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Modern heart rate monitors (HRM) are built to last, and short of mistakenly driving over it in
your car (don’t laugh, it happens), most will run a long time with only some very basic
and minor maintenance. Here are some steps to take organized by component, to ensure a long
life for your HRM. If you follow them, you’ll probably end up 3 or 4 years down the road
owning a perfectly good heart rate monitor and feeling bad when you buy the new one with all
the gee-whiz features. (End the guilt by handing down your old unit to a needy friend.)
All heart rate monitors come with owner’s manuals that explain use, setup, and care. The
first step in getting the most out of your HRM is reading the manual before using the unit.
Then store the manual in a safe place so you can refer to it when needed, such as for resetting
alarms and time.
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Mounting your HRM to Bike Handlebars |
It’s easier to see the display when biking if the watch is attached to the
handlebars. You can purchase the HRM company’s bike-mount kit (usually a piece of
foam that wraps around your handlebar) and you can make your own bike mount out of a
piece of pipe insulation.
If you want the cleanest installation, try this trick: Feed the watchband through
the band loop; adjust the watch and band ends so that the band end without the
buckle is longest and protruding well past the buckle; wrap the band around your
handlebar and through the buckle securing the watch onto the handlebars; adjust the
watch face so you can see the display. |
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Watch/Receiver
Like all watches, protect the unit from blows and scratches. Most HRMs can be used during a
session in the pool, but don’t operate the buttons underwater because this can open the
seals and allow moisture to seep inside the unit where it will ruin the electronics. Another
hazard is storing the watch where condensation can form inside the watch face. This can happen
if you store it in such humid or wet locations as among your sweaty clothes in the bottom of
your gym bag—and then you forget about it. Instead, treat it with care, rinsing it off,
wiping it dry, and storing it in a dry place after each use (some HRMs come with storage
bags).
Chestband/Transmitter
Clean the band with soap and water after use and store it in a dry location or in its bag.
Also, make sure when storing and transporting the band that it doesn’t get crunched by
some other gear. The transmitter is sturdy, but not designed to be abused, and you’ll
break it if you whack it hard enough.
Battery replacement
Signs of a weak battery include erratic heart rate readings or no readings at all. Some
companies such as Polar require returning the HRM to the company to replace the battery. Others
suggest bringing a HRM to a jeweler. (Don’t attempt to replace the batteries on these
types of mechanisms yourself because you’ll damage the unit.) On some HRMs, you can
replace the battery simply by removing the cover with a coin. Check your manual to find out the
correct action for your unit.
Display
Any HRM may have erratic and faulty readings if it’s used near electronic devices such as
other HRMs, high power lines, some bike computers, etc. Usually, the glitch will cease once you
get away from the interference
source.
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