Heart Rate Monitor

[[old] gwjones]

Folks:<br /><br />I am looking for some input on HRMs. I am in the market to replace a basic HRM (Timex) with something that has some more features. I am a gadget freak, and have noticed that some of the newer HRMs are actually multi-function devices. I do some other cross training, so GPS and/or distance would be great, but the majority of my time is spent on the erg. I am looking to be able to monitor heart rate while on the erg, and then download information to the PC for calorie burn, power, cadence, etc.<br /><br />Does anyone out there have experience with these devices in the rowing world? The Internet is loaded with reviews from runners and cyclists, but our community is rather small......<br /><br />Thanks!

[[old] raymond botha]

<!--QuoteBegin-gwjones+Dec 28 2005, 10:43 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(gwjones @ Dec 28 2005, 10:43 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br /> I am looking to be able to monitor heart rate while on the erg, and then download information to the PC for calorie burn, power, cadence, etc.<br /> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hey , its sounds like you're looking for 2 different things . A multi purpose go anywhere device and something for the erg. The reason I break these 2 up is the erg comes with a HR sensor (small extra cost) which works with (but I'm sure not limited to) the Polar chest sensor. Then you buy Rowpro and that will give you exactly what you want.<br /><br />Works great because its purpose made for the erg and not something genereic you're trying to get to work.<br /><br />Anyone else ?<br /><br />Regards <br />Ray

[[old] ekubal]

<!--QuoteBegin-raymond botha+Dec 28 2005, 01:57 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(raymond botha @ Dec 28 2005, 01:57 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-gwjones+Dec 28 2005, 10:43 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(gwjones @ Dec 28 2005, 10:43 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br /> I am looking to be able to monitor heart rate while on the erg, and then download information to the PC for calorie burn, power, cadence, etc.<br /> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Hey , its sounds like you're looking for 2 different things . A multi purpose go anywhere device and something for the erg. The reason I break these 2 up is the erg comes with a HR sensor (small extra cost) which works with (but I'm sure not limited to) the Polar chest sensor. Then you buy Rowpro and that will give you exactly what you want.<br /><br />Works great because its purpose made for the erg and not something genereic you're trying to get to work.<br /><br />Anyone else ?<br /><br />Regards <br />Ray <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Oregon Scientific HR monitors are also compatible with the Concept 2 sensor (Concept 2 appears to have a marketing arrangement with Polar, so they don't mention this anywhere in their literature). I use an Oregon Scientific with my erg, and have had no problems. As an added bonus, you can change the battery in the chest strap yourself, unlike the Polar which needs to be sent back to the company for battery replacement.

[[old] Howie777]

Just a note, the new polar heart rate chest sensors do not need to be sent back for a new battery. I just double checked and I can remove my battery no problem. <br /><br />Howie

[[old] gwjones]

Thanks for the input all!<br /><br />I don't own an erg, but spend 3 days a week rowing at the Iron Oarsman. A couple of days a week I also run, hike, etc., hence the attempt to find something decent at everything.<br /><br />I had my heart set on a Garmin Forerunner 301 because of it's GPS capability to determine accurate distance for running/hiking, but have read horror stories about the HRM function. Anyone care to comment?<br /><br />I think at this point I am leaning strongly for the Polar F11. Compatible with the erg, downloadable, calorie counter, etc. The only thing missing is distance - but i guess that's why they make maps......

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-gwjones+Dec 29 2005, 08:20 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(gwjones @ Dec 29 2005, 08:20 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Thanks for the input all!<br /><br />I don't own an erg, but spend 3 days a week rowing at the Iron Oarsman.  A couple of days a week I also run, hike, etc., hence the attempt to find something decent at everything.<br /><br />I had my heart set on a Garmin Forerunner 301 because of it's GPS capability to determine accurate distance for running/hiking, but have read horror stories about the HRM function. Anyone care to comment?<br /><br />I think at this point I am leaning strongly for the Polar F11.  Compatible with the erg, downloadable, calorie counter, etc.  The only thing missing is distance - but i guess that's why they make maps...... <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I use the Garmin Forerunner 201 and would give it high marks. I have not used the 301 but the addition of the HR function, especially for the additional cost, seems that it could result in less than perfect results. For about the same $ you could keep the devices seperate and equally versitile. The Bar Mount for the forerunner works very well if you are wanting to use it on a cycle (I use that mount on the riggers in our 2x) The GPS function is not particularly detailed, but if you mark where you left your car and wander into the woods, it would be enough to get you back. We've had to put it to use when thick fog rolled in when out for a row.

[[old] gwjones]

<!--QuoteBegin-PaulS+Dec 29 2005, 09:08 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(PaulS @ Dec 29 2005, 09:08 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I use the Garmin Forerunner 201 and would give it high marks.  I have not used the 301 but the addition of the HR function, especially for the additional cost, seems that it could result in less than perfect results.  For about the same $ you could keep the devices seperate and equally versitile.  The Bar Mount for the forerunner works very well if you are wanting to use it on a cycle (I use that mount on the riggers in our 2x)  The GPS function is not particularly detailed, but if you mark where you left your car and wander into the woods, it would be enough to get you back.  We've had to put it to use when thick fog rolled in when out for a row.  <br /><br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Thanks for the input. The deal these days is the Forerunner301 is marked down to about $199. That is what piqued my interest. I agree with your assertion - and certainly when the 301 was $350, or if I were looking at a Suunto T6 ($450), it makes sense to have 2 devices.<br /><br />My main use for the GPS function would be to calculate distance traveled. When hiking, a pedometer is generally not too accurate because the length of a person's stride will vary widely based on terrain - we were taught to maintain the same pace but shorten the stride as the terrain became steeper. But - I can always use a map to calculate distance. It would probably be as close as the GPS depending on how often the GPS gets its bearings.....

[[old] PaulS]

<!--QuoteBegin-gwjones+Dec 29 2005, 09:24 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(gwjones @ Dec 29 2005, 09:24 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Thanks for the input.  The deal these days is the Forerunner301 is marked down to about $199. That is what piqued my interest.  I agree with your assertion - and certainly when the 301 was $350, or if I were looking at a Suunto T6 ($450), it makes sense to have 2 devices.<br /><br />My main use for the GPS function would be to calculate distance traveled.  When hiking, a pedometer is generally not too accurate because the length of a person's stride will vary widely based on terrain - we were taught to maintain the same pace but shorten the stride as the terrain became steeper.  But - I can always use a map to calculate distance. It would probably be as close as the GPS depending on how often the GPS gets its bearings..... <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Wow! Didn't realize they had gutted the price of the 301. <br /><br />The distance measurements are pretty scary as for accuracy, over 1000m regatta courses it was so close to being exact that I was suprised. The "track" can be a bit strange when reviewing, say if you take a large hairpin turn it may just cut straight across due to the lack of data points stored, but it updates every second with the new distance as long as the sattelites are in view and that seems to bee most of the time in relatively open spaces. You would likely appreciate the graphed elevation changes for your hikes, though we get some elevation change when rowing, so I am suspect of the accuracy and precision of that data. Even though it does sometimes feel like we are rowing uphill.

[[old] LBusch]

<!--QuoteBegin-gwjones+Dec 29 2005, 12:20 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(gwjones @ Dec 29 2005, 12:20 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think at this point I am leaning strongly for the Polar F11.  Compatible with the erg, downloadable, calorie counter, etc.  The only thing missing is distance - but i guess that's why they make maps...... <br /> </td></tr></table><br />I bought myself the Polar F11 for Christmas. So far no complaints but I haven't really had the time to learn how to use most of the advanced functionality. I decided on the F11 because it comes with the Wearlink chest belt which I find to be quite confortable. No problems with it communicating to the PM3 sensor once I found a good spot for it. Right now I have the F11 strapped to the handle of my erg because I don't like to wear it while rowing because my wrists sweat, but I like that I can take it with me if I plan to exercise elsewhere.

[[old] raymond botha]

Its seems to me that you can still benefit from the memory card used in the erg (i'm sure its cheap) and if you have a compatible HR sensor that comes with the other device you're looking at then you've got the best of of both worlds. Do the Irons oars have HR pickups on them. I plug my laptop in while rowing, though if this is not practical for you then you still retain the advantage of having your records neatly stored . I wonder if C2 sell a standalone card reader ?The rowpro is an added bonus.I would trade acurracy against simplicity . Think about it , more toys to play with Getting feedback from exercise is half the fun after all. I always feel like I'm coaching myself <br /><br />Good luck with the purchase.<br /><br />Ray

[[old] Porkchop]

<!--QuoteBegin-raymond botha+Dec 30 2005, 03:41 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(raymond botha @ Dec 30 2005, 03:41 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I wonder if C2 sell a standalone card reader ? <br /> </td></tr></table><br />C2 does sell one. <br /><a href='http://www.concept2.com/05/rower/extras.asp' target='_blank'>Link</a> <br />Scroll down the page to "External Card Reader."

[[old] gwjones]

Thanks all for the discussion items. I opted for the Polar F11 for many of the reasons listed above.<br /><br />So far, the HRM works flawlessly. Like LBusch - it's a little complicated, so I am still learning the ins and outs of the watch, but the download to the website works well.<br /><br />The best thing about the watch so far is it's ability to create excersise programs with target heart rates and time necessary at each level. Really helps guide you through workout as opposed to just being an HRM. Once done with the workout, the watch gives a breakdown of time spent at each level, avg heart rate for the workout, calorie burn, and fat cal burn based on the level of the workout.<br /><br />Oh - and the strap *does* allow the battery to be replaced....<br /><br />Thanks again!

[[old] deace]

<!--QuoteBegin-gwjones+Dec 28 2005, 10:43 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(gwjones @ Dec 28 2005, 10:43 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Folks:<br /><br />I am looking for some input on HRMs.  I am in the market to replace a basic HRM (Timex) with something that has some more features.  I am a gadget freak, and have noticed that some of the newer HRMs are actually multi-function devices.  I do some other cross training, so GPS and/or distance would be great, but the majority of my time is spent on the erg. I am looking to be able to monitor heart rate while on the erg, and then download information to the PC for calorie burn, power, cadence, etc.<br /><br />Does anyone out there have experience with these devices in the rowing world?  The Internet is loaded with reviews from runners and cyclists, but our community is rather small......<br /><br />Thanks! <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Garmen 301 heart rate monitor will not work with the concept2... I have the 301 and bought it for $199 but had to get a cheap $39 Timex and it worked just fine.