The Tour de France is still just over two months away, but yellow products are popping up with cycling tie-ins. Polar is offering a limited edition Polar RCX5 Tour de France training computer.
Several features make the RCX5 a cycling computer worthy of the grand tour. The RCX5 Tour de France features Smart Coaching, which aids users to plan, train and analyze each of their sessions. The computer is able to be personalized for endurance training programs for cycling and running, it provides sport-specific training data and has different settings for bikes with Sport Profiles. It also features Race Pace, which helps set the pace to cross the finish line at a desired time.
Features include:
• Sport Profiles: A feature that offers the ability to switch between sports during training. It automatically detects and sensors any sensors such as a shoe pod or spoke sensor to pick up speed running or on a bike. Four sport profiles come pre-loaded.
• ZoneOptimizer: A setting that sets the pace of a workout by adjusting personal heart rate zones based on a user’s current physiological condition including physical and mental state, stress, sleep and previous training.
• Race Pace: Regulates speed and race strategy. Users set a target time for a certain distance. The computer displays current pace/speed as well as how far ahead or behind the user is from target.
• Training Load: Using polarpersonaltrainer.com, the computer displays a color-coded graph of a user’s cumulative training load. It notifies the user when he has recovered enough for the next session, and accurately predicts training developments to prevent overtraining. The data also provides intelligence to modify training sessions as necessary.
• Polarpersonaltrainer.com: An online component that syncs with the RCX5 via DataLink to track workouts and set up endurance training programs for running and cycling. These programs include warm-up, workout and cool-down sessions.
Polar will sell the Tour de France edition RCX5 in three models. The RCX5 TDF Bike (($389.95); RCX5 TDF GPS ($469.95) and RCX5 TDF Premium ($569.95). All three models include WearLink+ Hybrid heart rate sensor, universal bike mount and DataLink data transfer unit. The Bike version includes CS speed sensor W.I.N.D. and CS cadence sensor W.I.N.D. In addition to the above, the GPS model includes a G5 GPS sensor. The Premium version also comes with an s3+ stride sensor.