I see this Sigma Sport Coach HRM on sale, and the price looks nice. I'm not a racer, I just want to get into shape and loose some weight. I've been browsing here, and seeing stuff like "for max fat burn, aim for 70% max heart rate" or similar. Anyhow, would a watch like this do the trick? Just how does it figure out calorie burn? [Enter in resting rate and weight, and it figures it out from there?]

I'm only riding about 3 hours/week right now, btw. Hence, I'm not really looking for a high end monitor, although one with a light would be nice (I do 2/3's of my riding at nighttime).

Also: do any of these watches require anything other than the watch bit? I once bought a real cheap HRM from wallyworld, and it required me to wrap something around my chest for the actual heart rate pickup.

Check out the Scientific Instruments Fit 3 HRM. I bought it from Amazon and it was like 80 bucks shipped. Easy to read and works well.

I think they all require the chest strap for EKG accuracy

The HRM does the math based on HR and the other parameters you enter. However, keep in mind that things like calories burned are usually pretty innacurate.

All of the HRMs I know of use a chest strap.

Question regarding the chest strap - how big do they come? I'm a big guy - about 6' - 2-1/2" with a 54" chest, 24" across the shoulders, and a 38" waist. I've been looking at HRMs online, and haven't seen any that list how long the strap is.

OH......will I have to shave my chest to get a good signal?

The key to fat burning is ride longer. Your body burns more fat at 1 hour than at the half hour mark. (can I reference Danno?)

Slow is good. It builds the aerobic system.

I have a Polar F6 that I use pretty much every time I work out. It has a chest strap. I have something like a 45" chest, and the strap says M, which I assume means Medium. The band is all stretchy material, though, so I think it would go around your chest as well (I have to pull mine back a little).

You don't have to shave, but sometimes you have to wet the inside of the monitor (the part that goes against your skin). I'm a pretty hairy guy and have no trouble getting a good reading.

The F6 has an upload capability that lets me track my progress using their web site. The upload is "sonic", which means that you have to hold the watch to a microphone to do the upload, which is kind of a pain and doesn't always work on the first try (actually, it never works on the first try). But after a few tries, it gets there and you can see your progress over the weeks and months.

Amazon sells the Polar F6 for 109.95, but you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere. It takes a little getting used to, but I do like it.

Well, if you're riding 3 hours a week I'm not sure you need a HRM. If you just follow the "try to be able to talk fairly easy 95% of the time", you will be in a good aerobic zone.

The caveat to that would be if you're someone who likes to ride hard and/or you find yourself very out of breath, a HR monitor is great to keep you from working out too hard.

I wouldn't recommend the Oregon Scientific to anyone. I had one and the chest strap was not waterproof. On a long ride, sweat found it's way into the battery compartment and shorted the battery out. It popped and there was battery acid everywhere.

I called and got a RA, but I never sent it back. I found a cheapo Polar at Target for $30 and have been using that for the last three years. Never a problem, even when swimming.

And to the OP, you won't have any problem getting a chest strap to fit or getting a signal. Some sweat will form quickly under the strap providing the connection. Sometimes, in the winter I have to moisten the back of the strap with a little water or spit if I want it to work right away. But in this heat, it's not a problem.

Az

A week ago I bought a MIO Sport (watch only, no chest strap) at Wal-Mart for $30. I just about have to stop to take a reading. But, it gives me an idea of how I breathe at around 70 percent of my maximum heart rate. It appears to me weight loss is a little more constant with the HRM than before. I do find when I am in the 65 to 80 percent of maximum heart rate range my breathing is a bit heavier. Talking without pausing between words would be difficult. The MIO web site has some needed information in the FAQs that ought to be in the manual, especially for a first time HRM user. It has its quirks, but I like it. I did not want to pay nearly $100.

I find it hard to bike while out of breath, but I'm breathing pretty hard on some hills. As in, I'd have to pause like a second inbetween words so as to only speak on exhales. I went on a ride with a friend once, and found it kinda hard to talk while riding--I'd speak a sentance, and sorta feel out of breath. Basically, I'm not so sure on this qualitative measurement of "being able to talk while riding". Maybe I only need to measure once or twice, and then I'll know by feel.

I'll keep my eyes open for one--although, maybe I should see if I still have that Walmart watch--I'll bet the batteries are dead by now though. But like ericqu said, at 3 hours it seems hardly needed.

Thanks all.

This is just an update on my HRM. Today I got the MIO Sport to give me heart rate readings without stopping to get off of my bicycle. The muscles need to be relaxed so "muscle noise" does not interfere with the impulses needed to register the heart rate. My watch is on my left hand. I let the bike coast on a slight downgrade and kept the faintest fingertip contact on the handlebar with the left hand. I consciously let my left arm become as relaxed as possible. I reached over and put my first two fingers from my right hand onto the two buttons. In less than ten seconds I had an accurate reading. I was able to do this at least two times.

I have to disagree. You will burn more fat sprinting and doing intervals. Just look at sprinters vs. long distance runners (bikers also). Sprinters have lower body fat and more lean muscle. Distance athletes have have higher body fat (compared to sprinters) and much lower muscle mass.

Sorry but no.

If this works for you and helps keep you motivated to ride and exercise, that's great. But, even the cheapest Polar (and other brands') HRMs with the chest strap gives you a read-out immediately. Just twist your wrist a bit, or even better put the HRM on your handlebar. No slowing down, no releasing one hand from the bar, no waiting for a downgrade (how do you know your HR when going up a hill when it's pumping harder than coasting downhill?), no needing to find buttons.

You'll notice the chest band when you first put on the first two or three times. But then you forget about it. The band is only a few ounces and does not need to be strapped on super-tight...just enough to hold it in place.