I just got my new Tacx Basic trainer and I am getting into using it. I now find myself wanting to track my progress (I use a heart rate monitor) to see how I am doing and to plan different types of training. I was going to get the Sally Edwars sereis on heart rate training and the log that goes with it, but I read mixed reviews on Amazon. I also looked into the training software put out by Ed Burke (kind of expensive!!).

Does anyone out there have any suggestions??

I am trying to set up a program to ride about 4 to 5 times a week (and mix in some Nordictrac for variety).

I also want to be able to "take it to the street" when the weather warms up in the Spring. I live in a fairly hilly area, so the training rides that call for "flat to rolling" just ain't gonna cut it.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill

The Sally Edwards books are really good.
Our own Velo has written some pretty good training
routines, do a search for post by Velo. You really
should check them out.
Other than that can't offer much advice.
For a log (online) Crosstrak is pretty good
Crosstrak

Marty

Thanks for the plug, lotek. Yes, my winter training articles are posted over in the road cycling forum, if you want to check them out.

I have no experience with those two references personally, but I have heard only good about them both, actually. Some of the comments come from this site. Maybe you could search by the titles and see what you come up with.

velo

As far as logging your training, I am a big fan of using a spreadsheet. That way you can customize it to suit your taste. Learning how to use Excel or one of the others is not as hard as it might seem.

Cheers,
Jamie

Quick Follow up:

My wife just gave me the Sally Edwards book for our
anniversary, the Log book is on backorder.
I'll let you know what I think once I read a bit
more. . .

Marty

If you want to get really detailed, you can model a spreadsheet after the log pages in Joe Friel's The Cyclists Training Bible. For some online tracking sites, Check this thread.

Friel has a great website, which I just started using...it's got everything you're looking for

www.trainingbible.com

I am a biiiiiiiiigggg fan of the Sally Edwards/Sally Reed series.

They have a great book out there called "The Heart Rate Monitor Book for Outdoor and Indoor Cyclists". There is also the "Heart Rate Monitor Workbook for Indoor Cyclists" for those that want to work on trainers, fixed gear bikes, etc. Then they have the logbook that goes with the training books called the "Heart Rate Monitor Log" where you can keep up with weekly workouts, plus rate your sport activity, keep up the mileage, assign points per workout, etc. It's pretty extensive, and if you understand the principles behind the workout, you will understand how to use the log book. Finally, if you get the "Heart Rate Monitor Book for Outdoor and Indoor Cyclists", you get the CD Rom that comes with it for downloadable heart rate monitors. It's a priceless jewel.

When I first started training, I picked up one of Sally Edwards first books she wrote (when Polar came to her and asked her to put together a comprehensive book that would explain HOW the heart rate monitor would work for the average athlete). It was called "The Heart Rate Monitor Book", and anyone who hasn't read a comprehensive book about how to use a heart rate monitor needs to pick the book up. It blew me away- put everything into simplistic terms that I could use. From there, I was able to begin to train much more realistically using a heart rate monitor. From there, I spent another couple of years reading her books, as well as several other books out there in the fitness field from other authors. I have to say, out of all the authors I've read, hers is the most understandable, most readable, and most applicable to the average individual. The books, workbooks, and CD Rom can be used for all levels, unlike several of the authors out there. She and Sally Reed are wonderful authorities on the subject.

Also, they are often available to answer questions or speak with you- you can call the number on their website- www.heartzones.com (a shameless promotion for their materials) in Seattle and get Sally Edwards. You can also email any of them directly, and they are very responsive.

Ok, it's drooling- I really like them, and maybe it's because they're women, and I find it refreshing that there are women who are authority figures in this field. I've also met them both, and I've found them quite refreshing to converse with.

All right, I'm wiping the drool off my face and moving on- but I wouldn't necessarily take into stock some of those comments on the website- I bet if I spent 30 minutes talking with half of them, chances are, they have very little understanding of the material. Sometimes, the root of hostility comes from lack of understanding which results in frustration. Totally understandable.....

My review of Sally Edwards. I hold a lot of authors in high regard-including Joel Friel and Ed Burke, however, I am more inclined to lean towards the Sally series and her program.

My 2 cents...

Koffee

Followup part 2.

I just started figuring my max heartrate and base (60%) for
training purposes. The first chapters in the Edwards/Reed
book are great!
I have CrossTrak on my PC for logs, and it includes
5 HR zones so it will work with the Edwards/Reed formulas!
Oh yeah, its a free download.
you can get the log here:
CROSSTRAK

Marty

I use Bike Pro Log for tracking my training. I like it a lot - and - it's free. Can't say I have experience with any other web based logs. I use a Polar heart rate monitor which came with the PC Coach Light software. I liked it well enough that I eventually upgraded to the PC Coach Elite. Here's the link for Bike Pro Log:

https://www.bikeprolog.com/index.jsp