I purchased a 910 and like the idea of the quick release kit, but worried about a quick release in an OWS. 1) How secure is the watch in the quick release mount. 2) Have you ever lost your watch because of the quick release mechanism…in OWS or a pool? Lastly, do you happen to have a picture of where you put the mount on your tri bike?
My understanding is the mount is similar to the 310XT. I have the bike mount fitted to a tri bike on one of those profile design computer mounts, a road bike on the stem, and a mountain bike on the bar. I have never had problems with the 310 coming off the mount. Same in the water, even when bashed about or running off and on road.
The FR910XT quick release is actually fairly different in execution than the FR310XT quick release. I’d be rather surprised if someone could break it off without breaking their wrist. I added a ton of pictures around it to the FR910XT review post last weekend.
The biggest item of note with the mount design is that the pin is no longer just one pin on each side. Rather, two metal screws screw into the side of the longer rather strong metal pin through the watches hardened plastic (which, I will point out is a solid pain in the butt to juggle when you ‘install’ it). But, it’s a beast from a solidification standpoint. Essentially, the two side screws pull everything tight onto the watch.
I’m not saying there isn’t going to be some way someone will break it, but I think the days of losing it during the swim are gone.
Unfortunately, the 910XT quick release kit is not compatible with the FR310XT (tried), as the orientation of the mount is backwards compared to the plastic nest.
Very secure. Twist and click to connect it, unclicking it requires some definite twisting force to remove. I would wager than however hard you knocked the watch it would not come off. You need to not only get it past the initial click but keep twisting with a certain amount of force to remove it. It is rock solid.
My old 305 popped off its quick release mount once, but only when a dog jumped up at me and happened to catch it’s paw on the release mechanism. This would not happen with the 910. I think you would have had to do something pretty stupid to lose it from the quick release mount on either the wrist strap or bike mount.
I have not installed on my tri bike but … the mount is designed to sit over a curve and can be installed at 90 degree variances (for example, on your aerobar extensions, which face front to back or on a roadbike you could put them on the handlebars which run left to right. On my road bike I have it on the stem so it is installed front to back. There are 2 sizes of band to help the install. Relying on a rubber band would seem a bit sketchy but they are a special durable rubber (Garmin recommend you only use their bands) and work way better than cable ties. The mount is rock solid on my bike. The plastic mount has a specialy shaped rubber washer that sits behind it to provide grip and I imagine it reduces shock too.
In answer to your question I have seen them mounted on aerobar extensions and often angled n slightly rather than flat to the horizon. Similar to below. I also threw up a pic of a stem mount which is another option. The second picture shows the bands quite well.
The quick release does add a bit of height whilst on your wrist but it makes it a lot easier to use across all sports.
There are quite a few options on another ST thread here: LINK
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I still wonder though whether it is actually feasible to put the 910XT on your wrist with wetsuit on and expect everything to work flawlessly when taking the wetsuit off at T1.
No chance of it coming loose becuase of the (albiet slight) higher profile? No chance of button (lap) being pressed while sleeve is pulled down (which would potentially send you into the Bike leg if you are in multi-sport mode)?
I almost wonder if you have a quick release if your not just better off putting it in your swim cap?
-YT
The FR910XT quick release is actually fairly different in execution than the FR310XT quick release. I’d be rather surprised if someone could break it off without breaking their wrist. I added a ton of pictures around it to the FR910XT review post last weekend.
The biggest item of note with the mount design is that the pin is no longer just one pin on each side. Rather, two metal screws screw into the side of the longer rather strong metal pin through the watches hardened plastic (which, I will point out is a solid pain in the butt to juggle when you ‘install’ it). But, it’s a beast from a solidification standpoint. Essentially, the two side screws pull everything tight onto the watch.
I’m not saying there isn’t going to be some way someone will break it, but I think the days of losing it during the swim are gone.
Unfortunately, the 910XT quick release kit is not compatible with the FR310XT (tried), as the orientation of the mount is backwards compared to the plastic nest.
Not too worried about the mount to the back of the device. More important is whether the 910QR will work with the 500/310XT mount on the bike
The FR910XT quick release is actually fairly different in execution than the FR310XT quick release. I’d be rather surprised if someone could break it off without breaking their wrist. I added a ton of pictures around it to the FR910XT review post last weekend.
The biggest item of note with the mount design is that the pin is no longer just one pin on each side. Rather, two metal screws screw into the side of the longer rather strong metal pin through the watches hardened plastic (which, I will point out is a solid pain in the butt to juggle when you ‘install’ it). But, it’s a beast from a solidification standpoint. Essentially, the two side screws pull everything tight onto the watch.
I’m not saying there isn’t going to be some way someone will break it, but I think the days of losing it during the swim are gone.
Unfortunately, the 910XT quick release kit is not compatible with the FR310XT (tried), as the orientation of the mount is backwards compared to the plastic nest.
Not too worried about the mount to the back of the device. More important is whether the 910QR will work with the 500/310XT mount on the bike
Yes, it’s the same quarter-turn mount as the 500/310XT/200/800.
Yeah! Between us we have 6 mounts for the 310XT. The thought of having to replace all of them as well as the mount on the back of the device was one we didn’t really want to contemplate.
I am sorry to report that it can get knocked off during the swim. After using it in just 2 prior races this year mine was knocked off yesterday. It was a pretty rough start and I got knocked around a bit. When I came out of the water it was gone. I was pretty worried that this would happen checked to make sure it was secure before heading out. Bummer…Am thinking about contacting Garmin to see if they might have some sort of replacement policy, a discount or whatever. I’ll own another one before the weeks over. It was my primary computer, power, cadence,HR, the whole 9 yards…I love the watch.
Update: I actually took the time to look at the band today and saw that it didn’t just get knocked off, it actually broke off! About 75% of the back plate is still on the watch band. I’d post a pic but I havent yet figured to how.
Mine is now at the bottom of the lake from my Tri last weekend
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Unfortunately, Garmin would not help me in anyway. They responded quickly but even after explaining that it BROKE from a swim kick (that person must have kicked very hard) they would do nothing for me. I’m pretty dissapointed. I have a hard time believing that a well designed product could break that easily, under water, from a kick. Still, I’ll order another watch but will not use the quick release again, ever.
Count me as one who has had to swim back to the middle of the pool to pick up my 910XT.
Sort of disconcerting to get to the wall at the end of an 800, go to hit lap to start a rest interval and be staring at an empty plate… Then again would have been more disconcerting to be in a lake and not a pool.
I think the tension on these is slightly less than the 310xts were, and as a consequence, especially with race conditions, if you start getting bumped or doing the bumping, does not take much to give the face a knock and twist and then buh-bye!
The strap pins are much beefier, so don’t think many will loose the whole watch, then again, I think the QR strap is only about $9.00 itself, so little consolation to finishing your swim to find only the $9.00 strap not no $450 watch and another $9 worth of backing plate, etc.
Never had an issue with 310xt running or riding. I would, however, be a little concerned about using it open water. In a pool, fine. I can easily find it. Open water, no so much.
I’ve heard a horror story or two of guys having their 310xt knocked off in an OWS and because of that I’ve never risked it even though I think it would be hard to knock it loose.
I have been question whether I really need the QR. At least with my set up with the mount on the stem, it is often easier to look at my wrist than the stem. Likewise if I am doing a brick, do I ride with just the empty strap, or put on both the strap and switch on and off the watch. I am weighing the risk of loosing, versus the marginal convenience of having it on my stem
I like the QR. I just ride / swim with the empty strap and then pull the Garmin off the bike in transition. Otherwise, I can’t really see my wrist that well on the bike to make it worth it.
RJH - can you please re-post your comment on the $99 replacement? I sent Garmin the link so they could see your post but by the time they looked (moments later) it was deleted. Thanks!
Lost my 310 this past weekend at Eagleman. About 2 mins into the swim I felt I come off. Sucks that I had just got Garmin to send me updated beefier pins and still had it fall off. I had used it for about 2 years with no issues and had it fall off during a run a few weeks back thats why I got the new pins. The old pins were very bowed when I took them out. I now will be upgrading to a 910. Keep us posted if Garmin does anything to help out.