HRM / Sports Watch

stuart_w · Half Iron Man Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 258

After changing the battery on my Polar I have managed to get water inside it at LL this morning and knacker the LCD screen....I can't read it at all now Embarassed

So....

I am now, unexpectedly and unfortunately, in the market for a new HRM and sports watch.

Given I will embark on a major training plan geared towards IMA next year, I though I'd open it up to some opinions, advice, thoughts and tips as well as info on where the cheap deals are.

Whats value for money and whats just a gimmick ?
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"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood....make big plans, aim high in hope and work hard" - Daniel H Burnham (1846-1912)

sinbad · Mega Man Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 1863 Location: Tring

Stuart,
Dpends what you want to do with it.

Tracey, Chrissie Welligton and myself have never used them in racing/training other than for curiosity.
Others use them to keep there heart rate below a defined level when racing(and training). This is probably useful for you as you are relatively new to the endurance world and I imagine you are hey type that may go to hard on the bike.
Working out that value for racing HRM is the tough bit. Too high and you will suffer, too low and you will be slower than you would like.
Assuming this is what you want then you just need one that shows you the heart rate and possibly beeps if you go over it. Be warned that you are likely to be called a hairy palmed individual if you have a heart rate monitor beeping all the way through an event.

Think Musty is probably the best advisor on heart rate.
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Maurice · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:00 am Post subject:

There is a new basic functionalty Garmin which has real buttons and just HRM and GPS SRP is £199.99. It might tempt me if I had the dosh to spare.

Went back to using HRM in the last 3 months just as a way of keeping starting pace for bike and run in the right area. Once it had settled to the right level I pretty much ignored it, but is was useful for the first 30 mins of each.

Maurice
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Musty · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:49 am Post subject:

Hi Stuart,

I am a big fan of heart rate based training and racing and would recommend it for most people especially newer people. But there are plenty of good racers that don't. If you want some tips about training and racing using HR then I would be happy to provide - just ask - but I think this thread was about which HR monitor to buy(?). I think there are 2 ways to go:

Option 1 - El cheapo: go for the cheapest you can get that lets you store laps probably around £60-£90 will get you there. Polar are great but should always be taken to an authorised dealer to change the battery as they need to be pressure sealed. Some good watch shops can also do this. Garmin seem to have really arrived and their products are great. Timex monitors are also good as is Suunto. I would probably steer clear of other brands.

Option 2 - Techno geek: I use a Garmin 405 HR monitor with GPS and love it. I use it as a bike computer and don't need a seperate bike comp and being able to gauge my pace during training runs, especially on fast intervals is really useful. Having one monitor that does everything appeals to my minimalist tendencies. Unfortunately my one only has a battery life of 8-9 hours. Garmin now have a triathlon GPS that is waterproof and a battery life that lasts long enough for an Ironman but costs around £250+.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=44092

Personally, I am looking forward to seeing the new Timex version which hits the shops in September which does everything the Garmin one does but is slightly sleeker looking. (sounds like a good Xmas and Birthday present Laughing

)

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/23/timex-global-trainer-gps-watch-now-available-exclusively-at-rei/

The more expensive ones come with software that allows you to upload all your training data online and then analyse it.

Both options (economy or mega-bucks) are equally good in different ways; it depends on what you are after.

Hope that helps.
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Colin · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:58 am Post subject:

You could borrow my watch, but it would probably go too fast for you Wink

Whether you go for a HRM or not, I would also recommend a GPS watch. I use the Garmin 305, but if I was going to buy another it would be the 310XT which Musty has already mentioned. It is not cheap, but I know you like spending oodles on these gadgets, so it's something to consider. Training at different paces, as well as different heart rates, is a major part of any training plan, and it also has a nice little 'virtual partner' function which enables you to gauge your improvements in speed over time.

Cheers.

C
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stuart_w · Half Iron Man Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 258

Thanks for the replies,

I know the Garmin 310x does everything, but I've seen them and it's like having a laptop strapped to your wrist...

I want something a bit sleeker..

I think I might wait for the times one Musty mentioned, it least it looks like a watch.

EDIT
Just read some reviews, apparantly the timex is as big as the 310x, so thats out.

Maybe the Garmin Forerunner 405 ?
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"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood....make big plans, aim high in hope and work hard" - Daniel H Burnham (1846-1912)

Musty · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:01 pm Post subject:

Hi Stuart,

The Timex one is big as well but looks a bit flatter than the 310XT. Check out this guy's website - (he must have a lot of time on his hands Laughing

but maybe deserves a public service award for putting all this info on the web)

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/06/timex-ironman-gps-global-trainer-first.html
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"Sweet moderation, heart of this nation, desert us not........." - Billy Bragg

stuart_w · Half Iron Man Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 258

Thanks Musty, very helpful

I'm looking at the Garmin Forerunner 405 and the Forerunner 405CX but can't seem to find what the difference is between them (apart from the price!)
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"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood....make big plans, aim high in hope and work hard" - Daniel H Burnham (1846-1912)

stuart_w · Half Iron Man Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 258

Scrap the 405, its only has a rating of IPX7 waterproof so it can't be used to swim in, needs to be IPX8
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"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood....make big plans, aim high in hope and work hard" - Daniel H Burnham (1846-1912)

Mitten · Mega Man Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 1916

Stu,

I have a Forerunner 305 (about the same size as the 310 thingy). My wrist is probably half the size of yours & I cope ok with the bulkyness (is that a word?) of it. Have it done up on pretty much the last hole!!

I'm not sure that if I had the waterproof GPS I'd wear it during the swim section of a race anyway.

Mitts
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Musty · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 3:04 pm Post subject:

Hi Stuart,

I have a 405 and like it a lot. The best thing about it is that it works well and is only marginally bigger than a normal watch. However, I would choose something different if buying now as it only has a battery life of 8 hours (although the specs say 9 hours!). So it's no use in an ironman or even for long training days. The controls are a bit fiddly as it is bezel controlled, which I like but I know that nearly all other users hate.

All of the GPS monitors including the new Timex and the 310xt do not pick up satellites during swimming so the GPS function does not work while swimming. However the 310XT and the Timex are waterproof so you can swim with them and use them as a stopwatchs.
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"Sweet moderation, heart of this nation, desert us not........." - Billy Bragg

Maurice · Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 3:09 pm Post subject:

I can see special drills taking place to correct your stroke when swimming with half a house brick on one wrist

How about getting a chip implanted (like your pet dog) and then everything you do gets logged to the great GPS database in the sky. Mitten would then analyse the data as a service to all Very Happy

Maurice
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To "not" understand or embrace the body's limitations from a physical or mental aspect is an injustice to the soul and its creator. We must exploit our vulnerabilities and dissect our weaknesses. For how are we ever to know our true potential?

Musty · Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:32 pm Post subject:

Stuart,

In case you missed it, the mother of all reviews is in:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/timex-ironman-gps-global-trainer-in.html

Sounds very good.
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"Sweet moderation, heart of this nation, desert us not........." - Billy Bragg

andy_ward47 · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:21 am Post subject:

Stuart
I have an old Timex trail runner hrm and gps, that I intend to sell. You are welcome to borrow and try it.

Dan Powell · Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:06 am Post subject:

I have a Suunto T3C and it's excellent - you can get a GPS and bike pod for it and download all your data. I am less scientific than that and just have the HRM and bike pod. Cost about £130 I think.

The watch itself is very sleek and doubles as my day to day watch.
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