I am 65 and have recently found the merit to using a Keiser exercisebike at a local rec center. My research shows that these have be around for 20years but, for me this was a new experience--these are a far cry from what wasaround 30 years ago. The shifting, via a small lever, provides a very goodemulation of road bike resistance. Also like the watts and calorie read outs.

The heart rate read out potential deserved my attention. Ifound that on the cheap a Polar FT7 with chest strap can be had for>$70. Now the questions.

The Keiser says that it will work with multiple brands oftransmitters, does anyone use this combination?

I had a quad-bypass 17 years ago, while I am not worriedabout maximum stress I do wonder has using a HRM improved your performanceand/or help you lose some pounds?

Being on fixed income, cheap is the right price for me. ThePolar seems to fit the bill.

Does the Keiser bike have a heart rate readout built in? If so then you don't need the Polar wrist unit, only the transmitter. You can purchase only a transmitter and chest strap and save some money that way.

The Polar FT7 wrist unit comes with a Polar H1 heart rate transmitter and chest strap. The FT7 and H1 are older units and have been replaced by newer models.

I don't know what the Keiser bike uses but I have a newer Polar H7 heart rate transmitter/strap which uses bluetooth. The treadmills and exercise bikes at the gym pick it up as soon as I start to exercise.


-Tim-

Regarding your thread title, HRM and Performance (and since I know not of the Keiser you mentioned) I use a heart monitor via my Garmin 800 and use my BPM (beats per minute) to track my performance on long climbs.

I know I can climb in a pretty relaxed mode at 135 BPM. When I up the effort level a bit the BPM's sit right at 145 and when I breathing hard and really trying to go fast it goes right up to ~ 155.

So yes, I do use BPM's to tell how much I'm pushing my performance. My cardiologist told me never to exceed 165, so I usually don't. In a very competitive (but fun!) situation I have seen 175 and similar numbers. But I try not to get that much into it.

Rick / OCRR

Some (most?) pf the Polar units have coded chest straps. Which means that while other brands will read the Polar chest strap, the Polar unit won't read other chest straps.

My FT4 has been giving me fits at the ice skating rinks. It gets confused and gives maximum Heart Rate numbers like 215. Most likely due to the cold air, but electrode cream and a super tight chest strap don't help.