Polar Coach

Price Paid:  $150.00 at online somewhere

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in Utah

Bike Setup:
Motobecane Sprint, typical upgrades to seat and wheels, Speedplay pedals. I rode about 6000 miles last year, finishing the National 24-hr Challenge, RAIN (almost, blew a spoke at 151), and LOTOJA.

Summary:
I bought one of these about 1998 for running, and the damn thing keeps working. I use it in conjunction with a wired speedometer/cadence cyclometer. Never had a problem with the PC Coach Light software or synching with my PC. I replace the watch unit battery about every 1.5 years (4 screws, easy) and have the original chest strap transmitter. This is a dinosaur in technology these days, but it is the best engineered product I have ever used.

Strengths:
Bullet proof, always works.

Weaknesses:
Limited PC software functionality, but has satisfied me for years. User interface is a bit weird, I need the manual for figuring it out even after all these years.

Similar Products Used:
None, this thing continues to work

Price Paid:  $140.00 at Ciclos Uno London

Favorite Ride:
anywhere quiet

Bike Setup:
Pinarello Monviso (7020 alloy)massi carbon fork,ksyrium sl,Record 10 speed.
Heaven ! The Italian Stallion.

Summary:
Good quality Polar HRM. Wanted one when they first came out,couldn't warrant the price at the time.Just found a new old stock one at my "prefered" bike shop.Haven't had any problems downloading to my PC,usually goes first time ! Would recommend upgrading the software to PC Coach Elite with the Ed Burke cycling program.Takes all the guess work out of setting yourself a training program.Excellent ! Can be downloaded via the web for a reasonable cost.

Strengths:
Interval setting function (up to 99).Recovery heart rate feature.Set up as many intervals as you can handle,with the recovery time (or heart rate)inbetween,hit the button and off you go.PC Coach Elite software w/Ed Burke cycling program.

Weaknesses:
Owners manual hard work.Needs rewriting to be user friendly.Supposed to send wrist receiver off to change battery,four screws,pop the clip,£2 battery,job done !Not to be tried if you have only got 2 brain cells(and one of them is lonely).

Similar Products Used:
HAC 4. Brilliant software.Power output reading (Ha !),not to be trusted when riding downhill !

Price Paid:  $149.00 at perfromance

Favorite Ride:
smooth roads

Summary:
bought it (refurbished) for the average and max readings, and 3 hrz's
on second and third rides, started getting max rates in the 230's
Never got the microphone-based PC interface to work

Weaknesses:
refurbished crap