Customer Reviews

Polar CS200cad Cycling Computer Heart Rate Monitor with Cadence (2008 Model)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While I understand why, it would be nice if this kit, which is specifically sold as a cadence kit, came with the computer set to have cadence on! Here is why...

Getting this mounted on the bike is a very straight forward process and the instructions walk you through the steps. But, imagine your frustration trying to get the cadence sensor to light up while installing on the bike (first few pages of the manual) when the setting to enable cadence is about 40 pages later. Even if there was a simple line, "Please make sure cadence is enabled before you test your bike installation, details on page X," that would have improved things. The manual does a nice job otherwise.

Once the unit is on the bike and you start riding, this bike computer really shines. There are a lot of settings that you can tweak to your hearts content. With auto start-stop, basically, you go out and ride. I like that I can see speed, distance, heart rate, and cadence all in one view. You have a bunch of choices for your view depending on what you like, and flipping through the views is just a single button during the ride.

Once you are back after the ride, it is very easy to review the workout data. Highly recommend and this would be a five-star rating if they managed to sell it with cadence enabled by default.

This computer does everything as advertised. I found it difficult to set up and use all its functions. The learning curve is fairly steep (I've been out of cycling for a while); keep the instruction book handy. I did not have a particularly difficult time setting the sensors. One thing I was disappointed in is the wireless range is very limited. If you want to put the speed sensor on the rear wheel then this unit is not for you. Also the crank arm attachment for the cadence sensor is not very good. The tape provided is not very sticky. I suggest going to your local hardware store and buying electrical tape in a color to match your bike. If I was buying again I would not buy this unit; I would probably buy a wired unit instead. One other thing is if you want cadence on the big display I don't think it can be done. The heart rate monitor worked very well if you follow positioning instructions.

Im very pleased with my unit, i've been using different kinds for the last 3 years and this its overall the best one. Great reading options, all in one. The backlight display its great when i train at night :).
The only con for me, its that it saves your workout per day. So when you want to check your weekly distance you have to sum each day, there is no total distance. Enjoy

This is a very nice computer. Everything you need to look at in one screen. However I'm very disappointed with the cadence and fork sensors. The fork sensors was easy to install the cadence on the other hand was irritating, had to black tap and zip tie the gadget on the bottom part of the frame. Wish it came with a bigger magnet because this thing is sensitive and hard to get a reading. The worst thing about this product are the sensors. When the batteries dies, you have to literally pry open the plastic in order to switch out the dead batteries and reglue or if you still have the warranty you can ship it to Polar to get it fix. Seriously Polar WTF, I just want to turn a knob or unscrew the sensor in order to change batteries out and save earth, not adding more trash to it. Plus this plastic cadence is not universal and I have a 2009 cervelo. Polar needs help in the industrial design department. If I were you, go get the Garmin 500.

I've been using this product for over a year and I like it a lot except for the high winds issues (See below in cons).

Pros:
- Many features supported.
- Easy navigation.


Cons:
- In high winds when my jersey flaps heart rate goes nuts (maximum). I cross checked w/ other product to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack and no, it was the problem with the sensor/transmission going bananas.
- Expected finish time is based on last second speed. Don't expect to use it to push yourself hard since every slight change in speed would change your expected completion time.
- Uplink communication requires a microphone and silent environment.

Product was exactly what I was looking for. It works great on my bike when riding and when I have it on the in-door trainer. The heart rate monitor also works with my Polar watch for walking/running.

... but don't waste your time with the cadence sensor if you are a mountain biker. You can't really keep a regulary cadence mountain biking, and the thing gets knocked out of position constantly anyway.

Takes a little bit of fiddling to install, and then configure, but once done its great having all your speed, distance, heart rate etc all on one screen.

Great product. I have a free polar online connection and I upload after every workout. Very motivational.

I used this monitor for about a year, until I got my Garmin Edge. The main problem I had with the Polar product was it's inability to accurately track my heart rate. It would fluctuate (while I was riding) from ~55 to ~220. It almost seemed as if it were measuring 1/2 my heart rate, or double my heart rate. It would sporadically jump from what I thought was about right (120-150 bpm) to around half that number, then stay there for a while, then go back to the range I expected. Then jump to around twice the bpm, then back down. I don't mean to say that it continuously did this. It would also track my heart rate accurately (or, at least in a reasonable range) for some periods. But the periods of inaccuracy were substantial, like 20 to 30% of my ride (usually 1-2 hrs of riding, so 15 to 40 min of incorrect readings). Enough so that I ignored all the results dependent on heart rate.

I was surprised by this - I think Polar is in the business of tracking heart rates. I thought their parent company made health care equipment?? I tried everything I could think of to correct the problem. New batteries, making sure the contact was good (moist) on the strap, limiting distance from strap to the unit, etc. Nothing helped.

Anyway, suffice it to say that my Garmin Edge 305 (which I've used for 4 years now, usually 5-10 times per week), has never had any of these issues.

I tried to Craig's List the CS200 a while back, but to no avail. I just tossed it out - an expensive experiment.

I liked the Polar's chest strap more than the Garmin's. That's why I gave the unit 2 stars instead of one. I wish I could use it's strap with the Edge.

Amazon sold me a Polar CS200cad Cycling computer and it sent an incomplete articule. I requested to Amazon to complete my order and Amazon never responded to me.
It did the complete collection to me and it never did a credit to me for the speed sensor that he did not send. The sold article does not work without the speed sensor.
This type of situations break the confidence in the business Internet route.