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I've had a search but no clearer unfortunately. I want a watch that can provide some heart rate info for my rides. I use my phone for logging the rides currently which is fine so I'm not sure if I can continue with this and add HR data or if I need a watch/HRM that can also record the ride (GPS enabled).
I'd like to keep the spend sensible as this may well just be a novelty feature, any recommendations that are tried and tested?
You could get the £20-ish Halfords Bluetooth HRM chest strap and monitor - you should be able to connect that to your phone and it should be recorded if your recording app supports it.
If you aren't too worried about tracking it 'live' (or you have your phone mounted where you can see it) - you could borrow/buy a Bluetooth heart rate strap and simply pair that with your phone.
It would be a lot cheaper than a cheap GPS/HR watch anyway !
beaten to it by DickB !
I don't normally beat anyone...the excitement isn't quite at the level I ever though it would be... 😉
As above, a chest strap will be more accurate too.
Otherwise the standard answer is a 2nd hand Garmin Instinct off ebay for ~£50, the watch HR's aren't as accurate, but I hardly ever use my phone for logging rides anymore as the watch is just more convenient.
I did try a bluetooth HR monitor paired with my phone for Stava/HR but it kept dropping out.
Now I use a Amazfit watch which does HR and tracking together, upload to phone at end of ride, pretty simple and so far faultless. It's rubbish as a bike computer but great for GPS tracking for Strava. They start at about £50.
GPS bike computer and a generic Ant+/bluetooth chest strap for the win. I got fed up with Strava draining the battery on my phone with the always on GPS within an hour, whereas my Wahoo Bolt has a 15hr battery life. The only time a wrist based solution is better is for runners.
... the standard answer is a 2nd hand Garmin Instinct off ebay for ~£50...
Or Broaden the search to other models a My spare watch is a VivoActive 3 which is pretty basic by current standards but would do the job of logging a few hours bike riding no trouble, as would lots of the various Forerunner models.
You can score something off eBay for ~£30 on a good day.
Basically just about any 2nd hand Garmin off Ebay, budget for a fresh strap (fiver or so off Amazon) unless you want to use someone elses sweaty old strap...
If you want greater accuracy get a chest strap, if you want to be in the right ballpark and have a wee bit less faff rely on the watches' optical sensor. Basically just about any Garmin from the last ~6-7 years will probably do the job. as with any electronic item, battery life will have diminished over time...
Do check the DC Rainmaker review for anything you find before bidding/clicking 'Buy it Now'
The Wahoo watch is £199 new on their website currently
I got a s/h Garmin 6 a year ago, not used either my phone or Garmin 820 to record a ride since.
Just works and brilliant battery life.
+1 Amazefit Neo
you still need to ride with your phone, but i always do anyway
mine was £20 and its not missed a beat (boom-tish) over the 2years or so ive had it
app is not too bad either, synchs with strava automatically and battery lasts for ages