Measuring fitness

[KnobbyMech]

I have measured and tracked my fitness using a simple formula:

 

ave actual heartrate x min (1hr 13min and 12 sec = 73.2) / km.

 

This gives you the number of heartbeats it takes you to do 1km.

 

No slip riding and a route which ends where it starts is required. Windier conditions, routes with more climbing and longer rides will also push the ratio up.

 

My best result so far is 269 beats/km on my mtb and 261 beats/km on my rd bike on the same route and 650 beats/km running.

 

What is yours?

[MTBer wannabee]

if i cant walk the next day, I'm unfit

[Jaco-fiets]

That is a cool alternative indicator! Im going to try that

[Prozac]

if i cant walk the next day, I'm unfit

 

[nuge]

interesting, but there may be too many variables to be reliable - i.e. variations along your power curve mean for different effort levels you may have skewed readings (power curves are not exactly linear). Also on hilly vs flat courses weight vs aerodynamics may come into it. Duration will also have an effect.

 

the best fitness measure i've heard of so far using HR is to choose a course that will take you approximately 10-15 minutes to complete as a time trial (ideally at a moderate incline, say 3-4% as power to weight is always important to factor in for cycling!). also preferably somewhere sheltered from the wind and away from traffic and intersections so that environmental factors are limited. then time how long it takes to complete the course at a constant HR (i generally use 80% of max which is just under my LT). do this every couple of weeks to measure your progress and you'll get a really good idea of how you're doing.

 

in ct i use chappies from hout bay side and time myself from where the beach parking lot is to the view point at the top. works for me anyway.

[splat]

I thought you are measured by your performance in the Argust

[vanniri]

I´m not using any measurements but time/hours cycling. (HR chest thingy batteries dead, have no sense for multiple connections to my bikes and GPS is too NASA for me)

 

My rational: If I am not in front I am not fit/fast enought.

 

I haven´t yet reached my goal...

[DaLoCo]

I thought you are measured by your performance in the Argust

 

Only if you fall 50m from your house