Training without computers

[NZLcyclist]

I have a new bike that I've done about 180k on it, in 7 days. I'm thinking that I might just ride better to start with if I leave off the computer - I've been doing fine without one so far. Just get out and ride. I may use the heart rate monitor but that's all. I plan on making A Grade this year.

What's your thoughts on this?

[Az B]

About the only thing I use my computer for is tracking time and distance for my logs. If I really want to know the average speed, it's pretty easy to calculate from those figures anyway. I use a very simple computer I bought at Target for $9.

After using my HRM for a couple of weeks, I learned exactly where my zones are. I know when I'm in or out of them. The only time I use the HRM is for recovery rides because of the tendency to work too hard.

Az

[lemurhouse]

I find it very liberating to ride without the computer or HR monitor. Still have them on one bike, but I don't miss them when I'm on my other bike, and I don't think my workouts suffer too much from not having them.

[Bobby Lex]

I don't think that you can properly "train" without a computer. The purpose of the computer is to provide you with data that you can use to train by, and to analyze your progress.

It's like going on a diet without using a scale to track your progress.

Bob

[lxpatterson]

I think a computer helps 'calibrate' your training sense in terms of cadance, exerion and speed.

Myself, I started riding without one, and have been without one until recently when i go one for my birthday (HR,cadence,speed). I started cycling a while ago to commute and then I got into racing last year. I average between 150-400k weekly depending on the time of the year. It took me a few years to develop a sense of where my "redline" is, to use a car analogy, and how fast I was spinning. As a result I had a habit of grinding fairly low cadence and overtraining often (riding close to the redline too much). Eventually i learned to listen to my body, and I know the computer data matched closely with how i felt in terms of "hmm, this feels like im spiing more +90" and so on. And to be honest, at this point i can probably train without a computer, except for occassionally to measure progress. However, it took me several years to get that kind of awareness of my body. With a computer I could have probably figured it out a lot faster.

[NZLcyclist]

I might train without one for a month or 2 just to "get back to basics" and just ride as much as I can and not worry about how much I have or haven't ridden distance wise.