Originally Posted by
Mobile 155
I wear one because it can be an early warning for heat exhaustion. (As long as I haven't pushed so hard that I throw up I feel I haven't maxed out.)
But if my heart rate goes up on a climb and doesn't come back down on the way downhill then I know I need to take it easy till it does. I short if it goes up on a climb and then returns to 120 to 130 in a few minutes I know I am fine. If it gets to 165 and ten minutes later it is still 155 in the flats I need to gear down and cool down. But that is just me. Some of my friends never get to 160 even on a climb.
I find a HRM is useful as a governor. Once you use one, you quickly figure out at what HR you can continue for a good while, and that right above it you'll "pop" (tire REALLY quickly). If you want to do a sub-six hour century, you'll need to pace yourself, and the HRM is the easiest way to do that.
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Regards,
Chuck
Demain, on roule!