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Replacing my Casio 'school' watch
longyp
Posts: 13
in General Chat
I'm 41 male and new to Tri. New to any sort of fitness training until the start of 2009 where I finally competed in my first 10K. Bike riding has always featured so 2010 I am targeting a duathlon (Cambridge) and more 10K. Who knows maybe a sprint-tri.
The question is I would like to replace my £9 Casio watch I used just to time how long I have been running for with something that measures how far I have run and could measure my splits(?) - e.g. 1 mile time, 2 mile time etc.
I have heard of Garmin and seen the ££££ signs which does not make sense for me to spend at my level.
Is there a sub £100 device that can deliver what I am looking for?
Thanks
The question is I would like to replace my £9 Casio watch I used just to time how long I have been running for with something that measures how far I have run and could measure my splits(?) - e.g. 1 mile time, 2 mile time etc.
I have heard of Garmin and seen the ££££ signs which does not make sense for me to spend at my level.
Is there a sub £100 device that can deliver what I am looking for?
Thanks
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Ive got the real basic t1 (just under £70) and its enough for me (HRM + time with splits and 3 training zones) but I cant add any of the options I mentioned above
Thanks
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=39894
Are you with stats/data? If you have a engineering bent, and love recording stuff and want to take a scientific approach to training, then something with bells/whistles/PC upload will probably what you want. HR, GPS will soon start to feature on your wish list.
Otherwise: all the Finnish makes are good... a basic Polar/Suunto would do the job nicely.
For years I was quite happy with my Casio £7.99 watch (until I lost it) which had stopwatch, splits, waterproof oh yes and also told the time. A chap wot I know bought an ebay HRM watch for less than a tenner- the type where you put a thumb on a sensor, and he's had that about a year now and still wearing it at the gym.
A basic 'brand' HRM watch can be had for under £40 and quite agree that unless you are going to log every heart beat IMHO then you either spend not a lot or go the whole hog for GPS pace/distance/HRM as in between you are paying considerably more for additional features which are just variations on what is available on a basic watch
As I said IMHO a basic watch for about £20 which can do splits should suit for most purposes, HRM with user set HR zones can be had for under £40. The big leap is to the singing and dancing GPS pace/distance/HRM jobbies, I threw in the Polar as everyone seems to be Garmin mad and it seems to me that Polar has compatibility with quite a few treadmills but as ever stand to be corrected. The variations to the HRM allow downoadable files for analysis etc. to be honest I think that would do my head in.
I have done some searches on this but there seems to be two camps; those who like their gadgets and swear by them and those who seem to stick to basics. The 'stick to basics' camp suggest that unless your HRM zones are properly calibrated you end up training to incorrect data and also that HRM data gathered during training differs from HRM data during racing i.e the only valid data is racing data. That can also be affected by interference from other racers using HRMs, weather, health etc - oh brain hurts.
I think I will stick to my basic watch and Km markers but tech guys what is your take?
Like yourself I know when I am feeling good and also when I am feeling crap. I believe I have enough experience now to know when I am at my limit and do not need a winking watch to tell me. What would be fab would be to know my pace at any given time as I like to run according to a schedule but there again having said that pacing off Km markers is just as effective and cheaper (if they are there of course and accurately positioned).
It is more waterproof than I am and survives chlorine, salt water and my acidic sweat. It has been reliably keeping my split times in training and racing for about 5 years now...
Do you need more?