Originally Posted by
davethelefty
Just curious if anyone in our age group is following a training plan based on heart rate zones? I have seen some of these plans online, wanted to know what plan or guidelines you follow, and how you measure heart rate (watch, chest strap, etc.), and finally, how do you review your data?
Also please provide your thoughts around the statement that the more you analyze performance data, the less joy you have on the bike. I ask because I’ve had times when I focused on performance goals of speed and distance so much that I wasn’t enjoying my rides…
When I first got into cycling, I trained by HR. I followed the HR based plan in Chris Carmichael's Time Crunched Cyclist and tracked the data on Training Peaks. The pros are that it's relatively inexpensive and if you follow the plan, you will get fitter. The cons are that it's not that precise and using HR is pretty useless for shorter, harder efforts. Too much lag, too much drift as you get further into your workout, and too much variability due to heat, hydration, and fatigue.
I've used a power meter for about 10 years now. I still wear the HR strap most rides, but mostly to track aerobic decoupling or to keep myself honest when doing long endurance work.
I don't think tracking data detracts from my enjoyment of cycling. I'm one of those people who gets a lot of satisfaction from hitting my targets and tracking my improvements. But as always, YMMV.