a question of spr0t

[TdC]

hmm. I'm thinking of getting a heart-rate monitor with a chest strap. just so you know what I'm getting at, have a look here. that's a model I'm considering. Does anyone know anything about these things? I have some stuff it will have to do nicely:

>I want the HRM to be able to display HR averages, highs, lows and to be able to tell me when I'm in a defined zone and how long I'm there in a training period. Preferably I want it to tell me these things in a non-audio fashion.
>I want to be able to make pretty graphs by uploading the HR data to my computer.
>I ride a mountainbike and I go to the gym. the HRM doesn't have to measure running or riding speed / distance or anything. I have other toys for that.

anyone use these things? is uploading to a poota actually handy? Will I still be doing that in 10 years time? do tell!!

 

[Chilly]

cant you get watches that do that? without all that chest strap pallava

 

[TdC]

well the thing is a chest strap that talks to a wrist unit usually. a chest strap is also far more accurate than a wrist or ear sensor I'm told.

 

[babs]

Something like this?. I used the same thing on my gym induction (coupled with a wrist receiver of course) and Polar is a name I recognise.

 

[TdC]

yarrrr that's exactly what I mean, though I'll be getting mine together with a wrist unit of the same make (possibly). any thoughts on it? is it comfy to wear?

 

[Tom]

Can you get something with a pedometer? They're very useful on those lazy days for making sure you get the minimum 5 miles of walking or so.

 

[jaba]

they are like what I imagine wearing a bra might feel like, bit uncomfortable at first but youll get used to it mate.

 

[.Wilier.]

Ive got a Polar M62 which is a bit old hat now.

I used to use it purely for training on the bike, so you could use the 4 zones to structure the training levels required to peak for certain events.

Theyre very usefull for training on a static trainer, since you can basically simulate 'perfect' training conditions due to no outside influence (wind, road/trail conditions etc)

A couple of things to note Teeds:

Dont believe the 240 minus your age bollocks for determining your max heart rate. To find that, you need to do a maximal test (very very painfull)

Dont become a slave to the monitor. ie. Your riding, and feel like your going balls out, but your heart rate is low, so you need to go faster, right? Wrong, listen to your body. If your legs wont have it, dont push it. Similarly, if your HR is high but your not achieving your expected average speed, listen to your heart.

You'll find that off road, your HR will be up and down like a whores drawers due to the nature of the trail. Its very hard to remain in a certain zone off road.

My personal level 2 training zone, which at this time of the year, is where I would be spending about 3-4hrs a day, was 140-160bpm.
Level 3 was riding at your aerobic limit. This was basically race-pace. so around 170-180.
Level 4 was anaerobic. ie. Flat-out sprints. Major lactic acid build up, just for very short periods, bridging a gap, sprint finish's, final push over a climb etc. 180+

 

[Catsby]

Catsby's heart hurts when he takes the stairs rather than the elevator

 

[TdC]

Can you get something with a pedometer? They're very useful on those lazy days for making sure you get the minimum 5 miles of walking or so.

nah, it's pure heart rate monitoring.

 

[TdC]

Ive got a Polar
Theyre very usefull for training on a static trainer, since you can basically simulate 'perfect' training conditions due to no outside influence (wind, road/trail conditions etc)

aye, I want to use them mostly for the running and biking I do in the gym on machines but I will be taking them outside.

Dont believe the 240 minus your age bollocks for determining your max heart rate. To find that, you need to do a maximal test (very very painfull)

yeah, I know. saw it on tv once. I don't really feel like doing one unless someone holds a gun to my head tbh

Dont become a slave to the monitor. ie. Your riding, and feel like your going balls out, but your heart rate is low, so you need to go faster, right? Wrong, listen to your body. If your legs wont have it, dont push it. Similarly, if your HR is high but your not achieving your expected average speed, listen to your heart.

aye, I do this already. my bike mates joss about and call me lazy, but my goal is to get to where I was three years ago, and I intend to take a year doing it. I'm not really aware if that's slow or not, but I bike for fun mostly so ner. three years back I could do 40 miles and go out on the piss an hour after I was back. now if I do 40 I'm so drained that I can barel make it to the shower

You'll find that off road, your HR will be up and down like a whores drawers due to the nature of the trail. Its very hard to remain in a certain zone off road.

yeah I imagined this would be so. outside I'd be using the monitor purely for averages over time.

My personal level 2 training zone, which at this time of the year, is where I would be spending about 3-4hrs a day, was 140-160bpm.
Level 3 was riding at your aerobic limit. This was basically race-pace. so around 170-180.
Level 4 was anaerobic. ie. Flat-out sprints. Major lactic acid build up, just for very short periods, bridging a gap, sprint finish's, final push over a climb etc. 180+

ha, I may be wanting to talk a bit about this to you at some point in the future matey atm I'm doing too much weights and too little cardio at the gym, but I intend to turn this about a bit and do something like an hour and a half of running / biking and an 45 minutes or so of weights. I imagine that the monitor will help me to not get bored. static running/biking bores me to tears tbh. atm I actively fantasize about actual biking or poota games or whatnot just to keep my mind busy.

 

[Tom]

three years back I could do 40 miles and go out on the piss an hour after I was back. now if I do 40 I'm so drained that I can barel make it to the shower

Blimey that brings back memories. 100 miles a week, including 20-30 on the weekend, and my legs felt like tree trunks of steel. That was over 10 years ago.

Now they feel like tree trunks of flabola

 

[Lazarus]

but my goal is to get to where I was three years ago,

turn the bike around!!!!

 

[Wij]

Catsby's heart hurts when he takes the stairs rather than the elevator

I have no feeling in my right arm this week

 

[Brynn]

I have no feeling in my right arm this week

your knob red raw too?

 

[Wij]

No