Heart Rate Monitors

[petitpal]

So - in a vauge effort to bolster my riding fitness I've joined a gym... so like most of us older (nearly 40... I think that counts as 'older') riders I'm concerned about keeping an eye on my heart rate and seeing as half the monitors at the gym tend to be broken I'm after a bit of advice.

Just wondering what anyone else uses, if at all, and any tips on using / training. I'm not after anything too fancy or expensive (in the 50 region maybe?)

Any ideas anyone?

Cheers,
P.

 

[Raging_Bulls]

Re:

Have your heart thoroughly checked every few years by a good cardiologist, preferably one that deals with athletes.
The benefits far outweigh the cost, and the examination will tell you a lot more than a heart rate monitor can. If you know that your heart is just fine and your arteries aren't clogged up so much that the flow rate could become a problem when exercising, you can do as you please without ever having to worry about your heart.

I don't monitor my heart rate anymore. Don't need a display to tell me if I'm working out too hard or not enough, I can feel my own limits just fine.
Besides, I have a bundle branch block, which causes those regular heart rate monitors to occasionally see one heartbeat as two individual ones. As a result, I often used to get readings in the upper 200s.

 

[NeilM]

Re:

When I dislocated my collarbone a couple of years ago, I didn't want to lose what little fitness I had built up, so I dragged out the turbo and bought a cheapie HRM with a watch type display, which I strapped onto the handlebars.

For static training it was invaluable, as it is easy on a turbo to think you are about to run out of juice, due to the burn in your legs, but working with an HRM you realise that you are working hard, but that you can sustain that level of effort. 40 minutes later the legs are still burning, and I'm still going strong.

There is a lot of information on line about heart rates, but I used information by Joe Friel to work out theoretical maximum heart rates and all the other bits and bobs that it is useful to have when training.

I still use an HRM on every road ride and have my Garmin screen set up so that my heart rate is the major part of the display. It is not quite as important as it was, as I can now use the signals my body gives me, but never the less having my heart rate visible is very useful on longer hard climbs.

 

[petitpal]

Re:

Both interesting views, thank you. Just wondering what model you grabbed NeilM?

 

[Neil]

Re: Re:

Both interesting views, thank you.

Just a vote of confidence in what Raging Bulls said... when you're new to hitting the gym and with a goal on improving your fitness, people often over-think or throw resources at it - it's the modern way.

Whilst I suspect most GPs would kind of triage somebody asking to have their heart checked out, and ask about hereditary conditions, and questions about you (I suspect they don't just fire everybody up to their local hospital to rock up for a ECG), I think there's value in ensuring there's nothing underlying, if approaching it with some degree of seriousness.

Beyond that, I think monitoring your heart-rate can add value, although I suspect for most, it's just another logged artifact. Consistency and sustained adherence are, in my opinion, the important factors, at first, in delving in to regular exercise. After that, by all means, if you get value, get a HRM - but don't be like some, and have the accoutrements almost be the proxy for what you're attempting to get out of the activity.

 

[petitpal]

Re:

Oh I agree entirely - it's always the tendacy to want to buy all 'the gear' before getting seriously in to any activity in the modern world. I think it's as much curisoity as anything - wanting to know where my levels are and see the recovery rate of my heart and so on. In the meantime I'm still going three / four times a week and running and killing myself on the rowing machine (need to remind myself more thoroughly that I'm not 20 anymore )

 

[NeilM]

Re:

I'm not at home at present, so I can't tell you the exact model, but it is something pretty much like the one in the link.

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/onrhythm-50- ... 01692.html

At the time I started using mine, I was off work on sick leave and unable to drive for a month, so seeing my GP and getting referrals to hospital were a very difficult option, plus, that would have all taken more time and I wanted to start doing some meaningful training on my turbo, so I risked all without a by your leave and just threw caution to the wind.

 

[petitpal]

Re:

You mad, crazy fool

 

[kenaltobelli]

Re:

i had the base polar hrm for years and loved it;
but now dont bother so much;if its going realy fast and feels like its coming out of the chest cage
i get off and walk.
but they are good and mine was easy to set up
polar gets a ten from ken

 

[T'boo Ted]

if you have a smartphone that runs ant+ or bluetooth smart then you could just buy an strap and download an app to display it.