mathmo

At first I was thinking that I ought to be getting myself a watch seeing how it has been ages since I'd used one. But wouldn't a hrm be useful? Plus it would have all the functions of a watch, so I started to look for a hrm instead. Then I wondered about having speed/distance as well, because after all wouldn't that be such a neat thing to have! So now I'm looking around for a hrm/sdm....

Oh dear, what a slippery slope I have fell down! (although maybe there is yet hope for me to climb back up, or not)

Anyway, so as to help me along this path of folly I'm wondering what ones you have tried/recommend? Currently I'm more leaning to the acceleration methods than the gps, seeing that all the current gps systems seem to be much more bulky/heavier.

Oh, and my last strands of sanity are asking where would be the best (i.e. cheapest) place to buy from (and as a corollary what is the best (i.e. cheapest) models?)?

(noting that I live at the ends of the earth, aka NZ)

mathmo

Hmm... does nobody have one which measures speed?? :s

Doubt that!

kuan

I went through the same thing you did a few weeks ago. I already have a Timex HRM and decided I wanted a GPS for running so I went and got a Garmin 101. It lasted all of three days before I returned it. Where I live it takes a while to lock in and the readings weren't instant, the heart rates were. I couldn't live with this discrepency and since there weren't provisions for downloadingi and analyzing data I decided that I could live without it.

But look here at this new Garmin product.

http://www.garmin.com/products/edge305/

Pretty cool, but quite expensive.

DvB

I have the Polar S725 and it's the best cycling-related purchase I've made in years:

mathmo

Basically ruled out the idea of a gps because of the problems they have, looking at the acceleratometers systems such as what Polar uses.

Really like this one here at the moment:

http://www.polar.fi/polar/channels/e...g/RS200sd.html

Ah, perhaps I should have posted this under the triathlon forum rather than training....

Well by best I was more meaning best price/benifit ratio for running. That one there would be awesome, just not so much for running. Got a separate bike computer for that stuff. Plus it it is bit pricey, might have considered it but I'd like something a bit less.

supcom

Garmin's Forerunner 301 looks interesting for bike and running use. I've never used one, but a friend has the Forerunner 201 (no HRM) and is happy with it.

For HRM use on a bike, it's hard to beat the Polar S720/S725 HRMs. They pretty much do it all and are the standard. For running, they won't measure distance, but that's what TopoUSA software or a low cost eTrex GPS is for.

mathmo

Arrgghh... just said I don't like the idea of gps systems. Unless somebody has a very convincing arguement for them?!?!

kuan

Mapping function? Mark waypoints? The 301 is on sale at REI for $199.99 this week.

supcom

The convincing argument is that they are probably the best way to get accurate distance while running offroad. For exclusive bike use, a simple wheel sensor is best.

mathmo

True, but I'm not going to be doing that much running off road. And when I do I know my way around well enough to not get lost. If was going to go into aventure racing then that would be handy, but then I'd probably get a dedicated gps unit for that.

Besides I don't think the Timex ones at least can do that stuff??

Anyway, for a road racer/runner the only advantage gps has is no advantage while keeping it's many disatvantages.