Fitness Apps and Gear

[BEC111]

Plus a chest HRM is actually accurate. A forearm version is REAL close. Wrist ones (Garmin, FitBit, Apple) not so, basically at all - though of those the Apple tends to be the better choice. For me - my FitBit is pretty accurate for steps/distance, sucks on everything else. My Polars (arm and chest) seem to be dead on for heart rates. Here is a pretty good review of some of the better chest and forearm models. Or if you don't want to mess with straps, one can just do the simple breathing test to determine what zone you're in. I do this a lot actually.

For a while, I worried the heart rate and other sensors were not accurate. I compared the readings at my cardiologist’s and they were pretty close. Trends are the important metric for my needs. As long as the readings are consistent with each other and my occasional cross checks I don’t care how precise they are.

if there are anomalous readings I go to the appropriate professional.

 

[mschwett]

For a while, I worried the heart rate and other sensors were not accurate. I compared the readings at my cardiologist’s and they were pretty close. Trends are the important metric for my needs. As long as the readings are consistent with each other and my occasional cross checks I don’t care how precise they are.

if there are anomalous readings I go to the appropriate professional.

heart rate is a super easy one to doublecheck, even while riding. finger on your neck for 10 seconds, as measured by your bike's display, bike computer, phone, head unit, etc.

i use the polar chest straps, and they are either exactly right, or totally wrong about 1% of the time. the latter may be because of my irregular heart rhythm, where the uneven spacing between "beats" confuses the algorithm for a while.

i love my apple watches but do not use them for cycling at all, heart rate readings not accurate, display impossible to see on a road bike.

 

[fooferdoggie]

heart rate is a super easy one to doublecheck, even while riding. finger on your neck for 10 seconds, as measured by your bike's display, bike computer, phone, head unit, etc.

i use the polar chest straps, and they are either exactly right, or totally wrong about 1% of the time. the latter may be because of my irregular heart rhythm, where the uneven spacing between "beats" confuses the algorithm for a while.

it might be a lack of moisture. Sometimes when it is really cold too I have trouble with mine.

 

[mschwett]

it might be a lack of moisture. Sometimes when it is really cold too I have trouble with mine.

yeah, a little salty water on the electrodes doesn’t hurt!