looking for a HRM

[Casey]

I don't want to spend more than $200. What do you recommend?

[vaxn8r]

I know of a really inexpensive one.....2 fingertips placed about an inch medially and slightly down from the angle of the jaw.

:D :D :D :D :D

[Too Tall]

The "Sports Instruments" line has an excellent rep. and can be had for minimal cheddar.

[Keith A]

Do you want cycle computer functions as well? I've been using the Polar S-210 (no cycle specific functions) and have been very happy with this one. I recently stepped up to a S-720i, but haven't installed this yet. Polar has a number of HRMs for under $200. Here's a link (http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/productfinder/productfinder.asp) of most of their models with retail prices. You can click on the "Compare Models" in the upper left to see what features eacho of them have.

[Roy E. Munson]

I'd say get a cheap one that tells you what your heart rate is at the time of use. The odd training zone may be useful if you know your LT or some other loose training number, but I suspect most people use maybe 30% of the functionality of the doo-dad sitting on their handlebar or strapped to their wrist.

[bostondrunk]

I find them worth their weight in gold. I like to custom tailor my training between sets of 15 mph intervals and 20 mph intervals. I got the most expensive one I could so that I could chart my progress on the computer.

[Tom]

...I suspect most people use maybe 30% of the functionality of the doo-dad sitting on their handlebar or strapped to their wrist.

Thank you, Good Citizen! That sound you hear is millions of people throwing out their monitors after realizing that they were 70% useless to them. Good thing you came along to relieve them of their plight.

I, on the other hand, realized that mine didn't do enough so with a little research into physiology and an Exact-o knife I opened it up and carved new functions into the silicone. I then zapped the object code on the PC software and I can now track how many slugs get caught in the brake bridge, grams of road grit on the chain, the sound pressure change from a Jake Brake right next to me plus the air speed velocity of a swallow - with and without coconuts.

[bostondrunk]

Tom, are you smokin somethin that you should be sharing with the rest of us???

[Roy E. Munson]

Let me gues, Tom, you have an expensive HRM.

[Tom]

After all, it's now a one-of-a-kind custom, eh?

[Too Tall]

Two whacks for a shamless Monty Python reference.

[flydhest]

Felix,

Was it shameless or shameful?