Thread: Garmin or Polar
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Old 01-07-13 | 01:29 PM
  #8  
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Carbonfiberboy
just another gosling
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From: Everett, WA

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Of course the Polar 800cx and Polar RC3 GPS have GPS. I like and have both a Polar watch-style and a Garmin 800. They serve different purposes. I wouldn't get a bike-specific Polar. Too limited. But the watch style ones are great. Very easy to read, long battery life, multi-sport. The Garmin 500 is also limited in its own way - cycle only, and no mapping. The biggest downside to the Polar is software. Most web software now is Garmin-centric. If you are going to use web-based analysis like Strava or TrainingPeaks, you have to have Garmin. OTOH, most gym equipment is Polar-centric. I haven't seen any gym equipment that responds to the ANT+ HR transmitter, though that's probably just a matter of time. Still, that equipment is long-lived. Anyway, I like both. I use the Garmin for road cycling, the Polar for trainer and all other workouts. Bit of a PITA because of the incompatible software issue, but life is like that sometimes. If you only do road cycling, get the Garmin, just because of the software.
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