genejockey 

I've been using a Garmin Edge 520, and the associated heart rate strap, for about 3 years now (I think). Recently I've seen the heart rate on the 520 drop down to 85 and just stay there for minutes at a time. It's not my actual heart - I checked. If I adjust the strap it starts working again. I replaced the battery, thinking maybe that was the problem but no, it's done it again - once on the road, and this weekend it did it while I was Zwifting. In the latter case I wasn't even using the Garmin head unit, just an ANT+ stick.

So, my questions: Has this happened to anyone else? And, Does this mean my strap is toast?

pdlamb

IME, that sort of thing happens shortly before the strap stops working entirely.

Ghazmh

I’ve found mine stays unrealistically low sometimes. I trim my hair around the area where the contact pads are and it resolves it. I also wet the pads prior to putting the strap on.

genejockey 

Then it is as I feared.

When it's happened, the last thing I'd have needed to do was wet the pads. That's how I knew my HR wasn't really 85!

biker128pedal

Battery, straps needs a good washing or it life is about over. Not yours.

Seattle Forrest

I had a few CooSpo HR straps from Amazon, couldn't tell the difference between them and the Garmin one except by price.

Iride01 

Are you sure your HR wasn't really 85 bpm?

I had a one time only 10 or so minutes of my HR dropping to the mid 80's when it should have been better than 130 bpm. During that time I could tell it was my heart as my vision was borderline on going blurry and I was ever so slightly feeling faint.

But I'd agree that when my Garmin soft straps are about to go, they do odd things for awhile till I get tired of messing with them and replace them. Usually last me over four years. My current is about to be six years old. It's had an odd moment or two recently.

Bald Paul

My Garmin HR strap/monitor would do that from day one. It finally quit completely on me after about six months of use. I bought a Wahoo HRM and strap and haven't had any issues since.

unterhausen

I think my wahoo tickr is finally dead. I tried the strap off of a chinese strap and got nothing

genejockey 

Yes. Both times it happened I didn't feel anything out of the ordinary for the effort I was putting out, and a bit of fiddling with the strap and the indicated HR climbed back up to the expected number. If I could put out 250w for 5 minutes at 85bpm and not feel any weirdness, that would be something!

No issues on this weekend's 3 1/2 ride IRL or last night's 1 hour ride ITG(In The Garage), but I figure intermittent problems are how it starts, when the strap is going bad. OH - and not only have I changed the battery but also washed the strap between occurrences. Oh, well. Nothing lasts forever.

himespau 

For mine, replacing the strap (not the sensor, just the strap), often did the trick.

Iride01 

Are you looking for one and going to stick with Garmin?

Surprisingly BestBuy use to sell the Garmin straps pretty cheap. However I think my current one was the last one they sold. I haven't seen them there since.

However Bike Tires Direct seems to have almost as good a deal on them as Best Buy use to have.

genejockey 

Thanks for the tip! Ordered one today.

Now watch - the old one will stop misbehaving.

genejockey 

Oh, yeah, the strap is toast. I just did the Zwift Academy Baseline Ride, and it seems highly unlikely that I can put out an average of 821w for 25 seconds and have my HR sit unchanged at 85, or for that matter 270w for 10 minutes while my HR FALLS from 140 to 120. Really buggered the long climb effort, not knowing my HR.

Barry2 

I just switched from Wahoo Roam to Garmin 830 last Saturday.
1st Garmin ride and saw sensors dropping out.
Went to Garmin forums and it appears that the latest 830 Firmware has dropout issues.
Maybe it's across all the Edge series.

Barry

mschwett 

any resolution to this?

having the same, and gradually worsening, issues with my polar H10 strap and sensor. for a while it would get stuck reading a rhythm which is half the actual, and on today's ride dropped to zero quite a bit. although my HR is low-ish i can confirm it was not 39 while i was climbing a hill nor was it 0 for 10 minutes.

visually it looks fine, i don't see any signs of oxidation or other conductivity issues either on the plasticky (but presumably conductive!) interior surface or the button clips. i'm surprised to read these care instructions:

• Detach the connector from the strap after every use and dry the connector with a soft towel.
• Note that you must detach both sides of the connector from the strap to keep the snaps from oxidizing and the battery from wearing out.
• Clean the connector with a mild soap and water solution when needed. Never use alcohol or any abrasive material (steel, wool or cleaning chemicals). Never put the connector in a washing machine or dryer.

i will admit that i never detach both sides. that seems like a recipe for losing the sensor. i always detach one and let it hang dry. replaced the battery a few weeks ago.

anyone tried conductive gel? shaving a small area of chest? tightening it? i was very hot and sweaty today, i would have thought conductivity would be high. i usually put a bit of water on it before i wear it.

Barry2 

I use this stuff. Price is right!

Barry

mschwett 

did it improve the consistency / accuracy of your readings?

Barry2 

No, but in the benefit column, my neighbors no longer think I rub spit on my [Censored]

Barry

bamboobike4

+1

I wet the back of the snaps before every ride.
I have one Garmin HRM that seems 20bpm high, another Garmin HRM that appears normal.