Training & Nutrition - Training with Heart Rate Monitor

Hi everybody. I'm a new member of this forum. I'm interested in getting into training with a heart rate monitor. I have looked at past threads in this forum which have mentioned Sally Edwards or Sally Reed as authorities in this field. I looked up their book The Heart Rate Monitor Book for Outdoor and Indoor Cyclists: A Heart Zone Training Program and one of the readers reviews of this book says that to implement their program your heart rate monitor should have Cadence, Altitude and Watt Output. The reader may have meant that your speedometer/computer should have those functions. I have found speedometer/computers that have Cadence and Altitude but does anyone know what Watt Output is? Are all three (Cadence, Altitude and Watt Output) needed to implement this program? Do heart rate monitors have these functions or am I right thinking that you would get these figures from a speedometer/computer? Thanks

The best way to get your wattage output is to do the test on one of those nautilus bikes or other computerized bikes. In a lab setting, with some of these performance labs, you can bring your bike in, and they have the instruments to test you for wattage, cadence, heart rate, etc., but at other labs, you will end up getting on a computerized bike while they measure your output.

Altitude is only a factor if you're training at high altitudes like Denver (or I guess anyplace in the mountains in general). Don't worry about that one.

I did a post a few weeks ago where I outlined the 2x 20 test. I know if you get the book you described for the "Outdoor and Indoor Cyclists" by Edwards, you'll get that book. But you should look into getting the "Heart Rate Monitor Book" so you have the basic principles down before getting the other books dealing with the zones. If you don't understand the principles behind it, you'll never be able to get the practice either.

I'll look around for the link to that test I posted, and I'll edit my post later and add it in, unless someone else beats me to it first! But in the meantime, kudos for wanting to take your training to the next level, no matter what you're goal is. Post if you have any more questions.

Koffee

rjpnew: Welcome to the forums. My current computer Cateye MSC-3DX is a combo bike computer/HRM so with a single unit I get to see my HR and cadence at the same time. I have been able to get along just fine without altitude and wattage information.

Cadence may or may not be an important function for you. It is for me because some of the workouts I do specify that I should spin a 42x17 gear at 90 RPM for 2 minutes and then increase to 95, etc.

You mentioned you're a new member of the forum, what's your riding experience? If you're also a new rider then I think cadence would be important function to have. If you happen to already have a HRM then consider the Cateye Astrale 8. It's a new Cateye computer that has cadence built into it. My only dislike about the computer is it picks up speed from the front wheel and not the rear so I have no way to measure distance on the trainer :(

Good Luck with your training!

Zack

Thanks for the input. Koffee are you talking about the book Heart Rate Monitor Book authored by only Sally Edwards which is apparently the original in the series? Zack I don't have a HRM yet but I do have a speedometer/odometer ect but if its cheaper to buy a HRM without a cadence counter I might buy another computer that has that feature but I will check out the models you mentioned.

Cateye's HB-100 also has the HRM built into the computer, but no cadence.

BTW, you can always buy a second mount for the computer to use on the trainer, you might have to hook it up to something other than the bars temporarily, if the cable isn't long enough to go the the rear wheel.

Baloney!
I have the book, used it all last year. All you need is the book. The companion logbook of the same name is very helpful, and I strongly reccomend it. Then get the cheapest Polar HRM you can find. I got mine off Ebay. Btw, if the book mentions watts; they neglected to mention it in the index. This uses zone training; altitude and watt ouput are irlelevant. What matters is that you keep your heart in the right training zone.

The book I mentioned (first one) is the one authored by Sally Edwards alone. It's "The Heart Rate Monitor Book"- her first book authored to companion with the Polar heart rate monitors back when Polar first started selling their basic models. It's a great resource to have.

Any old heart rate monitor will do for you- a basic model would work, unless you wanted to do some extra stuff with heart rate monitors. Then I would suggest an upgrade. For now, the basic heart rate monitor will do just fine.

[i] My only dislike about the computer is it picks up speed from the front wheel and not the rear so I have no way to measure distance on the trainer :( [/B]

Zack,

As you know, we have the same one. :-) My Bianchi, the sensor is mounted for the back wheel so I can measure my distance on my trainer. My other bike, it's mounted to the front wheel for training outdoors. You can have your LBS just order an additonal "kit" and add a sensor to your bike to use with your trainer to measure distance.. As far as the front wheel picking up speed, remove the "M" to stop recording.

Any questions, let me know.

Italia:beer:

ITALIA: Thanks for the info. I do want to order an additional kit for a 2nd bike anyway. I've been very pleased with the computer and its download capabilities. About the only thing I would like to see in the software would be a way to calculate an average cadence that ignored 0 recordings. I'd like to know what my average was during the times when I was pedalling.

Zack

[i]About the only thing I would like to see in the software would be a way to calculate an average cadence that ignored 0 recordings. I'd like to know what my average was during the times when I was pedalling.

Zack [/B]


Zack,

I'll check on that and get back to you.

Italia

Zack,

Cat's working on incorporating that into the next software AND said's thanks for the comment. He will keep me posted as I will you. :beer:

Italia



Originally posted by ZackJones
ITALIA: Thanks for the info. I do want to order an additional kit for a 2nd bike anyway. I've been very pleased with the computer and its download capabilities. About the only thing I would like to see in the software would be a way to calculate an average cadence that ignored 0 recordings. I'd like to know what my average was during the times when I was pedalling.

Zack