It’s been about a month now with my Scosche Rhythm+ HRM.
Took me about a week to figure out the best tightness and location for me to wear it (I found my proximal forearm works best, tight enough to leave a mark but no problems even after 2 hrs), and now my readings are nearly all spot-on with few to no drops. I’m pretty impressed with it actually - it’s working better even than my Garmin HRMs, and I’ve tried all of them.
I don’t know about the long-term (6+month) longevity of this device, but I’m hoping that the optical nature of the readings will make it stay excellent, as compared to the Garmin HRMs which ALWAYS crap out after 6 months (you know what I’m talking about - more and more data drops, incorrect data, and soon the thing is dead. Even if you change the batteries. Or the pod unit. Have done both many times.)
My question now for all you folks who race with your Rhythm:
How do you manage using it with the wetsuit? I’m afraid that wearing it under a fullsleeve wetsuit will cause the wetsuit to snag on it as it comes off. I could just leave if off in the swim then put it on in T1, but it does take more than a few seconds to cinch it on to the optimal position and tension. How are you folks doing it?
From a longevity standpoint, I have personal training clients using the Scosche for well over a year on a near daily basis. It has performed flawlessly so far. Only the velcro strap has needed to be replaced.
The Scosche should be slightly easier than a Garmin 920 to negotiate around because it is smaller. Since it does not pick up in the water, I would put it on in T1, versus having to fight getting the wetsuit around the device, the Scosche moving anyway, and still needing to be readjusted. Just my $.02.
I like it enough to have 2. I have 1 I usually use while cycling and another I keep in my running bag to use while running. I’ve had the first one well over a year and have replaced the strap once.
For bike trainer sessions lots of times I just put it on the inside of my forearm. I don’t like doing this outside because I get a nice tanline from it if i’m not wearing long sleeves.
Outside I usually put it on my upper arm just above the bicep. I find this is a good spot because the bicep keeps it from sliding down your arm. If I put it on the forearm or on the bicep sometimes it will start sliding down my arm and I will get bad readings because the sensor isnt tight against my skin.
If you have tattoos you need to be careful with the placement. I get bad readings if its placed directly over one of my tattoos. If its on normal skin it works great.
I usually race with a short sleeved trisuit so if placed on the upper arm it fits nicely under the trisuit sleeve. So my wetsuit never touches it directly with a short sleeved suit. Occasionally I will race with a sleeveless trisuit and havent had any issues with it on my upper arm under a wetsuit.
I’ve had mine for two years with no issues, other than replacing the strap as it wears out.
I wear it on the upper arm above the bicep. No issues with readings, and it only needs to be tight enough that it doesn’t slide down. Also no issues taking off a wetsuit over it. I put it on before the swim and have never had to think about it during the race.
The only case where it doesn’t work for me is an IM (due to the 7-8 hour battery life).
From a longevity standpoint, I have personal training clients using the Scosche for well over a year on a near daily basis. It has performed flawlessly so far. Only the velcro strap has needed to be replaced.
The Scosche should be slightly easier than a Garmin 920 to negotiate around because it is smaller. Since it does not pick up in the water, I would put it on in T1, versus having to fight getting the wetsuit around the device, the Scosche moving anyway, and still needing to be readjusted. Just my $.02.
I use mine all the time in the pool with my V800. The Scosche has to be worn right up next to the V800. Works fine.