Training & Nutrition - Polar Own Zone. Does it work for fit PPL?

Here is the scoop!

I have a Polar F11 HRM that was given to me to use and maby purchase, because I have never used a HRM. I have been cycling for the last 5 years or so and getting better every year. At 43 years old my century speeds are usually between 19 and 20 mph with very few rest stops. My resting heart rate is 47 currently and I ride by perceved exertion levels.

I have resisted a HRM because I was afraid it would slow me down, most of the guys I know that use a HRM, I can out perform.

Now my question is this.

If I use the Polar "Own Zone" to figure my HR, it puts me it will put me in a moderate zone that I can do with out even breaking a sweat, breathing fast, and going VERY slow! Even with the settings as high as they go, in Own Zone, I have been riding with an Average HR at the upper end of the high zone and feel like I get an OK work out.
Is the Own Zone only for people who are in poor shape?? Will I be better off using calculated target zones?
When hitting a hill, do you just ignore the High rate alarm and just blow over the hill,( this is what I do normaly with no HRM)?
Should I ride a while, keep records, and set my goals from these records?
Is a HRM just a worthless trinket, that is toatally unnessary for someone who is in touch with their bodies bio feedback?

Looking for a heading on the HRM stuff. Is it usefull or not?

Sign me Confused??

Training different energy systems requires different approaches.

For base aerobic training, your heart rate is generally fairly low - below 80% of your lactate threshold. That feels pretty easy.

To train your body to work better at or near the LT, you will need to ride near that threshold (typically, tempo rides for extended periods (say, 20-45 minutes) very close to LT, or something like over/under intervals around the LT).

To train you aerobic system, you need to work pretty much all out, but not for very long, and not too many intervals.

I have a polar 720i, and I find it most useful keeping me from riding too fast when I'm getting in base miles.

if after you get all our advice you decide you don't want to mess around with the own zone settings, you can always just turn off the sound/alarm on your device and just use it to see what you're hearts up to on your rides. I glance at mine to figure out if i need to pick up the pace or slow things down a bit. i think they're pretty handy that way.

ericgu, thanks for the advice on LT and intervals and stuff.

if after you get all our advice you decide you don't want to mess around with the own zone settings, you can always just turn off the sound/alarm on your device and just use it to see what you're hearts up to on your rides. I glance at mine to figure out if i need to pick up the pace or slow things down a bit. i think they're pretty handy that way.

ericgu, thanks for the advice on LT and intervals and stuff.

I keep the alarms turned off. Sometimes I want to be below a certain limit, sometimes in a small range, and sometimes above it.

I just got a Polar M32 and I could not find a way to set the Polar "Own Zone" so that are right for my current fitness, they were way too low. So I just entered my own.
I got mine by doing the Carmichael Field Test on the 3 mile, it is pretty accurate.
Ciao
Paolo