Anyone else's HRM do this?

[Lewis Moon]

I have a Wahoo Tickr HRM and for the last two rides it has started out OK then Bout 1/2 way through it goes well over 200 bpm and stays there. I work out hard...but not that hard. Time for a new one?

[prototoast]

I've never had a heart rate monitor work for more than 2 seasons, but how they fail is always a little different.

[jimoots]

Does the 200bpm correspond with descending and is your jersey flapping against it?

[fourflys]

I've had mine do similar, but would go down to like 90bpm and stay there.. put a new battery in it, washed the strap and everything seems fine now.. just used it today..

[Alistair]

Originally Posted by Lewis Moon

I have a Wahoo Tickr HRM and for the last two rides it has started out OK then Bout 1/2 way through it goes well over 200 bpm and stays there. I work out hard...but not that hard. Time for a new one?

Are you sure you don’t have an arrhythmia? They’re not all scary-bad like Afib and VT.

Does the HR ever come back down? Can you adjust the monitor’s position and it returns to normal? Is this a chest-based HRM, or armband (they use different types of sensors)?

[bigbill]

Before I switched to optical sensors, powerlines would make my HRM read >200.

[MikeD]

Yeah, they do that, then settle down after a while.

[Kingson]

check the contacts for corrosion where the battery attaches to the strap

[Lewis Moon]

Originally Posted by Alistair

Are you sure you don’t have an arrhythmia? They’re not all scary-bad like Afib and VT.

Does the HR ever come back down? Can you adjust the monitor’s position and it returns to normal? Is this a chest-based HRM, or armband (they use different types of sensors)?

Chest style Wahoo Tickr. Methinks it's toast.https://photos.app.goo.gl/hnyCKWeYfbhqxjCX9

[windsurfer]

I've had two hrms do this; one optical and a Garmin chest strap when it had low battery. At first it freaked me out, but stopping to check my pulse confirmed that the monitor was at fault. Now using a polar monitor with no problems or crazy readings.

[JMT3]

I went thru a few Tckrs. They don’t last long. I started using Coospo straps and they last about a couple of years and die but for less than half the cost of the Wahoo.

When to wrist rate and have a Garmin Venu 2plus watch and worked great until the last Garmin 540 firmwear update and not it doesn’t. Back to the prgraming room on this one Garmin. May try unpairing and re pairing.

[quattro]

Originally Posted by Lewis Moon

I have a Wahoo Tickr HRM and for the last two rides it has started out OK then Bout 1/2 way through it goes well over 200 bpm and stays there. I work out hard...but not that hard. Time for a new one?

I had the same experience about 3 years ago, thought it was my HRM belt and kind of ignored it, said I would get a new belt. Then had the opportunity to try a wrist based HRM belt, surprisingly it gave a high 223BPM reading. I told my GP at my next physical, he sent me to a cardiologist. The cardiologist set me up for a stress test on a cycling ergometer, and had me wear a Zico patch HRM for 2 weeks. The result was a diagnosis of Supra Ventricular Tachycardia (SVT). So, my advise, not ignore it, it could be something more serious than a HRM belt not working properly. Good luck!

[CAAD]

Bontrager and Garmin HRM both gave me erratic readings on low humidity cold mornings with the vest flapping. Recently the Garmin would just sit and hold a HR number for miles until I would adjust it, then it would wake back up. Changed the battery and it would still act up. Moved to a polar h10, so far so good zero issues.

[benb]

I’ve had the Bontrager and Garmin HRMs do this. Low humidity , start of ride, windy, and warm enough to not need a wind vest. Right now I have the more expensive Garmin HRM-Run and a 1030 and it has not done this at all, I think the current HRM-Run just doesn’t do it.

It is not hard to do a sanity check. You should be able to tell your HR by counting it. It is not at all hard to differentiate between a malfunctioning HRM and your HR actually being above 200.

I think my original Polar that was not Ant+ failed to zero. Making it fail to 200 is kind of bad design. Nobody ever seems to get confused that they’re in cardiac arrest when the HRM says 0.

[mass_biker]

I had open heart surgery last fall…in preparation for it I was advised to manage my HR below a certain level. Having grown frustrated with the dodginess of my Wahoo HRM, I did a little research and asked around, and bought one of the Schosche “arm band” style monitors, which I have found to be a lot more reliable and accurate. They pair nicely with all other devices (Stages bike and its apps, Wahoo BOLT etc.), and I find that it stays put (narrow chest guy here) and very easy to use/recharge etc.