Polar is the Official Heart Rate Monitor supplier to 12 professional cycling teams, it says here. Which means that the imminent Tour de France will include 108 pro riders using Polar HRMs. To cash in upon, um, celebrate this, Polar has launched the S725X Tour Edition cycling computer.

As you’d expect from a high-end computer/HRM, the S725X is feature-packed. As well as the usual stuff like speed and distance, it measures altitude, ascent, power output and cadence as well as all the heart-rate related stuff.

Other features include the Polar OwnOptimizer test, that gives you an indication of your training status and tells you whether you’ve recovered enough to tackle your next training session. This fits in with the Exercise Set feature that lets you design and select exercise programs with different target heart rate zones.

For off-bike use, there’s an optional Foot Pod that attaches to your shoe and sends pace data to the S725X.

As if all that lot isn’t enough, it’ll also send training data to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, and you can send training plan data the other way. There’s an infra-red port for communicating with your PC and transferring data to Polar’s Precision Performance software or Cycling Coach web service.

You’ll need to be pretty serious about getting fitter, though – the S725X is available from sports shops at £244.50. Find out more at www.polarelectro.co.uk.