I’m thinking about getting a Garmin Forerunner 305 watch and heart rate monitor to help me control my heart rate/effort during the bike leg of IMFL (my first IM). The Garmin website says that the watch has a rechargeable battery that will hold a charge for approximately 10 hrs. But the website doesn’t say what type of battery is in the heart rate strap.
Does anyone know what battery is in the heart rate strap (rechargeable or replaceable)? If it’s rechargeable, how long does it hold its charge?
Also, what type of watch battery life are users getting in real life (Garmin says 10 hrs)?
I’m thinking about getting a Garmin Forerunner 305 watch and heart rate monitor to help me control my heart rate/effort during the bike leg of IMFL (my first IM). The Garmin website says that the watch has a rechargeable battery that will hold a charge for approximately 10 hrs. But the website doesn’t say what type of battery is in the heart rate strap.
Does anyone know what battery is in the heart rate strap (rechargeable or replaceable)? If it’s rechargeable, how long does it hold its charge?
replaceable, some sort of standard watch battery, cr2032 or similar (don’t have it with me). you can probably look this up on the garmin website or download the manual if you’re dying to know. Mine’s still on the original after a year of daily use.
Also, what type of watch battery life are users getting in real life (Garmin says 10 hrs)?
10 hours seems about right. I usually charge it after each workout so don’t test that too often. You can apparently go longer with the GPS turned off. People have used them for IM by using the (optional) cadence sensor instead of GPS on the bike to leave enough battery to have the GPS on for the run.
The battery in the strap itself is not rechargable. The life of the thing is about, forever. OK, at least a very long time. I’ve had mine over a year and it’s still working. I’d assume it’s similar to the Polar, which I’ve had for 3 years and it’s still ticking.
10 hours sounds about right. I’ve never done any event long enough to run the batter on the unit.
I’m thinking about getting a Garmin Forerunner 305 watch and heart rate monitor to help me control my heart rate/effort during the bike leg of IMFL (my first IM). The Garmin website says that the watch has a rechargeable battery that will hold a charge for approximately 10 hrs. But the website doesn’t say what type of battery is in the heart rate strap.
Does anyone know what battery is in the heart rate strap (rechargeable or replaceable)? If it’s rechargeable, how long does it hold its charge?
Also, what type of watch battery life are users getting in real life (Garmin says 10 hrs)?
I have both the 305 Forerunner (watch for running) and 305 Edge (bike computer) both with cadence and heart rate. You do not want to use the watch on the bike because it can’t be read while you are in the aero position. If you want to be able to see your heart rate enough to be of value to you riding get the Edge and mount it under your nose (when you are in the aero position).
I have done the following in something like 8 Tris in the last year including 3 half iron distance events: In the transition area before the event I put on the chest strap and turn on the two units. When both the bike and running units have gotten the sateilites I check to see that they are both reading off of my heart. Side by side they read the exact same number. I reset the memories of both units and put the watch unit in my running shoe. The same chest strap stays on under my top and wet suit for the swim and is not effected by the water. This has a cheap user replaceable battery that you should change once or twice a year and the cadence sensor uses the same battery and should be changed at least once a year. Battries are cheap, you don’t want them to fail while you are in an important event. According to Garmin both the Edge (bike) and Forerunner (run) have 14 hour battries. Most of the time I think the charges are really more like 10 hours, but I have tested the Forerunner for longer then 14 and it still worked.
When I get out of the water and jump on the bike I just have to start the timer on the Edge and it gives me MPH, Cadence, Hear Rate, and Total Distance on one easy to read page (OK, so I wear Rudy Project flip up prescription sun glasses). Then when I get off the bike I stop the timer, and pull my Forerunner out of my running shoes and strap it on my wrist as I jog around the transition aera screaming WHERE THE F**K IS THE EXIT? When I find the exit I start the stopwatch and and on one page I get Total Time, Distance, and Heart Rate. When I get to the finish line I always look down at the stupid thing while stopping it and in every finish line photo you can’t see my eyes because I’m looking at it and not the photographer.
If you are going to do an event where you think it will be more then 14 hours from when you set up your stuff in the transition area to the finish, then turn the Forerunner off after you match it to your heart strap pre race. When you rack your bike and put on your running shoes and Forerunner, then turn it on as you leave the transition area. It will record time and your heart rate, but will be giving you inaccurate or no distance data untill it locks in again on the satilites. Good luck at the races. Tim
You do not want to use the watch on the bike because it can’t be read while you are in the aero position. If you want to be able to see your heart rate enough to be of value to you riding get the Edge and mount it under your nose (when you are in the aero position).
I have no problem, I always slide the watch round so that the face is on the inside of my wrist. That way I can see the data when in Aero. I’ve done this with Polar and Garmin Forerunner with no problems.
I had a similar approach to yours a IMLou. I used my Polar for Swim and Bike, but my Forerunner was strapped round my base bar. I was plannig to have it in my T2 bag, but its been taking some time (10 minutes or so) to find the sattelites, seems to be a problem in new towns. Anyway, 15 minutes before the end of the bike, I switch it on and yes it did take 10 minutes to find the sattelites. The plan was then to unstrap it from the base bar, put it on my wrist and then do the opposite with the Polar. However, ummmmmmm I just plain forgot. Until about 1 minute after I’d handed off the bike and was running towards the T2 bags.
I desperately wanted the forerunner for the run so I ran back out into the bike park. Fortunately they were racking the bikes back in their original location, they don’t always do that. However mine wasn’t there yet. It’s fun looking for a Red P3C in bike park for 2000 bikes. Hardly unique is it. Then I realised they had a staging area, so I went there. It wasn’t there either. I went back to my bike rack and there is was. So I made the switch, went for a pee, got some sunscreen on. A blistering 9 minute transition, I figure it cost me 5 minutes total. Fortunately the 2 guys in my AG who finished just in front of me didn’t want to go to Kona, otherwise I’d stil be kicking myself.
Also, for IM KY I swam in a normal watch…switched to the 305 for the bike (using the indoor mode (buy the bike speed/cadence sensor)) then I switched to gps for the run…battery was only 1/2 used at the end of 12hrs.
Join the garmin forerunner yahoo list also for good information.
its been taking some time (10 minutes or so) to find the sattelites
You might try powering on while holding down the down arrow. This forces the unit to start a new search for satellites rather than looking for ones in its cache.
i have both the forerunner and edge also and was trying to figure out how to use them effectively for IMF. i will not be using the heart rate but i want to make sure my forerunner battery lasts the whole run because I was planning on having it ON while it sits in my shoes in transition all day ( swim and bike) so i don’t have problem looking for satellites when i start the run. So, you think the battery in the forerunner will have enough time on it to last being on ( not in use just sitting there on) for about 7.5 hours then used for an additional 4.5 ( i hope not more than a total of 12 hours). I have been thinking of having my husband hold the forerunner and turn it on before i would be coming into T2 and hand it to me on the run, but that might be outside assistance…???
jana
Jana - I’ve been thinking about doing the same thing at Arizona next year - i.e. have my wife hold the Forerunner and hand it off to me just before T2. Still not sure though as I might use it on both the bike and the run. I figure I’ll need between 9.5 and 10 hours for the bike and the run. I’m thinking the Forerunner might just last that long. I do plan to test it though several times beforehand.
My Garmin won’t last 10 hours so I bought one of these battery holders for a Motorola Razr on eBay. (same mini usb connector as the Garmin cradle - around 10 bucks with shipping) It holds one AA battery and will at least keep it running (In your shoe, in its cradle) if not actually recharging it. This way, you can leave it on and it won’t have to search for satellites when you need to GO.
i guess that is a good idea to test my watch and see how long it holds a charge.
i kept it on in my shoe for Lone Star half, but I will need it for more than twice as long at IM Florida.
sure are a lot of you guys from Houston going to AZ next year. we have about 10 going to florida. its nice to have a big group to train with. those long rides get boring alone.
My Garmin won’t last 10 hours so I bought one of these battery holders for a Motorola Razr on eBay. (same mini usb connector as the Garmin cradle - around 10 bucks with shipping) It holds one AA battery and will at least keep it running (In your shoe, in its cradle) if not actually recharging it. This way, you can leave it on and it won’t have to search for satellites when you need to GO.
So I’ve been trying to search for this battery charger? Anyone know where I can get it. I’ve checked on ebay, and i cant find this device.
