Allergic reaction to rubber watch strap

cjcp
cjcp Posts: 13,345
edited February 2009 in Commuting chat
For a few years now, rubber watch straps (the sort found on HRMs) have caused the skin around the wrist the watch is worn on to itch like hell. I mean really, really itch. To the point where you could easily draw blood.

I've worn wristbands under the watch during the commute, but it's a bit weird wearing one all the time for obvious reasons. The velocro surfer straps are another option, but they get a bit manky after a while.

Does anyone else experience this and, if so, have you found a solution?
FCN 2-4.

"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."

Comments

  • majormantra
    majormantra Posts: 2,094
    Use a leather strap instead. It'll look weird with a blingy HRM but it'll be a lot more comfortable. I used to have the same problem with plastic straps but it went completely when I started using leather.

    Matthew
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Unfortunately, my HRM has an integrated strap and face, but you've just given me an idea for another watch of mine: a military strap might do it. Cheers for the inspiration!
    :D
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    1. Get a bar mount.
    2. make a bar mount. How hard can it be?
    3. wear it over your baselayer sleeve. this will get hot in summer, and you might get a rash somewhere else as a result.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Always Tyred wrote:
    1. Get a bar mount.
    2. make a bar mount. How hard can it be?
    3. wear it over your baselayer sleeve. this will get hot in summer, and you might get a rash somewhere else as a result.

    Do 3 already. It gets very toasty in summer, hence the wristband. But then I just look like a tennis player who's nicked a bike.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    Paint the back of the watch with nail varnish, unless of course the back has contact sensors.
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    itboffin wrote:
    Paint the back of the watch with nail varnish, unless of course the back has contact sensors.

    Yep, tried that a few years ago too. Didn't work either. :?
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    cjcp wrote:
    itboffin wrote:
    Paint the back of the watch with nail varnish, unless of course the back has contact sensors.

    Yep, tried that a few years ago too. Didn't work either. :?

    Have you tried putting a plaster on the back?

    Perhaps your just very sensitive :lol:
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    itboffin wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    itboffin wrote:
    Paint the back of the watch with nail varnish, unless of course the back has contact sensors.

    Yep, tried that a few years ago too. Didn't work either. :?

    Have you tried putting a plaster on the back?

    Perhaps your just very sensitive :lol:

    Pretty much tried most things, even a bandage! It's not the metal, it's the rubber that's the cause. In the last few years, I've also developed a reaction to cherries, applies, plums, nectarines, peaches, but all skinned fruits.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    CJ, it's a bit budget but why not just line the inside of the watch with fabric? Get some appropriate glue and have a watch-lining craft day!

    I don't know that that will help with the fruit...
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    What's the make/model? Is there any way you can remove the strap? If so, I've got an unused fabric strap that you can have (somewhere. I think).

    Edit: never mind. It's a Polar, isn't it? <sigh>.

    Solution B. eBay it. Get a timex. You can get the straps off those. Then put the timex on the fabric strap.
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Greg66 wrote:
    What's the make/model? Is there any way you can remove the strap? If so, I've got an unused fabric strap that you can have (somewhere. I think).

    Well, I don't think it's make/model specific. It started off with a Rip Curl watch, but only developed after four months of wear. The HRM is a Timex Ironman (I know, ha ha). I decided to buy a watch with a metal strap after that. What colour is the fabric strap? Te watch face is silver and black, so black would probably be best.

    LiT - The Military style strap I'm looking at is nylon, about £7, so that'll do for the budget. I'm pants at crafty stuff, so glue and bits of material are out of the question. More would be stuck to the end of my fingers than the watch.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Greg66 wrote:
    What's the make/model? Is there any way you can remove the strap? If so, I've got an unused fabric strap that you can have (somewhere. I think).

    Edit: never mind. It's a Polar, isn't it? <sigh>.

    Solution B. eBay it. Get a timex. You can get the straps off those. Then put the timex on the fabric strap.

    Ha ha! No! It's a Timex! :lol:

    With an integrated face and strap. (It's a lower end model). Booger. :?
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    Nothing wrong with a timex. I had it on one of these fabric straps (by quiksilver) until it packed in only recently.

    The strap I had isn't black. I'll spare you the details. I can get you a black in April, if you'd like. I'll dx the one I have just in case you can separate the watch and the strap. .
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Cheers for the offer. I have one of these though:

    timex_5c401_heart_large_monitor.jpg

    I can't see a way of removing the strap because it doesn't have separate strap pins.

    I might ebay it and look for one with a separate strap.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • lost_in_thought
    lost_in_thought Posts: 10,563
    cjcp wrote:
    Cheers for the offer. I have one of these though:

    timex_5c401_heart_large_monitor.jpg

    I can't see a way of removing the strap because it doesn't have separate strap pins.

    I might ebay it and look for one with a separate strap.

    Scissors? :wink:
    FCN 7/1
    Viner Maxima, Tifosi CK7, Giant Bowery, Old commuter.
  • greg66_tri_v2.0
    greg66_tri_v2.0 Posts: 7,172
    lost_in_thought wrote:
    cjcp wrote:
    Cheers for the offer. I have one of these though:

    timex_5c401_heart_large_monitor.jpg

    I can't see a way of removing the strap because it doesn't have separate strap pins.

    I might ebay it and look for one with a separate strap.

    Scissors? :wink:

    Nah. He's fcuked.

    If ever a picture was needed to save 1000 words...

    The fabric strap has a second layer of fabric underneath where the watch sits. This is stitched to the strap, at each end of the layer. To attach the watch, you need to have below and above the face a spring loaded bar that fits into recessed holes in the body of the watch. Normally, these bars sit inside the strap (like a pin in a bike chain; the outer link is the watch and the inner link is the strap). But with the fabric strap, they sit between the layer and the strap, with the watch sitting above the layer.

    Phew.

    Make sense?
    Swim. Bike. Run. Yeah. That's what I used to do.

    Bike 1
    Bike 2-A
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Greg66 wrote:
    Nah. He's fcuked.

    Sums things up perfectly. :lol:
    The fabric strap has a second layer of fabric underneath where the watch sits. This is stitched to the strap, at each end of the layer. To attach the watch, you need to have below and above the face a spring loaded bar that fits into recessed holes in the body of the watch. Normally, these bars sit inside the strap (like a pin in a bike chain; the outer link is the watch and the inner link is the strap). But with the fabric strap, they sit between the layer and the strap, with the watch sitting above the layer.

    Phew.

    Make sense?

    Yep, I don't have the springy pin thingys. I've got them on my Rip Curl.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Seriously, just get a bar mount for some other brand of monitor- its just an enormous shim.

    CYP206.hrms.suunto-120-65.jpg
    Ironman might make them for some of their other monitors.

    Alternatively, break the news to your family that you will have to spend £300 on a new HR monitor that comes with its own bar mount.
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    I use a bar mount for my HRM, also alows you to see it better.

    I went through a period recently with ecsthma - stainless steel watches caused it and plastic ones..... - probably lasted 9 months. Even got it when swapping wrists. Meant I did not wear a watch for a while - it's just about cleared up now !!
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Always Tyred wrote:
    Seriously, just get a bar mount for some other brand of monitor- its just an enormous shim.

    CYP206.hrms.suunto-120-65.jpg
    Ironman might make them for some of their other monitors.

    Alternatively, break the news to your family that you will have to spend £300 on a new HR monitor that comes with its own bar mount.

    But then the tops of the bars become a bit busy. :wink: I've my eyes on a second hand Polar CS200CAD.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • jonginge
    jonginge Posts: 5,945
    cjcp wrote:
    Always Tyred wrote:
    Seriously, just get a bar mount for some other brand of monitor- its just an enormous shim.

    CYP206.hrms.suunto-120-65.jpg
    Ironman might make them for some of their other monitors.

    Alternatively, break the news to your family that you will have to spend £300 on a new HR monitor that comes with its own bar mount.

    But then the tops of the bars become a bit busy. :wink: I've my eyes on a second hand Polar CS200CAD.
    I've got one of those, works pretty well. It's on the winter hack/commuter. Just :wink:
    Be careful, though, buying second hand. I'm fairly sure battery replacement for the speed and cadence sensors is a factory/replacement job. That said, I've had mine for about 3yrs and not had to replace yet.
    I've still got all the manuals if it comes unboxed
    FCN 2-4 "Shut up legs", Jens Voigt
    Planet-x Scott
    Rides
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Cheers. Wouldn't surprise me. I've read though that Timpson's might replace the batery and pressure test my Timex one, so I'm going to ask in there this week.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • b0y1nterupted
    b0y1nterupted Posts: 124
    have you tried selotape under the strap?

    works for me...
    FCN 4

    thereback.jpg
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Get a safety pin and pin it to your chest in the style of a nurse.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • Feltup
    Feltup Posts: 1,340
    Ducktape! If you can't duck it f@ck it!
    Short hairy legged roadie FCN 4 or 5 in my baggies.

    Felt F55 - 2007
    Specialized Singlecross - 2008
    Marin Rift Zone - 1998
    Peugeot Tourmalet - 1983 - taken more hits than Mohammed Ali
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Happens to me sometimes in the summer. I just change wrists and it sorts itself out ?
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    cougie wrote:
    Happens to me sometimes in the summer. I just change wrists and it sorts itself out ?

    Yep, tried that, and the other wrist starts to itch too. :x

    Not tried sellotape though.

    Duck tape? :shock: :lol:

    A Timex mount costs £5 so may go for that if I can get over the tops of the bars looking "busy". :roll:

    Cheers for the suggestions all.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Get a get a get a get a Garmin (Edge) with HRM. Soo much better anyway.

    I appreciate that this may not be the cheap option you are looking for. However I will be selling my Edge 305 next month when I upgrade to the 705 sooooo.......
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    I've got a barmount from an old HRM thet I don't use, the bar mount that is, if any good to you, yours for the postage to Chez CJ.
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    redvee wrote:
    I've got a barmount from an old HRM thet I don't use, the bar mount that is, if any good to you, yours for the postage to Chez CJ.

    Very kind, sir. I've got to get some goggles off Wiggle anyway, so I'll probably order the Timex-specific mount from there.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."

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