Road Cycling - HRM suggestions

I have kind of scoffed at getting a heart rate monitor, but I keep getting pushed in that direction as I get a little more serious about improving my cycling fitness. I'd appreciate soem feedback on HRM style, brand, functions, etc.Thanks JB

I just got a Polar 625x w/ 2 speed sensors, one for my CX and the other for my SS roadie. I like the 625x because I also do some running w/ the dog. Works great, my first HRM and loving it. Although, it is pretty complex, and I'm an engineer...

I got a Polar A5 last year and find it suits my needs well - I was wanting something pretty basic. It displays heart rate, alerts you if you're outside your target zones, computes average HR and calories burned. I purchased mine at the link below.

http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com

I haven't had any problems and would recommend it. Hope this helps.

Also check out heartratemointors USA. They also sell there products cheaper on ebay.

I got an oregon scientific for 29.95 + 8 postage brand new.

Has zone alarms etc.

What ever you do make sure the one that you get will let you replace the batteries in the transmitter as well as the watch. I have seen some that don't .

I have kind of scoffed at getting a heart rate monitor, but I keep getting pushed in that direction as I get a little more serious about improving my cycling fitness. I'd appreciate soem feedback on HRM style, brand, functions, etc.Thanks JB

I have a Polar 725. I really like it. No need for anything else on your handlebars. Speed, Cadence, Heart Rate, options for power. It downloads to your PC and is compatible with the Compu Trainer. It has Temp, Altitude and more.

It is a little pricey. But IMHO its currently tops for HRMs with bike functions.

another vote for the polar A5

Read this article.

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=2638

I already had a cyclocomputer, and I just got a Vetta HRM to go with it. very happy.

Polar 720 Si, it went wrong but when it works it works well, replaced under warranty no questions asked.
Peter

Thanks, folks. We've been out in the hills chasing creeks for a couple of days and now I've got some HRM reading to do! Thanks for the links and input. JB

I got the Polar 720 (s720i i think), which has most of the bells and whistles.

- Polar needs to provide a free live training course with purchase on how to use these things, and for the price, they could afford to. I have a freaking engineering degree, and I still have plenty of trouble. Alot of the stuff is fairly intuitive, but lots of stuff is NOT, and the manual is clearly translated from a non-English language, so the manual's word choice and phraseology is a bit perplexing in some spots. There are lots of details that are hard to keep straight -- even how to use the start button (it makes a difference whether you start riding before or after the HR registers, for example, or whether you press quickly or press and hold the button).

- Sadly, despite the cycling functions, the HRM is still not a good substitute for a separate cycle-computer. The trip distance vs. odometer is still a mystery to me. My "trip" distance is cumulative, and I can't figure out how to reset it -- even when I clear the "records" the OD is not reset.

- While cycling, it's confusing how to retrieve live data (speed, distance, so forth) -- hitting the UP button changes some stuff, hitting the DOWN buttons changes something else, and if you are not in broad daylight you can't tell what you are looking at.

- DESPITE all these shortcomings, I have to say the HRM is a worthwhile tool. Doing a little outside reading (may I suggest Chris Carmichael's 'The Ultimate Ride') will enlighten you as to the significance of HR to your training. When I started riding, I figured the best way to train was go as fast and hard as I could, within reason, to increase everything all at once -- speed, endurance, and so forth. Later, I started learning that your HR as a function of your max will determine whether you are training your aerobic or anaerobic system, affecting your lactic acid threshold (?), and how keeping your HR in a certain range will determine the results of the training. I just started learning this stuff, so not yet optimized my use of the HRM.

- The HRM's that upload data to your PC are interesting to use, and give you a way to prolong the enjoyment of your ride, allowing you to scientifically analyze just what happened during your ride while you are relaxing afterwards.

I have kind of scoffed at getting a heart rate monitor, but I keep getting pushed in that direction as I get a little more serious about improving my cycling fitness. I'd appreciate soem feedback on HRM style, brand, functions, etc.Thanks JB


Good you want to take your training to the next level. What you may want to do is start with a simple continuous read HRM. Ride with it and get an idea of what you're getting and what you miss, and once you get comfortable with reading your heart rate and knowing how heart rate is affected by load and intensity, then you can upgrade to a better monitor. I don't know what kind of monitor to recommend, because I find all of them have some kind of flaw or another, but for a continuous read, there's no energy or effort about it- get whatever's cheapest on sale, since you'll be upgrading at some point.

If you check www.heartmonitors.com, www.rei.com, www.pricepoint.com, www.overstock.com, www.nashbar.com, www.sportsauthority.com and www.performancebike.com, you'll be able to compare the cheapest monitors and get one for very cheap.

As far as books, since it seems as though you are very new to this, I highly recommend the Sally Edwards book "The Heart Rate Monitor book". It's about 30 or so pages, but it's the best book out there that breaks down the heart rate monitor and what purpose it serves, how to regulate your training, and gives basic definitions so you understand heart rate monitor training, and you get a better idea of where you can go with it. Once you comprehend it, if you jump to the Sally Edwards/Sally Reed book "The Heart Rate Monitor Book for Outdoor and Indoor Cyclists", they will go into greater detail about how to put together a solid training program, then she outlines a bunch of rides you can do on your trainer or on an indoor training bike. If you can really figure it out, you will be able to upgrade to a good HRM once you get through the how-to section of the Edwards/Reed book. I've read a lot of the books out there already on HRM training, and I have to say, because she breaks down everything very simply, and because she really knows her stuff (she got together with Polar when they first came up with the idea of making HRM watches, and she was using EKG's to monitor heart rates and they'd heard of her and gave her a call, and she put together their manual for how to use the Polar monitor). You can't go wrong with that book.

For other components of training, I would recommend the "Cyclists Training Bible" by Joel Friel. He goes into strength training, cardiovascular, flexibility, etc., and although he's geared more for the pros, you can still take away a LOT of information whether or not you're training to race.

With those three books and a basic continuous read monitor, you should be set at least for the next year.

Koffee