spinCampy

Ok...here we go. What do I get for training to include intervals.

Thanks

grahny

Check out polar's website

https://www.polarusa.com/consumer/cyc...sp?qid=cycling

jrobe

I only had a Polar heartrate monitor for training for many years but last winter I bought a Powertap power meter. I now realize that the heartrate monitor alone was close to useless. I wouldn't recomend spending too much money on one.

Sprocket Man

That's not true. While a HRM may not be as good as a power meter at providing an objective measure of work intensity, it's still a very good tool at measuring intensity for someone that doesn't have $800 or more to spend.

cyclezealot

I find using my heart rate monitor that whenever I stop vigorous activity, my heart drops to a normal rate within like 30 seconds. I have been setting it to keep my heart beating at least 65% of max. No more junk miles. But, its called recovery time. 30 seconds and its back to normal. that indicates a healthy heart, no?

666

Define "normal"; and back from where? Your LT? Your MHR? And, traditionally, "junk" miles are those between zones 3 & 4 (80% - 84%) i.e. no-mans land.

ericgu

I have a polar 720 I like.

An HR monitor isn't really necessary for intervals, however. For that you're going as hard as you can, and you can usually get a somewhat decent idea of when to start the next one just based on feeling.

They are really useful for tempo work, over/under intervals, and to keep you from working too hard...

cyclezealot

I have noticed upon returning home from a ride; I might continue wearing my HRM while doing house chores . Often things like cutting a hedge , my heart rate might be about 84. So maybe while on the road my beats might be like 170. Within 30 seconds of inactivity it will be 85-90, while just say standing around drinking water.

WheresWaldo

I don't think he maent 80-84 as in bpm. You need to read that as 80-84% of your MAXIMUM heart rate. So in simplistic terms (nobody flame me for using a formula) if you are 40 years old and your maximum heart rate is 180bpm then 80-84% would be anything in the range of 144-152bpm (junk miles).

telebianchi

Sorry for hijacking the OP's thread, but can someone give me a brief description of why these are "junk miles". I've been using my HRM (Polar F6) for a little over a month now and really appreciate its feedback, but am still trying to learn more about how to use it properly. On long rides I keep to about 75%, and when I push things I'm at 86-90%. But on those days when I just feel like riding and not "training", I notice I often end up in this "junk miles" range. It's just what feels comfortable for a 20-25 mile ride.

Thanks!

666

Yep, it' what feels comfortable, but it doesn't improve your fitness. It's called no-man's land (the junk zone) because it's in-between. When you are riding in that range you are not riding hard enough to get any real training benefit, yet it is too hard to allow you to recover from your previous ride(s). Bottom line: train hard, rest hard, do nothing in between.

cyclezealot

what I mean't Waldo. While pumping the pedals at a moderate pace, I might see my HRM reading about 140 -150. After 30 seconds at rest , it usually drops to about 85 bpm.

WheresWaldo

Was this really addressed to me, I was just repeating what 666 wrote. I don't see how HR in the 80-85% of MHR is "junk", but he called it that. Here is the definition I know about "Junk Miles":I don't know how miles ridden at anything over 80% of MHR would be considered 'Junk'.

WheresWaldo

Okay, now I understand.

sneekyjesus

Are all wrist HRM's wired to your chest?

shakeNbake

Hell no!

They use RF.

Thanks for the laugh, though.