Heart Rate Strap

[love2fly]

On 12/24/2024 at 4:35 PM, Barry said:

My wife replaced her Garmin HRM strap with a Marvel strap from Cycle Lab. Over a year and still working/looking good.

The link is for a strap and monitor but they do sell the strap separately. 

 

https://www.cyclelab.com/product/3004806-acc-part-gps---marvel-hrm-strap?utm_campaign=21927658697&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=&utm_term=&adgroupid=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0Jikms_AigMVTJVQBh1OJy0JEAQYASABEgI9Y_D_BwE

 

Difficult to beat that price for both transmitter and strap

[Jaco Steyn]

On 12/24/2024 at 4:35 PM, Barry said:

My wife replaced her Garmin HRM strap with a Marvel strap from Cycle Lab. Over a year and still working/looking good.

The link is for a strap and monitor but they do sell the strap separately. 

 

https://www.cyclelab.com/product/3004806-acc-part-gps---marvel-hrm-strap?utm_campaign=21927658697&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=&utm_term=&adgroupid=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0Jikms_AigMVTJVQBh1OJy0JEAQYASABEgI9Y_D_BwE

 

When I saw this post, linking to the one on sale at Cycle Lab, I decided to get it so that I have a spare available for whenever a replacement is needed. I had some soon to expire vouchers, I therefore paid only R488 with delivery included. It was delivered by Aramex couriers to my home in less than 24 hours after placing the order.

When I opened up the Marvel branded box, it actually was a Magene H0003 model HRM that was inside. Picked up within a second by my Garmin Edge 130 Plus, and compared the readings with my Garmin HRM that I am currently using. Over a 5-minute period of wearing both, the readings were the same.

Removed the battery and put everything back in its packaging and stored with my cycling goodies for when a need for it to be utilised comes.

[love2fly]

1 hour ago, Jaco Steyn said:

When I saw this post, linking to the one on sale at Cycle Lab, I decided to get it so that I have a spare available for whenever a replacement is needed. I had some soon to expire vouchers, I therefore paid only R488 with delivery included. It was delivered by Aramex couriers to my home in less than 24 hours after placing the order.

When I opened up the Marvel branded box, it actually was a Magene H0003 model HRM that was inside. Picked up within a second by my Garmin Edge 130 Plus, and compared the readings with my Garmin HRM that I am currently using. Over a 5-minute period of wearing both, the readings were the same.

Removed the battery and put everything back in its packaging and stored with my cycling goodies for when a need for it to be utilised comes.

Any spec difference between the Magene and Marvel? Google says similar price?

[Jaco Steyn]

14 minutes ago, love2fly said:

Any spec difference between the Magene and Marvel? Google says similar price?

I actually have no idea, there's no specs on Cycle Lab's website for this Marvel HRM. I also cannot find any website for the Marvel branded products. It seems Marvel is a CWC and Cycle Lab specific brand.

On the Marvel's packaging it only indicates 1000 battery hours, ANT+ and Bluetooth and IP67 protection, which is similar to the Magene's specs

[ChrisF]

22 minutes ago, Jaco Steyn said:

I actually have no idea, there's no specs on Cycle Lab's website for this Marvel HRM. I also cannot find any website for the Marvel branded products. It seems Marvel is a CWC and Cycle Lab specific brand.

On the Marvel's packaging it only indicates 1000 battery hours, ANT+ and Bluetooth and IP67 protection, which is similar to the Magene's specs

 

Marvel was the CWC in-house brand for a very wide range of products. 

 

It was enough of a money spinner that CL incorporated it into their stores after the CWC buy-out.

 

Very few of their Marvel products have technical specs on their website.

[greatwhite]

On 12/23/2024 at 9:50 AM, love2fly said:

I use a Garmin Edge 530 head unit so must be Any+, but I guess not blueteeth compatible.

on a Garmin 530, I think you will find you can use bluetooth or Ant+

As for straps, they all give up eventually the more expensive ones sometimes last longer, but on Rand/km basis, the cheaper one work out better IMO. I've has Polar, Garmin and various no name brands. Currently using a strap I got from Takealot for (I think) R120 on promo (bought 2) with Gamin transmitter (they all mostly have 57mm stud centres so are interchangeable). To give perspective, I do approx 10000km on the bike a year. Polar strap 2 years, Garmin strap 2 years, no name depending from where 6 months to 1.5 years.

Care for the strap after use makes the biggest difference IMO. Rinse in warm (not hot) water without bending the sensor pads too much and hang to dry somewhere not in the sun. 

[WR 1.0]

Previously I've sung the praises of the Decathlon strap and monitor. The second (or third) Gen currently available has let me down. Constant HR drops. I've changed batteries which solves the problem for about a week before it acts up again. Picked up the Polar H9 unit last week. Feels a bit heavier (?), but so far no issues, seems much more stabler than others I've used 

[love2fly]

And the Decathlon was on my list

 I think I'm going to go for the Marvel one and keep it for when my latest Wahoo stops working.