Thanks WD15

You have a RFLKT then? Can you give a quick review? I've been thinking about getting one.

Sure-I originally loved the Wahoo case but found it was a)kind big and fugly, b) a little insecure-lost the phone a couple times on fast (40 mph plus) downhills after hitting a bump-very protected, phone fine, group pissed, and c) I don't usually need or use gps on the bike, don't need the display on the bars.

The rflkt seems very stable now, although earlier firmware releases weren't, and has a tiny form factor. You need to keep the phone in a side pocket, and placing a tube over it, for example, can interfere with signal. The customized screens are very nice.
At half the price of the Garmin I can live without the gps on the bars.

Negatives? The buttons require a firm push, too firm almost. The data screen with 6 windows is a little small, but you can break down the data on other pages.

I bought a used first gen rflkt...given that I already had the ant case. The rflkt+ one is a better value if you're purchasing new, as it includes an ant+ bridge which frees the phone from its case if you're using ant sensors. I'm a little annoyed that wahoo doesn't provide a firmware update for the original, as apparently the ant radio is there, just not activated. The plus also does real time altitude (but not grade, wtf?).

At 60 bucks used, no brainer. I'd probably pay retail for one now as well, having had the experience.

Have a nashbar with chest strap. Paid $25 on sale and it works perfectly.

I don't use it every time I ride but I've used it enough to know what an honest workout feels like. In my case I know if I go over 150bpm I'm going to have to ease up at some point. Below that I generally can put in some miles.

thanks for the link. Couldn't find any info on whether it was waterproof for swimming.

edit: Found the info in the download owners manual - water resistant only. OK to swim with but not to depress buttons.

I got the Nike:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1386018502.jpg

Works great but, It has the chest strap thing... not bad but I figured out it doesn't send well until it got wet (from sweat) so I would just dampen it wit a little water before I put it on (it is waterproof).

Second big problem, because of the cool twist in the design... when I ride my bike my wrist pushes the buttons... not so cool.

Works great otherwise, bunch of cool functions.

Interesting. I use a Viiiva HR strap which can gather ANT+ signals and relay them to my iPhone using Bluetooth Smart. So I could use the first-gen RFKLT as as well as the current RFKLT+.

I had one of the original Polar HRM with the wireless chest strap and wrist controller. All it did was HR with memory for Max HR. I hate wearing fashion and technology so I went to Home Depot and bought a small piece of of the gray water heater pipe foam insulation. It's already split on one side. Cut a piece about 1" thick, slide on top of the bars, HRM goes over that like your wrist. Easy.

Yes, and its 20% off all week, fwiw.

I used a Polar for quite a while. It worked fine but suffered interference from Bluetooth devices and some high voltage lines.

In 2011, I picked up a Garmin with road mapping, for a series of rides that had pages of turns over a 75-100 mile course.

The Garmin is great since it records all of the information over time. I use the heart rate monitor mostly to look for dehydration, which is very common in this area. I like looking back at some of the rides to see the hill information.

Polar was solid in the past. No recent experience.

Recent I have had a Forerunner 305 which crapped out after 2 years of heavy use and now a 310NX. Both good but overkill for just a HR monitor.

I'd get a Polar or Garmin device. Cheapest HR monitor available.

G

Where (what retailer?). I don't see any deal at Wahoo.

not even close...

Nashbar Tempo Heart Rate Monitor - Normal Shipping Ground

Sorry, must have been a cyber Monday oly deal, my bad-it was on the dcrainmaker.com site, I misread it. Amazon had them yesterday for 99 bucks as well. There is a lightly used one on ebay now for cheap...

Video snapshot of HRMs at the REI site. Tempting but mixed reviews (some big negs too) from others on the strapless. MIO ALPHA Strapless Continuous Heart Rate Monitor - Free Shipping at REI.com

Jeff, for $100-150 you can probably get a used Garmin 500 setup with HR strap, cadence, speed, etc. If you really don't want it on the stem or top tube, they make a wristwatch strap for it too.

Some of the most critical times (steep climbs, fast pulls, etc.) that I need to see my heart rate are not a really good time to take my hand off the bars to check it. I recommend sticking to a strap with a visual that is easy to see. The other advantage to a bar mounted system is that you can scroll through data on the fly with one hand. With a wrist mounted system you have to take both hands off the bars.

Have been using the Garmin Edge 305 for about 8 years now for road and MTB 3 to 5 times a week. I like to have my rides with all data on my computer so I can go back a couple of years and compare to what I used to do when I was younger. The advantage of this device is that is made for biking. The 500 would be the current equivalent and give you also the option to link to power meters if you are interested in the future. The 810 is way to big and expensive for what I need.

If all you really want is a heart rate, then a watch would work just as well I guess. I completely agree with the others that you will want it under you nose on the bar so you can glance at it with minimal effort and distraction (especially if you are doing a group ride in tight formation). You can go with the foam insulation to mount them or get one of the special mounds like shown in the picture (came with one of my HRM watches)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1386125058.jpg

All my devices use the strap and seem to all work fine. I always use a little dab of Buh Bump on the strap to make sure I get a solid signal at the beginning of the ride. For me has worked better than water or spit.

Be safe...

If you need something to get the HR to connect to your skin, just use saline.

Or generic KY jelly, seriously, its cheap and it really works and lasts a while.