites.

http://foosoftware.com/photo/temp/exercises.jpg

G'day,

Firstly, the 710 & the 720 are exactly the same, except for the exterior casing, (the 720 is metal for dumbo's like me who keep dropping it!). Koffee, not quite sure what exercise programs you are refering to....but if you mean, intervals, with recoveries, warm up & warm downs,...then yes, it handles those very well. You can either program them directly thru the monitor, or thru the software & then download to the monitor, (the latter is a little more 'user' friendly)....so what does the 725 do that the 720 doesn't? (apart from the phone thingy)....as F1 fan pointed out, the changes aren't obvious from the info on polars website...I assumed that the 725 was just the new model & with the phone thingy for techno geeks, (such as yourself :))

cheers,

Hitchy

Vetta V100HR with the wireless speed and cadence kit.

This is the setup I have on my daily rider. Much less then Polar. And I haven't had any issues with it. REI has good prices, but if you look around you might find it cheaper.

The V100HR can be set fro max HR, and target high and low HR.

Good luck with your choice.

I also have the Vetta V100HR..................It is the best computer for your money.

It has all of the necessary features for your rides.

I have been using the Polar 725 for about 10 days now.The polar software is confusing to learn but once you get used to it its OK.

All the cycling functions work great, I got the cadence sensor as well.. Now power meter. I ended up taking off my other bike computer and just use the Polar.

My only complaint is I cant figure out how to get the temperature to start recording on my first lap.. and I wish it would cycle continuous through through workout stats on the top line.. oh well..

The altitude needs to be adjusted regularly.. I suppose its because out weather has been changing alot here in the last week or so..

cheers-
Jim

My only complaint is I cant figure out how to get the temperature to start recording on my first lap.. and I wish it would cycle continuous through through workout stats on the top line.. oh well..

The altitude needs to be adjusted regularly.. I suppose its because out weather has been changing alot here in the last week or so..


I believe Temp is only recorded at the end of the lap. About the only way to get it at the exercise start would be to hit the red button 5s into the workout to create a "lap" marker. There is one mode where you can get temp displaying in the lower right but I forget how.

The altitude is calculated from barometric pressure and is temperature compensated (I believe). I say that because I get some funky altitude readings in the winter going from warm house to cold outside. There is a quick re-calibrate button sequence (might be holding the light button when you're in a exercise [but haven't started the timer]). You really need a known altitude to calibrate the unit. From the survey maps of my property I know my driveway is 59m above mean sea level so I either re-calibrate as I roll out or simply use the software's error correction after the ride to reset the start point to 59m.

I have a polar 520. It works for me.