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I've decided I need to train harder and smarter; I want a HR monitor that links up to GPS so I can track my performance etc.
What's the best reasonably priced package?
Timex Ironman? Garmin?
Garmin 800 if you need maps 500 if you don't.
Have you got a smartphone? If so Endomondo and a Bluetooth HRM or sports tracker and a Bluetooth HRM. The sports tracker HRM works with other apps as I use it with Oruxmaps. Don't track live and the phone battery lasts very well. Cheaper than a whole new unit but has other issues, mainly the battery life of the phone, but also a lot of websites don't show HRM breakdown unless you pay for a subscription. Not sure if Garmin does it by default.
Cheers, will look into those...
Anyone recommend a good HR strap to use with iPhone apps like endomondo?
Do you really need a heart rate monitor to train harder?
Garmin 500.
(and pribably other garmins) you have the ability to race yourself, much better training tool. I've pushed hard uphill so as not to be behind myself from a previous run. Great fun.
Jonny, no, but I want HR monitor to assist with accurate calorie burn and also as a slight geekiness to know how I'm progressing; whether I'm upping my VO2 max etc.
Suunto Ambit, great piece of kit
I rode several miles yesterday, then reached some hills, climbed some hills, a fella went up a hill and disappeared over the top. I have recently started riding again but struggled and wobbled up at a crawl. I considered buying a Edge 500 to improve my fitness but should this be recommended for a later date and would a cadence and heart rate monitor be necessary?
The calories burned algorithm Garmin use is supposed to be less accurate than the Polar one. There are white papers on the net with all the (dull) details.
However, the Polar one is also really an educated guess even with their fancy calc method. The best you'll get is a measure of cals burned relative to your other sessions.
The Edge 705/800 seems to have all the stats in one place inc cadence, height gained etc.
Garmin Forerunner 310, with the basic HR strap. Loads more relaible than my Polar 300 with the soft strap.
Combination of pace, plus HR is good information.
You've got to be prepared to keep lots of records of your training, and have a training plan (and objectives) for it to be useful though.
Do you really need a heart rate monitor to train harder?
yes, if you want to maximise the benefits of training harder, whatever you want them to be - fitter, stronger, lighter, etc.
I find my garmin 500 brilliant and have no hessitation to recommend it.
The HR is for training 'smarter' load the results into something like sportstracks and you can get a training load. You can also link to a power meter if you have a few spare pennies.
I wouldn't rely on calories burnt though, this is a rough guess at best, and Garmin particuarly isn't the best for this...
Got a Polar H7 strap to use with my iPhone.
App-wise I've got Motion-X GPS and Endomondo.
Just tried it out on Motion-X n my local MTB training ride: av 176 BPM, Max 204!
For a 39 yr old I'm either about to drop dead or I'm doing okay!
Will check out Endomondo which I think gives a ore detailed analysis on my commuting rides tomorrow. What a geek!