Garmin data - frustrating

[chris_w_65]

I am struggling with the heart rate data on my Garmin 310XT. I have emailed support but maybe someone on here has some advice.

 

I have the latest firmware and a new battery in the HR strap. I did a hard reset and entered all my settings again to try sort it out but no luck

 

Pretty much anything over 180 is incorrect data, I probably average around 140 - 145

 

220 - my age = 175 but more realistically my max is 185

 

Also the calories it says I burned for an exercise are too low, that is odd because it is exaggerating my heart rate so you would expect it to think I was working harder than I was. I rode 80km this morning at an average of 24km/h, if I look at various calculators on the net and input my weight, average speed and time cycled they all come back with a figure around 2300 calories. My Garmin says I only used 1015 calories.

[Guest agteros]

Do you have the new premium HR strap?

[Guest agteros]

Read this https://forums.garmin.com/showpost.php?p=85294&postcount=4

 

I've had problems with the premium HR strap and the Edge 800 as well (especially calorie calcs). Reverted back to the plactic strap I got with the ForeRunner 405, and all seems normal as well.

[chris_w_65]

Yes, premium

 

Another option is to try the Polar elastic strap with the Garmin HR transmitter. Probably won't cost much for the strap. It fits according to dcrainmaker and works better

[Guest agteros]

Yes, premium

 

Another option is to try the Polar elastic strap with the Garmin HR transmitter. Probably won't cost much for the strap. It fits according to dcrainmaker and works better

 

On the Garmin forums the people state that the Polar strap/Garmin transmitter combo tends to start acting up after a while as well...

 

As an aside, have you tried washing the strap (without the transmitter)? Use mild soap and no softener. Harold from Polar reckons he just chucks his Polar strap into the washing machine with his sports clothing.....

[chris_w_65]

Thanks, I will give the strap a proper wash

[Guest agteros]

Thanks, I will give the strap a proper wash

 

Be gentle with it! Cold water, no tumble dryer

[chris_w_65]

Be gentle with it! Cold water, no tumble dryer

 

Done, hand wash with washing powder and let it soak for a while. Rinsed well and now hanging up to dry.

 

I will probably ride tomorrow, legs and weather permitting, I will report back.

[chris_w_65]

I also had very bad cadence readings for a while now, I found the reason yesterday. The seal in the speed/cadence sensor was not seated correctly and water got in the sensor, I think this caused the battery to run completely flat so my 310XT was using the cadence data from the Powertap which is not at all accurate. I replaced the sensor with my spare and left the damp one open to dry, I will test if it still works sometime.

[chris_w_65]

I think that the Garmin calculates my calories from my average heart rate compared to my max, it thinks my max is 220 and that I was loafing for most of my exercise

[Grebel]

I have read that the calorie calcs on the Garmin are not that accurate... I have the Egde 305 and I like it because of the multiple display windows that you can view at the same time. I believe that the Polar is a better training tool though...

[chris_w_65]

I think the old Garmins tried to calculate calories by the distance you traveled or something like that, the new ones are HR based

[Riding in Africa]

I have had problems with low HR readings and have changed everything, Big up to Garmin and there service center, as they changed the hard strap for a new one and when it did not stop changed the Edge 500 unit as well!!!!

 

What i have started doing is using electrode gel on the strap and it has worked well since, though i have found that if the HR strap rides up? then i start to get low readings again. So i just push it back down( sounds wrong but it works)

 

From your graphs your heart rate is all over the place so it will not calc correctly? Your Max is the same as mine, so you should know when you have reached it(sweating ,loss of vision, etc)on yours it spends quite a bit of time below 120 then up to 200

 

Try too get your readings more stable on your next few rides, i use the cadance rate as i guide as well to keep it in a zone 70- 90%

[chris_w_65]

Ok, nice 4.5 hour ride done with thoroughly washed heart rate strap. Clearly that was not the solution I was looking for.

[chris_w_65]

Also it says I only burnt 1500 calories

[chris_w_65]

bump