Naive heart monitor question

I'm thinking about getting a wris****ch mounted heart monitor (don't
need it on the bike, plus I would use it for non-bike activities).

How do these things work, anyway? Do you actually have to have
electrodes on your chest, or can they just read a pulse off your wrist
or whatever?

Dave

"Dave Stallard" wrote in message
...
I'm thinking about getting a wris****ch mounted heart monitor (don't
need it on the bike, plus I would use it for non-bike activities).

How do these things work, anyway? Do you actually have to have
electrodes on your chest, or can they just read a pulse off your wrist
or whatever?

Dave

Most have a chest strap that senses the electrical activity of your heart
beating, and transmits this information to the wris****ch unit. The chest
unit does have "electrodes" that sense the signal, but they are not attached
to your skin, and are unnoticeable when you're wearing the unit.

--
~_-*
....G/ \G
http://www.CycliStats.com
CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 13:46:05 -0400, Dave Stallard
wrote:

I'm thinking about getting a wris****ch mounted heart monitor (don't
need it on the bike, plus I would use it for non-bike activities).

How do these things work, anyway? Do you actually have to have
electrodes on your chest, or can they just read a pulse off your wrist
or whatever?

Dave

I have a Polar S725. It picks up the heart rate as Gary explained. I
find the new WearLink strap to be comfortable.

Polar strongly recommends that you mount the unit on the bike for
effective pick-up of speed and/or cadence signals. Have never attemptd to
pick up the speed signal with the watch on my wrist - doubt it would work
well as the sensor to transmitter maximum distance is only 20 inches for
the speed unit and a little more for the cadence (forget what the exact
max. distance was).

Still, I once wore it on my wrist for timing purposes and it was mnore of
a distraction. The mount takes less than a minute to install and it is
easy to attach the watch to it, which is what I do whenever I go out (in
fact, most of the time I never take it off the bike).


Glm

Glm wrote:

I have a Polar S725. It picks up the heart rate as Gary explained. I
find the new WearLink strap to be comfortable.

Polar strongly recommends that you mount the unit on the bike for
effective pick-up of speed and/or cadence signals. Have never attemptd
to pick up the speed signal with the watch on my wrist - doubt it would
work well as the sensor to transmitter maximum distance is only 20
inches for the speed unit and a little more for the cadence (forget
what the exact max. distance was).

Still, I once wore it on my wrist for timing purposes and it was mnore
of a distraction. The mount takes less than a minute to install and it
is easy to attach the watch to it, which is what I do whenever I go out
(in fact, most of the time I never take it off the bike).

I don't want a cyclocomputer integrated with it - I've already got a
bike computer.

What about all the people who use a HRM for non-biking activities like
running? Surely the wrist is close to the chest enough for a wireless
signal from the heart rate pickup. I can believe it would be too far
for wheel speed and cadence pickups, but that's not my worry.

Dave

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 17:56:36 -0400, Dave Stallard
wrote:

Glm wrote:


I don't want a cyclocomputer integrated with it - I've already got a
bike computer.

What about all the people who use a HRM for non-biking activities like
running? Surely the wrist is close to the chest enough for a wireless
signal from the heart rate pickup. I can believe it would be too far
for wheel speed and cadence pickups, but that's not my worry.

Dave

Yes, for what it's worth, Polar recommends 3 feet/1 metre for initiating
the heart rate monitoring..

Apologies, I misunderstood your original - it didn't click that you didn't
require the cycling data at all. Ambiguity, the beauty of the English
language.

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 13:46:05 -0400, Dave Stallard wrote:

I'm thinking about getting a wris****ch mounted heart monitor (don't
need it on the bike, plus I would use it for non-bike activities).

You should try it on the bike - it's easier and safer to check, and doesn't
interfere with arm warmers, long sleeves etc. Mine came with a piece of
foam rubber and a velcro strap, which wrap around the handlebar; the
watch fastens around the strap. Works well, and doesn't prevent you
from wearing it when running etc.

--
bpo gallery at http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/mvw1/bpo

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 17:56:36 -0400, Dave Stallard wrote:

What about all the people who use a HRM for non-biking activities like
running? Surely the wrist is close to the chest enough for a wireless
signal from the heart rate pickup. I can believe it would be too far
for wheel speed and cadence pickups, but that's not my worry.

I use a Polar A3, wear the watch and the strap. Works great for a basic model. Really
helps you understand what level you need to ride or walk to keep at a certain percent of
max. Some days I go for 70-80, others above 80 for a better heart work out. One ride
above 80%, then a recovery ride the next day. Under a $100.


---
"BitwiseBob" - Bob Anderson
Eugene Oregon