Strava + iPhone 4 + Heart Rate Monitor = Options?

jonnyboy77
jonnyboy77 Posts: 547
edited May 2012 in Commuting chat
I would quite like to start tracking my heart rate along with my other metrics on Strava with my iPhone. I looked around the internet at options and kept arriving at only a couple of options:

1. Wahoo Fitness Bundle (£100 ish)
2. Garmin ANT+ Adapter & Heart Rate Monitor Strap (£100 ish)

£100 is a bit more than I wanted to spend, thinking or hoping I could get something closer to £50

The Wahoo option is the only one that appears to work with Strava, I would have to revert to the Garmin app for the Garmin hardware.

If I were to upgrade to the iPhone 4S (somewhat unlikely) it will support Bluetooth LE equipment, but there are no real gains for the significant costs involved in doing this.

Does anyone else have any experience with a similar setup?

Thanks

Jon
Commuting between Twickenham <---> Barbican on my trusty Ridgeback Hybrid - url=http://strava.com/athletes/125938/badge]strava[/url

Comments

  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    A Garmin Forerunner 405 just went for £85 second hand in the sales section, maybe a better option getting a dedicate device? I'm not a fan of gadgets for the iPhone, even though you may own it years part of me doesn't like the idea. For that reason the Garmin with ANT+ should work with other devices in the future, although not working with Strava is a real dilemma!
  • jonnyboy77
    jonnyboy77 Posts: 547
    iPete wrote:
    the Garmin with ANT+ should work with other devices in the future, although not working with Strava is a real dilemma!

    This was the appeal of the Garmin solution - I could get a Garmin Edge and parts would be interchangeable. It's the Strava App compatibility issue that I find frustrating.

    I will be keeping an eye on the classifieds, as I would be prepared to go dedicated with a Forerunner at <£100

    Thanks

    Jon
    Commuting between Twickenham <---> Barbican on my trusty Ridgeback Hybrid - url=http://strava.com/athletes/125938/badge]strava[/url
  • Wrath Rob
    Wrath Rob Posts: 2,918
    A mate went down the iPhone + ANT+ route. 4 weeks later he'd bought a Garmin 500 as he got fed up with the iPhone as his bike computer. Don't go with the half arsed route, you'll likely end up getting fed up with it and then spending money again on a proper solution.
    FCN3: Titanium Qoroz.
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    Wrath Rob wrote:
    A mate went down the iPhone + ANT+ route. 4 weeks later he'd bought a Garmin 500 as he got fed up with the iPhone as his bike computer. Don't go with the half arsed route, you'll likely end up getting fed up with it and then spending money again on a proper solution.
    +1
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • jonnyboy77
    jonnyboy77 Posts: 547
    I understand the ideal solution would be a dedicated unit, but the cheapest off the shelf solution seems to be the Forerunner 110 w/HRM @ £150 which is stretching the budget somewhat.

    I have an old Garmin Edge 205 w/o HRM option and it spends a lot of time on my desk since I have the iPhone for tracking 99% of my riding now, hence the iPhone + HRM option being considered.

    Dedicated solutions closer to £100? I am struggling ...

    - Jon
    Commuting between Twickenham <---> Barbican on my trusty Ridgeback Hybrid - url=http://strava.com/athletes/125938/badge]strava[/url
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    I'd definitely go for a dedicated option if you are looking at spending £100+ anyway. Well worth the extra. I picked up a Garmin 500 for £125, heart rate monitor for £15 and cadence/speed sensors for around £20 each (I have 2) so whole set up for around £160. It just works (subject to the occasional hiccup), no battery life issues, nice and robust, allows me to keep my phone safely in my pocket; don't forget how valuable an iPhone actually is!

    Worth looking at Bryton / Holux options as well which might come in a bit cheaper, although I'm glad I went for the Garmin as it just seems to be that little bit easier to work with (uploads to Strava are particularly straightforward) which appeals to a technophobe like me!
  • jonnyboy77
    jonnyboy77 Posts: 547
    BigMat wrote:
    I'd definitely go for a dedicated option if you are looking at spending £100+ anyway. Well worth the extra. I picked up a Garmin 500 for £125, heart rate monitor for £15 and cadence/speed sensors for around £20 each (I have 2) so whole set up for around £160.

    Are those prices second hand?

    My budget is £100 really, rather than £100+

    Thanks

    Jon
    Commuting between Twickenham <---> Barbican on my trusty Ridgeback Hybrid - url=http://strava.com/athletes/125938/badge]strava[/url
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    jonnyboy77 wrote:
    BigMat wrote:
    I'd definitely go for a dedicated option if you are looking at spending £100+ anyway. Well worth the extra. I picked up a Garmin 500 for £125, heart rate monitor for £15 and cadence/speed sensors for around £20 each (I have 2) so whole set up for around £160.

    Are those prices second hand?

    My budget is £100 really, rather than £100+

    Thanks

    Jon

    New, but unusually good deals. Cadence sensors and HRM ordered from US and picked up when I was over there. 500 was on offer at some random site I heard aboutthrough this forum, sold out quickly. Still, deals do come up from time to time...
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,252
    Uk price for a Holux GP260 with HRM is £125. You should be able to get one from Deal Extreme for less than £100 if you can wait a bit. The Bryton at Evans comes without the HRM.
    This is the link to the GP260 at Holux UK
    The downside of the Holux over a Garmin is you have to manually upload them to Strava. Doesn't take long in reality, just seems tedious when you are doing a week of commuting.
  • jonnyboy77
    jonnyboy77 Posts: 547
    edited for stupidity ...

    This at £150 from Amazon:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004 ... d_i=468294

    Seems like a good option too, if avoiding the iPhone route. Would serve multiple purposes plus I need a new watch ...

    - Jon
    Commuting between Twickenham <---> Barbican on my trusty Ridgeback Hybrid - url=http://strava.com/athletes/125938/badge]strava[/url
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,252
    jonnyboy77 wrote:
    edited for stupidity ...

    This at £150 from Amazon:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004 ... d_i=468294

    Seems like a good option too, if avoiding the iPhone route. Would serve multiple purposes plus I need a new watch ...

    - Jon
    Errr, forgive me but...
    jonnyboy77 wrote:
    Are those prices second hand?

    My budget is £100 really, rather than £100+

    Thanks

    Jon

    This forum is definitely bad for your wealth.
  • jonnyboy77
    jonnyboy77 Posts: 547
    Veronese68 wrote:
    This forum is definitely bad for your wealth.

    True story. Although Pre-edit I had an "if" in there somewhere, my budget hasn't changed. I may have to wait longer and increase said budget though.

    Jon
    Commuting between Twickenham <---> Barbican on my trusty Ridgeback Hybrid - url=http://strava.com/athletes/125938/badge]strava[/url
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,252
    jonnyboy77 wrote:
    Veronese68 wrote:
    This forum is definitely bad for your wealth.

    True story. Although Pre-edit I had an "if" in there somewhere, my budget hasn't changed. I may have to wait longer and increase said budget though.

    Jon

    I think you're right. You should wait and increase your budget if you can to get something that is right. As others have said if you buy something you're not happy with you'll wish you'd waited.