What and with what to monitor your cycling stats ?

[Schnavel]

It is about R1570 incl. 

 

I did mine about 3 weeks ago.

 

Yup it's under R1600 - my dad recently changed his as well.

[Dicky DQ]

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)

Yes you can. 

[Frosty]

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.

I usually order from Bike24.com - similar pricing, but with the latest horror stories experienced in delayed shipments through the SAPO, I'd be reluctant to want to order.

 

The 520 is in the cart, but checkout is not happening.

 

 

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[Frosty]

But then each of them uploads their own version of your ride and you end up with Strava telling you that you rode with 2 of your best friends: Me, Myself and I That happened before I set my TomTom profile to not automatically share to Strava. I only use my Garmin for that now. But I DID link everything to Momentum, because they just take the log with the most steps / calories and use that to determine whether I qualify for ActiveDayz or not.

Why would you record your ride on different devices in the first place ??

I have two Forerunners... a 310XT mounted on the stem, and a 735XT on my wrist.

 

The 310XT is purely a display unit while I ride, and has limited post-ride data. It records power, but doesn't show my NP and IF, whereas the 735XT does, and more.

 

I like the 735XT because it's "running" compatible and very light. The 310XT is bulky and fugly. Waiting for the 310XT to pack up then I can get the 920XT as an upgrade, flog it at a reasonble price and get the 520.

 

On the odd occasion, like Emperors, my 735XT did't pickup the PM. I used the power data from the 310XT to import to WKO4 and was able to keep my data in check.

 

And that's why I have two units.

 

 

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[ChrisF]

Why would you record your ride on different devices in the first place ??

 

I have a commute bike stays at the OFFICE .... when weather and meetings allow I cycle home in the afternoon and back in the morning - leaving the car in the basement parking.  I NEED the car at work during the day to visit work sites.  That also means that a helmet and all the kit - including the Polar - stays with that bike.

 

 

Weekends I use the trail bike at home - with a separate kit ....  To date I mostly remember to cart the Polar to and from work for the weekend rides... mostly ....

 

 

There are even members on the Hub that lives in one province and has a bike in another province due to work, they may also want to link more than one device to one Strava membership.

[ChrisF]

I almost went that route, but the R500 extra, had to get the 520

 

I have looked at many alternatives .... by the time you have the same sensors these units are close to the 520 in price ....

 

even this unit ends up "not cheap" by the time you add the sensors -

 

 

in an era where the value of a sale is represented by the ratio of the RRP and the shelf price this unit is "priceless" ...         

[ChrisF]

Local pricing isn't R500 difference locally (at least wasn't at the time of me buying my Garmin).

 

I bought local to burn ebucks.

 

 

 

 

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At the moment the price difference is about R 1 250 .... best price on the 250 bundle vs the best price I could get on the 25+sensors ....

 

best price on the 520 bundle at sales@easybike.co.za

[SwissVan]

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 ....

Why don't you get one of those bar mounts for a watch? I use one for my polar V800 on all 3 bikes.

 

Garmin is probably the way to go BUT if you already have data on polar flow and do not want to transfer to another system and still want a proper bike computer then look at the latest polar bike computer M460 it looks impressive.

 

It might be an expensive initial outlay, but you should not need to buy another one for a long time.

 

Cadence function.... hmmm not sure it's worth the extra cost to have this, I used to train by cadence but after years found the actual numbers irrelevant and now rather ride at a cadence that feels right.

[ChrisF]

Why don't you get one of those bar mounts for a watch? I use one for my polar V800 on all 3 bikes.

 

Garmin is probably the way to go BUT if you already have data on polar flow and do not want to transfer to another system and still want a proper bike computer then look at the latest polar bike computer M460 it looks impressive.

 

It might be an expensive initial outlay, but you should not need to buy another one for a long time.

 

Cadence function.... hmmm not sure it's worth the extra cost to have this, I used to train by cadence but after years found the actual numbers irrelevant and now rather ride at a cadence that feels right.

 

Thank you.

 

Would monitoring heart rate only help me to get to grips with that "gasping for air" at the end of steep climb ?

 

Let's face it - getting cadence doubles the cost ....

[Ozzie NL]

Get the Garmin Edge 520.

 

It has everything you will ever need, including functionality for heart rate monitors, cadence sensors, power meters etc.

Screen is easy to view and unit is very simple to use...

Actually, f possible see if you can get a 510.

 

I know the 520 is meant tobe the upgrade to the 510 but in my view the touch screen on 510 makes it much easier to use

[Ozzie NL]

Why don't you get one of those bar mounts for a watch? I use one for my polar V800 on all 3 bikes.

 

Garmin is probably the way to go BUT if you already have data on polar flow and do not want to transfer to another system and still want a proper bike computer then look at the latest polar bike computer M460 it looks impressive.

 

It might be an expensive initial outlay, but you should not need to buy another one for a long time.

 

Cadence function.... hmmm not sure it's worth the extra cost to have this, I used to train by cadence but after years found the actual numbers irrelevant and now rather ride at a cadence that feels right.

Hmm disagree on this one. For me cadence is important. I used to ride at lower cadences as those felt right. Then started training at 80- 95 rpm which made a significant difference. Took a while for it to feel right but now that it does, I feel I pedal more efficiently

Hmm disagree on this one. For me cadence is important. I used to ride at lower cadences as those felt right. Then started training at 80- 95 rpm which made a significant difference. Took a while for it to feel right but now that it does, I feel I pedal more efficiently.

[Bateleur1]

Thank you.

 

Would monitoring heart rate only help me to get to grips with that "gasping for air" at the end of steep climb ?

 

Let's face it - getting cadence doubles the cost ....

 

If cadence is double the cost I would not bother.  But with a Edge 520 bundle the cadence is in it so you decide.

 

WRT to HR monitoring.  Well you can use HR based training plans that improves your fitness.  Basically you deterimine your resting HR and your Max heart rate and then use these values as parameters.  Polar many years ago used to give free courses and also gave a nice excel spread sheet and you work with that. Should be on the internet but if you do not come right I can mail you the spread sheets.  Then you work on 12 ro 16 weeks training plans and you will notice a remarkable improvement on fitness.  Especially when you start applying the interval training.

[Vetplant]

Hmm disagree on this one. For me cadence is important. I used to ride at lower cadences as those felt right. Then started training at 80- 95 rpm which made a significant difference. Took a while for it to feel right but now that it does, I feel I pedal more efficiently

Carbon Copy of my story. Saw massive improvements once my body got programmed to a cadence of around 90rpm.

 

FWIW: I got a Garmin after a bad experience with Polar, now I am a customer for life.

 

I'd suggest going for the cheapest Garmin that meets your needs, or if you've got some Lotto money lying around just go for a Fenix 3 or 5. Does everything Discovery/Momentum wants and will do almost any sport you can think of.

[SwissVan]

Hmm disagree on this one. For me cadence is important. I used to ride at lower cadences as those felt right. Then started training at 80- 95 rpm which made a significant difference. Took a while for it to feel right but now that it does, I feel I pedal more efficiently

Hmm disagree on this one. For me cadence is important. I used to ride at lower cadences as those felt right. Then started training at 80- 95 rpm which made a significant difference. Took a while for it to feel right but now that it does, I feel I pedal more efficiently.

Basically I agree, he who spins WINS

Using a cadence monitor as a tool to learn to spin more is a good idea, but its not essential to have a cadence monitor.... simply spin more.

[SwissVan]

Thank you.

 

Would monitoring heart rate only help me to get to grips with that "gasping for air" at the end of steep climb ?

 

Let's face it - getting cadence doubles the cost ....

I find that ihigher cadences increases HR slightly BUT decreases muscle fatigue.

 

Basically iyou need to pace yourself uphill based on the gradient and distance, a HR monitor can be useful to do this by helping you stay below your lactic threshold effort level in beats per minute.....or a power meter which measures your direct power output.

 

You can even do this without either device by monitoring your breathing effort (if you cannot talk easily without gasping) but it's not as instantly accurate like s PM or HRM

[ChrisF]

THANKS for all the advise and input.

 

Herewith my personal opinion after going over the options again and again and again ....

 

1) I "want" to see a lot of stats on a single screen  (dont want to fiddle through three pages on the Edge 25 to see the data)

 

2) there are a couple of cheaper options that provides this .... but only about R 1 500 cheaper than a good price on the 520 ....

 

 

And so I have watching the prices, reading up, watching hours and hours of YouTube videos of the various options ......

 

I had made peace with saving up and waiting a month or two to buy the 520 .....