Whether you're looking to improve your biking fitness or keep tabs on your heart health, the best cycling heart rate monitor can help you achieve your goals in a few weeks.
When you ride, it's essential to know what your heart rate is at different levels of intensity. An advanced heart rate monitor can truly help improve your fitness and overall health by giving you the data and motivation to train at the right intensity. The best bike heart rate monitor will automatically tell you how much fat and carbohydrate you're burning during your workout and give you an idea of your session average on the ride.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| CooSpo Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap | Best Overall |  |
| POLAR H9 Heart Rate Sensor | Budget Pick |  |
1. CooSpo Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap
Pros:
- ±1BPM heart rate data
- Wireless dual-mode connection
- Third-party app support
- Compatible with Bike Computers, sports watches, and gym equipment
Cons:
- Issues pairing with the app
- The strap is not ideal for washing
This CooSpo Heart Rate Monitor is a solid choice for an ANT+ Chest Strap that supports all major fitness devices and lifecycles. It is a good option for this price; it's a fitness app compatible and offers Bluetooth connectivity. This device monitors your heart rate and adjusts your riding speed accordingly. If you ride one hour per day, the battery can last for 300 hours. It is sweatproof and waterproof for rainy days however, it is not suitable for swimming.
2. Wahoo TICKR Heart Rate Monitor
Pros:
- Light and slim
- Works with 50+ apps
- Choice of Champions
- LEd indicators to show connection to other devices
- Comfortable
Cons:
- It might become inaccurate in time
- It might be difficult to pair with iPhone
This Wahoo TICKR Heart Rate Monitor and is equipped with Bluetooth & ANT+ technology, TICKR pairs to smartphones, GPS watches, and bike computers.
As an advice, if the device connects and then disconnects, it likely means the battery has to be replaced and not that the device is broken.
3. POLAR H9 Heart Rate Sensor
Pros:
- Battery life: 400 Hours
- Many connectivity options
- Ensures a more effective riding experience
Cons:
- Bluetooth connectivity might stop working in time
- Disconnects by itself
This POLAR H9 Heart Rate Sensor is a good choice for the price; it connects to sports and smartwatches, Bluetooth and ANT+ devices, and many fitness and training apps to help you take all the benefits from your riding hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best heart rate monitor for cycling?
As with most things, your heart rate monitoring needs will depend on many factors. Sure, the possibilities are endless when you look at all the monitors you can get.
But, chances are, that you are looking for a monitor that can easily track your heart rate and activity while also integrating with lots of other gadgets.
If so, the best heart rate monitor for cycling is a smartwatch with a heart rate monitor. Whether you have an iPhone or Android-only, both devices are compatible with many of the best heart rate monitors to track your heart rate while you go.
You can also choose a chest strap or wrist monitor. The chest strap is great for cyclists looking for a snapshot into their heart rhythm during a ride without the smartwatch or GPS.
If your workout requires you to look at your heart rate on the fly, the wrist monitor makes a great choice since it activates with the press of a button.
Is a heart rate monitor worth it for cycling?
Heart rate monitors are a convenient tool for easily tracking your fitness level, performance, and recovery process. You don’t need to go to a gym to find out how hard you trained, or need to wonder whether your diet is hurting your gains. You just need to strap on your heart rate monitor and get to work.
Cycling heart rate monitors range from the simplest devices that track calories burned and distance to more advanced models that transmit information wirelessly to a smartphone.
Additionally, heart rate monitors are essential for training purposes and recovery. For example, if you are using a heart rate monitor to train for a triathlon, you don’t want to overdo it. You need to know exactly how hard your body can push itself. Your heart rate monitor will tell you.
Which heart rate monitor is most accurate?
Heart Rate (HR) monitors are useful, particularly in measuring whether you are over-training or under-training. Knowing whether you are using appropriate intensity each time you exercise is important for a safe and effective workout.
Heart Rate Monitors (HRM) can track heart rate in a wide range of situations, from bodyweight exercise to using weights to biking uphill. Thus, they can help you get the best workout possible with whatever you are doing.
By monitoring your heart rate, you can see when your heart rate is too high and risking injury, but also when it is low and you aren't getting the most from your workout.
Many different features can go into a heart rate monitor that can affect the wearer, as well as how accurate the reading turned out to be compared to how you are. This is why it's important to review the different top heart rate monitors available.
What heart rate monitors are compatible with Strava?
Since Strava integrates with multiple types of Fitness Trackers (including those used for running) as well as multi-sport GPS Watches, it’s in your best interest to check your manufacturer’s compatibility chart to ensure the device you plan to use is compatible.
Conclusion
We hope that this article will make choosing your heart rate monitor easier. There are so many options to choose from, and different types of heart rate monitors based on your goals, budget, and preferences. We’ve analyzed 3 of the best heart rate monitors on the market to help you make the right choice for your training.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| CooSpo Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap | Best Overall | |
| POLAR H9 Heart Rate Sensor | Budget Pick | |