Polar Heart Rate Monitors – Models for Active Cyclists

The Polar watch models that are typically used by cyclists have a special design that straps onto handlebars rather than just strapping around the wrist. There are currently well over 30 different models of Polar heart rate monitors selling on the open market. They are far superior in quality and innovative features when compared with other heart rate monitor brands, which has made Polar the leader when it comes to watches that serve the needs of professional and amateur athletes.

Polar heart rate monitors are equipped with small computers which report a variety of feedback from a cycling session. The forms of feedback typically include speed, distance, heart rate, pacing. For those training for a big cycling race, this type of feedback is absolutely essential to proper training sessions. For those who are using cycling to get in shape and lose unwanted stored fat, this feedback allows them to get in the best workout for fat burning purposes. The compact Polar monitors make workouts more effective for everyone.

There are many advanced features that can now be found on a Polar watch which greatly enhance the effectiveness of every workout for beginners as well as more advanced exercisers. For instance, there are now watches that report how many calories are being burned, monitor target heart rate zones, and which allow the user to take fitness tests.

Taking advantage of these advanced features such as programming in your target heart rate zone can improve performance and help reach goals more efficiently. Some watches can now be programmed in with a computer, transferring a wide range of workout data so cyclists can determine what changes need to be made to their training plan. Some of the factors that can be analyzed now through a PC connection include: heart rate changes, stress levels, recovery levels. The fitness tests that deliver this type of output typically test for continuous heart rate, pedal rev, altitude, power output, ascents and descents, direction of route, and the overall distance of the cycling session.

Polar heart rate monitors can be used no matter what the weather is like outside and they are designed to be very easy to use. This ensures that literally anyone can take advantage of them, regardless of their level of expertise in the market. Interfacing the Polar watch with a computer makes it very simple to analyze the results of fitness tests and even get limited updates for the watch.

All of those functional perks do not mean the Polar monitors are completely flawless. For instance, many users complain that data download speeds are incredibly slow and that there can be some inaccuracies with the reported results. The accuracies often come from the inability of the monitor to pause when the user drops speed, such as stopping for traffic when cycling on a busy road. Since the watch continues counting overall heart rate and speed even though the user has stopped completely, the reported data for average heart rate, speed, and cadence can be incorrect.

Let's take a quick look at some of the top selling Polar heart rate monitors and the features that set them apart in the market. The Polar CS600X is a great sports watch with GPS, G3 technology, and all of the other basic features of a monitoring watch. The Polar CS300, CS100 and CS200cad report top notch feedback on the body and have a nice cadence sensor. The Polar FT40, FT60 and FT80 are some of the smartest watches currently available and all feature separate models for men and women. The Polar RS800CX is a great model for professional athletes because it practically sees everything going on inside the body. It is a limited edition issue designed especially for professional cyclists.

Different Polar heart rate monitors are suitable for different people, depending on their training routines, their need for consistent motivation, and other features that may be advantageous to different people.

Author Lance Durden is a fitness guru that has been using Polar Heart Rate Monitors for use in his programs since 1995. Try polar heart rate monitors as suggested, and improve your overall workout.

Tags: body computers, Cycling, exercise, fitness, heart rate monitors, polar heart rate monitors, polar watch, running, workout