HRM & Revy Heart

[Dusty Bin]

Forget the clothing, forget the heart strap and forget the running comparisons. If you want your HR numbers to make sense, then go out and establish an accurate MHR figure and work back from there.

 

[screenman]

I agree with some of the others, without a specific MHR the numbers are a bit meaningless. Unlike some I ride with my HRM all the time, I also know what my maximum is and is checked yearly and drops about 1 to 2 beats per year. Certainly not a pleasant task doing a max test, normally done with the help of somebody very experienced. At 58 my max was 182 last year, I will retest in March.

If wearing a HRM brings you joy then carry on doing so, regardless of what others may say.

 

[amasidlover]

I had issues in winter with my HRM over-reading at the beginning of runs/rides, but it settled down once I was perspiring a little. This Tensive Gel seems to have cured the issue though. Of course if you're doing 40 miles I'd expect to see the HRM showing a more sensible value by the end if it is a 'contact' issue.

 

[Stonechat]

you don't need to buy gel/cream, just mix a little salt with some skin cream, stir it up, wipe of when finished

 

[fossyant]

you don't need to buy gel/cream, just mix a little salt with some skin cream, stir it up, wipe of when finished

Licking the strap works !

 

[Rob3rt]

(1) I ride a fixed route to & from work five times per week, week in and week out - if I'm doing this anyway, why would I not want to take the opportunity to improve my performance/fitness? (2) As a woman you might anticipate that there are specific reasons why I might want an objective measure of my level of exercise (3) If I want to want to wear a HRM for a 0.4/4/40/400 mile ride, then that's what I'll do, thanks very much!

1) How will the HR monitor help with this? By the time you have cycled far enough to be called a suitable warm-up, you will be at work/home.
2) Gender matters why?
3) Do as you wish!

BTW, 90% MHR is not anaerobic.

 

[jsstbs]

Thanks for the comment and just to say you're spot on! I've bitten the bullet and come back on here for the first time again in about two week, but some of the earlier comments have put me off. I came onto the fourm to ask for peoples advice and experience. I didn't expect (least of all want) to be told that my ride (and my health) is not "worthy"of being monitored. This is one of my first experiences on a forum, and it's certainly not the friendly attitude I had expected from fellow cyclists. I will be thinking again before I post on here!

To end on a more positive note, thanks to all the guys who've given me some hints & tips. Some I've already tried (without success so far ) and some I'll be trying soon (or at least when the weathers warmer!).

Signing off now.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Sorry to hear it jsstbs - I hope you keep lurking here and realise that we're not all highly critical male racing obsessives, there are enough other forums on the web catering for them. Spend some time in the café and see what other silly trivia we end up discussing; oh, and enjoy your cycling.

None of that changes the fact that if you don't know how to use a HRM, you might as well not bother wearing one.

 

[rich p]

Hmmm, my suspicions were raised at this comment
Its quite comfortable for me, and although I'm slightly out of breathe I can easily hold conversation. At the effort I would put in to do a reasonable hill (Honister, Hardknott, etc
Honister is 25%(?) and Hardknott is up to 33%

 

[Dusty Bin]

You might think that, but there are times when it's not appropriate to say it. Maybe they don't teach social skills at the Ted Rogers School of Performance Cycling?

No, they teach honesty. I'm not going to blow smoke up anyone's ar5e....especially if they are doing something wrong - and pointing it out could actually help them in the longer term.

 

[Rob3rt]

Sorry to hear it jsstbs - I hope you keep lurking here and realise that we're not all highly critical male racing obsessives, there are enough other forums on the web catering for them. Spend some time in the café and see what other silly trivia we end up discussing; oh, and enjoy your cycling.

Here we go again...

 

[Rob3rt]

Yes indeed - yet again you have your racing blinkers on.

I do? I mentioned racing or performance inappropriately where?

 

[Dusty Bin]

Love this thread...

The 'normal' way to respond to someone who is doing something incorrectly = "hang on, I don't think you're doing that right"

The 'cyclechat' way to respond to someone who is doing something incorrectly = "you're doing great - keep it up!"

 

[rich p]

Oh well, looks like we've successfully policed out someone who wasn't telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth then - we are all perfect in here aren't we.

Not policed out, but calling Hardknott only a reasonable hill is somewhat more than misleading. It's one of the hardest climbs in England and one I failed at.

 

[VamP]

Is this another one of those 'let's not make stuff too complicated in case it scares people off' Cyclechat initiatives? I am not sure why the fact the OP is a woman should come into it TBH. And learning to shrug off the odd unsupportive comment is surely just a part of learning how to use the internet?