Heart rate monitors
- Thread starter NerdThing
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Dusty Bin
Guest
Lots of HR threads on here - suggest doing a search and then coming up with a few more focused questions after that...
Get familiar with the following terms:
Threshold heart rate
Max heart rate
Zones (5 zones is the most popular and endorsed by BC, but different coaches have different recommended zones - read about them and pick the one you like the most).
Over the next week, establish your threshold heart rate and max heart rate using tests as prescribed by google. These are good workouts in themselves.
Next you need to calculate your training zones - this is best done using a % of your threshold heart rate rather than your max heart rate, but both should produce similar results.
BC sets out the name of the zones as follows:
Zone 1 - active recovery
Zone 2 - endurance
Zone 3 - Tempo
Zone 4 - threshold
Zone 5 - anaerobic
Now, depending on what you goals are, you can build your training program around the above. i.e. if you have a sportive you would like a good time in, lots of Z2 and Z3. If you want to do well in a time trial, you need some Z4. If you are aiming for a recovery ride or even a zone 2 ride, you will be surprised how hard it can be to keep your heart rate within the boundaries - but it is important to do so! Once you have all the zones set up and put onto your computer (if this isn't possible, consider printing them off and taping them to your bars for a while) you are then in a good position to undertake some structured training - feel free to come back and ask about this, lots here will be willing to help
Threshold heart rate
Max heart rate
Zones (5 zones is the most popular and endorsed by BC, but different coaches have different recommended zones - read about them and pick the one you like the most).
Over the next week, establish your threshold heart rate and max heart rate using tests as prescribed by google. These are good workouts in themselves.
Next you need to calculate your training zones - this is best done using a % of your threshold heart rate rather than your max heart rate, but both should produce similar results.
BC sets out the name of the zones as follows:
Zone 1 - active recovery
Zone 2 - endurance
Zone 3 - Tempo
Zone 4 - threshold
Zone 5 - anaerobic
Now, depending on what you goals are, you can build your training program around the above. i.e. if you have a sportive you would like a good time in, lots of Z2 and Z3. If you want to do well in a time trial, you need some Z4. If you are aiming for a recovery ride or even a zone 2 ride, you will be surprised how hard it can be to keep your heart rate within the boundaries - but it is important to do so! Once you have all the zones set up and put onto your computer (if this isn't possible, consider printing them off and taping them to your bars for a while) you are then in a good position to undertake some structured training - feel free to come back and ask about this, lots here will be willing to help
Peter Armstrong
Über Member
Zone 5 is a joke tho, You can do anaerobic without going into your max heart rate, dont think ive ever been there.
uclown2002
Guru
- Location
- Harrogate
How far and how frequently do you ride?
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Dusty Bin
Guest
Stay anaerobic long enough, and you'll get there.
Peter Armstrong
Über Member
Whats that then?
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Well unless you elaborate on where your opinion originates from, no-one can tell you where you went wrong!
Peter Armstrong
Über Member
"Zone 5" = "anaerobic" = "max effort" = "hard as you can go" = "weight lifting" Not = Max Heart rate...........
Dusty Bin
Guest
You don't think that if you ride as hard as you can, you will not reach your MHR frairly quickly?
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
Are you using your own definitions? Just making stuff up? Or have you actually got this from some source?
Clearly not familiar with training theory or the application of zones. Also seem to be very binary in your interpretation. HR zones are a construct that is not discrete, they are continuous!
FYI, a VO2 max interval would generally fall into Z5! A truly maximal effort, HR would be of no use as you would fatigue and stop before your HR could respond.
Clearly not familiar with training theory or the application of zones. Also seem to be very binary in your interpretation. HR zones are a construct that is not discrete, they are continuous!
FYI, a VO2 max interval would generally fall into Z5! A truly maximal effort, HR would be of no use as you would fatigue and stop before your HR could respond.
Peter Armstrong
Über Member
Mostly making this stuff up 
I'm saying I can work out "anaerobic" without my heart rate being in "zone 5"
I'm saying I can work out "anaerobic" without my heart rate being in "zone 5"
Dusty Bin
Guest
Mostly making this stuff up
I'm saying I can work out "anaerobic" without my heart rate being in "zone 5"
Presumably, you are making that up as well..?
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