Post by thread:heart rate/pulse detection

This topic is a couple of weeks old, but I don't remember anybody mentioning the type of sensors used on the LifeCycle machines to dectect heart rate. These sensors consist of 4 stainless steel plates (two for each hand) embedded in the handle bars. Each hand must be touching both of their corresponding sensors. The machine takes about 10 - 15 seconds from the time you touch the sensors to determine your heart rate. Just a curiousity. Anybody know how these work?