Recommendations on heart rate and speed/cadence sensors.
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Recommendations on heart rate and speed/cadence sensors.
I have been using a Garmin 500 for two years now without a speed/cadence sensor or a heart rate monitor because, well because I haven't been into training and just like to ride a bunch. Well, that is going to change this winter as I have a detailed training plan I am going to start following so I can be faster and fitter next year. One of the first things I need to do is figure out my FTP and the plan goes into some detail on figuring that out using a power meter or heart rate monitor. So, now I would like to get a cadence sensor and heart rate monitor but would like some recommendations from other cyclists so I don't buy crap. Any ideas on what to buy and where to buy?
Eventually I'm going to pick up a power meter, but that won't be 'till after the first of the year.
Thanks.
Eventually I'm going to pick up a power meter, but that won't be 'till after the first of the year.
Thanks.
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I have been using a Wahoo TICKR HRM but only with an Iphone, I have not yet gotten a cycle computer that does anything but rear wheel speed :-).
I have used the Wahoo probably at least 80 hours so far, and maybe 1000+ miles and it has worked great. It does Both ANT and Bluetooth but I have only used the Bluetooth feature.
I have used the Wahoo probably at least 80 hours so far, and maybe 1000+ miles and it has worked great. It does Both ANT and Bluetooth but I have only used the Bluetooth feature.
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I use the garmin strap (the nicer one) and cadence sensor. Both have worked great with my 500. Got them separately on amazon.com
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Why not go Garmin all the way? Their soft strap HR monitor is pretty comfortable and their new magnet-less sensors are and easy to install and set up.
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+1. They have magnet-less sensors now? I'll have to check it out.
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I use a bontrager duo trap for speed/cadence just because it fits in the fram of my trek. I use the garmin heartrate strap same as stated by Unionmade. any of the garmin accessories should work well with your device.
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Is this the one you are talking about? Amazon.com: Garmin Bike Speed Sensor and Cadence Sensor: GPS & Navigation
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Thanks for that recommendation...that is probably the sensor I will go with. I've been reading the reviews of the Garmin heart rate monitor and it seems like there may be some problems with it. I haven't yet had any issues with the Edge 500 so my gut feeling is that the heart rate monitor is probably pretty good, but have any users of it encountered problems? I may just buy the bundle with the speed/cadence sensor anyway...not terribly expensive.
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I use a garmin gsc10 speed and cadence sensor with my Garmin 500. I also use it with trainerroad so I can train with virtual power on my trainer.
I have the garmin heart rate strap and it works fine, but I recently got a mio link optical heart rate sensor that I like better. You wear it on your wrist. It transmits Ant+ and bluetooth so its compatible with cycling computers, smartphones, and many other devices.
I have the garmin heart rate strap and it works fine, but I recently got a mio link optical heart rate sensor that I like better. You wear it on your wrist. It transmits Ant+ and bluetooth so its compatible with cycling computers, smartphones, and many other devices.
#11
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Thanks for that recommendation...that is probably the sensor I will go with. I've been reading the reviews of the Garmin heart rate monitor and it seems like there may be some problems with it. I haven't yet had any issues with the Edge 500 so my gut feeling is that the heart rate monitor is probably pretty good, but have any users of it encountered problems? I may just buy the bundle with the speed/cadence sensor anyway...not terribly expensive.
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Thanks for that recommendation...that is probably the sensor I will go with. I've been reading the reviews of the Garmin heart rate monitor and it seems like there may be some problems with it. I haven't yet had any issues with the Edge 500 so my gut feeling is that the heart rate monitor is probably pretty good, but have any users of it encountered problems? I may just buy the bundle with the speed/cadence sensor anyway...not terribly expensive.
#13
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I've been using the Garmin chest strap that came with the Edge 305, and have never had any problems with it. The Garmin cadence/speed sensor also works well, but I really have no need for it anymore. The battery died in my sensor and I didn't replace it for almost a year, but when I did my average cadence was still 89 on almost every ride. Unless you are trying to change your cadence, if you've been riding for years it's probably the same on every ride you do.
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Thanks for that recommendation...that is probably the sensor I will go with. I've been reading the reviews of the Garmin heart rate monitor and it seems like there may be some problems with it. I haven't yet had any issues with the Edge 500 so my gut feeling is that the heart rate monitor is probably pretty good, but have any users of it encountered problems? I may just buy the bundle with the speed/cadence sensor anyway...not terribly expensive.
But most of the time they work perfectly.
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I just received the Under Armor HRM. The only reason I ordered it was I had a coupon code that took $70 off of the price. Total cost with free shipping and AZ tax was $31. So far so good, two rides and it has worked fine. https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/ar...pid1255371-001 I just checked and the coupon code still works, not sure if it is OK to post here. PM me if you want the code. Coupon also comes with 1 year of MyFitnessPal MVP.
I am using Wahoo Fitness SC on my road bike. Duo Trap Bluetooth on my Trek. Cyclemeter on the iPhone ties it all together.
I am using Wahoo Fitness SC on my road bike. Duo Trap Bluetooth on my Trek. Cyclemeter on the iPhone ties it all together.
Last edited by Kingpcgeek; 10-23-14 at 12:19 PM.
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What do the Garmin soft straps go for on their own? I have a brand new one I recently got in a bundle (w/GSC10) for my 500. I've thought of offering it up for sale, but wasn't sure it'd be worth the effort vs. keeping it around in case I wanted one down the line. I do some spin classes where it might be handy (in addition to my road bikes), but I've just never really trained with HR feedback before.
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When my Garmin softstrap died, I replaced it with a Motorola that I found on Amazon. It works pretty well.
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I've been using the HR strap and GSC-10 that came bundled with my Edge 500 since I got it a couple of years ago. Last year the GSC-10 died on me - Garmin replaced it under warranty. No problems with the HR strap, so far.
Last edited by KenshiBiker; 10-23-14 at 01:15 PM. Reason: grammatical errors
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I use a garmin gsc10 speed and cadence sensor with my Garmin 500. I also use it with trainerroad so I can train with virtual power on my trainer.
I have the garmin heart rate strap and it works fine, but I recently got a mio link optical heart rate sensor that I like better. You wear it on your wrist. It transmits Ant+ and bluetooth so its compatible with cycling computers, smartphones, and many other devices.
I have the garmin heart rate strap and it works fine, but I recently got a mio link optical heart rate sensor that I like better. You wear it on your wrist. It transmits Ant+ and bluetooth so its compatible with cycling computers, smartphones, and many other devices.
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+1 on the NEW Garmin speed and cadence sensors, really easy to swap from bike to bike. I use the speed sensor around the rear hub on the trainer, it's nice to see the distance travelled, although the amount of effort is different to road riding. For the Garmin 500 I suspect you will need to do a firmware upgrade.
Have been using the Garmin professional HRM strap for a couple of years with no problems, sometimes you just need to wet the eletrodes with a drop of water first.
Have been using the Garmin professional HRM strap for a couple of years with no problems, sometimes you just need to wet the eletrodes with a drop of water first.
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It can vary quite a bit. I lost mine after a MTB ride during the spring and I ended up picking one up from Heart Rate Monitor USA or something like that for $45 with free shipping, I think MSRP is $70.
I use the Garmin speed/cadence on my MTB now and DuoTrapS on my road bike with my Garmin head unit.
I use the Garmin speed/cadence on my MTB now and DuoTrapS on my road bike with my Garmin head unit.
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I have the Garmin soft strap. I needed to wash it at least every week or it would stop running because of the accumulation of sweat salts. I switched to the mio link wrist HRM. No more problems...no more chest strap. It transmits both low energy Bluetooth and ANT+.
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The new soft strap HR monitor from Garmin is comfy and works well as do the new cadence and speed sensors. They are accelerometers and have no need for magnets. VERY easy to install and get up and running.
They are the Bee's Knees............
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#25
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Well, I ordered the magnet-less garmin sensors and the Mio Link yesterday...can't wait to start using them. Thanks for all the suggestions, everybody.