GPS for training

I purchased a Timex "Bodylink" at the beginning of the summer and have been
using it regularly. It includes a watch, chest HR transmitter, and a small
gps device that Timex refers to as a "speed/distance sensor". The gps
device is approximately 3" x 3" x 1.5" and I would guess that it weighs
about 4 ounces. The gps device can be worn with an elastic strap around the
upper arm or can be clipped on to a belt or fanny pack.



Since, shortly after I purchased the unit, I suffered an ankle/tendonitis
injury, I haven't run with the device. I do use it extensively on my bike.
I clip the gps device to the saddlebag and strap the watch on to the
handlebar where I can easily view it. I've rollerskied with it attached to
my water bottle waist belt. I've even measured some of my favorite open
water lake swims, by putting the gps device in a small waterproof pouch and
attaching it to the HR monitor strap on my back. (The gps device is
water-resistant but not waterproof.)



Here's some pro's and con's of the system



Positives



You only have to wear one watch which can display time/heart rate/speed &
distance info. Its very easy to toggle through the display options. The
watch can display three different readings at once: (i.e., elapsed
time/HR/distance or lap time/HR/pace or elapsed time/HR/speed, etc. - there'
s a ton of different options)



The watch is easy to read and to use. The various toggle buttons actually
make sense! (This hasn't always been true for Timex watches in the past.)



The heart rate monitor works really well right from the moment you put on
the chest transmitter. (I've had problems with Polar HR monitors in the
past not giving accurate readings until about 10 or 20 minutes into an
activity.)



The distance readings are dead-on accurate!



The gps device works on two small AA batteries. The watch will tell you
when the batteries are getting low.



Negatives



It only records one workout at a time. At the end of a workout, you have to
write down or enter the information somewhere (it does have a download
feature which I didn't purchase), because when you restart the stopwatch it
will erase all previous data. You can, of course, record multiple laps of
one workout.



Only the average & current heart rates are recorded. It doesn't record Max
HR. It will tell you how much time you spent in a certain HR zone, average
HR per lap, etc.



You need a relatively open sky above you. It starts to lose its signal in
heavy tree cover. The watch does have a "speed and distance smoothing"
option which, I assume, averages out the rate & distance of travel if
satellite signals are missed.



All in all, I've been really pleased with it. Can't wait to use it on the
snow!



Rick Mitchell







"J999w" wrote in message
...
I believe this has been covered before, but just a quick note saying that
I've
been using my GPS as a hiking odometer and I like it. I can go off trail,
up
and down steep hills taking whatever sized step suits the terrain and not
worry
about it throwing my distance off. Can also be used biking, skiing,
blading,
paddling, etc. I put it in a fanny pack and forget about it, works great.

Can also be used for Geocache hunting! (why I have it in the first place).

That's all.

jw
milwaukee