Here are my last three runs, all 50-60 minutes. The Tickr X is about 2-3 years old and seems to monitor HR fine for the first part, then fall apart during the second half. I rinse the strap after every use and dry it with a fan. I replaced the battery a couple of months ago so I don’t think that’s the issue but I also don’t know how to check battery charge / status.
Based on where the HRM starts to lose monitoring, do you think the strap is getting loose (i.e, time for a new strap) or is the sensor failing? It was humid during these runs so my shirt was dripping wet by this time (reference the comment above about their HRM reading erratically once the terminals got soaked).
Recently laundered my indoor tickr strap (non oem replacement) and reading has been erratic ever since. It does seem to happen every year or so, but it’s always precipitated by washing. I wish there was a better way to get a handle on this, but I find the longer I just leave the thing alone, not washing or reseating the tickr unit it works great. It’s when I remove the unit to wash or change batteries it gets unreliable. On bright side a new strap is just $10-20, so a drop in the bucket of cycling costs. Anyway, maybe I’ll give vinegar-soak a try before hitting buy on a new strap.
I just wanted to follow up: put some vinegar on the metal contacts. Snapped the ticker on and off a few times. Then wiped it down a bit to mostly dry the metal parts. I’ve had 3 successful workouts with it since. The strap itself seems to be in good shape, it’s just something builds up on the contacts in the wash
I have similar issues. Mine is about a year old now, cherished it like a jewel. Still I have these issues. I will never buy WAHOO ever again besides their bike computers. And even their bike computers have software issues a lot (syncing, not connecting to the app). That company really has a QC issue. Trainers… straps… bike computers. Google it, you will be amazed how many issues people seem to have.
I have a Tickr that Trainerroad tells me has 87% battery left. It’s around 3 or 4 years old and used for a minimum 3 hours a week. Can’t explain it, but it’s never failed.
Yes, Polar H10 gets raving reviews. Gave one to friend of mine 3 months ago, still happy. Strap is great, also how to connect the HRM to the strap. Will be buying one myself soon when the TICKR finally dies.
My Tickr gets replaced free of charge every 6-12 months due to their poor design.
Wahoo decided to use poppers to connect the monitor to the strap, which means the metal becomes corroded as you sweat on it &eventually break.
I think im now on my 5th set, all been replaced on warranty with great service but its a bit farcical. Every time I email wahoo support I tell them, the HR monitor is fine its the poppers that have broke have you changed the design yet if so can I have the new model strap. I get a replacement old style in the post a few days later & my warranty period starts again,.
Also, any design where you have to lick\wet the contacts to wake it is not great in my book.
Just wondering if you did replace with an H10? My Tickr is on the verge of breaking at the contact points after 2 years (in line with the previous one I had). I remember seeing that the strap is fully washable on the H10? I’m a sweaty beast so this would be a real benefit.
I’ve found HR strap lifespans incredibly erratic. My first hard Garmin strap lasted years (I guess I got it 2007 and it was still alive in 2012. The replacement soft straps seem to vary between 6months and 1 year in life span. The worst I had was the stages dash Hrm which failed quickly and the replacement under warranty failed quickly too and I gave up and tried another brand (Decathlon IIRC) it’s transmitter did last longer but I had a few strap changes. It’s been the same for the CoSpo which replaced it when the Decathlon one eventually died. I think I would have got Decathlon again or tried the TickR but with this wee c thing things like that were sold out.
The ones I have used have all broken - i.e. no reading, no transmission, no pairing. My best guess is that they do not like to be dropped. I have a bad habit of tossing them in the shower after a workout and I’d wager that’s where they go to die.
Lifespan: over four Garmin bands about 18 to 24 months each.
I don’t recall which strap I had but washing it in the shower made it completely erratic. It would seem to fail and just as I was ready to bin it, itd come back to life and that went on for a bit before it died altogether. The best result I have had is taking it off after a workout and just running it through bit of cloth.
