What and with what to monitor your cycling stats ?

[ChrisF]

Would appreciate some feedback from the experienced riders.

 

In October 2016 I started monitoring my rides with a Polar watch, with a heart rate monitor belt.  The idea was purely to record the stats, and look over a period of time how my stats improve (hopefully).  Purely from a health perspective.

 

As you know it is not really comfortable to watch a watch while cycling ... and without the reading glasses I can hardly read the screen in any case. 

 

The Polar HAS been a valuable tool !!!  I can see how my stats improve.  Being able to view a Google Earth image of a trail is a nice toy, and have actually used this in a photo collage for Maritz.

 

For COMMUTING the watch does its job - records data

 

 

 

For fun rides I want a bit more - mid ride I want to be able to monitor the distance remaining vs how hard I peddle ....

 

Would be much nicer to see this on a handle bar mounted screen .....

 

 

Now for the other part of my question - WHAT to measure ?

 

For steep hills I put it in a low gear, drop my head and spin those peddles until I get to the top - to be completely out of breath !!  Gasping for air ....  Is this as simple as just being unfit ?  YES, been off bikes for nearly 2 decades, so certainly not fit by the standards of the average rider on this forum !  OR, is my candence just too high ?  Would it be of any real use to get a bike computer with cadence monitoring ??  OR, would a simple heart rate monitoring achieve the same ?

 

Understanding the physiology better, might help me to better understand what monitoring can add value to my riding.

 

There are a couple of options with heart rate monitors, much less with cadence monitoring .... and a serious step in unit costs.

 

 

 

Thus my questions :

 

- WHAT should I be measuring, ie hart rate and/or cadence ?

 

- What meter offers best value for money for my needs ?

 

 

 

I would prefer :

- handle bar mounted

- USB charging, and data downloading

- GPS

- hart rate monitoring 

- wanted cadence monitoring ... but now trying to confirm the need/use for this

 

I dont need wifi bluetooth etc etc ....

 

 

[Shebeen]

Anything that works with strava

 

Then Kms and hours.

 

That is all

[HdB]

I think if you HAVE to choose between measuring cadence and heart-rate, choose heart-rate?

 

You are likely out of breath because your heart-rate skyrocketed; yes, probably due to the high cadence, but that you'll easily be able to see by looking at the computer on your bars - 'I'm spinning up a climb, and my heart-rate spikes, let me try a slower gear, oh ok, my heart-rate slows down a bit'.

 

 

However, most of the cheaper GPS computers can connect to both HR and cadence.

For example, Bryton have the Rider 330 at around R2000, and Lezyne have the Enhanced Super GPS at (last time I checked) roughly the same price. (Personally, I am currently leaning towards the Lezyne myself, to replace my old Bryton. Their software support seems better than Bryton).

The Lezyne even has a function that you can allow chosen people to follow your ride (for example a worried spouse).

 

Since you already use a Polar, you might want to stay on that ecosystem - someone advertised a Polar M450 yesterday, for example.

[Ozzie NL]

Go Garmin, you'll end up there eventually anyway

[Pure Savage]

Sounds like you are wanting to purchase the Garmin 520. 

 

Good choice, I have just ordered one myself. 

 

https://www.slanecycles.com/

 

I paid R3047 for this device. I did not order strap or cadence sensors as I have those already. 

 

With this I found a decent metric to use is VAM. Verticel accent in meters, basically how fast you are going up. This is great as regardless of climb, it should be in the same ball park. long shallow climbs, you go faster, steep mothers you go slower. 

 

This also allows you to set a VAM for a climb if you ride in a team, so nobody is trying to work out power to weight numbers etc.

[ChrisF]

Anything that works with strava

 

Then Kms and hours.

 

That is all

 

Why Strava ?

 

I understand the use if you want to compare stats with buddies, use it to join up with them using the live tracking, etc.

 

 

But I only want to record for my own use.

[ChrisF]

I think if you HAVE to choose between measuring cadence and heart-rate, choose heart-rate?

 

You are likely out of breath because your heart-rate skyrocketed; yes, probably due to the high cadence, but that you'll easily be able to see by looking at the computer on your bars - 'I'm spinning up a climb, and my heart-rate spikes, let me try a slower gear, oh ok, my heart-rate slows down a bit'.

 

 

However, most of the cheaper GPS computers can connect to both HR and cadence.

For example, Bryton have the Rider 330 at around R2000, and Lezyne have the Enhanced Super GPS at (last time I checked) roughly the same price. (Personally, I am currently leaning towards the Lezyne myself, to replace my old Bryton. Their software support seems better than Bryton).

The Lezyne even has a function that you can allow chosen people to follow your ride (for example a worried spouse).

 

Since you already use a Polar, you might want to stay on that ecosystem - someone advertised a Polar M450 yesterday, for example.

 

Thanks.

 

Did some checking up on the prices ... also climbing steadily if you add the cadence sensor - which again raises the question if it is a nice to have, or if it will add functionality to my use ...

[ChrisF]

Go Garmin, you'll end up there eventually anyway

 

Still trying to figure out the whats and whys .... but DO believe you are correct    

[Bateleur1]

I use Strava for my own measure as well.  It is not just a tool to compare to others.  I like comparing my rides with previous rides.

 

 Cadence sensors are important especially when you are starting out.  Later on it is less important as you have gotten into a routine and certain things come naturally but as I started training with a HRM I did keep an eye on the cadence often as I had a tedency to ride in a too strong gear which then had the effect that burn to many matches too early.

 

The market is going wide wrt to HRM monitors even if you only focus on the cycling part.  I will hopefully soon be getting my Garmin but I looked at some demos on youtube of the Garmin connect software and it seems that it is as good as it gets.  So if you are into all the stats then Garmin should be the way to go.  Currently I am using Polar.  It used to be very good but have not used the latest software and web tools. Still have a very old HRM.

[ChrisF]

I use Strava for my own measure as well.  It is not just a tool to compare to others.  I like comparing my rides with previous rides.

 

 Cadence sensors are important especially when you are starting out.  Later on it is less important as you have gotten into a routine and certain things come naturally but as I started training with a HRM I did keep an eye on the cadence often as I had a tedency to ride in a too strong gear which then had the effect that burn to many matches too early.

 

The market is going wide wrt to HRM monitors even if you only focus on the cycling part.  I will hopefully soon be getting my Garmin but I looked at some demos on youtube of the Garmin connect software and it seems that it is as good as it gets.  So if you are into all the stats then Garmin should be the way to go.  Currently I am using Polar.  It used to be very good but have not used the latest software and web tools. Still have a very old HRM.

 

Thanks.  I am probably over-compensating to the other side ... with bust knees I gear down very early, and I may be spinning way too fast up the hills .....

 

I currently use the Polar M400 watch, with heart rate monitor, on both bikes.  The data gets synced to the Polar cloud, where I can evaluate my data - though this means going to each trip record .... might be a better way of putting the data together (comparing different rides). 

 

 

Do you know if I would be able to combine my data from two devices to a single STRAVA account ?  In which case Strava would make a lot of sense for me.

[Long Wheel Base]

Why Strava ?

 

I understand the use if you want to compare stats with buddies, use it to join up with them using the live tracking, etc.

 

 

But I only want to record for my own use.

The beauty of Strava is you can analyse a certain segment ridden many times, Say for eg this climb you mention. You compare every one of your own efforts and see how you compared each time. It can plot your time, heart rate, cadence etc for that one segment and you analyse it all.

O and the device you are describing is a GARMIN!!! Maybe buy an old edge 500 then wait for it to die, Take it off to garmin and get a replacement edge 520 for a discounted price.

[Desi]

As an aside, ChrisF, I had the same problem not being able to see my watch/computer while riding, and managed to buy some cycling specs with reader inserts in them. I tried local and imported ones, and have found a comfortable pair recently at Chris Willemse cycles. They make a big difference not only seeing my watch/computer, but also my phone if I receive or need to make a call. 

[Bateleur1]

Thanks.  I am probably over-compensating to the other side ... with bust knees I gear down very early, and I may be spinning way too fast up the hills .....

 

I currently use the Polar M400 watch, with heart rate monitor, on both bikes.  The data gets synced to the Polar cloud, where I can evaluate my data - though this means going to each trip record .... might be a better way of putting the data together (comparing different rides). 

 

 

Do you know if I would be able to combine my data from two devices to a single STRAVA account ?  In which case Strava would make a lot of sense for me.

 

I don't know the M400 well but saw this on DC Rainmaker ...

 

As of September 25th, 2014, Polar now supports exporting of workouts from Polar Flow.  This allows you to export out activities to either GPX or TCX files.  For most 3rd party sites that are sport-specific (i.e. Strava, Training Peaks, Sport Tracks), I’d go with .TCX, as it offers the broadest compatibility with sensor data.

 

So I beleive you could.  Looks like a nice unit.

[ChrisF]

I don't know the M400 well but saw this on DC Rainmaker ...

 

As of September 25th, 2014, Polar now supports exporting of workouts from Polar Flow.  This allows you to export out activities to either GPX or TCX files.  For most 3rd party sites that are sport-specific (i.e. Strava, Training Peaks, Sport Tracks), I’d go with .TCX, as it offers the broadest compatibility with sensor data.

 

So I beleive you could.  Looks like a nice unit.

 

JIP, I can upload from Polar to Strava.

 

But could I link two different devices to a single Strava account ?  Thus use the Polar with the commute, and the "new unit" on the trail bike ... and have a single point to track my progress (granted it wont be a direct comparison as it would be different routes)

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

Garmin Edge 520 and Strava, You can also sync with multiple apps. 

 

I have the edge 500 for three years now, probably the most reliable unit and more than adequate. But the edge 520 itch is huge. 

[Oufy MTB (Roadie)]

Sounds like you are wanting to purchase the Garmin 520. 

 

Good choice, I have just ordered one myself. 

 

https://www.slanecycles.com/

 

I paid R3047 for this device. I did not order strap or cadence sensors as I have those already. 

 

With this I found a decent metric to use is VAM. Verticel accent in meters, basically how fast you are going up. This is great as regardless of climb, it should be in the same ball park. long shallow climbs, you go faster, steep mothers you go slower. 

 

This also allows you to set a VAM for a climb if you ride in a team, so nobody is trying to work out power to weight numbers etc.

That works out to R3700, that is a bargain