Racing with two Garmins

Triathlon Forum
1

Anyone have any experience racing with two Garmin watches (ex: 310XT on wrist and Edge 500 on bike).

I currently race with two Polars so I don’t have to play the watch swap game between events. No issues with either watch picking up heart rate, speed, cadence, when I transfer between events. Looking to switch to Garmin for ANT+ power meter.

Wondering if the Garmins have any issue with this or if people have had success? I also want the Edge 500 since it has a number of better features (often discussed on these forums) but still need something for the swim and run.

Finally - what’s everyone’s take on the smart recording? Anyway to turn this #@& off? I’m looking at some of my clients’ data files on trainingpeaks and 95% of the time it’s fine but every now and then it produces something useless. Now if only Polar made an ANT+ watch my world would be perfect.

Thanks,

-mike

2

I don’t race with two, but I have run with both a 405 and a FR60 (to calibrate the FR60). No problems with either watch picking up the heart rate monitor or the foot pod.

3

And it doesn’t force you to do a “repairing” every time you switch. That’s my main concern.

4

Have not raced with two, but I have ridden with my 310XT and Edge 705 at the same time. Both picked up heart rate and cadence and both were consistent with their readings. The only difference I would notice would be the calories burned data because they use different formulas for computing the information.

5

Thanks all. Seems like it would work just fine.

-mike

6

I intend to race with both also…except with a 305.

Last year I raced with 2 HR straps - one for PowerTap and one for Garmin. I just kept hoping I didn’t get medivaced and have to
explain the extent of my data addiction. At least now I’ll be able to ditch one HR strap. :wink:

I’ll be doing some trial rides with the setup in the next couple weeks. I’ll post back on this thread if I run into any
problems.

.

7

I always race with two garmins, no problem. Usually set my 705 to autostart/stop so I don’t have to fiddle with it for recording purposes.

If you hold out for a couple more months you can find a Timex with GPS tracking and ANT+ (I think.) Might be a suitable alternative to the clunky orange brick 310xt.

8

Last year I raced with 2 HR straps - one for PowerTap and one for Garmin. I just kept hoping I didn’t get medivaced and have to
explain the extent of my data addiction. At least now I’ll be able to ditch one HR strap. :wink:

Why would you do that? Garmin HR strap works with Powertap…

9

I’ve raced with two garmins and didn’t have any problems. Never raced with two HR straps.

10

Yes no problem you can use two garmins.

11

No - they didn’t.

My 2007 Saris’ strap works with the PowerTap and Polar head units, and the Garmin ANT was not compatible with either.

When riding I it would intermittently pick up a reading from the Garmin HR strap, but not with any consistency.

Same thing on any of the ‘Polar’ devices at the gym (treadmills, cycles,…) they are interchangeable with the Polar &
PowerTap straps but not with the Garmin.

My PT is a few years old, I think they are on board now with ANT+ and so new units & HR straps should be compatible
between PowerTap and Garmin…but neither will work with Polar until Polar starts using ANT+.

I have a new SL+ PT on order which will speak ANT with the Garmin head units so my life will get a bit simpler soon.

.

12

Not sure about all that. I use a garmin strap with a non ant powertap comp and sl+. Use a garmin 305.

1 strap 2 units.

13

I always race with two garmins, no problem. Usually set my 705 to autostart/stop so I don’t have to fiddle with it for recording purposes.

If you hold out for a couple more months you can find a Timex with GPS tracking and ANT+ (I think.) Might be a suitable alternative to the clunky orange brick 310xt.

The new timex seems HIGHLY promising… This is the first I am hearing of it… but I’d have to wait until september.
Is this the one you are referring to: http://www.timexironman.com/Products/Global_Trainer_GPS.htm#watchtop

There are a couple of things I don’t like about “the orange brick”

  • it’s huge
  • GPS altitude is worthless (e.g. 1000 feet of climbing on a trainer ride) - edge 500 seems to fix this with baro altitude
  • “smart recording” sometimes produces unreliable data
  • 20 hour battery? What? that’s it? Polar watches last for 2+ years. I’m confused about this whole battery thing
  • need an edge 500 for rolling average power outputs

If the timex can fix all that, I might hold out. I don’t see running (or cycling) cadence measurement… hopefully there’s a footpod too… and a “soft” HR strap. Why’s it so hard to make a full-featured watch?

14

I raced with 3 Garmin devices at Ironman Louisville.

Swim: Started my FP60 Watch for overall time (The ANT+ doesnt work for HR in the water, but I think everyone knows that). I could probably use any sort of watch instead of the FP60 since I was only going for overall time with this watch.

Bike: Used my Garmin 705. I turned this on before I left for the swim start. So that way it was all synched up and ready to go.

Run: I had a Garmin 305 with me on the bike, I had it (wait for it. . .it is coming. …) in my Bento box. I turned it on with about 5 miles to go, so it could sync up with GPS. This watch sometimes takes forever to sync up, so that is why I took it with me on the bike.

I then ran with my FP60 and Garmin 305.

Everything worked as it should, I had good quality data throughout. I guess the 310xt would solve all of those problems. . but I will wait for the later versions of that watch to come out.