Am I the only person without a heart rate monitor?
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kylie posted 50 weeks ago.
Meh I don't find them very helpful, especially on the bike. However, if you are feeling like you just can't get an idea of "hard" and "easy" perhaps it would be worth it. If you are feeling comfortable on the bike, and are good at listening to your body and the effort levels you are doing, I don't think they are too helpful.
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Carlos Mx posted 50 weeks ago.
When I started on the bike I had one and thought it was necessary, but then it broke down. After a few rides without it I started to get used to not knowing my heart rate and listening to my body.
Now, if you want to get serious about it, you should get a power meter.
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wrcox posted 50 weeks ago.
yeah i have never used one for any training and dont really plan to.. ill feel my pulse and count it every once in a while but most the time i dont really bother.. i know when my body is working really hard
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jhudalla posted 50 weeks ago.
cost you alot. I'd recommend the hrm(~100) for a starter into the information arena. If that goes well, plop down the 1000+ bux on power.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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kylie posted 50 weeks ago.
A powermeter is a more accurate way to see exactly how hard you are working on the bike (HR is affected by how tired you are, hydrated, heat, etc). However, I don't recommend one if you are just starting (unless you have biiiig toy fund and are a numbers geek ;). There is plenty of improvment to do with just time on the bike for a while. Powermeters are worthwhile once you want to get more technical with your training or are working with a coach.
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Donnermann posted 50 weeks ago.
Any links to info on power meters? Thanks for the help so far!
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kylie posted 50 weeks ago.
Well the two main powermeters are SRM and PowerTap. You can probably find some info if you google them. There have been some discussions on here, too -- so maybe also do the search on here. If you are considering one many people find the book Training and Racing with a Powermeter to be helpful (and it does talk about how to pick which one), and there is a new book out that is getting some good reviews so far - The Triathlete's Guide to Training with Power.
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RunMDC posted 50 weeks ago.
I agree on the usefulness of HRMs. I have one that I used a lot when I was first getting into endurance sport but as I learned to understand my body's signs of exertion I stopped using it. I do use it when running sometimes just to keep myself in Zone 2 because I have a tendency to want to run fast all the time and overtrain.
On the bike I think an HRM is useless. A powermeter is the way to go, much more accurate picture of your exertion levels. The only problem, as has been mentioned, it will probably cost as much as your bike.
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gfd posted 50 weeks ago.
I have benefited from my HRM, especially in base training. Seeing the difference in running speed at the same heart rate from the beginning of base and at the end can be a huge confidence booster. I am not a slave to it but I always wear it for speedwork and it was a extremely helpful during the bike portion of my IM in terms of not letting myself get carried away and blowing up on the course.
"If we help someone else up a steep hill, we get nearer to the top ourselves." ~Unknown~
~Garen~
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Ironmom posted 50 weeks ago.
gfd wrote:
I have benefited from my HRM, especially in base training. Seeing the difference in running speed at the same heart rate from the beginning of base and at the end can be a huge confidence booster. I am not a slave to it but I always wear it for speedwork and it was a extremely helpful during the bike portion of my IM in terms of not letting myself get carried away and blowing up on the course.
+1 I think the single most useful possibility of a HRM is to use it on the bike portion of a HIM or an IM. If more people stayed in the right heartrate during the IM bike, there wouldn't be near so many walking wounded on the run course.
I do have a HRM, but the only time I really used it was during IM training to get used to it, and then on the bike portion of the IM, especially at the beginning not to overamp.
If you're a fast swimmer especially, it's hard to come onto the bike course with all of the fast cyclists in a triathlon and not go too fast for your own pace (esp. in longer distance races). That's a great place to use a HRM.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
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kylie posted 50 weeks ago.
I don't know... I have found that my HR is not a good indicator of actual effort on the bike. I have ignored it in all my IMs ;)
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Nobody posted 50 weeks ago.
Wow--I thought I was the only person who thought that the HRM was useless and overrated (and irritating to wear and listen to).
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
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Dunger posted 48 weeks ago.
I have used one for 4 years. They are not something I pay attention to for every bike and run session. But for intervals it is great, for making sure easy days are easy it is great, for making sure hard days are hard it is great and for the aforementioned pacing early on in the bike during a HIM or IM it is great. They are also great for recording an electronic diary of all your training and racing.
But if I could fork out the bucks for a powermeter I would certainly buy one of those. Where I live (Australia) they start at about $2000+ !!!
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orangedog posted 48 weeks ago.
My HRM is two fingers on the neck. Works like a charm. Actually, HRMs are my spin class enemy. Instructors keep the damned heart rate zone chart up for entirely too long, shortening the duration of the movie...
...of course I write this hunched over so my wife won't see - she loves using hers.
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skills>> spirits>> speed>>
Having always been a swimmer I've never had a heart rate monitor. Should I pick up a heart rate monitor to maximize time on the bike? Thanks