Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor

Great as long as you dont' move!

By Mark  Jul 15, 2005 | 2 out of 2 found this Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor review helpful

Pros: Cheap, accurate to +/- 1 beat per minute

Cons: Can't keep connection while moving

I bought one of these on eBay for around $25, which was less than half the price of the rest of the brands. I tried it on the day I got it and thought it was comfortable, and it certainly did measure my heart rate. HOWEVER, the next day when I mounted it on my bike (which a cheap rubber thing that goes over the handlebar) and went for a ride, it kept losing the beat (so to speak). This is not a problem with transmission of the data from the chest strap to the watch. Rather, this is a problem with the chest strap not maintaining sufficient skin contact while my body is moving as I pedal, I am breathing hard, and changing hand position on the handlebars, which also changes the position of my torso.

Each time I would stop at the side of the road to adjust the strap, it would "find" my heart rate again. Then I would start pedaling again, and within a minute or so it would lose my heart rate. Perhaps this would work better for runners, who are always in an upright position? However, for cyclists, who are changing from pedaling standing, pedaling with hands on top of bars, pedaling in low aerodynamic position, etc., this device does not perform well.