Ridecamp: Re: [RC] HRM, how long to they last?

Hi Nina,

I have a polar Easy-Beat from Easy Care purchased in 1995 if 
I remember right.  It came with a 2 year warrenty and I did 
have them replace the transmitter battery under warrenty at 
just before the 2 year point.  The receiver battery was fine.

I used it on Magnum and Blue and sporatically in training 
and at all competitions.  Then life intervened and I moved 
and didn't get it out of the box for over a year and a half.

This spring I noted that the batteries were both dead, but
after 7 years that didn't surprise me.  I didn't have any 
extra cash so I didn't get batteries put in it for the 
Indian Springs ride and just have done without.

In June of this year a friend wanted to use it for his road 
bike racing so I sent it off to Polar for an overhaul as 
EasyCare has changed a bit and they no longer will take 
the HRM for battery replacement.  I also checked out the 
new models... drool, drool... and noted that Polar now 
makes 2 or 3 different specific Equine HRM models (mine is 
a "people" one with a large custom horse-belt).

Polar told me my transmitter was shot and replaced it with 
a brand new one for, like, $25 or $35 which I thought was 
very reasonable given the battery replacement alone is $10.
The battery replacement for the receiver was another $10 
and the receiver is fine after 7 years and lot of soaking
with scooped and sponged water.  Alas, a brand new equine 
model is, like, $120 to $150 so I couldn't justify just 
buying a new one when getting mine working cost less than 
$50.  Rats, but not rats.  :)

So I highly recommend Polar's HRMs.  I really really like 
mine even though I know some people don't like the belt.
Check out Polar's new Equine models at www.polarusa.com.
Some of our endurance vendors carry them.  I was VERY 
impressed with Polar's customer service.  They were helpful
and willing to call me long distance on their dime to 
answer my questions sent along with my unit and to work out 
which was going to be a more reasonable solution... fixing 
the 7 year old model, or buying a new one.  They also gave 
me a second "chest belt" at their cost ($5) so I can 
modify my horse belt to fit the new transmitter and still 
have a working human belt too.

Oh, and I can use it on me when I'm not using it on the 
horse.  Shameless plug for what I think is a great company 
with a great product line.

Kathy Myers
in Santa Fe, NM

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