Heart Rate Monitor

[bigbadneil]

Guys
I currently have the original Apple Watch. I've just started cycling and was thinking about getting a FitBit as that has a constant heart beat on the display. I then thought about getting the new Apple Watch but not sure if that has the constant heart rate monitor. If it does is there a way to make it big enough to be able to see while riding?
Thanks in advance
Neil

 

[Julien]

The S1 and S2 run the same wOS and apps as the S0.

 

[bigbadneil]

The S1 and S2 run the same wOS and apps as the S0.

sorry what do you mean. Y that.

 

[daflake]

Guys
I currently have the original Apple Watch. I've just started cycling and was thinking about getting a FitBit as that has a constant heart beat on the display. I then thought about getting the new Apple Watch but not sure if that has the constant heart rate monitor. If it does is there a way to make it big enough to be able to see while riding?
Thanks in advance
Neil

If you are serious about cycling, I would recommend a Garmin Edge with a band heart rate monitor. I cycle (road, mountain, touring) and have not found a wrist solution that is decent. Even my wife reverts to her Garmin when riding.

 

[Julien]

sorry what do you mean. Y that.

In other (and longer) words, your original Watch (S0) uses the same operating system and runs the same apps as a new Series 1 (S1) or Series 2 (S2) Watch does. So buying a new Watch will not add any software features that you can't already get. Your S0 has the same 'constant heart rate monitor' (even the same HR sensor hardware) when using the Workout app or a 3ed part app.

 

[ahostmadsen]

Guys
I currently have the original Apple Watch. I've just started cycling and was thinking about getting a FitBit as that has a constant heart beat on the display. I then thought about getting the new Apple Watch but not sure if that has the constant heart rate monitor. If it does is there a way to make it big enough to be able to see while riding?
Thanks in advance
Neil

But the apple watch does constant heart rate monitoring during workout, so I don't see the issue? For real accurate heart rate, you need a chest strap, as mentioned.

 

[bigbadneil]

But the apple watch does constant heart rate monitoring during workout, so I don't see the issue? For real accurate heart rate, you need a chest strap, as mentioned.

How can you set you watch to show it all the time not just when you move your wrist??

 

[bbeagle]

How can you set you watch to show it all the time not just when you move your wrist??

You can't.

If you need that, you need another watch right now. I'm betting that the Series 3 Apple Watches (probably released in 2018) will have an always-on display.

 

[bigbadneil]

You can't.

If you need that, you need another watch right now. I'm betting that the Series 3 Apple Watches (probably released in 2018) will have an always-on display.

Thanks

 

[tivoboy]

you could also just add a band to the apple watch. I use a scosche Rhythm+ band when doing more vigorous workouts, the reading is more real time than the actual applewatch sensor and its far more consistent.

 

[arkitect]

you could also just add a band to the apple watch. I use a scosche Rhythm+ band when doing more vigorous workouts, the reading is more real time than the actual applewatch sensor and its far more consistent.

Apologies, I don't mean to derail OP's thread… but!
I've been looking at the Scosche Rhythm. Is it reasonably accurate and consistent? Where do you wear it? Wrist or bicep?
Right now I am using a Wahoo Tickr, and it is failing far too often.

 

[bigbadneil]

What I'm looking for is a HRM with a large read out on my apple watch so that I can see it without glasses while riding my bike...........it doesn't need to be spot on, a ball park number will be okay it just needs to be BIG

 

[tivoboy]

Apologies, I don't mean to derail OP's thread… but!
I've been looking at the Scosche Rhythm. Is it reasonably accurate and consistent? Where do you wear it? Wrist or bicep?
Right now I am using a Wahoo Tickr, and it is failing far too often.

I find the scosche rhthym+ to be quite accurate and responsive. When comparing to onboard HR monitors (at gym, bikes, walkers, etc) and to the my heart rate strap (polar) connected to a second watch. I don't do this regularly, but did in the beginning to get a solid comparison. I bought one used for 40$ on ebay, it's been totally fine.
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What I'm looking for is a HRM with a large read out on my apple watch so that I can see it without glasses while riding my bike...........it doesn't need to be spot on, a ball park number will be okay it just needs to be BIG

couldn't you just switch on the HR app on the watch, that read out is pretty big. Also, if you big a workout type and deselect some of the other readout text, the HR or other gets a bit bigger (more real estate at least)

 

[Wymapper]

I find the Apple Watch 2 heart rate monitor to be very good for road riding, after using it for over 800 miles. I have compared it 7-10 times with hospital/heart clinics and found it to be within 2-3bpm at rest. I have not compared it to a chest strap unit during riding, but the AW unit seems very consistent with few erratic readings. I think the fit and location are important. I feel the cost and inconvenience of wearing a chest unit and a specific monitor for the limited gain not worth it. The AW plus the iPhone in my bike case give me a whole range of additional tools, including navigation mapping profiles, both terrain and heart rate. I have compared the same 30 mile ride with over 1,000' change many times, and find little difference, except for traffic variables. Now I'm not an aggressive trail rider with a lot of hand/body movements, and don't think I need to best heart monitor even with all the variables of a bike ride, especially with over sixty years of bike riding experience.

 

[millerj123]

I find the Apple Watch 2 heart rate monitor to be very good for road riding, after using it for over 800 miles.

I'm hoping riding is different than running. I've logged about 8 5ks and almost all have periods where the heart rate is way too low compared to the rest of the activity.

I normally wear the watch at the 3rd hole, and tighten to the 4th for runs, but still have periods that can't be correct.

I run like a tyrannosaurus, though - arms up tight to my chest. When I remember I let them fall and swing.

 

[tivoboy]

For things like running and weight training, the only thing I found to get accurate HR over the workouts was to use the Scosche Rythm+ arm HR monitor and BT transmitter.. works really well.

 

[ftaok]

I'm hoping riding is different than running. I've logged about 8 5ks and almost all have periods where the heart rate is way too low compared to the rest of the activity.

I normally wear the watch at the 3rd hole, and tighten to the 4th for runs, but still have periods that can't be correct.

I run like a tyrannosaurus, though - arms up tight to my chest. When I remember I let them fall and swing.

It could be sweat related. Unlike chest straps, the sensor on the AW doesn't like sweat too much. If you're a sweater, perhaps you could wear a sweatband to minimize sweat getting under the sensor.

Personally, I'm lucky in that the AW sensor works wonderfully when I run. I've compared the readings from the AW vs. a Polar chest strap and was always within 3 to 4 beats.

 

[Julien]

It could be sweat related. Unlike chest straps, the sensor on the AW doesn't like sweat too much.....

Actually this shouldn't be a (the) problem. Infrared is a low enough frequency (wavelength) to pass through your skin (including the sweat glands), fat and muscle tissues which contain MANY times more water than a layer of sweat. After all if sweat could stop the infrared then there is NO way it could pass through even the epidermis much less reach your arteries deep in your wrist.

 

[ftaok]

Actually this shouldn't be a (the) problem. Infrared is a low enough frequency (wavelength) to pass through your skin (including the sweat glands), fat and muscle tissues which contain MANY times more water than a layer of sweat. After all if sweat could stop the infrared then there is NO way it could pass through even the epidermis much less reach your arteries deep in your wrist.

I think maybe it's not about the signal being disrupted by sweat and more about the watch/sensor sliding around and losing contact when sweaty.

 

[sean000]

What I'm looking for is a HRM with a large read out on my apple watch so that I can see it without glasses while riding my bike...........it doesn't need to be spot on, a ball park number will be okay it just needs to be BIG

It seems like the workout app used to let me swipe between different pages while cycling: I could see current speed displayed large on one page, current heart rate on another, etc. Now it's all on one page so that means less room for each bit of information. You could switch to the heart rate app, but then you won't get the other info. You might also try a cycling app like Strava or Cyclemeter GPS. There are many others and some of them might allow you to display heart rate larger and perhaps even set thresholds where the watch will vibrate when you fall below, or climb above, your target heart rate range.

Is that what you are basically trying to do? Stay within a target heart rate range?

Many years ago (okay, more like a quarter century ago) I raced bicycles. These days I ride mostly for my commute, fitness, touring, and fun. I haven't used a cyclometer for years, but when I got the Apple Watch two years ago I started using it to track my rides. The heart rate monitor has always worked very well for me, but I don't pay that close attention to the numbers while riding. I usually look at them after a ride. That said I often glance at my heart rate on a long climb or after a big effort like a sprint. I don't really do interval training anymore...I just let our hilly terrain decide when I have to go hard.

One trick I learned when I want to check my heart rate while cycling, especially when I forgot to start a workout, is I say, "Hey Siri, what's my heart rate?" Then Siri will launch the heart rate app with it's really big display.

Sean