[Spookykinkajou]

I did an estimated AT test this morning and am trying to figure out how to set up my HRM for ideal useage.

Does it make sense to set my Max heart rate on the computer to my estimated AT and just always train with percentages of the AT instead of MHR?

eg 75-85% of AT for endurance rides/races or 105% for training interval AT training.

I did some searching and didn't see any mention of using this method. It just seems simpler than figuring out the percentage off of my max heart rate (something i've not calculated yet anyways)

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[Carbonfiberboy]

Sort of.

Good source for workout zones:
http://kevinlippert.com/workouts.php?show=all&CAmenuOpen=on

I never set zones on my HRM. I hate the beeping. It's so easy to monitor, and you might just want to take it easy or hard and go out of zone. So why bother?

You can divide your AT HR by .9 to get approximate MHR.

[Spookykinkajou]

Sort of.

Good source for workout zones:
http://kevinlippert.com/workouts.php?show=all&CAmenuOpen=on

I never set zones on my HRM. I hate the beeping. It's so easy to monitor, and you might just want to take it easy or hard and go out of zone. So why bother?

Today was my first experience with beeping. the range was pretty wide so it was pretty easy to stay within. I think if I used the AT training as I've read thus far I'll get a LOT more beeping since the range is so much narrower.

I've had the HRM for a while now (polar cs200 w/cad) and wear the thing but never used it to train for anything. Recently (yesterday) I decided I should actually take advantage of the rather pricey device. I'm sorely tempted to just put the simple cateye back on and simply ride like i've always done over the years. Even the cadence seems pretty useless as I just know what feels right...i don't need the lagged cadence monitor to tell me i'm pedaling around 90 to 100 rpm.

I'm working on qualifying for RAAM and being competitive at a higher level and it seems necessary to start adding some science in to the mix of just riding. I'm pretty good at perceived effort type training and don't have any problems forcing myself to suffer so the numbers or ranges for motivation thing isn't required.

Personally I wouldn't even have a computer but I like to know the time and distance especially when following a cue sheet!

[Carbonfiberboy]

Ah. Well then. Not our average noob. Might I suggest that you look for a trainer who specializes in those events? But you're absolutely right. From the little I know from doing LD riding, a challenge on the big rides is to hold the HR down. From the little I know from riding with folks who have done those events, there's a lot more pure mental and physical talent than scientific involved. Riding a SS bike (not a fixie) for some of your training seems like a good idea. Pushing the envelope. Much lower and higher cadences than you would normally do.

On the scientific front, it seems that the idea is to have a pyramid of time-in-zone which varies with the mesocycle and microcycle. Early on, the pyramid is very broad on the bottom and narrow on the top. As the time for the event approaches, the pyramid becomes broader on the top. So to do that, it's necessary to have a recording HRM which you download into your computer. Then track time-in-zone with bar charts. You don't have to necessarily watch the HRM so much, but rather vary your workout goals according to the accumulated data during each cycle.

[Dubbayoo]

I set the zones for recording purposes but turn off the beep.

[ericgu]

I did an estimated AT test this morning and am trying to figure out how to set up my HRM for ideal useage.

Does it make sense to set my Max heart rate on the computer to my estimated AT and just always train with percentages of the AT instead of MHR?

eg 75-85% of AT for endurance rides/races or 105% for training interval AT training.

I did some searching and didn't see any mention of using this method. It just seems simpler than figuring out the percentage off of my max heart rate (something i've not calculated yet anyways)

I don't like percentages, personally. It's easier for me to remember that my goal range is 142-146 than to use percentages.

[bac]

I never set zones on my HRM. I hate the beeping.

<Sorry - quick hijack>Your HRM may have a setting to mute the beep. Mine does - instead of beeping, you can set it to flash when you are out of your HRZ.</hijack over>

... Brad

[tdbmd]

You could also have a formal VO2/AT test done and then use the HR zones that the test shows for you. That is probably the most accurate. There are a number of other types of tests to estimate the AT levels, as has been alluded to in other posts