Concept2 Forum

I would like to purchase a hrm compatible with my PM5 but the suggested Garmin monitor has a strap length too short for me (got to lose quite a bit of weight). Is it possible to buy some other strap and use it as an extension or does someone have experience with a monitor with a much longer strap?

skkipper wrote: ↑

January 1st, 2020, 11:18 am

I would like to purchase a hrm compatible with my PM5 but the suggested Garmin monitor has a strap length too short for me

Welcome to the forum.

I don't know about Garmin, but I do know that in the past Polar had Long, Medium and Short strap options for some of their chest transmitters. (If you get one, be sure to first check that the Polar transmitter is compatible with your PM)

If you want to be creative, I'm sure you could get a local seamstress to cut the Garmin strap in two and splice in a few inches of elastic, which she (he?) should already have on hand. Probably won't cost you more than a few bucks.

Good luck - the erg is a great way to help you get back into shape.

I am pretty sure that my Garmin straps came with an extension piece. And since the extension piece fits both ends of the original joint, you should be able to add more than one extension piece.

Anyway, I got tired of hitting my HRM strap with the handle, so I bought an OHR sensor for the upper arm. There are several models, and they will probably all do the job, as long as they have either ANT+ or Bluetooth. I use the Polar OH1, and it works nicely, though it is a little slow to pick up on sudden heart rate increases when I do an explosive effort.

yes I was thinking an upper arm monitor too - just as good as a chest strap apparently

Agreed on the arm band, I use a Tickr Fit arm band, it's both Bluetooth and ANT+ compatible.

My only complaint is that some sessions it really struggles locking in on my heart rate. 95% of the time it seems accurate, but when it's off, it's waaaay off.

I'm talking 160bpm effort with increasing intensity was reading 90bpm and dropping, down to 50bpm at one point.... I tried turning it off and resyncing and trying to adjust arm location with no fix to be bothered waiting to find before I just tossed it aside until my next session. The issue only seemed to occur with rowing, meaning I probably have some strap adjustment issues during my row.

My jogging HR always matched up well with my old polar chest strap that crapped out.

lindsayh wrote: ↑

January 3rd, 2020, 6:04 am

yes I was thinking an upper arm monitor too - just as good as a chest strap apparently

I have the Wahoo Tickr Fit and find it unreliable for rowing. I used it a few times then gave up on it.

I don't know if the Polar OH1 is better as an arm HRM but i would avoid the Tickr Fit for rowing.

Dino wrote: ↑

January 3rd, 2020, 3:53 pm

I have the Wahoo Tickr Fit and find it unreliable for rowing. I used it a few times then gave up on it.

That's surprising. I've never had an issue with it in 2.5 years, albeit used very occasionally recently but I wore it most of the time for my ultra distance sessions.

Dangerscouse wrote: ↑

January 3rd, 2020, 4:50 pm

Dino wrote: ↑

January 3rd, 2020, 3:53 pm

I have the Wahoo Tickr Fit and find it unreliable for rowing. I used it a few times then gave up on it.

That's surprising. I've never had an issue with it in 2.5 years, albeit used very occasionally recently but I wore it most of the time for my ultra distance sessions.

I find it doesn't lock on properly, just sits there at resting heart-rate and doesn't increase in line with actual heart-rate until later in the row, then drops out occasionally too. When on my push-bike it seems OK. I have tried both arms, multiple positions, rotating it to try to get it in a reliable position. Sample trace below. You think its OK, as showing resting HR, so you start off and find its not increasing, then suddenly kicks into life later on - but still has drop outs. (The Tickr Fit is the armband HRM.. the Tickr without the fit is the chest one - I think it only came out Feb 18? - maybe I have a duff unit).

Dino wrote: ↑

January 3rd, 2020, 7:02 pm

Dangerscouse wrote: ↑

January 3rd, 2020, 4:50 pm

Dino wrote: ↑

January 3rd, 2020, 3:53 pm

I have the Wahoo Tickr Fit and find it unreliable for rowing. I used it a few times then gave up on it.

That's surprising. I've never had an issue with it in 2.5 years, albeit used very occasionally recently but I wore it most of the time for my ultra distance sessions.

I find it doesn't lock on properly, just sits there at resting heart-rate and doesn't increase in line with actual heart-rate until later in the row, then drops out occasionally too. When on my push-bike it seems OK. I have tried both arms, multiple positions, rotating it to try to get it in a reliable position. Sample trace below. You think its OK, as showing resting HR, so you start off and find its not increasing, then suddenly kicks into life later on - but still has drop outs. (The Tickr Fit is the armband HRM.. the Tickr without the fit is the chest one - I think it only came out Feb 18? - maybe I have a duff unit).

As I mentioned, I have occasionally run into lock on problems with same attempts to adjust location and tension around arm. I can't explain why it's off like that, and it seems when it is reading unreliably there is no fix other than shut it off and try another day, turning it off and back on was hit or miss for me. I think I've heard a lot of better results with the scosche rhythm arm band.

My best results lately have been on right forearm, I think a splash of water rubbed in to the skin underneath the band helps keep the band in place. I have it close to bend in elbow, but far enough away that it doesn't move when I pull the handlebar to my chest.

Tenshuu wrote: ↑

January 4th, 2020, 7:31 pm

As I mentioned, I have occasionally run into lock on problems with same attempts to adjust location and tension around arm. I can't explain why it's off like that, and it seems when it is reading unreliably there is no fix other than shut it off and try another day, turning it off and back on was hit or miss for me. I think I've heard a lot of better results with the scosche rhythm arm band.

My best results lately have been on right forearm, I think a splash of water rubbed in to the skin underneath the band helps keep the band in place. I have it close to bend in elbow, but far enough away that it doesn't move when I pull the handlebar to my chest.

Cheers Tenshuu - I saw on another HRM thread people were saying that the Scosche Rhythm+ Armband Heart Rate Monitor is a better bet. If I can get some money back on eBay for the Tickr Fit might give the Scosche Rhythm+ a go instead.

Glad it's not just me. I unsnapped my Garmin HRM the other day when I hit it with the handle. I hate losing workout time to fiddling with stuff I bought to help my workout. (Because I'm really succeptible to it - burned up a good chunk of time this morning trying to get the rower paired with my phone and HRM, then discovered I was on a machine with a clunky chain. Tried to live with it and finally gave up and jumped to another.) I'll have to look into the arm band.

I tested both the Polar OH1 arm band and the scosche. The polar works great, I use it all the time. I could never get a complete accurate session out of the scosche on either arm rowing.

Here's my test of the Polar: https://analytics.rowsandall.com/2017/0 ... or-rowing/

It has been awhile but in case someone else comes across this: I bought the Polar OH1 monitor and use it on my upper arm. It works well! Nerding out on the heart rate data while exercising, love the control it allows me when running. It connects easily simultaneously to the PM5 and to my phone so I collect data linked to the erg data at the same time as collecting data with the Polar app on my phone.

Thanks Skipper, useful post for me, OH1 is in order as a result

The Polar OH1 is also an excellent HR monitor during your sleep. It is able to save internally more than 10 hours, sampling about every heart beat. Fascinating records!