What is the perfect HRM for triathalon??

[jbkinpa]

Hi All,

I need some help finding a heart rate monitor for triathlons. Any
advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

I'm using a Polar F6 now, which I like okay, but it does not do laps,
so I have to stop and re-start it for each transition. It has also not
been very reliable, repeatedly locking up or displaying erroneous data.
Polar replaced it once under warrantee and I just shipped it back a
second time.

I also tried a Polar S625X, but had several issues with it: It was too
big and heavy for me and hard to navigate thru all the screens. I
never did get the foot pod to work and eventually ended up selling it
on e-bay.

I also just tried the Nike Triax C10 and Triax Elite (the shop owner
knew nothing about them, so I took them both home to try out). The C10
seems very nice and does laps, but does not give me maximum HR,
calories, or automatically calculate training zones which I got used to
with the Polar F6. The Elite is a lot more money but is lacking the
same features. I've got 15 days left to return them.

I'm finding it very hard to research watches online since nobody
seems able to clearly describe the features. Is it just me?

So, can someone recommend a HRM that has a lap feature, average and max
HR, and calories that is easy to use and reasonably small? Data
recording for download would be a bonus. At this point cost is no
object.

Thanks!

-Jerry

 

[Tom Henderson]

"jbkinpa" <[email protected]> wrote in news:1142825195.567668.134120
@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com:

> Hi All,
>
> I need some help finding a heart rate monitor for triathlons. Any
> advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
>

I've never graduated past the most basic monitor that allows me to look
down and see what my heart rate is. No calorie estimates, no downloadable
log, GPS, time-in-zone counters, pace indicators, TV, cell phone, or remote
car starter. Just current heart rate with optional hi and low alarms. Of
course, I did look like a dork at ironman, with a watch on one wrist, and
HRM on the other!

I've looked at the Timex Bodylink system, but just can't justify the
expense.

 

[John Hardt]

I've been using a relatively basic Timex Ironman HRM for several years and
have been very happy with it. It records up to 50 laps/splits, has optional
hi and low HR alarms, and displays HR and time simultaneously. Nothing
fancy, but it works.

What I like about it best is when I don't need a HRM, I just leave the strap
off and it still makes a very respectible watch - one that I'm familiar with
too.

John



"jbkinpa" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi All,
>
> I need some help finding a heart rate monitor for triathlons. Any
> advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
>
> I'm using a Polar F6 now, which I like okay, but it does not do laps,
> so I have to stop and re-start it for each transition. It has also not
> been very reliable, repeatedly locking up or displaying erroneous data.
> Polar replaced it once under warrantee and I just shipped it back a
> second time.
>
> I also tried a Polar S625X, but had several issues with it: It was too
> big and heavy for me and hard to navigate thru all the screens. I
> never did get the foot pod to work and eventually ended up selling it
> on e-bay.
>
> I also just tried the Nike Triax C10 and Triax Elite (the shop owner
> knew nothing about them, so I took them both home to try out). The C10
> seems very nice and does laps, but does not give me maximum HR,
> calories, or automatically calculate training zones which I got used to
> with the Polar F6. The Elite is a lot more money but is lacking the
> same features. I've got 15 days left to return them.
>
> I'm finding it very hard to research watches online since nobody
> seems able to clearly describe the features. Is it just me?
>
> So, can someone recommend a HRM that has a lap feature, average and max
> HR, and calories that is easy to use and reasonably small? Data
> recording for download would be a bonus. At this point cost is no
> object.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Jerry
>

 

[John Hardt]

"Tom Henderson" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> I've never graduated past the most basic monitor that allows me to look
> down and see what my heart rate is. No calorie estimates, no downloadable
> log, GPS, time-in-zone counters, pace indicators, TV, cell phone, or
> remote
> car starter. Just current heart rate with optional hi and low alarms. Of
> course, I did look like a dork at ironman, with a watch on one wrist, and
> HRM on the other!
>
> I've looked at the Timex Bodylink system, but just can't justify the
> expense.

Ditto.

 

[Tamyka Bell]

John Hardt wrote:
>
> I've been using a relatively basic Timex Ironman HRM for several years and
> have been very happy with it. It records up to 50 laps/splits, has optional
> hi and low HR alarms, and displays HR and time simultaneously. Nothing
> fancy, but it works.
>
> What I like about it best is when I don't need a HRM, I just leave the strap
> off and it still makes a very respectible watch - one that I'm familiar with
> too.
>
> John

If the Timex Ironman HRM is as reliable and useful as their watches,
that's a great recommendation. I don't use a HRM anymore (kept slowing
me down) but I love my watch.

Tam

 

[Bob Haase]

Tamyka Bell wrote:
> John Hardt wrote:
>
>>I've been using a relatively basic Timex Ironman HRM for several years and
>>have been very happy with it. It records up to 50 laps/splits, has optional
>>hi and low HR alarms, and displays HR and time simultaneously. Nothing
>>fancy, but it works.
>>
>>What I like about it best is when I don't need a HRM, I just leave the strap
>>off and it still makes a very respectible watch - one that I'm familiar with
>>too.
>>
>>John
>
>
> If the Timex Ironman HRM is as reliable and useful as their watches,
> that's a great recommendation. I don't use a HRM anymore (kept slowing
> me down) but I love my watch.
>
> Tam


I have the Timex Bodylink system minus the GPS speed and distance
sensor. My only complaint is that it doesn't record your maximum heart
rate during a race or training session. It only records the average for
the lap. It doesn't compute calories burned either, but I don't put
much stock in that feature on heart rate monitors.

I've decided not to add the speed and distance sensor after reading how
thry don't work very well for trail running (too many trees for the
sensor to see the satelites).

Bob

 

[Aisha]

I have a Bodylink system with GPS and data recorder - this gives you pretty
much all you need - its first gen GPS so I think the new stuff is
considerably better especially as it has a 3D GPS chip in it giving you
altitude as well.

the data recorder records all info every 2 secs but personally I dont use it
much except for TT's and similar stuff. Best thing is though is its digital
so once its locked in on your HR monitor you don't need to worry about
interference from other units - something i had problems with with my polar.

HTH

Aisha.

"Bob Haase" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Tamyka Bell wrote:
> > John Hardt wrote:
> >
> >>I've been using a relatively basic Timex Ironman HRM for several years
and
> >>have been very happy with it. It records up to 50 laps/splits, has
optional
> >>hi and low HR alarms, and displays HR and time simultaneously. Nothing
> >>fancy, but it works.
> >>
> >>What I like about it best is when I don't need a HRM, I just leave the
strap
> >>off and it still makes a very respectible watch - one that I'm familiar
with
> >>too.
> >>
> >>John
> >
> >
> > If the Timex Ironman HRM is as reliable and useful as their watches,
> > that's a great recommendation. I don't use a HRM anymore (kept slowing
> > me down) but I love my watch.
> >
> > Tam
>
>
> I have the Timex Bodylink system minus the GPS speed and distance
> sensor. My only complaint is that it doesn't record your maximum heart
> rate during a race or training session. It only records the average for
> the lap. It doesn't compute calories burned either, but I don't put
> much stock in that feature on heart rate monitors.
>
> I've decided not to add the speed and distance sensor after reading how
> thry don't work very well for trail running (too many trees for the
> sensor to see the satelites).
>
> Bob

 

[John Hardt]

"Tamyka Bell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> John Hardt wrote:
>>
>> I've been using a relatively basic Timex Ironman HRM for several years
>> and
>> have been very happy with it. It records up to 50 laps/splits, has
>> optional
>> hi and low HR alarms, and displays HR and time simultaneously. Nothing
>> fancy, but it works.
>>
>> What I like about it best is when I don't need a HRM, I just leave the
>> strap
>> off and it still makes a very respectible watch - one that I'm familiar
>> with
>> too.
>>
>> John
>
> If the Timex Ironman HRM is as reliable and useful as their watches,
> that's a great recommendation. I don't use a HRM anymore (kept slowing
> me down) but I love my watch.
>
> Tam

Like any product, you'll find people who like them and people who don't.
You'll find those that have had good luck and you'll probably come across a
few who haven't. All I can say, is that my Timex HRM has been bullet-proof
for about 4 years. No complaints at all.

The only "problem" I've ever head is that it isn't compatible with the
treadmills at my local recreation center (which seems to have standardized
on Polar). But this is a non-issue to me.

John

 

[Tri gear]

Like others who have posted I use the Timex Bodylink system with HR monitor
& GPS sensor and data recorder and find it an excellent training tool.
However, I have experience the HR monitor breaking apart where the sensor
meets the transmitter and I know others have experienced this as well.
Failure, if it is going to occur, will happen quickly and will likely be
under warranty.


"Bob Haase" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Tamyka Bell wrote:
>> John Hardt wrote:
>>
>>>I've been using a relatively basic Timex Ironman HRM for several years
>>>and
>>>have been very happy with it. It records up to 50 laps/splits, has
>>>optional
>>>hi and low HR alarms, and displays HR and time simultaneously. Nothing
>>>fancy, but it works.
>>>
>>>What I like about it best is when I don't need a HRM, I just leave the
>>>strap
>>>off and it still makes a very respectible watch - one that I'm familiar
>>>with
>>>too.
>>>
>>>John
>>
>>
>> If the Timex Ironman HRM is as reliable and useful as their watches,
>> that's a great recommendation. I don't use a HRM anymore (kept slowing
>> me down) but I love my watch.
>>
>> Tam
>
>
> I have the Timex Bodylink system minus the GPS speed and distance sensor.
> My only complaint is that it doesn't record your maximum heart rate during
> a race or training session. It only records the average for the lap. It
> doesn't compute calories burned either, but I don't put much stock in that
> feature on heart rate monitors.
>
> I've decided not to add the speed and distance sensor after reading how
> thry don't work very well for trail running (too many trees for the sensor
> to see the satelites).
>
> Bob

 

[rsquared]

jbkinpa wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I need some help finding a heart rate monitor for triathlons. Any
> advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
>
<<SNIP>>
>
> -Jerry

One aspect that may be relevent to you is total cost/hassle of long
term ownership. The Timex chest transmitter and watch batteries can be
easily replaced by the owner.

They use the same battery, available at any pharmacy. The transmitter
battery can be removed using a coin. The watch requires small
screwdrivers, of the type you would use on eyeglasses. You can get
these at most hardware stores.

With Polar, you need to ship them back for battery replacement - -
unless something has changed. Although I have owned Polar, I do not
care for this aspect - - but I think mail-in rebates are annoying too.
TTFWIW ; )

rsquared

 

[dware]

I have used Polar for many years and really like them. The batteries
are really no problem...they last quite long, and I have been very
successful taking them to a quality watch shop for replacement. There
is a Rolex shop 2 blocks away and very convenient. They even gave me a
"flap holder" when mine broke.

I tend mostly to use the HR functions and then download to my computer
for later evaluation. You can set up a training program (intervals,
etc) but I prefer to do that on my own.

www.pccoach.com does a very nice evaluation of the top brands, and
since they sell them all, it seems to be very unbiased.

Goodluck.

Dave
>
> One aspect that may be relevent to you is total cost/hassle of long
> term ownership. The Timex chest transmitter and watch batteries can be
> easily replaced by the owner.
>
> They use the same battery, available at any pharmacy. The transmitter
> battery can be removed using a coin. The watch requires small
> screwdrivers, of the type you would use on eyeglasses. You can get
> these at most hardware stores.
>
> With Polar, you need to ship them back for battery replacement - -
> unless something has changed. Although I have owned Polar, I do not
> care for this aspect - - but I think mail-in rebates are annoying too.
> TTFWIW ; )
>
> rsquared

 

[Jim Weeks]

the one the fat guy on the mtn bike that just passed you is using...


what do I win?

jpw
austin, tx

 

[MK]

I've been using Polar for over 6 years, and currently have the S410. I
was willing to change brands, but our club gets great discounts on
Polar.

Using the USPS for Polar battery replacement is a little annoying but
tolerable.