Bike Setup: Colnago President with Dura Ace Groupset Zipp 808 Wheels
Summary: Considering the price paid, this product is a letdown. The computer mounting was very tight and within 2 weeks of installation, one of the 3 fixing lugs on the case sheared off making it unstable. After about a month the heart rate and speed readings were notoriously inaccurate though the cadence never faltered. To the credit of the Polar servicing agents in Auckland NZ they cheerfully replaced the Main board and the case under warranty, so it arrived back as new.
The unit continues to be overly susceptable to interference from other HRM's, overhead power lines, and sites with radio frequency outputs. i.e. the airport, vehicle service stations, telephone exchanges to name a few. (I have used cheaper units with less trouble).
The speedometer cuts out at about 12kph so big hill climbs don't get recorded. Too often the HRM has to be reset during rides after electrical interference thus negating any averages recorded.
Generally there are too many functions that make the unit cumbersome to operate. These functions may be ok for the indoor/gym based trainers but we, who ride real bikes on real roads really only need the basic speed, distance, heart rate, and cadence readouts, plus immediate memory functions for the same. If these functions were independantly accessible, the unit would give much better feedback of data.
Strengths: The design appears robust,is compact and the mounting options idea are very good. Displays are generally good though the secondary data display is a bit small and tends to be shadowed by the case.
The handbook has all the information required.
Wearlink works with my old "Cheapo" HRM
Warranty & Servicing excellent in this case.
Weaknesses: Price.
Too susceptable to interference.
Too many functions/settings. Operation buttons not sensitive enough
Clearing data too complex and slow.
Haven't been able to use the computer uplink. (Anyway I don't want my personal information going to any central data processors).
Similar Products Used: HE800, Cateye cc-mw100, (Still in use); Cateye Mity 200, Trek Incite, Cateye mity, Flightdeck. (These all wore out or were smashed accidentally).
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Bike Setup: Road Bike with tough tires for commuting, adorned with various pretty weaved carbon and shiny aluminum bits...
Summary: This wireless unit has been reliable and measures accurately (tested against Google Maps and timing of HR and cadence on watch and against another HR monitor). Sometimes setup with these units can be a royal pain in the arse but the CS200cad was simple enough. I don't give this unit a "5" because there aren't many perfect products in the world...
Strengths: Wireless, good documentation (compared to the friggin' joke included with the Trek Incite ACH), easy set up, OK installation difficulty, reliability, measurement accuracy, remivable head, highly flexible mounting locations (bars, stem, even top tube if you want), good memory for storing lots of memorable rides, attractive looks, interference doesn't seem to be a problem.
Weaknesses: Menus can be a little awkward to go through - make sure you read the manual to make sure you know how to access everything. Given its wireless nature it has only freaked out when passing a Union Pacific switcher that was being operated by radio (engineer standing outside with the radio unit).
Similar Products Used: Cateyes (wired), family members have used Trek Incite ACH digital (stay away from this unit)
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Summary: unlike other reviews, I have found this device to do everything it advertises. It's accurate, reliable and none of the functions (including the cadence) has given me a bit of trouble. Ride 4K miles a year and coming up on 2 years and still using original battery. I use the 200 for my road and urban assault bikes and the cs300 for my mtn bikes (so I don't wipe it off the bars when I biff)
Strengths: Reliability, ease of use, 2nd bike feature, online manual...
Weaknesses: haven't found any
Similar Products Used: CS300 (the wrist version)
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Summary: I bought this with the cadence meter. Cadence meter never worked! The local bike shop guys basically laughed about this saying "those things never work." The distance never measured correctly and the device would constantly pause itself on rides. I consoled myself with the fact that HRM functions worked, Well, guess what? Those crapped out too. Oh yeah, this thing eats batteries like my dog eats a sausage.
Strengths: Not a single one
Weaknesses: See Review
Similar Products Used: Sigma, which I'm using again
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