Heart Rate Computers: Mavic Wintech HR vs. Polar CS100

morxy
morxy Posts: 114
edited December 2007 in Workshop
Am looking for a computer with integrated heart rate monitoring. Like the look of the Mavic Wintech HR. Like the simplicity of the screen, big digits, little clutter, magnet built into the QR skewer. Alternatively the Polar CS100 is a safe bet - I know more about it, read its PDF manual, and it's cheaper. (Have heard bad stories about its reliability though.)

I like the fact both computers are cadence aware too. You just buy a cadence sensor separately.

Any opinions?

Does the Wintech HR have a backlight for night cycling? Is there a PDF manual for it anywhere?

Comments

  • HungryCol
    HungryCol Posts: 532
    I can't give any good advice but Polar do have a good reputation and their customer service and servicing department is great. I sent my watch to them for a new battery and said I needed it back for an upcomming event. They had it back to me in less than a week.
    Every winner has scars.
  • aarw
    aarw Posts: 448
    had very similar experience with polar. i broke my cs100 cad and they had it back in about 10 days. i broke the cs100, not a fault of polars.

    never had reliability issues.
  • martincroxall
    martincroxall Posts: 102
    Have to say that the customer service at Polar is second to none. I've sent my computer back there on 3 occaisions, one was just me being a fool, second was a water logged computer after 10 hours of Perthshire rain and the last was for a new battery in a sensor. Every time I had the equipment returned completely sorted out within a week and even a totally new computer in exchange for the water logged one.

    Top notch folks!

    If only BT came even remotely close to that level!
    You hear that? He's up there... mewing in the nerve centre of his evil empire. A ground rent increase here, a tax dodge there? he sticks his leg in the air, laughs his cat laugh... and dives back down to grooming his balls!
  • POB_London
    POB_London Posts: 1,016
    I'm in the same dilemma. Problem is that I have 4 or 5 bikes I ride regularly, and I also want to use the HRM on the rower in the gym, so I think I'm going to stick with a watch on the handlebars and a basic bike computer (Cateye Astrale highly recommended)

    Having said that, the Mavic looks nice (although basic for the money).

    :(
    blimey - bit windy / cold / wet innit? My blog is at http://www.lewismiller.info
  • POB_London
    POB_London Posts: 1,016
    Worth looking on eBay too:

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0198656219
    blimey - bit windy / cold / wet innit? My blog is at http://www.lewismiller.info
  • morxy
    morxy Posts: 114
    Just found out the Mavic Wintech HR has no backlight. Am leaning towards the Polar CS100 at the moment. Would've settled for the Cateye HR200DW but it's not stem mountable :(

    Others that interest me...

    Cateye V3 - isn't available till mid December; scant information on the web

    Garmin Edge 305 - loads of features but too bulky, expensive, overkill, battery lasts 8 hours :(

    Blackburn Neuro - again, not available yet
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    I presume from comments about Polar service that the current service setup has nothing to do with Leisure Systems International who used to do the UK customer service? Can't say I ever had any positive experiences with them (and haven't had cause to use Polar customer service since it changed).

Categories