Getting started with HRMs

[NYCommuter]

Hi.
I am looking for some coaching on heart rate monitors and have a series of questions.

First off, here is a brief status of where I stand:
I am bike commuting to work almost everyday in NYC (1,200 miles YTD). My commute includes a long ride on a protected bike lane (WS Hwy) where I can speed up, some street riding with stop and go traffic and a trip over the Brooklyn bridge. Overall, the 9 miles commute (each way) is mostly flat (except the bridge :rolleyes: ). I am monitoring my commute time and have shaved about 17 mins YTD on my RT commute (1:13 down from 1:30). My average speed has gone up from 12mph to 14.5 mph.
On the bike, I try to push myself every ride to be consistent and fast. I want each trip to be as intense as possible, while still being able to walk up the stairs when I get home.
On weekends, I take Saturday off. On Sunday, I go to the (prospect) park and do 20-30 miles. The first 4 are amazingly hard, but then I find a rhythm and my pace increases lap after lap... until I sense it is time to call it quits...!

All I have to quantify this effort is the time it takes me to go from point A to point B, or my average speed. And that is flawed by so many factors: wind, hitting the right traffic light (momentum vs rest), cold weather, traffic....

Onto the questions:
After reading several posts in this forum, I came to the conclusion that monitoring HR would provide for a more accurate view of my real effort and would even help me achieve more endurance and more effective weight loss... but I am not sure how!

1) Is my assessment accurate? Would an HRM help me understand when I am "slacking off" and when I am overdoing it? How do I find the targets?
2) What else could an HRM help me achieve and how? How can it help me achieve more endurance? How can it help me lose weight more effectively?
3) What features are essential in an HRM? Can you easily calculate how many calories you burn from your average HR or do you need that feature?
4) last but not least... help me chose an HRM appropriate to those needs... I am told Polar is the brand of choice. Based on what I understand, I narrowed down to the following HRMs: A3 (http://www.polarusa.com/Products/Consumer/A3.asp), A5 (http://www.polarusa.com/Products/Consumer/A5.asp), S120 (http://www.polarusa.com/Products/Consumer/S120.asp). and the S150 (http://www.polarusa.com/Products/Consumer/S150.asp). I already have a computer on my bike with which I am very happy...

Am I overlooking other Polar models?
Are there other brands I should look at ?
I would like to keep the price as low as possible and definately under $120.
I see Timex has some fairly inexpensive models right now...like this one (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=12231). Are they worth looking into?

I hope these questions, and you answers, will also help others....
Sorry for the long post. :o

[DnvrFox]

http://www.polarusa.com/consumer/cycling/getstarted.asp

You really need a good training book such as "Precision Heart Rate Training" by Edmund Burke, and Sally Edwards has several books:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1558505520/103-8549126-3483027?v=glance

Both avail at Amazon.com

I use a simple HRM - Nashbar.com for about $45, which meets my needs as regards interval training, zone I am in, etc., average HR. I also use this in the winter on a LifeCycle and an indoor trainer.

Any HRM will be helpful. The more you spend, the more info you get. Very technical training types with racing goals, etc., generally buy those with computer downloads, etc. I don't find that necessary, but it would be nice, if I wanted to spend that much money!

Good luck. Others will prob give more technical answers.

[Brillig]

2. Yes. In conjunction with some specific training (outlined in a lot of books) you can probably more effectively train and/or lose weight by doing training sessions that are designed around your HR.

[Boomer]

I was given the Polar A3 over the weekend as a brithday present and used it for the first time yesterday. I didn't bike with it, rather I ran 5 miles. I'm a runner converting to a cyclist because of runner's knees. I only run twice a week now. I am interested to see which activity gives me a better workout. During the five miles, I averaged 158 bpm and hit a max of 165 bpm. I'll be getting on my bike this weekend and see how it compares.

[Brillig]

One of the great things about cycling is that you can control your effort much better. As long as there are not a lot of intense hills you can almost pick your HR you want to ride with. It's much harder to do that with running or a lot of other training methods.

[geneman]

One of the great things about cycling is that you can control your effort much better. As long as there are not a lot of intense hills you can almost pick your HR you want to ride with. It's much harder to do that with running or a lot of other training methods.

Great point ... this morning's ride was a "lazy" one for me after hard efforts on both Tuesday and Wednesday. I put a cap of 160bpm on the ride and only had to throttle back a bit for the two climbs on my route. Furthermore, the more in shape you are, the easier it is to modulate your heart rate. Very early in the season, it took a good minute to shed 10 bpm while as of late, I can drop 10 bpm literally in a matter of seconds. So much good information!

-mark

[John M]

NYCommuter: I have been using a HRM a long time. I had a Polar Pacer, any old timer remember this one? I moved up to down loadable, Vantage XL in 91. Replavced that in 01 with the S710, I like lots of info, engineer thing you know. As you can see I got 10 years from mine and the info on training I garnered was worth the effort. So to answer your question, yes they are worth the money and time to learn to use. The amount of info you want from the monitor is up to you. For some initial reading try Sally Edwards site Heart Zones (http://www.heartzone.com/index.shtml) At the bottom of the page is a heart rate calculator that will give you your zones. Also try some of her whtie papers on the the right side. Good info and free. I have 4 of her books including the Edmund Burke book. Try "The Heart Rate Monitor book for Indoor and Outdoor cyclists". I got my copy from Books a million. Barnes and nobels and amazon all have the book. The other book that was recmended to me was "The heart rate monitor guide book for heart zone training" by Sally Edwards. 1999 version as the info has been updated over the 95/96 book. I just got this one Monday, so I cannot tell you more. Heart zone training book (http://www.store.yahoo.com/heartzones/hearratmongu.html)

Features, I started with just HR and then download hr with lots of memory so I only had to d/l once a week and now HR, speed, distance, cadence, Temp ..... To start, your HR with settable limits and some memory in the HRM so that you can hold more than 1 exercise prior to reviewing the info. Now that I am older and things are harder to attain, I pay more attention to my HRM.
Good luck