I received my new HRM last week, but didn’t get to install it until this past weekend. My expectations would be:

• HRM transmitter reliability
• Speed/Cadence transmitter reliability
• User friendliness

Coming from CatEye, I knew that the last item wouldn’t be an issue. The main reason why I decided to go with CatEye instead of the more popular Polar HRMs was because of the available user-serviceable parts. Polar doesn’t give the owner the ability to change the battery on the heart rate transmitter, for example. One has to send the chest strap back to Polar and wait 3 weeks for the turnaround to occur.

Features that stand out on this unit include:

• Lap timer
• 99 performance files can be saved
• Countdown distance
• Calorie count
• 4 heart rate zones with audible alarm
• Heart rate strap does not slip with time

The lap timer is handy for impromptu measurements during a ride that should not interfere with the overall distance measurement. For example, a major climb during a long ride should be measured by itself. The unit will save the data once the climb is complete, for a later review.

The file feature is used every time the current distance is reset. The previous measured data is automatically saved, and up to 99 files can be stored before the memory has to be purged.

Countdown distance is a very useful tool when you need to know how much farther you need to go before you can get lunch. ^_^

The calorie counter is quite handy to measure how much you’ve burned based on heart rate alone.

I haven’t had much of a chance to really test out the zones yet. The first time I had a run-in with this feature was actually a problem. Hopefully I will learn to use this feature in the future.

One of the biggest problems I had with the Polar was the heart rate sensor strap. The unit kept slipping below my chest line, and would feel awkward after an extended ride time. The CatEye seems to have fixed this issue, as the sensor itself is quite frictional, even after the elastic part has slipped blow my chestline, the front side holds its place.

Every cyclocomputer has some kind of issue. Whether it’d be technical, user interface, or just human error, there is no perfect computer out there. The V3 is no exception. However, compared to the Polar I had tested out a few times previously, this HRM is much easier to use, more intuitive, and has a better screen layout.

• Auto mode
• Power save fuction
• Mount direction
• Total distance view

The first two major issues are correlated. The auto-mode function is similar to all other CatEye computers I’ve owned: the unit wakes from sleep mode if the transmitter detects the magnet from either the wheel or crank, and starts the measurement automatically. However, the power save function seems to negate this benefit: by going into power save, each transmitter literally ‘dies’ and does not wake up unless I press any button on the computer. To make it worse, sleep mode comes just 5 minutes after stopping. I’ve only had 2 rides with the V3, so perhaps I have some more to learn, but so far, I’ve lost a few miles because the thing shuts down automatically and stops measuring without warning.

I’m not sure whether this is intended behavior. The manual barely warns of the problem, yet doesn’t go into details about how to solve this if encountered. Refer to page 5 of the manual. Maybe CatEye needs to extend the power save timeout.

The computer mounts from the right, whereas the Strada series mount from the front. This means that to swap between two bikes with one Strada and one V3, it becomes a mount switcheroo as well, and not just the unit.

The total distance view issue is more of a documentation problem rather than design. The counter gives an impression that it measures down to the hundredth of a mile/km at first glance, because the ones and tens units are a smaller font than the other units. Had the documentation (manual) mentioned this, it would have saved some confusion on my part. Otherwise, once the right mileage is set in, it measures down to the tenth of a mile/km.

The V3 doesn’t offer an altimeter. In fact, no CatEye HRMs offer this feature, so a separate altimeter is required by those who need this feature. CatEye got away with not raising the price over the old HR200DW is by outsourcing their manufacturing to China, where just about everyone else is making their instruments. So far, the unit seems to be very well built, sturdy, and clean. The case seems cheap, but almost all cyclocomputers look like this nowadays (with the exception of the Strada line, which is still made in Japan). I’ve dropped this unit a few times on hardwood floor and carpet already, and so far it has held up well.

All in all, the V3 is a much more complex cyclocomputer than any of the other CatEye units I’ve owned. When compared to the Polar I tried out (a basic wrist unit, worth about $60, I don’t have the model name), this unit is much better in the user interface department. The mount is a world apart as it is slimmer and feels rock-solid. If I can get used to the power-save feature/problem, this is a keeper.