Training & Nutrition - HRM Problem

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate catagory, but . . .

I have a Polar M52 HRM. At the beginning of my ride the monitor has trouble giving me a correct heart rate. The wind fluttering my jersey seems to be "tricking" the HRM and I'm getting heart rates way above my max. If I hold my chest to keep the jersey from flapping, the correct heart rate appeart. After 10 or 15 minutes (and some sweat production) things seem to settle down.

I've tried moistening the chest-strap electrodes and my chest before the ride, tightening the chest strap and changing the position - all to no avail. Polar has been not help or responded to my e-mails.

What an interesting problem. What if you taped a bandage over the electrode to dampen the flapping of your jersey?

Since I don't have a HRM yet (researching them now)
I may be way off base here.
Have you tried any of the creams that increase
the skins conductivitiy?
I can't see why a mechanical function (the jersey
hitting the sensor strap) would affect an
electrical function (reading heart rate).
Is the zipper of your jersey hitting it?
could that be sending on/off signal via
interaction of zipper to battery/transmitter?
just some thoughts.
Let us know what you find out
(especially since I'm in market :lol: )
Marty

I'm not sure how they work, but my HRM (an old Polar Accurex) will record a beat if I tap on the sensor, so I guess it could be your jersey flapping, if it's hard enough. Riding under some power lines will also send mine ballistic. (Max HR 234, and I'm not even breathing hard!!)

I always run water over the sensor pads before putting it on, otherwise it doesn't "kick in" until you've sweated a little, but I don't think it would cause extra beats.

I have heard that some cycle computers (wireless ones) can interfere with some heart monitors. I never had this problem. But it could be the case.

If anything physical is interfering with your HRM, it's probably the ferrous metal in your jersey's zipper. HRMs don't pick up physical pulse, they pick up the electromagnetic signature of the pulse.

Interference can come from a number of sources that have nothing to do with your jersey. You should check to see what you were riding-by when your pulse went up on the HRM. I have this problem on two of my rides: On one, I roll by a hydroelectric substation, and that kicks my HR up to about 220; same thing happens when I go by the cell tranmission towers on Mount Royal on my 'cross bike.

Interference can also come from other people's monitors. If that happens, you can reset the frequency of the transmitter [chest strap] by pulling it away from your chest for a couple of seconds. If you don't have a coded transmitter, you might want to look into getting one. They help to minimize the crosstalk problem.

As long as you moisten the chest strap before you put it on [and it helps to do the same to the area of your chest where it contacts], you don't need any of those conductive gels. They are completely unnecessary.

It took starting this thread to help me figure out the problem. . .

The HRM always worked fine once the sweat starts flowing. I've always moistened the electrodes to emulate the sweat, but it never worked.

Well, yesterday I wondered if I should moisten myself - or, rather, wet my chest, or . . . well. . . you know what I mean. It occurred to me that the water I put on the electrodes might not be sufficient.

Solution: Before putting my jersey on I splashed myself down, making sure to thoroughly soak my chest hair. I expect a conductive cream would accomplish the same thing.

Bingo! I had an accurate HR from beginning to end.

Thanks for all the suggestions

interestingly enough last night I got home
and my wife said "we need heart rate monitors"
went to the local sports emporium and I got a
polar XT and she got the A5.
the guy at the shop recommended a product
called buhbump (increase conductivity) does anyone
use it or anything similiar?
we always used similiar item in hospital to do ekgs
so it makes sense to me.

Thanks,
Marty