forCycling.com - Polar CS200cad Cycling Computer Heart Rate Monitor with Cadence

Product Description:


Set your ride distance and the Estimated Time of Arrival will tell you how long before you reach your destination. Cycling Energy Output calculates your cycling workload as kcal/h and kcal/km. Memory Files store your last seven training sessions. Wireless Polar CS speed sensor and SpeedPointer programs track your distance and pace.


The handlebar-mounted Polar CS200cad combines all the features of a high-end cycle computer with a fully functional heart rate monitor--the Polar Wearklink 31 coded transmitter. It provides a full range of cycling computer functions, and offers similar features to the CS200 but adds an advanced wireless cadence sensor (which measures your pedaling rate as RPM). Like the CS100 and CS200, it includes three new innovative Polar features: the Polar Cycling Coach (a Web-based coaching program and diary), estimated time of arrival (based on your speed), and automatic display scroll, which switches the information on the display according to your preferences. The CS200cad also adds a number of additional sophisticated functions, including memory of your last seven rides, downloading ride date to a PC via microphone, indication of whether you're above or below your average speed, and the ability to predict your calorie expenditure. Features include: Wireless ECG accurate heart rate with Polar OwnCode (5kHz) to prevent cross-talk from other heart rate monitors Target heart rate zones with visual and audible alarms Graphical comparison of heart rate and speed Heart rate measurements: maximum of total and each lap, average of total Wireless cycling measurements: Speed (current, average and max); trip; distance Calorie consumption rate per kilometer Wheel size settings for two bicycles, speed sensor installation for different fork shapes Automatic lap recording (up to 50 laps) with exercise date Exercise file info page with date and time Semi-automatic backlighting Water resistance to 10 meters (protects against rain and splashes) SpeedPointer: Points out the difference between average speed/pace and actual speed/pace on the display by up/down arrows. Estimated Time of Arrival: Set the distance you are going to ride, and your cycling computer calculates the estimated time of arrival based on your cycling speed. Polar OwnCal: Shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. Because the OwnCal tracks both the energy expenditure during one exercise session and the accumulated kilocalories during a longer time e.g. one week, it helps in achieving both short term and long term goals. Cycling Economy/Intensity: Enables you to foresee your calorie expenditure and secure sufficient intake on a long ride. This feature is also useful for comparing and analyzing the loads of various training types. Compatible with Polar T31 and Polar T61 coded transmitters Manufacturer's Warranty The original purchaser of this heart rate monitor is backed by a limited warranty that states that this product that the product will be free from defects in material or workmanship for two years from the date of purchase. *Note:* Polar heart rate monitors are precision instruments; consumers are not advised to change their own battery. Polar recommends that all service be done by an authorized Polar Service Center which will include a warranty for 90 days on repairs and 6 months for batteries. About Polar The first EKG accurate wireless heart rate monitor was invented by Polar back in 1977 as a training tool for the Finnish National Cross Country Ski Team. The concept of "intensity training" by heart rate swept the athletic world in the eighties. By the 1990s, individuals were looking to heart rate monitors not only for performance training needs, but also for achieving everyday fitness goals. Today, the same concept of heart rate training is being used by world-class athletes as well as everyday people trying to lose weight. Polar is the leading brand among consumers, coaches, and personal trainers worldwide and the company is committed to not only producing the best products, but also being the leading educator on the benefits of heart rate based exercise.

Customers' Reviews:

Polar CS200cad cycle computer

This unit is a good all around unit for a road bike or short travel mountain bike. I was having an issue with the accuracy of the distance on my mountain bike, but it was working ok on the road bike. I was told by the Polar customer support that it was designed for ROAD only. But the installation instructions said that it could be used on mountain. Long story short, I moved the speed sensor as high on the fork as I could get it and all seems to be well. If I were to do it all over again I would not use it on my mountain bike. It works great for the road.

PURE GARBAGE

If this functioned as advertised then the review would be much better. In short, here are the problems:

1) SonicLink is not effective. After about 30 attempts at downloading data, I've about given up. I've tried different mics, settings, environments, etc.

2) Even if I were able to get the data on a computer a lot of it would be useless. The HR monitor on this unit does not work properly. At least half the time it has readings over 200. That's not possible, especially since it jumps from say 138 to 233 in about a second. And then stays there for a few minutes before going back to a truer reading. I thought maybe it was interference, but no. Maybe the sensors? No. I don't knwo ehat the problem is.

These the MAJOR FAILURES render the product useless. Customer support tells me what a great technology SonicLink is. I beg to differ.

DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF TRASH, GO WITH ANOTHER MANUFACTURER, and save yourself some frustration.

put your money elsewhere

I assumed this would be a great product based on the brand and price. As a spinning instructor, I have endorsed the Polar brand heart rate monitors for years because of their accuracy and durability. However, when I recently purchased a new road bike and bought this cs200cad as an accessory I was highly disappointed. I expected to be able to install the computer and magnets myself. After hours of unsuccessfully syncing the cadence/speed magnets with the computer, I finally took my bike to a shop to have everything professionally installed. I was then told that this particular brand was considered to be one of the most difficult to install because it was so "touchy." Next, I was told that even after professional installation, bikes were often returned to have things fine tuned because the whole system was so "delicate." At that point, I decided to abandon the whole Polar computer and ended up purchasing a Cat Eye double wireless which has been just awesome. I wear my regular Polar heart rate monitor so that I can keep an eye on all of the cardio stuff, but I leave it up to my Cat Eye to keep track of my biking info. Lesson learned..you can't be good at everything. Polar has heart rate monitoring down to a T and Cat Eye has cycling computers down to a T. No fusion necessary. Hope this helps. Ride on. Ann D

Great unit but delicate

This is my first and only bike-mounted monitor, so I can't make product comparisons. Its does everything that its supposed to, and does it quite well. It took some adjusting to get it to 'settle' down - I don't know how else to explain this part. At first, it seemed to skip readings a lot (heart rate, speed, cadence). I can't say that I really changed much in the setup, but it now reads just fine on a consistent basis. I have logged 3000 miles with it, and bought one for my wife.

My biggest peeve right now is that the mounting bracket on the back broke. It only holds 7 exercise sessions, so you have to twist-to-unlock the unit every time you take it off. Somehow, one of the three locking flanges busted. These flanges are thin plastic extrusions. A component that gets used so much (on/off all the time to download) should be better built.

Polar sayss $39 to fix (plus shipping, and lost time)
If another product has this functionality, but seems to be better built, you might want to consider it.

Good Product Poor Instruction Manual

The product is reasonably good once you figure out how to install it based on the instructions provided in the Manual. The instructions for installing the Cadence sensor are extremely confusing. The picture is hand drawn and it is very difficult to see how the sensor is mounted. Polar did not take the trouble to have someone install the sensors based on the instrucitons and proof out the installation procedure. If you are trying to check out the installation on a stationary bicycle stand it takes a lot of turns of the crank to register cadence. This could have been mentioned in the installation manual. Polar's website has a fairly good tutorial on the use of the computer. It would have been nice to have a tutorial on the installation with clear pictures.

I will have to think twice about buying another Polar product because of their lack of concern for the customer.



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