Other posts related to edge-305

Cycling and Artificial Heart Pacemakers

Aushiker | September 19, 2009 10:20 pm

Background

On August 2, 2009 I completed a 100 km Audax ride, with another 30 km of commuting to the start and back again. The ride turned out to be a bit competitive with a nice pace being set on the second 50 km with a couple of other riders.  I felt really good on the ride, working a fair bit out front and when I got back to Anne’s I took the dogs for a hard walk, still feeling the buzz.

A couple of hours later this feeling would go a bit pear shape.  I had just settled down in front of the computer to check emails, twitter etc and I suddenly felt dizzy.  Next thing I know I found myself on the floor.  This scenario of going out cold was to happen three more times before I was taken to hospital.

Fremantle Hospital, based on my symptoms and my day’s riding determined that my likely cause for these feints was de-hydration and kept me over night on a drip. However, as I have a stent in my heart they recommended a echocardiogram and a holter monitor test. Following consultation with my GP Dr Steve Dorevitch at the Odin Road Medical Centre, I booked into Mount Cardiology August 7, 2009 for the echocardiogram and to be fitted for the holter monitor test.  Preliminary feedback from the echocardiogram was nothing structurally wrong with my heart which was nice to know.

So fitted with the holter monitor I participated in the Freo Wheelers Group 3 hills ride on Saturday.  My thinking was this was a good ride where I should get a work out and it will show any issues with my heart and hopefully put this aspect to rest.

Well the ride was not my best. I stayed on Mike’s wheel on the breakaway through to Mundaring without much drama and then that was the end of me. I struggled to stay with the group for the rest of the ride; not normal for me with this group. I can normally hold my own.

Saturday afternoon I was shopping at Coles when the dizziness came back. I thought great, here I go, I am going to collapse in Coles so I grabbed a shelf in anticipation, but thankfully nothing worse happened.  This was to be repeated on the drive home (not a smart move driving I know).

Once I got home, things settled down a bit and on Monday I made an appointment to see my Steve, my GP. Basically the outcome of that visit was I had to wait until Friday for the holter monitor test results.

Thursday evening, I got a phone call from Steve, indicating I needed to get into see my cardiologist, Dr Bernard Hockings ASAP. As it turned out my Dr Hockings was consulting in Bunbury on Friday and not available. Thanks to the efforts of Steve I was able to see Dr Michael Muhlmann, another cardiologist at the same practice, and bang I was booked into the Mount for a pace maker to be fitted on Monday, August 17, 2009. No riding and no driving till then!

The Operation and the Pacemaker

The operation was completed as planned on the afternoon of August 17, 2009. I estimate it took about an hour and the whole operation was done under local.  The pacemaker fitted is a Guidant Insignia 1 Ultra DR Ref 1291 as supplied by Boston Scientific.

After some issues with fine tuning it the next day, I was sent home. A few hours later after experiencing similar symptoms as to what I was experiencing before the fitting of the pacemaker, I was back in the Mount under observation. Of course the symptoms never returned and I was back home on Wednesday and back to work on Thursday.

Cycling and My Pacemaker

Okay, the real focus of this posting is to discuss my early experiences with a pacemaker and cycling.  Some pre-operation research suggested that I may have issues with my Garmin Edge 305 and the pacemaker.  Discussion with the Bill the technician from Boston Scientific indicated that I shouldn’t have any issues. 

My return to cycling was delayed two weeks post-operation on the advice of Dr Hockings. As I understood it, this was more about the riding position impacting on the pacemaker rather than a pacemaker/heart issue. I guess I just need to let the pacemaker and my body properly bond before taking up riding again.

Well I am completing this posting some two weeks after getting back on my bike on September 4, 2009. Ignoring the fitness issues, how did the Garmin Edge 305 perform?  Bill was right, no issue there. However, I did have some problems with the Edge 305 unit itself and communication between the heart rate strap but I think this was just coincidence; an issue most likely caused by a flat battery in the strap. 

It terms of actually riding with a pacemaker, my artificial pacemaker does not kick in above 135 beats per minute so if I am working reasonably hard it has nothing to do and I don’t notice it at all.  The whole episode/operation etc has no noticeable effect on my riding other than I lost a fair bit of fitness over the period off the bike.  I am however, getting that back fairly quickly.

Dr Hockings is of the view that I can resume my normal active lifestyle and early signs suggest this.

I have also now ordered a Sigma ROX 9.0 bicycle computer from Bike24.com and will update this page if their is any noticeable issues with the ROX 9.0 heart rate strap and my artificial pacemaker.

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Open Letter to Garmin Australasia – Edge 305 Issues

Aushiker | November 30, 2008 3:38 pm

The time has come, regretfully, to escalate my response to Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd’s (Garmin Australia) poor customer service in relation to issues with my Garmin Edge 305 purchased in November 2007. It has been frustrating dealing with Garmin and disappointing as their lack of customer service has distracted from what is other a reasonable unit.

On November 27, 2008 I sent the following letter to Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd and to Garmin International. I am awaiting their response.

27 November 2008

The Chief Executive Officer
Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd
Unit 19
167 Prospect Highway
SEVEN HILLS NSW 2147

Dear Madam/Sir

Open Letter – Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd

I am writing to you with regards to an ongoing and unresolved support issue. This issue relates to my Garmin Edge 305 GPSr purchased in November 2007.

The history to date:

August 4, 2008: I posted into Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd my Garmin Edge 305 serial number 374893830 along with its GSC 10 Speed/cadence sensor as both components had ceased to function (please refer to the attached letter).

August 15, 2008 (approximately): I received from yourselves what I believe is a refurbished Garmin Edge 305 replacement unit. However, I also received with it, my faulty GSC 10 sensor minus the battery cover. No explanation was forthcoming as to why the sensor was returned in this condition and no reason as to why it was not replaced.

I phoned your support line, 1800 235 822, and I believe I spoke to Andrew, who advised that he would email the Service Department to arrange a replacement sensor to be sent out.

September 12, 2008: As no replacement sensor has been received I again phoned your support line and this time spoke to Hamish, who said he would emailed the service department to arrange for a replacement. He also advised a replacement sensor should arrive by September 17, 2008.

September 19, 2008: As no replacement sensor has been received I again phoned your support line and this time spoke to Hamish. Hamish now advised that they you where awaiting stock and one would be sent out immediately upon receipt. No timeline was given nor was an apology provided.

October 11, 2008: As no replacement sensor has been received I again phoned your support line and this time spoke to Andrew. He advised that he was aware of my situation, was monitoring the situation and that a revised ETA for stock was late October, 2008.

October 20, 2008: An issue arose with my heart rate transmitter and I emailed Garmin Australasia at Australasia.Support@Garmin.com for advice on how to best address my issue. At the time of writing I have not yet received a response to that email.

October 24, 2008: I again phoned your support line and requested to speak to a supervisor. I was told I was talking to John who was a supervisor. I pointed out the history of my issues with the GSC 10 sensor and the lack of response with respect to the heart rate transmitter. John indicated a sensor was coming that day and that he would follow-up on the heart rate transmitter issue with Garmin USA and get back to me. He never got back to me.

October 31, 2008: As I had not heard from John I again phoned your support line and again spoke to John who again promised a GCS 10 sensor would be sent out and yes there was a problem with the heart rate transmitters and I should send it in for replacement which I did (see attached letter).

It is now November 27, 2008 and I have no replacement GSC10 sensor and no replacement heart rate transmitter.

So in summary I have contacted your “support” service eight times to have what should have been a pretty simple matter resolved. Do you think that is reasonable service? Do you believe that your organisation and your staff have acted appropriately? Regretfully I don’t.

I am therefore writing to you this one last time, requesting that you please address my concerns (no more promises please) and that you do so within 14 days.

Yours faithfully
Andrew Priest
Cc Mr Dan Bartel, Garmin International, Inc
Open letter – Aushiker.com

Update December 10, 2008: I received the following email from a Mr Saul Gordon, Service Manager, Garmin Australasia on December 2, 2008 and I picked up the replacement heart rate transmitter and sensor today from Australian Air Express.  It seems an apology from Mr Gordon or Garmin Australasia or Garmin International was too much to expect.

Dear Mr. Priest

I wish to advise that a new GSC10 and a replacement heart rate will be leaving today via Australian Air Express. You should receive that goods no later than Thursday this week.

Regards

Saul Gordon
Service Manager
Garmin Australasia

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Geocaching Ride – Anti-Micro-Otics

Andrew | November 27, 2007 9:43 am

I had to repair my geocache, Anti-Micro-Otics so decided it was time I started using the bike for these closer caches. This was a nice 31 km return trip from Churchlands via Claremont through to Mosman Park. Nice riding amongst the rich and famous. The route is below.<a href=”http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/australia/churchlands/864455350″>Monument Park – Anti-Micro-Otics</a><br/><a href=”http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/australia/churchlands”>Find more Bike Rides in Churchlands, Australia</a>Whilst the cache location needs some serious cleaning up (really surprising given the Council is not exactly short of cash) it is still worth visiting for the 360 degree views from the obelisk.

I used the Garmin Edge 305’s course feature to “direct” me along the way. I first created the route in MapMyRide.com and then saved as a course which I then uploaded to the Edge using Garmin’s Training Manager. Worked well. My only problem was I used the Edge to mark the new hiding place for the cache and it wasn’t till I got home that I realised it does not show the coordinates for waypoints! A bit of a work around using OziExplorer resolved this little dilemma.

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Garmin Edge 305 Owner Review

Andrew | November 20, 2007 11:25 am

Guess who got a Garmin Edge 305 for his birthday in November 2007! It was kindly purchased for me from GeoManGear in November 2007.

Garmin Edge 305 mounted on a Look 555

Garmin Edge 305 mounted on a Look 555

The Edge 305 is described by Garmin as a

GPS-enabled personal trainer and cycle computer. With a wireless heart rate monitor and speed/cadence sensor

This is the set-up that I have as well along with a second speed/cadence sensor so I can use it on two bikes.

Initial Impressions | Field Experience

Initial Impressions

Initial Impressions [Updated March 25, 2008]:

  • Audible alert is a waste of time. Is not loud enough to be heard when riding in windy conditions or in fact just riding;
  • No ability to adjust volume;
  • Reliability of the GCS-10 sensors really give me the …..  They are just not reliable;
  • Manual is not that clear or informative;
  • Easy to fit to the bike’
  • Like the display options;
  • Like the way it interfaces with Garmin’s MotionBased website and hence the information that is provided;
  • Battery life = 11 hours seven minutes;
  • I seem to be riding harder and faster or it is just giving me better numbers than my old Sigma BC1606L.

Field Experience

Update – April 1, 2009 – Went to ride home this afternoon and found the Edge 305 dead as. Could not get it to start up. Tried a soft reset (pressing mode + reset + power buttons together) but it didn’t work. Once I got home, I plugged into the computer and tried the soft reset again and it fired up and started charging. Seems that something went wrong with the charging this morning and it flattened the battery rather than charging it.  Frustrating but.

Update – March 25, 2009 – The GCS-10 sensor on the Look 555 has not been working since Friday March 20, 2009 then this evening it just started working again!  Go figure!

Update – March 16, 2009 – The unit was not recognising the GCS-10 sensor this afternoon so no cadence on the ride home.  Really have no idea why it does this and it seems to reset itself on the next ride.

Update – March 12,2009 – Had to do a soft reset this morning to get the unit to fire up. A soft-reset is the holding down of the lap button + start/stop button whilst turning on the unit.  Found the battery not fully charged either despite leaving the unit connected to the USB port for sometime overnight.  Not sure what brought on the need for the reset.

Update – November 27, 2008 – Now published my open letter to Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd.

Update – November 19, 2008: Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd still has not replaced the Heart Rate Monitor strap nor the GSC10 Sensor nor have they contacted me. Frankly I can only conclude now that they are a dishonest organisation, lacking in integrity and that their staff just say whatever is necessary to get the customer off the phone.

I am now proceeding to formally notify Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd of my concerns with their lack of service and compliance with the Trade Practices Act 1976 and to give them 14 days to resolve the matter to my satisfaction or face a formal escalation of my response. I will also notify Garmin USA of my views of their lack of service.

Update – October 30, 2008: I emailed Garmin Australasia Pty Ltd on October 20, 2008 with respect to the issues with the heart rate monitor strap. As hadn’t got a response I phoned Garmin on Friday October 24, 2008 and spoke to John. John advised that he would follow-up the issue with Garmin US. As of Friday October 31, 2008 I had had no further news from Garmin Australasia, I phoned the support line and spoke to John. He now acknowledges that they are getting reports of issues with the straps (previously denied) and requested I send in the strap to himself for replacement.

Updated October 25, 2008: Had an opportunity to day to use the Edge 305 from start to finish on a ride of the Kep Track. The Edge 305 was turned on at the start of the ride along with my Garmin 60 CSx and it died (battery went flat) 11 hours and seven minutes later. During this time it was used only to track satellites. The cadence sensor the heart rate monitor where not used.

Update October 20, 2008: Still waiting for a new sensor from Garmin Australasia. It has taken five phone calls to now be told that a sensor is likley to arrive mid-November. Some three months later! Really very poor service from Garmin.

Today my heart-rate monitor strap has died. I have tried new batteries, re-scanned for it, ensured the connections are wet. The best I can get out of it is a low heart rate reading (so it is communicating, but not accurately) when the bpm should be a lot higher. I have emailed Garmin Australasia for advice.

Update September 5, 2008: During August 2008 I was without my Edge 305 for approximately two weeks as it died. Despite Garmin’s claims of the Edge 305 being waterproof to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards, i.e., all components are submersible in 1m of water for 30 minutes, my unit suffered water ingress from riding in the rain. Initial contact with Garmin implied this was my fault, however, a “generous” offer was made to allow me to return the unit to Garmin Australasia for inspection. Garmin need to train their staff properly and to ensure they are familiar with their own specifications!

I returned the Edge 305 and a faulty GCS 10 sensor to Garmin (it was reading cadence only, not speed) and received back a refurbished Edge 305 (not my own unit) and my old incomplete sensor. At the time of writing I am still waiting for Garmin Australasia to replace my faulty sensor. Not the best customer service.

Other than this hick-up I am very happy with the Edge 305, however, I tend to only use the data recording features. I am yet to explore the use the course feature, vitural partner and so on.

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