On Tue, 24 Mar 2015 02:36:22 +0000, Phil W Lee
wrote:
John B. Slocomb considered Tue, 24 Mar 2015
08:06:43 +0700 the perfect time to write:
On Mon, 23 Mar 2015 21:12:07 +0000, Phil W Lee
wrote:
John B. Slocomb considered Mon, 23 Mar 2015
10:19:02 +0700 the perfect time to write:
I would like to use a pulse rate monitor when riding. But which one.
I can calculate pulse rate ranges, maximum rate, etc., and want
something that primarily tells me what my current pulse is. If it has
a second line that tells me what range I'm in, fine, it is not a
problem, nor do I care if it records hours of riding. I'm mainly
interested in "what I'm doing right NOW" and when I stop "how quick
does my pulse return to normal"?
These monitors are not especially common here and mail order from
America is usually not the best method of procurement due to shipping,
import duties and so on. I did find a Garmin shop that has several
models - a Forerunner (three models) and a VIVOfit. I'm assuming, at
the moment, that either choice would include added cost for the chest
band.
Any suggestions?
For decent reliability at a reasonable price, I'd recommend Polar
every time, and although they don't seem to have an agent in Thailand,
some shops seem to sell them (there's one in Phuket that I've seen
recommended).
So we might need to know which countries is it easiest for you to deal
with and how important backup service is - the chest straps usually
have an embedded battery that needs to be changed (only every few
years) by a service centre - Singapore has Polar agents, and they
might be your closest.
Of course, there may be "no-name" HRMs that will do what you want for
less than a base model Polar, but quality would be far more of a
gamble.
Yup, I had a Polar years ago. I stopped using it when the elastic in
the chest strap wore out. When I went back to the place I bought it
(15 years later) they weren't there :-(
I just got back from five days in Singapore but was so busy while I
was there that I never gave any thought to HRM's. Although, I might
add, costs in Singapore have risen to the point that it is no longer
"the place to go to buy stuff".
Give me a reference to the Phuket place, if you have it, as I'll go
down there in a week or so.
Good thing that browsers keep history :-)
Phuket Bicycle Shop
14/34 Moo1, Chalong, Muang
83130 Phuket
tel: 076-375922
RPM Health Club
68/2 Thapkrasatre Rd., Koh Kaew, Muang
83200 Phuket
tel: 076-360885
fax: 076-360887
I've got them.
The bike shop at Chalong is kind of interesting. I think I've vaguely
heard of it but my impression was that it was a sort of part time,
hobby, sort of shop - I like bikes and maybe I can make a buck at it -
sort of place. But I'll have a look when I'm down there.
The reference comes from a previous person recommending on a web
forum, and is a couple of years old, so I'd phone before putting
significant traveling in, if I were you.
A slightly more recent reference gives the Thai importer (and service
agent, which I didn't find on the Polar global website) as SpXZone.
Apparently (at the time of that posting) they have an office in "The
Trendy" (whatever that is) on Sukhumvit soi 13. Tel: 02-646 2508, and
I believe they also have a website with a list of dealers.
Found a further reference he
http://bangkok.angloinfo.com/busines.../spx-zone.html
Since I only speak English and bad English with a smattering of
gobbledygook I can't make any headway from there, but you might.
My Google-fu must be improving :-)
Yes there is SpXZone - that is the Trendy Building and from what I can
gather they are an importer that supplies mainly these "Fitness
Centers" that are springing up.
I've got one other place to visit to see if they stock the Polar and
if not I'll call SpXZone and see if they can put me onto their
retailers.
I also ran across a Garmin shop that sells "fitness" devices as well
as GPS and they stock a watch sort of gizmo that includes a HRM chest
band in the package at about the price I seen mentioned in U.S.
adverts that I may pursue.
But I did learn something. I discovered that apparently one can't just
get up and run 6 Km before breakfast like we used to. Now you have to
spend a couple of hundred bucks to buy a "fitness Band" :-)
--
Cheers,
John B.