Pacemaker
 

Does a pacemaker interfere with a chest heart rate strap?

The internet says sometimes. It appears that most people think it's safe for the pacemaker though.

Have you experienced problems? I am thinking about moving to my garmin watch. It's not as accurate, but I am tired of messing with the straps.

I'd be more concerned if the heart rate strap interfered with the pace maker. But since the strap is passive in nature, I'd expect that answer to be a big NO.

Is your pacemaker firing off continuously? Then maybe. So what? If you get wonky reading on your HR then do what I do. Ignore them.

Thanks! I is actually my friend who had the heart valve replacement and a pacemaker installed. He rode for the first time post surgery and his HR monitor wasn't working. He ordered a new strap.

pacemaker and cycling
 

Your heart monitor is the least of the problems. Pacemakers barely respond to road cycling. By "respond" I mean elevate your heart rate in response to exercise. Pacemakers have a 3 axis accelerometer which responds well to walking and running, but the pacemaker thinks you are sitting at home when riding smoothly on the road. I cannot get my heart rate over 90, no matter how steep the hill. This makes cycling difficult. I am quite disappointed. (Pacemaker is a Medtronic micra.)