tiemx body link versus forerunner 301 - Triathlon Week

03-12-2005, 01:25 PM

Does anyone have experience with comparing the timex bodylink system withhe
forerunner 301. They both have heart rate, distance, GPS but I didn't know
if one is easier to use and the software. Specifically, I would like to see
my heart rate, but also know know what my time may be for a specific
distance, say 1 mile run within the workout, while I am training rather than
just after on a download.
Thanks, Mickey

03-13-2005, 05:28 AM

"Mickey" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> Does anyone have experience with comparing the timex bodylink system
> withhe forerunner 301. They both have heart rate, distance, GPS but I
> didn't know if one is easier to use and the software. Specifically, I
> would like to see my heart rate, but also know know what my time may be
> for a specific distance, say 1 mile run within the workout, while I am
> training rather than just after on a download.
> Thanks, Mickey
>

I have a Garmin 201 (no integrated HRM). I suspect the GPS works in much
the same way. If that is so...

The easiest approach is to simply trip the timer for a split when you start
& finish the portion of the course to which you refer. That doesn't sound
like what you are after(?). You seem to want to look at the whole course
and evaluate *any* mile, after the fact.

I think this is possible, albeit tedious, with the Garmin. The XML output
contains all of your route datapoints and timestamps. You can use one of
the many free or shareware utilities to convert that XML to text and import
to Excel.

I would post some XML, as an example, but who knows what it would do on some
people's news readers. : )

From my limited knowledge, it would seem possible with the Garmin. I can't
speak for the Timex - - no experience with the GPS there.

rsquared

03-14-2005, 05:06 AM

Mickey wrote:
> Does anyone have experience with comparing the timex bodylink system withhe
> forerunner 301. They both have heart rate, distance, GPS but I didn't know
> if one is easier to use and the software. Specifically, I would like to see
> my heart rate, but also know know what my time may be for a specific
> distance, say 1 mile run within the workout, while I am training rather than
> just after on a download.
> Thanks, Mickey
>
>

Hi Mickey,

I don't actually have the gps part of the Timex Bodylink system, but I
do have the heart rate monitor and instructions for the Speed and
Distance Sensor. The Timex has a lap review mode where you can review
the speed, distance and average heart rate for each lap. So when you
start your workout, just hit the lap button at the beginning and end of
each segment that you want to review. I'm not sure if this works while
the chronograph is still running, though. Maybe someone else can
address that.

The thing I don't like about the Timex is that it doesn't give the
maximum heart rate during a particular workout or race.

good luck,
Bob

03-16-2005, 05:27 AM

With the Bodylink system you can hit the Lap button as Bob said, but
you can also a lap definition based on time or distance. The data is
automatically recorded in the specified intervals and can then be
reviewed in Lap Data Mode.

It also has a "hands free mode" based on the GPS, which starts and
stops recording automatically.

03-16-2005, 07:25 AM

FYI - The Garmin has a similar feature. It will trip a split when it
detects a predefined distance.

I have not used this feature. I think the differentiator may be in how
intuitively it is presented in the PC application. I'll check the
Garmin and report back.

rsquared

03-17-2005, 07:07 AM

i have an odd question: just occured to me last night. i already have
a HRM in my Ciclosport HAC4, but i certainly don't want to take the
unit off of my bike and strap it onto my arm in T2 (or vice versa in
T1). does anyone think that any HRM strap would work with the Garmin
and would i be able to have a Garmin and the bike HRM running at the
same time from one signal source? i am guessing yes, because at the
gym on a treadmill the HR data is transmitted to both my wrist and the
treadmill...

data convergence would be a b****, but who really cares about that.