Option 1: Use Garmin 500 on bike and switch to Garmin 310xt at T-2 (hoping your watch is able to get satellite signal during the run through transition.)
Option 2: Use Garmin 310x at the start of the swim and use it the whole race.
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Option 2, one less thing to worry about.
For what it is worth, I have switched over to the Garmin FR70. I resisted the foot pod approach for a long time but I find it much better.
I use the GPS watches for training occasionally, but in a race I use the FR70.
There is no issue with battery life, it is always “on,” and it is extremely accurate once you calibrate it.
I wear it for the entire IM or HIM. I use my SRM on the bike for bike metrics, and really only start to pay close attention to the watch on the run.
It pairs with an HRM also.
310XT and Garmin 800. I like the read out better on the 800 for the bike.
I did Edge 500 on the bike and 305 on the run for IMWI. My 405 was on the fritz so I had to borrow my wife’s 305. I didn’t get a satellite lock until about 1/2 mile in, so what I did was stop the time, reset, and restart at the mile 1 marker. So, for the first mile, my GPS was screwed up, but I at least had the timer going to see how my pace was doing at the first mile. Then it was just a 25.2 mile race from there on out. It might sound complicated, but I was able to do it without really even looking at the watch. Sporttracks allowed me to combine the two different activities once I imported them so it all shows up as one record in my training log.
You could always just turn your 310XT on when you have access to your Bike to Run bag in the morning. Battery life should be long enough to have enough juice for your run, and it should have a satellite link by that time too. If I’m overlooking some sort of “Auto-off” function, I’m sorry, but I always end up finding my watch dead when I forget to turn it off after syncing so I don’t think there is one.
310XT. Leave it turned on before the race starts and leave it in my helmet in the T1 bag. I dont put it on my wrist for the swim because it would be under my wetsuit and do me no good. The watch has plenty of battery life to last until i finish the race
If you have both I’d use both, if the 310xt is on your wrist it can be awkward to look at whilst cycling and might not be worth the hassle with swapping between bike and wrist mounts.
I use a 310xt for the whole race and have a PowerTap LYC on the bike.
I use both. Start the race witht he 310 and it keeps my race clock. On the bike I’ve got the 500 going as well. I like the display better. I used to only use the 310 but on more than one occassion I forgot to take the 310 off the quick release coming into T2 and would have to go back to get it for the run. Don’t have that problem anymore.
Yeah, looking at a 310xt is really awkward on the bike when your trying to keep watts constant. I’m a little concerned with how the 310 will affect my swim and bike aeroness.
Don’t wear anything anymore on swim if wetsuit race. Garmin 500 on bike. Garmin 310xt on run.
I have an Edge 305 for my bike, and a Forerunner 205 for the run. The 205 sits on my bike seat in T1 and it the last thing I grab. I just slip it in my back pocket, grab the bike, and go. At the end of the bike I reach back and turn it on, but leave it in my pocket. On my way out of T2 I pull it out, put it on, and press start.
No battery concerns, no start up concerns, and minimal skill required to make it all work.
Garmin 305 for the bike and run. Just make sure you finish in around 10 hours!
I am going to be using my Edge 500 for the bike then Forerunner 210 for the run. Last year I wore a polar watch that I used all race along with the 500 but I got a 210 for the run only portion. Then I’ll have a small stop watch to keep track of total time on course. Wearing two watches is the cool thing to do right?!
I pace by feel for the swim. Use Garmin 705 on the bike. Switch over to Garmin 305 for the run. The Garmin 305 takes a minute to load and by the time I get to T2, if I was to leave it on, might be out of battery power. So I wait for somewhere around 2 minutes for it to load. Not the best.
I plan on doing this as well. 910xt for total time and LYC on the bike. Both will be recording power. Using the lyc since my main concern is forgetting the 910xt on the bike.
Garmin 305 for the bike and run. Just make sure you finish in around 10 hours!
My 305 is only good for 6 hours, even though I’m not using the “record every second” option.
310xt the whole race. Wear it with the face on the palm side of your wrist. It will help your pull for the swim. It will be wind shadowed by your hand on the bike and you can see your watts while in the aero bars.
310 is built for the race I loved it gave me great swim splits, bike and run
The battery also last the whole day
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Anyone use a Polar watch?