Advice on heart rate training plz!

[mongoose_dude]

[ ORIGINALLY POSTED IN TECH Q&A - perhaps not the best place for this post ]

 

 

Hi guys...

 

I am starting to get a bit more serious about long

distance / marathon mtb things now, so I figured it might be wise to

get a HR monitor sometime. Since I am totally unfamiliar with these

things, I have a few questions:

 

1) What models (as cheap as

possible - I don't have 2 grand for this thing) of HR monitors would

you recommend for HR training? I would like one that has extended

training programmes (multiple week programmes for instance)

 

2) Which of these models allow you to download data to your PC? Is this even a useful / necessary feature?

 

3)

Is the whole hype about HR training justified? Does it really work a

lot better than riding around without heart rate in mind?

 

4) I

saw some basic Polar HR monitors on gumtree for 300 or 400 bucks... Are

these sufficient? I really don't think I need cadence monitoring etc,

but extended / structured training programmes might be useful.

 

5)

It would be nice if the monitor I get also has a programme for getting

rid of excess beer-belly and other such weighty issues. Which models

would have these programmes?

 

If anyone has more info (like a small introduction to HR training or some beginner's tips) for me, I'd really value it.

 

Thanks!

[mongoose_dude]

Oh - forgot to add: altitude meter would be useful (not necessary though)

[HappyMartin]

You are looking for a lot of features for not much money so I think you may need to look around for second hand.

 

 

 

I find it very useful to download the info to a pc as it is easier to create a log of training distance time and what HR zones you are riding in.

 

 

 

The whole exercise is pretty pointless unless you do some research about training programs and then implement the info you gather. Find out about base training, lactate threshold and what energy system you are training at what HR zone.

 

 

 

You will of course have to do a fitness assessment of some type to establish your own zones and then you can set about creating some type of program for yourself.

 

 

 

You could of course just follow the advice Cavendish was given when he was 14 and his coach told him to do whatever he wanted as long as he did 16 hours a week. seems to have worked for him to a point but I bet he is much more scientific now.

[mongoose_dude]

thank you for the reply... I agree with you, getting a lot of info on the thing is indeed necessary. Do you recommend any sources e.g. a certain website which address the points you mentioned?

 

Thanks again (sorry for being such a noob)

 

[HappyMartin]

I found The Ultimate Ride by Chris Carmichael to be very useful as well as Joe Friel's book I think is called The Road cyclist training bible. He also has an MTB version I am told. Training Peaks (google it) has a lot of online help.

 

 

 

I am not the expert at this and I am sure others will have more info but it is a start.

[mongoose_dude]

Thanks, HappyMartin... Appreciate the input.

[sportsci]

i was reading through all of your questions and concerns about heart rate monitors... have you come right with buying the best one?

 

if you need some help with training heart rate zones and so forth, you can contact me. i am a sport scientist and work with this stuff all the time.

[nickc]

Welcome to the Hub nerice

[mongoose_dude]

Hi nerice...

 

I haven't decided on one yet. I've realised that in the long run I'd like to own one of the Garmin units, but that's too expensive at the moment...

 

How much can I do with a normal HR monitor? I'd really appreciate some advice... Thanks for offering assistance!

[Slowbee]

Nerice, what a post - first one and you are marketing yourself. I think you will fit right in !! So welcome. Do you ride a bike ?

 

Mongoose dude, no one has asked you what your budget is ? For R5000 you can get a nice one. For R500 bucks you might need to move your objectives around a bit

 

[Dibles]

Look out for the workshops run by Polar. They are free and you will learn a lot about how to train with a hr monitor. Included is a practical session. They also give you free training spreadsheets.

[sportsci]

hi mongoose,

 

well i am sure you have discovered that there is a lot you can do with heart rate monitors! but its all useless if you dont know how to use the information.

 

with just a basic heart rate monitor you can already do quite a lot. since you far from me, try looking for someone on your side of SA that works with sport specific assessments.

you can maybe consider going for a VO2max test and get training zones calculated for you.

or you can just use the basic age formula to determine heart rate zones.

 

these are especially helpful when you want to know how to train during different training phases or if you would like to monitor your training progress.

 

there is so much to say about heart rate training zones.... so i think first decide why you actually want to look at heart rate.

 

 

[sportsci]

hi hi...

 

yes i ride a bike! been doing mountain biking since 9 years.

i currently ride a GT avalanche 2... and i am very happy with it!

[The_Break]

[ ORIGINALLY POSTED IN TECH Q&A - perhaps not the best place for this post ]

3) Is the whole hype about HR training justified? Does it really work a lot better than riding around without heart rate in mind?

 

In a nutshell, when you race long distance mtb races you are normally more concerned about riding as hard as you can for as long as you can. This would ideally mean riding at a constant heart rate which is maintainable over the distance youu want to travel. Off course there are factors that would up this like hills, attacks, etc, but basically you want to keep your heart rate in the sub-threshold zone so that you can keep riding.

 

Training with rate rate is for sure a great way for you to monitor you body during training and racing allowing you to know when too hard is too hard and when you can go harder.

 

That is in a nutshell. HR training does still have a lot of ways in which it is not the best way to train, but for you it sounds great so yes, you can justify HR training. Do yourself a favour and read up as much as you can. Especially regarding training zones and how you determine them.