Heart Rate Monitors
These are useful tools to track whether you are training at the correct intensity and also to see
improvements in fitness.
RRC training this season would like to focus more on the use of heart rate zones, so if you have one
or can buy one, great! Otherwise refer to the blog article as there are other more subjective ways to
estimate how hard you are training.
If you are going to buy a heart rate monitor, get one with a chest band. We don’t recommend the
optical wrist heart rate monitors. At this point in time the technology is unreliable when rowing or
erging, probably because rowing uses the muscles in your wrist so the distance between the optical
sensor and your skin varies with each stroke.
If you are struggling to get a reliable heart rate output from your chest belt, try:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Wetting the sensors pads or getting up a sweat before you start.
Make sure the sensor is close to your heart, rotate it slightly to the left
Connecting the strap away from body fat (below your breasts)
If you have a lot of body hair, this can also interfere with the connection
Replacing the batteries
Buy electrode gel to improve the connection
Heart rate monitoring on Concept 2 Ergometers
In the Richmond Rowing Club gym we have four different types of Concept 2 ergometer displays,
PM2, PM2+, PM3, and PM5, reflecting the different ages of the ergos. The model number is shown
at the top right of the display unit.
The PM5s can connect wirelessly (see table below) and the
PM3s now have receivers so are capable of connecting to
heart rate monitors.
We have not connected the PM2+ and PM2 displays
because there’s not enough room! To avoid interference
the ergos need to be about four feet or 1.22m apart, so the
connected and unconnected ergometers are placed in
alternating positions across the gym.
See the table below from Concept 2 to determine which
displays connect to different types of heart rate monitors.
PM5
PM3
PM2 PM2+
Bluetooth Smart
Yes
No
No
Bluetooth
No
No
No
ANT+ (Garmin)
Yes
No
No
Suunto ANT
Yes
No
No
PM5
PM3
PM2 PM2+
Yes. Concept2 cable/receiver Yes. Concept2 cable/receiver
Polar GymLink/Polar compatible
No
required.
required.
Polar W.I.N.D.
No
No
No
http://www.concept2.com.au/service/heart-rate-equipment
Connecting to a PM3
Once you start rowing the PM3s should automatically
detect a compatible heart rate monitor. You will see a
little heart icon ♥ and your beats per minute displayed
in the bottom right or mid right of the display.
Connecting to a PM5
For Bluetooth Smart HR chest belts, be aware that they can only connect to one thing at a time, so
make sure it is not also connected to your phone.
1.
2.
3.
4.
With the chest belt on, go to the Main Menu
Select More Options
Select Connect Heart Rate
Within 5–10 seconds, the PM will list identification information for any chest belt it finds.
This information may include brand or model information and/or an ID number.
5. Choose the ID that corresponds to your chest belt. (If you are unsure, check the chest belt
ID, which is typically listed on the back of the belt.)
6. Select Confirm.
This information comes from http://www.concept2.com.au/service/heart-rate-equipment/garminand-suunto/how-to-use/pairing-chest-belt-pm4-or-pm5
Pulling apart the Ergos
If you need to separate the slide from the wheel on the ergos for storage, make sure you disconnect
the cables on the PM3s found underneath the slide about halfway along and pull the cable out of the
J-clip under the slide near the feet.