Hey, I was thinking of getting a HRM and i was wondering what peoples views were on them. Do your find that you can train effectively and task yourself with a set goal? ( and reach that? )
Or do you find that you seem to back down when it says that you have reached your max. heart rate, and i thought that during a race and you look to your heart rate monitor and it says that you've reached your max. you cant really back out, unless your at the front and you move back in the group a bit, but otherwise you cant do much other than get dropped.
So i was just wondering on peoples opinions so i could make my decision a little clearer on whether to get one or not.
i use a polar 720i for both of my bikes, mainly as a speedo/trip computer and as a tool for post ride analysis. I find that the HR reading doesnt tend to effect my efforts an awful lot during races because i know what i have to do to win. It does get interesting though to look back after the race and see how hard i was actually pushing and whether i need some specific training. I think they are an excellent tool for training if you know a lot about what your are doing otherwise as i say they r best used for analysis.
I've been riding with a HR monitor since last December. I found it very useful in improving my performance. Before the HR I would ride based on how I felt. Most of the time I was actually riding too hard. Riding at a lower HR will improve you overall performance. Pick a regular route to use as a base measurement, then ride the route every month to see your improvements. I keep a log including; dates, mileage, avg. speed, total time, avg. HR, time in HR zone and, a description of how I felt that ride. Thanks to this forum and someone's recommendation, I purchased a book titled "The Heart Rate Monitor Book for Cyclist" by Sally Edwards and Sally Reed. They give many training ride examples which are great during the winter time riding an indoor trainer, and a few outdoor rides. This book helps explain the benifits of using a HRM, interval training, and recovery riding and many other helpful bits of information.
I use mine mainly to see what I just did overall while on a training ride. I track my average heart rate along with speed, time and distance to get a better understanding of how I ride and to help me plan what I need to do on my next ride.
For me right now (just getting started riding really) it is a learning process.
I have read that some use them to make sure they do not start out to hard on long rides (a century for example) and to make sure they keep the pace up on traing rides or the rate down on recovery rides, so as to get the most out of each ride.
I am currently using a Suunto T6 which is an amazing bit of equipment. Its helped me improve my fitness and also recovery so much, I would be lost without it.
I don't race, but use it to keep the intensity down on training rides. Also on the longer club rides and Century events, the monitor helps me watch how hard I'm going early in the ride....ie, when it's time for the old guy to drop off the fast pack.
I used to ride as hard as I could for the first 50 miles, then suffer greatly in the second half of the ride. The HRM helps me finish strong and enjoy the ride.
Another benefit is being able to monitor time spent above LT, so I can track recovery and adjust training for the week. For me, time spent above LT seems more significant than total mileage as a measure of training load and recovery needed.
Hey, Or do you find that you seem to back down when it says that you have reached your max. heart rate, and i thought that during a race and you look to your heart rate monitor and it says that you've reached your max..
I find the monitor can result in you occasionally backing off, but it usually makes you work harder because your perception is often not reality.
In a race it usually doesn't matter what zone you're in, so you've got not choice; hammer ot be dropped 🙂
If you're in any doubt, just get a cheap one like a Polar A3 or A5. I consider myself an experienced rider, and I'm happy with a "cheapy" A3.
I find the monitor can result in you occasionally backing off, but it usually makes you work harder because your perception is often not reality.
In a race it usually doesn't matter what zone you're in, so you've got not choice; hammer ot be dropped
If you're in any doubt, just get a cheap one like a Polar A3 or A5. I consider myself an experienced rider, and I'm happy with a "cheapy" A3.
ive allready got a trip meter, so i think it might be best to just go with a HRM, without extras, a good old cheapy. becuase im thinking of upgrading my whole bike soon so i want to save a bit of money. 😄 thanks nutbag
I find the monitor can result in you occasionally backing off, but it usually makes you work harder because your perception is often not reality.
In a race it usually doesn't matter what zone you're in, so you've got not choice; hammer ot be dropped 🙂
If you're in any doubt, just get a cheap one like a Polar A3 or A5. I consider myself an experienced rider, and I'm happy with a "cheapy" A3.
I've got a cheapy monitors also...just reads out the current HR. It might be handy to have one that reads out in % of max, and records time spent in zones, but I didn't want to spend over $100 to get those features.
On the OLN TdF show today, Chris Carmichael mentioned that Lance's HR was 90% of max during his big climb on Stage 12 when he first gained time on Jan and Tyler. Believe that was going up La Mongie. Apparently Lance and his coach are very careful about how he meters out his energy day-to-day on the Tour.
If you have the funds spend the $300 and buy a Polar 720I with both a speed and cadence sensor. The 720i is extremely durable and interfaces with many laptop computers (those with a IR port). I find great value in being able to download a ride to my computer and visualize the effect elevation and cadence has on my speed and heart rate. I can not train with out my Polar HRM. -JN
hallie-lk said:
Hey, I was thinking of getting a HRM and i was wondering what peoples views were on them. Do your find that you can train effectively and task yourself with a set goal? ( and reach that? )
Or do you find that you seem to back down when it says that you have reached your max. heart rate, and i thought that during a race and you look to your heart rate monitor and it says that you've reached your max. you cant really back out, unless your at the front and you move back in the group a bit, but otherwise you cant do much other than get dropped.
So i was just wondering on peoples opinions so i could make my decision a little clearer on whether to get one or not.
If you have the funds spend the $300 and buy a Polar 720I with both a speed and cadence sensor. The 720i is extremely durable and interfaces with many laptop computers (those with a IR port). I find great value in being able to download a ride to my computer and visualize the effect elevation and cadence has on my speed and heart rate. I can not train with out my Polar HRM. -JN
Hi,
could you tell me which HRM are best. The wrist watch type or the ones that clip on the handle bars as I am a bit perplexed over this issue.
I like to use one that works both ways. My Polar 720i gets installed on my road handlebars and stays on my wrist when Mtn. Biking. I have found that anything attached to my Mtn. bike tends to get destroyed fairly quickly when I crash or hit rocks. My wrist offers better protection then the handlebars do. -JN
androo said:
Androo Hi,
could you tell me which HRM are best. The wrist watch type or the ones that clip on the handle bars as I am a bit perplexed over this issue.
could you tell me which HRM are best. The wrist watch type or the ones that clip on the handle bars as I am a bit perplexed over this issue.
Many thanks
All the polar ones are wrist watch types that you can get a simple adapter for, that will also attach to your handle bars. That way you can wear it either wear and use for more then just cycling
could you tell me which HRM are best. The wrist watch type or the ones that clip on the handle bars as I am a bit perplexed over this issue.
Many thanks
720 or 520, similar I'd look at that range though. The wrist watch option is my favorite, Polar's come with a wireless mounting kit and it takes ~10 sec to take it off your wrist and strap it to the bars.
I didn't know I wanted a HRM until my wife got one for me for a birthday surprise. I have the 520 and love it love it love it! I learned a lot about my training (I too was overtraining much of the time), and now do intervals... my cycling underwent a step-function improvment over the course of a few months, seemingly with LESS effort during the training. It pays to train intellegently if you're serious about your health and/or performance.
720 or 520, similar I'd look at that range though. The wrist watch option is my favorite, Polar's come with a wireless mounting kit and it takes ~10 sec to take it off your wrist and strap it to the bars.
I didn't know I wanted a HRM until my wife got one for me for a birthday surprise. I have the 520 and love it love it love it! I learned a lot about my training (I too was overtraining much of the time), and now do intervals... my cycling underwent a step-function improvment over the course of a few months, seemingly with LESS effort during the training. It pays to train intellegently if you're serious about your health and/or performance.
Mines a low-end Sigma Sport, and it also came with the handlebar clip. I just leave it on the bike all the time now. Have used it for almost all of the 3000 miles I've ridden this year; now wouldn't want to ride without it.
could you tell me which HRM are best. The wrist watch type or the ones that clip on the handle bars as I am a bit perplexed over this issue.
Many thanks
I use an inexpensive Polar A3 (Under $80). There are many different manufactures out there with many features. Decide what you want the HRM to tell you then look at different companies with those features and compare prices. The A3 simply gives me the basics I need to measure my performance. Check out Polar's web or other companies for comparison (I believe someone else already posted Polars web). As for the handle bar mount mine didn't come with one, but I used a piece of 3/4 inch pipe insulation, cut to width for the watch, as a HB mount. Works great and is really cheap at any hardware store. Plus it the hot water in your pipes warmer longer.
