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| Average Rating: 3 out of 5
No. of Reviews: 2
RRP: £200
Year: 2004
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|  | | Posted: 24/05/08 | | 'BRILLIANT SERIOUS TRAINING AID/COACH' | | Strengths:
Bullet proof,
wealth usefull features,
including an Altimeter
reliability
software (brillaint training analysis)
Infared Pc communication
optional power output - (sold sep) | | Weaknesses:
none..this is top kit!
optional power sensor is clunky design and prone to breaking, but this is not incl w monitor so can't be a weakness ';-D
| | Overall:
First off this monitor is aimed at cyclists primarily, it does everything and alot more than a standard HRM does, and a bike computer incl but by no means limited to speed, cadence, heart rate, altitude+gradient of roads (this is a genoius feature for me, I do LOTS of mountain training and love to know about how step roads are). This is a great piece of training kit, its been the centre of my training progam and analysis for years. Other review mentions (shows inexperience) about the signal drop out, this is almost non existant..unless your doing laps around a hugh power line pylon! Licking the transmitter belt is 'normal' practice, and should be performed every time u ride/run, so that signal dropout doesn't happen. also make sure its snug and tight so it 'snaps' off your body when taking it off ;-|
unit can be set to record samples at 5/15/60sec intervals - so gives great depth to very accurately recored and later analyse your training afterwards with the PPP software. most HRM's record the whole session to watch and you just get a very misleading avg heart rate when you look at the data afterwards, which is fine for 'general' base aerobic sessions where your avg will be a good reflection of the session...but for more intensive sessions that can be very misleading. But this one records samples along the way so afterwards you have a much more round and accurate and in-depth picture of the session, esp when downloaded to computer. samples can also be scrolled through on the watch itself after the unit stops recording.
Unit transfers data to PC/laptop by infrared port, any infrared port that is..u dont NEED the 'special' Polar one ;-D all in all a great product with LOADS of features/functions among others, even a built in Vo2 Max test to measure your increased fitness level(provided you've been workin hard!)
speed and cadence sensors also work fine, but not if you stop pedalling
;-D just needs propper set-up and adjustment
unit has all sorts of interval modes can be automatic, or manual or programmed, with rec time ect.
Altimeter is a GREAT function also, makes it real easy to pinpoint your data at any given time on the ride (not just a hr line with no real references) like anything these are tools which in the right hands...
so READ THE MANUAL after youve used it for a while! and have your bearings with the HRM.
As for the optional power sensor?
its features are great for even more indepth training/racing analysis, and in terms of measurement accuracy (except peak power) will hold its own against an SRM or powertap. But the very fiddly clunky dedsign and installation is asking for problems, no matter how much care is taken! the flimsy wires are gonna fail at some stage in reaworld conditions, but like Ive said you get what u pay for and considering the price is a reliable cheap way to measure power output compared w other brands. Ive had mine for about 2yrs+ and when its not in for repair, it works just fine!..and produces accurate very usefull data.
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| | | | Performance | | 100% | | Reliability | | 100% | | Value | | 60% |
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| | | Posted: 13/02/05 | | 'Very flash but with some problems' | | Strengths:
Has every feature you want - and then some
Excellent software and support | | Weaknesses:
Large wrist unit
Sometimes fails to pick up chest strap transmission
Cadence sensor poentially unreliable | | Overall:
This is an expensive but fully-featured training tool. As a triathlete, it's excellent for what I want to do, is very flexible in use, and the computer download capability is fantastic for reviewing training. In fact, the software allows you to programme your training sessions (warm up, intervals, rests, cool downs, etc) on the PC and then upload them via infra-red connection. The software also acts as a training diary and the graphical review facility lets you easily assess your training volume and quality. The wireless speed sensor on the bike is reliable and accurate once set up (pretty simple). The altitude and temperature functions are not really that useful although the altitude measure will at least show when you have been going up or down and give an idea of course profile.
HOWEVER, I also got the cadence sensor which doesn't seem to work nearly as well and I found it quite awkward to set up. It was unreliable in operation and would drop out at random. It may be that I did not set it up as well as it should have been done; we'll probably never know as I got so frustrated with it, I took it off and broke the plastic case in the process.
Worse still, the watch unit sometimes will not pick up the transmission from the chest strap unit. The solution to this is normally to lick (!) the inside of the chest strap to make sure that there is a 'good contact'. Often though, this still doesn't work and you have to keep trying to start the watch until it finally does connect - sometimes a few minutes later. This is frustrating and not what I expected from an expensive piece of kit made by Polar. My old Polar Protrainer NV was much quicker and more reliable to connect.
Nevertheless, overall, I have found this a really useful heart-rate monitor but would only recommend it if you really really want the bike-orientated functions and computer download facility. |
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| | | | Performance | | 60% | | Reliability | | 40% | | Value | | 40% |
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