LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Polar (www.polarusa.com), the leader in heart rate monitoring and fitness assessment technologies, today introduced the limited edition Polar RCX5 Tour de France, the official Tour de France training computer.  With a slim design and striking yellow color, the RCX5 Tour de France helps users train like professionals by improving their fitness through highly effective training guidance.    

The Polar RCX5 Tour de France features Smart Coaching, which shows users how to plan, train and analyze each of their sessions in detail.  Users can personalize endurance training programs for cycling and running at polarpersonaltrainer.com, get sport-specific training data, have different settings for bikes with Sport Profiles and cross the finish line in the desired time with its Race Pace feature.

"The Tour de France is the toughest cycling competition in the world and that's why the RCX5 is the official Tour de France training computer this year," said Joona Laukka, Cycling, Running & Multisport Segment Manager for Polar Electro Oy. "It's a dream product for any serious rider, as you can use it on and off  your bike with the Smart Coaching features – thus making it more than just GPS. What's even better is that the RCX5 is always ready for use without any need for re-charging, with a user replaceable battery that provides 8-11 months of life."

Key Features:

• Sport Profiles: Essential for multisport and triathletes, this feature enables users to quickly switch between sports during training. With just a few button presses, this feature quickly adjusts settings to the current sport. It automatically detects any sensors needed, so that no time or training data is lost between swims, rides or runs. Four sport profiles come pre-loaded into the RCX5 Tour de France, and more can be added based on the user's preferences.
• ZoneOptimizer: Knowing how hard to train can be a challenge and it depends on many factors, including physical and mental state, stress, sleep, and previous training. The brand new ZoneOptimizer feature eliminates guesswork by adjusting personal heart rate zones based on a user's current physiological condition. It guides training at the right intensity, making every session more effective.
• Race Pace: The perfect feature for regulating speed and race strategy, Race Pace allows users to set a target time for a certain distance, and then displays the current pace/speed, as well as how far ahead or behind the user is from the target.
• Training Load: This feature within polarpersonaltrainer.com displays a color-coded graph of a user's cumulative training load, notifying a person when he or she has recovered enough for the next session, and accurately predicting training developments to prevent overtraining. This data also provides intelligence to modify training sessions as necessary.
• polarpersonaltrainer.com: Users can create complete endurance training programs for running and cycling, including warm-up, work and cool-down sessions. The training programs can be easily synched to the RCX5 Tour de France via the DataLink data transfer unit. After each session, it is easy to track progress online over time.

The limited edition RCX5 Tour de France will be available in three different product sets with different sensors.  The bike set comes with magnetic speed and cadence sensors that offer the most reliable and precise cycling speed, cadence and distance measurement with real time response.  The GPS set measures highly accurate speed and distance in any outdoor sport and depicts the altitude curve of a session at polarpersonaltrainer.com.  The small G5 GPS sensor can be worn with a clip or in a pocket.

The premium set provides versatile feedback on a users' training and performance in any sport. It includes the GPS and cycling speed sensors as well as the s3+ stride sensor that shows running cadence and average stride length to help improve running technique. The RCX5 Tour de France also shows a users' Running Index, which scores a run based on the speed and distance data from the GPS or stride sensor.

All sets include the WearLink®+ Hybrid heart rate sensor, Universal Bike Mount, and DataLink data transfer unit. The comfortable and disturbance-free heart rate sensor transfers data both in 5 kHz and 2.4 GHz, ensuring a heart rate signal is found at all times – even in water. A Universal Bike Mount keeps the training computer steady on the handlebar.  After the session, users can transfer their training files with the DataLink to track progress and analyze exercise in detail at polarpersonaltrainer.com.

Product Sets Available:

RCX5 TDF Bike (MSRP $389.95):

• RCX5 Tour de France training computer
• WearLink®+ Hybrid hear rate sensor
• CS speed sensor W.I.N.D.
• CS cadence sensor W.I.N.D
• Universal bike mount
• DataLink data transfer unit
• Getting Started Guide

RCX5 TDF GPS (MSRP $469.95)

• RCX5 Tour de France training computer
• WearLink®+ Hybrid heart rate sensor
• G5 GPS sensor
• CS cadence sensor W.I.N.D
• Universal bike mount
• DataLink data transfer unit
• Getting Started Guide

RCX5 TDF Premium (MSRP $569.95):

• RCX5 Tour de France training computer
• WearLink®+ Hybrid hear rate sensor
• G5 GPS sensor
• CS speed sensor W.I.N.D
• s3+ stride sensor
• Universal bike mount
• DataLink data transfer unit
• Getting Started Guide

Note: The RCX5 Tour de France is also compatible with the existing G3 GPS sensor W.I.N.D. and the s3 stride sensor W.I.N.D.  All sensors will be available for purchase as separate accessories.

Availability
The RCX5 Tour de France is available now through authorized Polar USA retail and specialty shops, online, and in select fitness facilities.

About Polar
Headquartered in Lake Success, NY, Polar USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Finland-based Polar Electro OY, which invented the first wireless heart rate monitor (HRM) in 1977. Polar now operates internationally in more than 80 countries and its products are sold through 35,000 retailers globally. Polar heart rate and fitness assessment technology delivers unparalleled insight into the human body from valuable training guidance and feedback, to enabling individuals to improve their fitness level and sports performance. Polar technology is key to the success of leading fitness facilities, athletic teams, corporate wellness facilities, health insurance providers and thousands of physical education programs around the world. Today, Polar training computers are the number one choice among consumers worldwide. For more information, visit www.polarusa.com.

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SOURCE Polar