Re: Garmin HR monitor questions

Josh Spivey

2013-06-04

I have had insanely good luck with the Polar straps with the Garmin unit
snapped in. I¹ve been using the same strap for well over a year. I do rinse
it off after use like a religion, and am careful about not bending the
sensors. But it works really well for me. I¹ve heard mostly good luck
stories, but some others have continued to have issues with static from
jerseys while using them. Occasionally, I¹ll have wonky readings until I
begin to sweat a little.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/08/solution-to-heart-rate-dropoutsspikes.htm
l

On 6/2/13 11:10 PM, "Stewart Campbell" wrote:

> cycleops makes a hr strap that will convert your readings to power watts, it's
> one of the new soft straps. The thing sucked, readings all over the place.
> Cycle ops told me that I need to link it to my pc and re-calibrate it. I was
> not spending another $50 for the usb reader.
>
> Anyhow, I've had great result with "axiom" hr gel. I find it at Performance.
> So far I've had great results with my old garmin strap and my new soft garmin
> strap.
>
> My only complaint is sometimes if my jersey zipper is right at monitor level,
> I'll get a reading of 240+
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Isaac King
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Sent: Sunday, June 2, 2013 8:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Garmin HR monitor questions
>
>
>
> The garmin "premium" HR strap has a reputation for... well... sucking. I have
> two and they both suck. They jump all over the place when they feel like it...
> assuming they do anything. The lower end HR strap, the unit that is basically
> a big piece of plastic across the front, does not have such a reputation. I've
> heard the issue with the soft strap is often the fact that when you sweat, it
> gets moist (hehe, dirty word) enough that it causes connectivity between the
> electrodes. Some have cut out the strap between the two snaps I the front to
> alleviate the issue.
>
> Consistently low readings, however, can be attributed to lack of conductivity
> with your skin - as in your skin too dry. This is mostly the case at the
> beginning of a ride and can be solved by licking the strap before wearing it.
>
> Polar HR straps are said to not suffer from the HR spike issue. I don't recall
> the model name at the moment but they make a snap that will accept the Garmin
> sensor - otherwise the Polar and Garmin devices cannot communicate.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> My Garmin HR monitor seems to have died. While riding the Ronde I noticed that
> my heart rate was something like 70 or 80 just after going up some of the
> climbs... most certainly not correct! My average for the ride was way low as
> well.
> So I replaced the battery, but I soon had the same problem. Sometimes it drops
> to 30 and just stays there.
> My question is, what's up? Do I replace the battery again? Is this a common
> problem with the straps? Is the strap dead? This is less than a year old, so I
> suppose it's under some sort of warranty.
> Thanks for any help!
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>
>
>
>
>
>
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Stewart Campbell

2013-06-03

cycleops makes a hr strap that will convert your readings to power watts, it's one of the new soft straps.  The thing sucked, readings all over the place.  Cycle ops told me that I need to link it to my pc and re-calibrate it.  I was not spending another $50 for the usb reader.

Anyhow, I've had great result with "axiom" hr gel.  I find it at Performance.  So far I've had great results with my old garmin strap and my new soft garmin strap.

My only complaint is sometimes if my jersey zipper is right at monitor level, I'll get a reading of 240+ 

________________________________
From: Isaac King
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Sunday, June 2, 2013 8:33 PM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Garmin HR monitor questions

The garmin "premium" HR strap has a reputation for... well... sucking. I have two and they both suck. They jump all over the place when they feel like it... assuming they do anything. The lower end HR strap, the unit that is basically a big piece of plastic across the front, does not have such a reputation. I've heard the issue with the soft strap is often the fact that when you sweat, it gets moist (hehe, dirty word) enough that it causes connectivity between the electrodes. Some have cut out the strap between the two snaps I the front to alleviate the issue.

Consistently low readings, however, can be attributed to lack of conductivity with your skin - as in your skin too dry. This is mostly the case at the beginning of a ride and can be solved by licking the strap before wearing it.

Polar HR straps are said to not suffer from the HR spike issue. I don't recall the model name at the moment but they make a snap that will accept the Garmin sensor - otherwise the Polar and Garmin devices cannot communicate.

My Garmin HR monitor seems to have died. While riding the Ronde I noticed that my heart rate was something like 70 or 80 just after going up some of the climbs... most certainly not correct! My average for the ride was way low as well.
So I replaced the battery, but I soon had the same problem. Sometimes it drops to 30 and just stays there.
My question is, what's up? Do I replace the battery again? Is this a common problem with the straps? Is the strap dead? This is less than a year old, so I suppose it's under some sort of warranty.
Thanks for any help!
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Isaac King

2013-06-03

The garmin "premium" HR strap has a reputation for... well... sucking. I have two and they both suck. They jump all over the place when they feel like it... assuming they do anything. The lower end HR strap, the unit that is basically a big piece of plastic across the front, does not have such a reputation. I've heard the issue with the soft strap is often the fact that when you sweat, it gets moist (hehe, dirty word) enough that it causes connectivity between the electrodes. Some have cut out the strap between the two snaps I the front to alleviate the issue.

Consistently low readings, however, can be attributed to lack of conductivity with your skin - as in your skin too dry. This is mostly the case at the beginning of a ride and can be solved by licking the strap before wearing it.

Polar HR straps are said to not suffer from the HR spike issue. I don't recall the model name at the moment but they make a snap that will accept the Garmin sensor - otherwise the Polar and Garmin devices cannot communicate.

My Garmin HR monitor seems to have died. While riding the Ronde I noticed that my heart rate was something like 70 or 80 just after going up some of the climbs... most certainly not correct! My average for the ride was way low as well.
So I replaced the battery, but I soon had the same problem. Sometimes it drops to 30 and just stays there.
My question is, what's up? Do I replace the battery again? Is this a common problem with the straps? Is the strap dead? This is less than a year old, so I suppose it's under some sort of warranty.
Thanks for any help!