Heart rate monitors

[Rob3rt]

Well the 1st thing to do is recognise there are no "heart rate zones" as far as your body is concerned, this is a construct that helps you to train within certain ranges to force desired adaptations.

2nd thing to do it recognise the continuous nature of the construct, i.e. a physiological occurance doesn't just stop or start as you transition from zone to zone, as in you won't just go from entirely aerobic to anaerobic as you transition from zone 4 to zone 5. However the emphasis on particular systems will change.

When you are working "anaerobically" below being in "zone 5", how do you know?

 

[Peter Armstrong]

Because I can go in the highest gear, sprint flat out and stop. Thats anaerobic right?
Then my heart rate may have only gone upto say 170bpm. Thats not Zone 5.

Im confused to the confusion

 

[Rob3rt]

Your heart will respond to the effort, but not instantaneously (this is one of the major benefits of using a power meter, you get instantaneous information about your level of effort), it could take upwards of 30 seconds for your HR to raise to the degree which would indicate that level of effort, however, because it is an all out sprint, you will fatigue and stop before your heart has responded. Since you have now stopped, the HR will not continue to rise to max HR!

You have a fundamental misunderstanding of the use of HR zones and HR training, in particular the limitations. Taking note of HR in very short intervals is useless!

 

[Dusty Bin]

Because I can go in the highest gear, sprint flat out and stop. Thats anaerobic right?
Then my heart rate may have only gone upto say 170bpm. Thats not Zone 5.

Im confused to the confusion

You're right about the confusion bit. HR is irrelevant in any anaerobic effort anyway.

 

[Peter Armstrong]

You're right about the confusion bit. HR is irrelevant in any anaerobic effort anyway.

I thought that was my orignal point
"Zone 5 is a joke tho, You can do anaerobic without going into your max heart rate, dont think ive ever been there."

 

[Dusty Bin]

I thought that was my orignal point
"Zone 5 is a joke tho, You can do anaerobic without going into your max heart rate, dont think ive ever been there."

Nobody has ever said you should be hitting MHR in that zone, for obvious reasons...

 

[NerdThing]

Lots of HR threads on here - suggest doing a search and then coming up with a few more focused questions after that...

That's kind of an odd reply!

I'll try to be focused then - is there binary data formed into a web page or pages on the world wide web that might assist me in learning to use my HRM or perhaps trees that have been felled; the wood puled, compressed and dried to create paper; printed upon and formed into books on the same subject?

 

[Rob3rt]

For a start, zone 5 would be defined as a range from xx% max heart rate up to max heart rate, i.e. zone 5 is not a single heart rate figure it is a range.

Typically, in this range, any work being done is being done with a large anaerobic element! As said before, this is not discrete (you don't go from aerobic to anaerobic suddenly) it is continuous (both processes still occur, but in different proportions).

 

[NerdThing]

How far and how frequently do you ride?

Thank you for a sensible answer! At the moment only once a week for about 20 - 30 miles. As the evenings become lighter and thus I have more time, it'll be 5 times a week up to about 150 miles a week, but a mixture of road and MTB.

I'm really looking to be able to get much fitter and increase stamina as I have a place on the Pru London-Surrey 100. So far, the most I've ridden in one go is 75 miles on the off road London to Brighton and some 55 mile road sportives.

 

[fossyant]

Can folk please stick to the OP's thread. We've already had a couple of 'newbies' leave because of aggressive attitudes !

Leave the in-fighting please.

 

[Dusty Bin]

That's kind of an odd reply!

I'll try to be focused then - is there binary data formed into a web page or pages on the world wide web that might assist me in learning to use my HRM or perhaps trees that have been felled; the wood puled, compressed and dried to create paper; printed upon and formed into books on the same subject?

That's a bit of an odd reply as well. All I said was have a read of some other threads and then come back when you have managed to formulate some more specific questions. Simply asking 'how best to use it in training' is pretty impossible to answer without knowing more about you, your training goals and what kind of improvements you want to see. On the upside, you clearly know your paper mill processes though.....

 

[NerdThing]

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/heart-rate-monitor-training-for-cyclists-28838/

John

Thanks John, very interesting and helpful.

 

[NerdThing]

That's a bit of an odd reply as well. All I said was have a read of some other threads and then come back when you have managed to formulate some more specific questions. Simply asking 'how best to use it in training' is pretty impossible to answer without knowing more about you, your training goals and what kind of improvements you want to see. On the upside, you clearly know your paper mill processes though.....

My question was actually 'Are there any good books or websites that might assist me please?' I'm looking to answer the questions I have myself, from these resources, rather than trouble you with them.

I can see why this forum is having a problem hanging onto new members!

 

[Rob3rt]

Can folk please stick to the OP's thread. We've already had a couple of 'newbies' leave because of aggressive attitudes !

Leave the in-fighting please.

To be fair, Dusty Bin's initial response was a very fair one. We have endless amounts of threads on the same/similar topics, as do most other cycling forums. Further that is an abundance of articles online, in magazines and books etc. An hour searching on google or reading reviews on amazon should shed enough light to either come back with specific questions or maybe even answer all questions.

As for the "in fighting", it was a valid discussion that happened fairly respectively when it could easily have gone otherwise.

 

[NerdThing]

That's kind of the point of a forum though isn't it? Ask questions and help one another out, even if the same question has been asked before. There is nothing compelling someone to answer if they feel that a question has been asked 'endlessly'.

Anyway, that is enough from me. I will be following the others who have not stuck around. This forum is not for me I'm afraid! It's as welcoming as Hades.

Admin, could you possibly close and delete my account please? Thank you.