Heart Rate Monitor novice

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
N

noadapter

Active Member
Location
glasgow
Hi lovely people

I'm a active cyclist looking for some useful advice on getting myself my first Heart Rate Monitor, I've been doing a bit of cycling and treadmill running for a couple of years now and now looking to up my fitness level by using a HRM on the bike and whilst running at the local gym, I'm looking for a wrist watch type not the bike fitted ones as i want to be able to use it when i'm running too.

So my question is which would you guys recommend? I've done a little research on google reviewing some HRM watches and not wanting to spend any more than £100

Suunto M4 £89.00

Polar FT2 £54.00

Sigma PC15 £45.00

Or something else?
 
rowan 46

rowan 46

Über Member
Location
birmingham
don't know if these are any good but Lidl have them on as their special on Monday for 12.99
 
D

Dan B

Disengaged member
I'd suggest getting a coded one if you have a wireless (bike) computer or are thinking about getting one or spend any time cycling with other people. The uncoded ones are much more susceptible to picking up interference and displaying gibberish

Also consider if you are busting a gut you will most likely not have the wherewithal to take a hand off the bars and focus on your wrist, so if high-intensity training is something you're getting it for you will probably want one that stores measurements for later processing/download.

Beyond that, all the models you list are respected brands (as is Garmin), so really, work out the features you need, maybe look at any issues of PC compatibility or the software provided if you're expecting that to be part of the system, and choose the least worst from any options remaining
 
lulubel

lulubel

Über Member
Location
Malaga, Spain
I can't really give any recommendations seeing as all I've used was a cheap one from Lidl and my Garmin Forerunner, but what I will suggest is to make sure your watch type HRM can also be mounted on the bike. It's much more convenient when you're working hard (especially climbing out of the saddle) to be able to just glance down at it rather than having to take your hand off and turn your wrist to see it.

My Garmin is GPS and HRM and is a watch type, but I've got a mount to attach it to the bike. Other people have made DIY mounts out of things like pipe lagging, but the mount wasn't expensive and I like my bike to look pretty!
 
abo

abo

Well-Known Member
Location
Stockton on Tees
abo said:
Spend and extra £16 and get a Forerunner 305 worth the extra cash IMHO. And if you want to upgrade later you can get a cadence sensor for it too.
Click to expand...


For some reason the link isn't working, but if you search on Amazon you will see it for that price.
 
A

Arsen Gere

Guru
Location
North East, UK
If you think about whats next, may be a Garmin 705 or 800?
Then may be a garmin based HRM may be appropriate as mentioned a 305.

Garmin are due to produce their power monitoring pedals later this year too.

I've used a Polar one off and on for 20 years. I use it more in the winter on the turbo as a motivational aid.
But I got a 705 with an HRM for Christmas too.

Both of them go off wild at times, may be because I have an ectopic heart rate. It goes wild at times and the machine follow, my heart sorts itself out and the machines synch up again but the max and averages are way off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom