Training & Nutrition - Hrm

im looking to buy my first heart rate monitor. i was looking at some polar models, but i already have a cycling computer, which has all the speed, averages, cadences etc. on it. so i was just looking to buy a plain old HRM. which model do you have experience with? preferably just a basic model. also, do u have any reccomendation that i should be looking for when buying one. i just kno it has to have zones, with alarms, average HR, and current HR. any others ?

This is very similar to the one I have: Cheap, works perfectly (no misreadings or funny readings...):

Sports Instruments ECG 5 (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=94&subcategory=1054&brand=&sku=9753&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=)

I have the model one below, ECG-4 (without average HR, which I miss and might get this one since is sooo cheap)... It really works perfect and chest strap is comfortable to wear, holds very well even when running...

Hi,
there are other good brands, but Polar is the most popular.
If you just want a basic HRM, get something with an out-of-zone alarm. That's it. The other functions are nice, but some aren't terribly useful, and the others are useful in the context of a
training program that uses them. I'm going to guess yours doesn't.

Hi,
there are other good brands, but Polar is the most popular.
If you just want a basic HRM, get something with an out-of-zone alarm. That's it. The other functions are nice, but some aren't terribly useful, and the others are useful in the context of a
training program that uses them. I'm going to guess yours doesn't.

what other functions are you referring to?
just curious.

i could use max heart rate too, but things like time spent in zones dont seem too important to me as i would just try to spend all of the time, or the amount of time i need, in that zone. actual time isnt that big of a deal to me.

any opinions on the Polar S120, or the Polar A3.. is it worth the extra money for the S120, or are the extra functions useless?

Hi,
I have a Polar with a bunch of functions. When I can get the thing to work the way I want it to, all I care about is the alarm so I know when to back off a little. There are tons of functions. If you want a lot of functions, the HRM just below the A3 is pretty cool. I have heard the Reeboks are pretty good, that one is prob just an older model. It offers more than one line of display, laps, a stopwatch, 5 zones (overkill). Btw, I got mine used off Ebay. Another option to consider.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=94&subcategory=1054&brand=&sku=12373&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=

This book is pretty nifty...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1884737803/qid=1102983091/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-9853636-0054249?v=glance&s=books

I've got the SI ecg-5 mentioned above. I wear it as a watch non stop for almost 2 years and use as a HRM regularly. It has worked perfectly, never picked up false reads when running or riding in a group. In addition to audible or visual zone alarms, custom zone settings, avg for workout, time in zone, time above zone, time below zone you can also get average hr by laps. I used that a lot doing intervals for running ... don't use it as much cycling. If the battery dies in the strap it's user replaceable with a std camera battery. For the price it's an awesome value.

edit: It also comes with a bike handlebar mount std.

Personally, I have the basic function polar model and I like it fine. But I know quite a few people who like ones with more bells and whistles. For me, I just take a fast glance at it every now and then to see what my heart rate is. I don't care to have the thing keep a detailed record of my heart rate throughout the ride. However, some people really like this feature which is, I suppose, the reason why they offer a number of different models.