cody559

Just wondering who in here uses a hear rate monitor while training? I am think of geting one to start training with. N e guide lines for tips to get a better train out of it. Any other info would be greatly helpful thanks

Carbonfiberboy 

Most of the people who post here use a HRM, or did at one time. Google is your friend. Sally Edwards wrote a book in answer to your question.

slim_77

also, search these forums. Tons has been discussed that will answer your question.

Creakyknees

Yep I know it's a non-answer but most of the "training" books and guides I've seen, are set up so you can use them with an HRM as well as with a powermeter, or even good old perceived exertion.

I'd also say the important thing is to strap it on and get used to seeing how your HR responds to exercise - within a ride, and also over time as you get fatigued from day to day, then recover, get fitter, etc. All the talk about zones and thresholds will begin to make a bit more sense.

Also be aware of the limitations of HR - lots of things can affect it and if you're a slave to the numbers, you won't be getting the most out of it. For example if you're fatigued it's harder to get your pulse up, but you may be going just as fast as you did yesterday. Dehydration, sleep, temperature, mood, all can affect it.

late

1) Order a good, basic HRM, $40-50 will get you one.

2) get a book or two. The Sally Edwards books are good, I have one. I like her logbook. If you aren't going to use software, a logbook is needed to follow
a schedule.
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Monitor-...9307849&sr=1-4


3) But a periodised schedule takes it to the next level. You can find a book that covers the basics and try to make one ( not easy). You can find a generic
schedule, and use that. Or you can use a software program or coaching service. The software will likely be designed to work with a few fairly expensive HRMs.

Richard Cranium

I do, I do -pick me I know - I know all the answers - pick me I know all about HR monitors.

chill123

i use a polar cs300. it is great as it is very easy to use for other sports such as running etc

DScott

Yes, Dick...?

wirelessness

Find your LT and then you can safely determine what your specific HR zones are and exercise based on your goals by spending a preplanned amount of time within one or more zones during a ride. I did not come up with this info by any means. It's been shared over and over in many forums and I thought it might help to share it with you. You can do the same type test for your running LT which will be slightly different than your cycling LT.


Determining Bike Training Zones

In biking we want to know our heart rate training zones. To make this as easy as possible, we will use a standard 30 minute TT. From this TT we will be able to determine the correct training zones. I do advocate doing both an inside and outside LT tests.

Bike test protocol for inside testing:

The warm-up is 15 minutes of cycling, moving through the different gears, always keeping the cadence above 90 RPMS. Do a few short sprints to get your heart rate up and ready for the test!

You should start out in a gear that you can maintain 90 RPMS in. Make sure you remember what gear you started in.

* The 30 minute TT begins.
* At 10 minutes into the test, hit the 'Lap' button on your heart rate monitor, to get the average heart rate over the final 20 minutes of the test.
* The average for the final 20 minutes is your Lactate Threshold or LT.
* You should finish knowing you gave it everything you had.

15 minutes easy cool down.

Example:
Johnny has an average of 156 heart rate for his 30 minute bike TT. If I calculate Johnny's zones using his LT and the Training Bible zones, this is what I come up with:
Zone 1 - 102-129
Zone 2 - 130-139
Zone 3 - 140-146
Zone 4 - 147- 155
Zone 5a - 156-159
Zone 5b - 160-164
Zone 5c - 165-170

umd

Clearly