Strange HR - dodgy Garmin or about to die?

plankton_brain

at the start of a TT last night my HR went silly (222).

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/30900543

I am 41 and started riding at the start of this year. On previous rides my max HR has been consistently 185. I was fairly chilled out when I started the TT, Hr below 100.

Have others had dodgy HR results from Garmin (edge500)?
Is it possible for HR to overrun if you go mad from a position of rest?
Any other explanaition?

Thanks all

amaferanga

Did you wet the contacts before putting the strap on?

godihatehills

Ive been able to get to 219 ( gratned that was when I was 24 and riding HARD. I think its more likely there was intereference from radio waves or trainlines or something like that - its not unusual for garmins and polars to spaz out at given geographical points just because of whats nearby....

plankton_brain

amaferanga wrote:

Did you wet the contacts before putting the strap on?

Yes.

This is the ride from home to the start of the TT

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/30900548

All looked OK then

SBezza

Mine went funny the other day, I had a HR of 230 freewheeling down a hill . I guess you would probably feel unwell if HR went that high and it was for real.

Make sure the contacts are well wetted, and make sure the HR strap is fitted quite tightly. The other thing it could have been was some interference.

plankton_brain

SBezza wrote:

Mine went funny the other day, I had a HR of 230 freewheeling down a hill . I guess you would probably feel unwell if HR went that high and it was for real.

Make sure the contacts are well wetted, and make sure the HR strap is fitted quite tightly. The other thing it could have been was some interference.

Mybe a loose strap if that could do it. I have noticed that it is not as tight as it was.

amaferanga

The softstrap Garmin HR transmitters are affected by flapping jerseys ("flapping jersey syndrome") - a lot of people have problems with loose clothing when they're going fast downhill apparently.

Shouldn't have been an issue in a TT though.

Possible explanations:

- the contacts could have dried out between your ride there and actually starting the TT
- your TT position might have loosened the strap on your chest such that the contact was poor until you get a proper sweat on

I think you'd notice if your HR went 35 beats above what you thought your maximum actually was.

plankton_brain

thanks all.
I think Im happy now that I didnt die last night and this is not some sort of post mortem dream.

Tighten the starp and more spit.

phil s

Weird - my edge 705 leapt to 203 bpm at 60% effort yesterday and behaved erratically throughout the ride, jumping in big increments. I am trying a new battery in the strap today.

JamieW

mine does it regular with the old flapping jersey.... in the summer i cant wear my northwave tops by themselves without the HR of a hummingbird.....

trtimothy

the garmin's are occasionally affected by radio interference as well. I live next to an army base and there is a 2 km stretch where my HR is always about 230bpm, then it works fine for the rest of the ride...check to see if it always happens in the same place as well!

camerone

my 705 edge gives a dicky speed reading same place on my commute - i have spotted an electricity substation by the side of the road causing the increase to 53mph (if only)

Bronzie

amaferanga wrote:

The softstrap Garmin HR transmitters are affected by flapping jerseys ("flapping jersey syndrome") - a lot of people have problems with loose clothing when they're going fast downhill apparently.

Probably this - my 705 is next to useless as an HRM unless I'm wearing a windproof jacket or gilet or a skinsuit. And I wear my jerseys fairly tight as it is.

I've tried all sorts of things to stop it (anti-static spray, new batteries in strap, new strap, no baselayer, damp baselayer) but it still happens fairly often.

I don't normally have a problem with my Polar HRM but I did have a max of 235 in last night's race which is almost certainly caused by FJS

dennisn

I'm with the guys who report the occasional weird reading around electrical substations
and possibly radio transmitter towers. No big deal. I'd bet it happens to everyone.

nickwill

dennisn wrote:

I'm with the guys who report the occasional weird reading around electrical substations
and possibly radio transmitter towers. No big deal. I'd bet it happens to everyone.

Near railway lines as well for me!

Heckler1974

My man-boobs effectively cover the HRM for my Edge so flapping jerseys are not a problem, what you guys need is excess weight.

rossere

I also had dodgy HR results last night from my Garmin.

I put it down to volcanic ash

kettrinboy

another reason for strange HR readings on the garmin can be sweat getting past the o-ring in the battery cover on the HR strap and causing a short circuit, its very thin and easily damaged if youve changed batteries a lot,but easily fixed by putting a thin bead of silicone sealant around the battery cover its worked on mine for ages

Splottboy

The more you guys post negative things about dodgy HR/Garmins etc, the more I think I won't be getting one !

Back to map, compass, grid lines, pen/paper and cheapo chinese hr monitor, me thinks...

Bronzie

Splottboy wrote:

The more you guys post negative things about dodgy HR/Garmins etc, the more I think I won't be getting one !

Apart from the dodgy HR monitor, I'm very pleased with my 705. Still the best single bit of cycling kit I've ever owned.