Heart Rate/Altitude monitor

[prand]

I was thinking that I would like to get a monitor/watch thingy that monitors heart rate and altitude, as well as being able to download it all onto PC. I'd use it for training and keeping a record of my fitness and rides.

I've seen some rather complicated units, like teh Garmin Eds 305, which also has a GPS of sorts. IS it worth it?

[Saddle bum]

Sigma and Polar are good HRMs. But IMHO don't rely on a GPS driven altitude meter.

[dubbs]

I use a Suunto T6 - does altitude via barometric pressure, heart rate, speed (connected to BikePod) and one of the best PC software packages about for analysing effort afterwards.

[Fourmotion]

Saddle bum said:

Sigma and Polar are good HRMs. But IMHO don't rely on a GPS driven altitude meter.

The Edge 305 has a barometric sensor, it doesn't rely on GPS for altitude.

[prand]

Hmmm... Suunto and Garmin are plenty money though. I guess you get what you pay for..

[Moose.]

I've got a Garmin 305 with the heart rate monitor and it really is everything you'd ever need in a bike computer. I use it during the week to monitor my fitness and on some weekends to plan new routes (using Memory Map).

As mentioned, the 305 has a barometric altimeter which is calibrated when you first turn it on by the GPS signal.

[rhinochopig]

What's wrong with GPS Altitude? Barometric drifts horrendously when the weather is changeable.

I have a GPS60scx for mountain rescue use which I calibrate to a known elevation every time I use it. Sometimes it can be over a hundred meters out from the Barometric sensor if it hasn't been calibrated for a day or so. The GPS although not as accurate, is never more than about 10s meters out. SIRF III receivers(as fitted to a lot of new garmins) are a lot more accurate than the ones fitted to the 305.

ETA if someone you know is going to the US, get them to buy you a GPS whilst there. I paid £167 for my GPS - top of the range model - and the retail here is between £450-499

Edited by rhinochopig on Tuesday 22 April 15:44

[ewenm]

dubbs said:

I use a Suunto T6 - does altitude via barometric pressure, heart rate, speed (connected to BikePod) and one of the best PC software packages about for analysing effort afterwards.

So do I (with the FootPod, not the BikePod) for my running training. Nice piece of kit.